Living Our Loves So As Not To Hurt God - Ephesians 4:17-32

by Rohn Sun Jan 19, 2014 4:54 am

LIVING OUR LIVES SO AS NOT TO HURT GOD
Ephesians 4:17-32
Text: Ephesians 4:30-32

(Ephesians 4:30-32) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)

I. ARE YOU LIVING YOUR LIFE SO THAT YOU WILL NOT HURT THE HOLY GHOST?
Young’s Literal Translation for verse 30 says: (Ephesians 4:30) and make not sorrowful the Holy Spirit of God, in which ye were sealed to a day of redemption. (YLT)
We quote this 30th verse and put emphasis on the words “grieve” and “sealed” which is right but we generally associate the word “grieve” with the Holy Spirit in the congregation at the church or in a service. But if you will notice the context you will find that Paul is writing to Christians but he isn’t talking about their worship or gathering together but about their everyday living.
(Ephesians 4:1) I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (KJV)
We live in an age where there is altogether too little thought given to the feelings of God as concerned with our everyday life.
The Amplified Bible reads in verse 30:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed….
Paul isn’t necessarily talking about out broken sin where everyone can see that you are not doing as the Lord would have you to do. He is talking about sin, but it is sometimes hidden in the heart, but it still hurts God. He is also talking to those who profess and he tells them not to do anything that would hurt the Holy Ghost. In this chapter Paul tells us some things to do:
(Ephesians 4:23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (KJV)
(Ephesians 4:24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (KJV)
(Ephesians 4:26) Be ye angry, and sin not: …. (KJV)
He tells us some things not to do:
(Ephesians 4:29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, … (KJV)
(Ephesians 4:22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (KJV)
(Ephesians 4:25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: …. (KJV)
Why should Paul have to tell Christians this?

1. BECAUSE OF EVIL LUSTS THAT CREEP INTO THE LIFE OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT DECEIVES THEM AND CAUSES THEM TO HURT, VEX, OFFEND THE HOLY SPIRIT OUT OF THEIR LIVES.
We lose the Holy Spirit out of our lives before we go out into out broken sin. Sin doesn’t come in like a flood. The devil may attack like that but sin comes into our lives when we are deceived by the enemy and vex or quench or put the Holy spirit out of our lives. I tis done through carelessness often times. Not intentionally but carelessly. I believe Paul is urging them to careful living.
How often have you hurt someone or been hurt by someone because of what was said or done? The Holy Spirit is a person. He is the Third Person of the Trinity and He can be hurt just as we can be hurt.

2. PAUL TOLD THE CHRISTIANS TO LIVE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO ALLOW HUMAN NATURE TO TAKE CHARGE AND MAKE SELF TO COME ALIVE AND IT IS EASY TO LIE BY BRAGGING ON OURSELVES OR STRETCHING THE TRUTH OR BUILDING OURSELVES UP ABOVE WHAT WE OUGHT TO.
(Romans 12:3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. (KJV)
This doesn’t mean that we have to be-little ourselves but it does mean to take the humble place and live where we have the seal of the Spirit and have a continual sense of His presence and not grieve Him out of our lives.
(Ephesians 4:25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. (KJV)

3. THE THIRD REASON THAT PAUL IS WARNING THE CHRISTIANS ABOUT THIS IS BECAUSE THE DEVIL WILL CROWD IN AND ROB YOU OF THE BLESSING AND KEEP YOU SO UNDER THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE GRIEVED OUT OF YOUR LIFE. God want to bless you and help you to live victorious but the enemy will do all he can to rob you of this and when we don’t allow the Holy Spirit His rightful place we grieve Him.
(Ephesians 4:27) Neither give place to the devil. (KJV)
If you don’t feel do good testify anyway, pray anyway. I wouldn’t even hurt to say “Praise the Lord!” out loud, or “Amen” to the truth.
Don’t give place to the devil and grieve the Holy Ghost out of your life.

II. NOW NOTICE THE SENSITIVITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
(Ephesians 4:30) And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, … (KJV)

To many people seem to think that since God is all powerful and so great that nothing ever hurts Him. But this isn’t so.
(Ezekiel 33:11) Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; … (KJV)

1. PEOPLE REALIZE, THAT TO GO OUT IN SIN HURTS THEIR TESTIMONY AND THE CAUSE OF CHRIST AND PROBABLY HURTS OTHER PEOPLE, BUT HOW FEW REALIZE THAT THEIR ACTIONS, THEIR FEELINGS, THEIR ATTITUDES, HURT THE HOLY GHOST.
It is a fact that the more a person loves another person the more they can be blessed or hurt by that individual.
How much then do we bless God or hurt God by our actions or our inconsideration.
We cannot fully comprehend the grief we cause God or the Holy Spirit. We sometimes say of an individual – “I cannot see how they can be so thoughtless and do the things they do with the home they came from.”
But after what God has done for us how much consideration do we give Him?
To many times we make religion all one sided. We think all about what the Lord can do for us and how much we can benefit from Him. But we owe the Holy Spirit consideration in this His dispensation.
Whenever you disobey God the Holy Spirit is grieved, vexed, hurt, offended.

