Grieving or blasphemy of the Holy Spirit may sound similar, yet they are totally different, with totally different consequences. It is important to know the difference.

They are the Three Persons of the Godhead, and all three are vital to our spiritual life. It is the Holy Spirit who seals us for the day of redemption, Ephesians 4:30. The Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us through words with groanings to deep for words, Romans 8:26. The Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God, 1 Corinthians 2:9,10.

Grieving

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 4.30. This refers to a believer’s actions that cause displeasure, or offend the Spirit of God. It is when we act in ways contrary to God’s nature. It is being insensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit so that our relationship with God is strained but not severed. We are to walk each day by the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit of God, Galatians 5:16, 18.

Not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and in the life of the church is to stifle, or quench the work of the Holy Spirit. That is another way to grieve the Spirit.

When we whole heartedly repent of wrong actions and attitudes, we are not only forgiven, but it can act as a catalyst to spiritual growth and maturity. We are to learn from our mistakes and strive to live in alignment with the will of God. That way we will be drawn into a deeper relationship with God, the great I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:14.

Blasphemy

No born again believer can blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is attributing the works of the Holy Spirit to being the work of Satan. It is also a willful rejection of God’s free gift of salvation, Ephesians 2:8.

To blaspheme is to consciously and deliberately turn away from the grace of God. In particular rejecting the redeeming work of Christ’s death and resurrection. This is the result of a hardened heart and leads to eternal spiritual separation from God that cannot be remedied. Pharoah is an example of this.

Holy Spirit Convicts

It is the Spirit of God that convicts and draws the sinner to the saving grace of God. Totally rejecting the convicting power of the Holy Spirit leads to blasphemy that cannot not be forgiven.

Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come, Matthew 12:31,32.

Consequence

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit involves a lack of alignment with God’s will and purpose for our life. This creates a barrier that obstructs the possibility of any form of spiritual growth. When we choose ignorance, pride, selfishness, or rebellion, there can be no relationship with the Father. It was this that got Lucifer kicked out of heaven, Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28.

It is through the work of the Holy Spirit in our life that we learn discernment and how to respond to the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit. He is a gentleman and like the Father, never goes against God’s gift of free will.

Rejection

 Why would anyone in their right mind want to grieve the Holy Spirit and certainly never blaspheme the Person of the Holy Spirit. To blaspheme is to reject God’s gift of salvation and make the death of Christ null and void. That is to despise the redeeming power of the shed blood of Christ.

The Spirit desires that we not only accept Christ as our Saviour and Lord, but that we honour the Father’s heart. For He so loved the world that He gave His only Son, John 3:16. This was a cost that we finite creatures cannot comprehend.

Relationship

It grieves the Spirit when we do not strive to mature to the fullness of the stature that belongs to Christ, Ephesians 4:16. The Holy Spirit is grieved when we refuse to enter into a full and complete relationship with the Father and the Son.

It is only the work of the Holy Spirit that enables us to live a life that glorifies God. Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God, Romans 8:14.

Our life, hid in Christ, Colossians 3:3, is a journey fraught with many dangers, for the enemy is determined on our destruction. He is a liar, a murderer, and a thief from the beginning, John 8:44. It is no wonder the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans unable to be uttered, Romans 8:26,27. He is our Advocate with the Father, John 14:26.

Pivotal Point

If we recognize circular thinking, where God is our pivotal point, we will not grieve the Holy Spirit. Human beings do not have the capability of being static for they are either moving towards something better or something worse. Like Paul we need to forget what lies behind and reach forward to what lies ahead. Paul pressed on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, Philippians 3:13.

We need to deepen our relationship with the Holy Spirit and become mindful of our actions and attitudes that grieve Him. We are to guard our hearts against weakness and take every thought captive, 2 Corinthians 10:5. Set our minds on things that are above not on things that are on earth, Colossians 3:2, for we become what we love.

Consuming Fire

The Holy Spirit is the consuming fire of God, Hebrews 12:29. No true follower of Christ will attempt to quench that fire. It is that fire that refines and cleanses us from all unrighteousness, 1 John 1:9.

It grieves the Holy Spirit when we entertain a spirit of grievance because of what happens to us. Hard times and fiery trials should turn us to God not away from Him.

Grieving or Blasphemy

It is not just a matter of grieving or blaspheming the Holy Spirit, it is a matter of where we are heading and what our eternal destiny will be. God knows the end from the beginning, Isaish 46:10, but we do not know what tomorrow holds. However, the believer lives in the knowledge that God knows all our tomorrows, Jeremiah 29:11.

Grieving the Holy Spirit is easy to do, but we can repent from it and be forgiven. Blasphemy leads to eternal separation from God. He gave us a free will, so the choice is always ours.

Photo Source

Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a freelance writer and servant of the Lord who enjoys researching a topic and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God.

Check out our other posts at Whispering Encouragement. We are here to inform and encourage. Subscribe for free so you can keep up to date with topics that interest you.

________________________Whispering Encouragement_______________________