2. NOTICE IN VERSE 30 THAT PAUL CONNECTED GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
He could have said “by whom ye are baptized,” or “of whom ye are brought into all truth” or “by whom ye are filled,” or “of whom ye are led.” But he didn’t. He said, “by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption”.
(Romans 8:16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (KJV)
The seal of the Holy Ghost is the evidence which shows us we are ready and kept for the coming of the Lord. When He comes it will be those who look for Him that will go up with Him. It is the ministry of the Holy Ghost to keep us looking and seal us with His presence against the onslaughts of the enemy until we make it through.
To grieve the Spirit is to help to obliterate the seal, and thus weaken the evidence of or redemption.
We need to take heed that the seal is kept secure. That we do nothing to break that seal.
When we first grieve the Holy Spirit He checks us and shows us where we hurt Him but if we aren’t kept, don’t keep ourselves, tender and submissive to His checking we will grow hard and careless and do our own thing regardless of our profession.
Don’t grieve, don’t do anything wrong that would bring heartache to this lovely Person of the Godhead who performs such a sweet and needful ministry in your life. Don’t hurt this One who by His indwelling presence wants to abide continually to help, comfort, and secure your soul eternally.

III. NOW NOTICE THE SINS OR GRIEF’S MENTIONED HERE THAT GRIEVE AWAY THE SPIRIT FROM OUR LIVES.
All the sins are relating to the Christian’s relationship to other people.
(Ephesians 4:31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (KJV)
They sins that are common among men.
They are things that harm a church and hold back revival.
Notice that the list begins with the word “all.” “Let all.” We are to give no place, make no excuse, nor have anything to do with these things.

1. LET ALL BITTERNESS BE PUT AWAY FROM YOU.
We have all seen people who were bitter against a church or another person.
Lack of love. All such passions, behavior, and language as are disgusting and offensive to others.
A secret grudge and a smothered displeasure against our brother.
It is being bitter toward another person whether you are right or wrong.
Let all bitterness be put away from you. Bitterness spoils our own comfort and makes place for hatred.

2. WRATH. ALL WRATH. Bitterness is anger restricted, wrath is anger unleashed. It shows in the heat of temper. Lifelong enemies have been made by a sudden out-spilling of anger.
There is a righteous anger.
(Ephesians 4:26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: (KJV)
We have every right to be angry with sin. But at the same time we need to be careful that we aren’t getting into affairs that we don’t belong in.
Righteous anger is anger at the sin and not the sinner. Righteous indignation is vented at the sin and not at the sinner.

3. CLAMOR MEANS CONTROVERSY, ARGUMENTATIVE, TROUBLESOME SPIRIT. Some people seem to want just the opposite of what everyone else wants always. They have a contrary spirit.

4. EVIL SPEAKING. No one has license to speak evil of another person. This takes in backbiting, gossiping, and obscene language. It isn’t good to always be belittling or slamming another person even in joking.
(Ephesians 5:3-4) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. (KJV)
We can become so foolish and in such a habit of light foolish talk that we don’t take time to appreciate each other or thank each other, let alone God. This grieves the Holy Spirit.

5. THE LAST SIN MENTIONED HERE IS MALICE. Again notice that the word “all” is used. Not even a little bit.
Malice is: desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness.
This sort of thing may not show itself outwardly but be in the heart of an individual. I can be covered up but it cannot be hidden from the Holy Ghost. It will hurt Him and grieve Him out of our lives.
These sins are progressive. Bitterness brings anger and anger leads to evil speaking and clamor, and together they all lead to a heart full of malice.

The secret to guard against this is to live close to God and carefully live our lives to keep the Spirit of God happy and abiding. These sins all start with a careless and indifferent attitude.

IV. THE SECRET OF THE SPIRITUAL.
A spiritual person is simply a Christian who is under the control of the Holy Spirit.
(Ephesians 5:18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (KJV)
(Romans 8:4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (KJV)
(Romans 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (KJV)
As surely as the day follows the night, definite spiritual characteristics will be evidenced in the life of the Spirit-filled believer.
(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)

Now for fellowship with God there are two things necessary.

1. These sins mentioned that are against our fellowmen and grieve the Holy Ghost must be done away with.
2. A forgiving spirit must be present within our heart.

(Ephesians 4:32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)

Forgiveness is the key not only to salvation but to being a spiritual individual.

Paul says to be kind one to another. Kindness is being desirous of another’s good, rejoicing in another’s prosperity, and showing sympathy in another’s reverses and sorrows.

Tender hearted- compassionate, a heart that feels the pain of others.

Forgiving one another- we must have a forgiving spirit.

When we read these words we sometimes seem to think they don’t apply to us. We live above these sins and practice these admonitions. But by carelessness we lose compassion and we find sin entering in. Profession is nothing if the evidence isn’t in our heart.

How do you measure up to verse 32?
(Ephesians 4:32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (KJV)

Are you living your life so as not to hurt God?[/size]