Ephesians 4:29-32
Grieving the Spirit
Eph 4:29-32
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk [words] come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit [building up] those who listen [nearby].
4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. NKJV
The Context
In the next several verses, in Ephesians 4:29-32, Paul turns to a new topic: “Grieving the Spirit” (Eph 4:30). These four verses are common practices that grieve the Holy Spirit in our hearts. They are given in connection with the preceding verses: the need to “put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:24).
Paul wants this congregation to realize that his earlier instructions encourage us to put on a “new self,” which happens when we are “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Without this, how can we even have the Spirit to grieve?
Gospel truths give us the freedom to love and free us from the bondage of “deceitful desires” (Eph 4:22). Spiritual Knowledge, unapplied in our lives, will make us spiritually deceitful to ourselves and others. Spiritual knowledge, intellectually understood but not inwardly dwelling, makes us more resistant to the Spirit’s influence. It is the condition Jesus often spoke to Pharisees about. Once, Jesus told his disciples, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” (Matt 16:6). For everything the temple leadership did, Jesus said, “they do is done for people to see” (Matt 23:5). They pretended to be very pious, but were not at all, for it was by their decree that Jesus was sent to Pilate.
The Bad Habit: Unwholesome Talk
One of the first bad habits that grieves the Spirit is foul language. The Greek word for unwholesome is sapros, meaning rotten and worthless, poor quality, or unfit to use. Today, we would think of such slang words as relating to bodily functions or reproduction. No one can receive grace from such words. Instead, they cause the hearer to be jolted to a lower level of thinking. They are debasing, not uplifting.
We should never lose sight of the fact that spiritual decline and indifference often stem from our words reflecting the unremedied darkness inside us.
We should first look to see whether we, as believers in Christ, have confessed our unkind or dark words. Since these grieve the Spirit, we should guard our words carefully. We should avoid undue criticism, which may leave bitterness in the hearts of others.
Imagine how important words of grace, pleasant greetings, warm embraces, and uplifting words to the discouraged and frightened are to a whole congregation. They bring a spiritual warming of our hearts, causing us to exclaim: “Let us love one another for love comes from God and knows God [personally]. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7,8).
Words that Should Give Grace
The NIV could be clearer. The NKJV accurately reads that our speech should be wholesome, “that it would give grace to those who hear” (Eph 4:29).
The meaning is clear: our words should be kind and tolerant toward others, so that they may learn about “the God of all grace, who called you [us] to his eternal glory in Christ” (1 Pet 5:10). For God is called “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Cor 1:3,4).
What is amazing is that our words, when they are kind and considerate, are to be like words of grace. This is like God, who offers us grace and favor we do not deserve, but that comes from His own kindness. This goodness of God leads us to come to Him for grace, “that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16).
God spreads His grace all over the world, so we likewise spread kindness in our words of grace. What a privilege to copy God our Father in spreading graceful words and actions around our circle of influence. “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:16). And only God knows how many countless times we personally have received grace from Him. Grace after grace to match our faltering steps and broken promises.
John Fawcett wrote an old song in 1792 entitled “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” John knew firsthand how “Christian love” spreads through a “sympathizing tear” for a neighbor or friend.
Blest be the tie that binds.
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
We share our mutual woes,
our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
Unwholesome Words
This expression means something worthless, rotten, foul-smelling, and demeaning toward others. Jesus used this same Greek word for “bad” as “trees that bear bad fruit” (Matt 7:17,18). When corrupt words become part of our daily speech, our lives will bear bad fruit, like a tree. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt 7:19).
This means that those who regularly use foul, sarcastic, or religious profanity in the misuse of God’s name will be “thrown into the fire” of hell. Thus, we must take very seriously the unkind words we use, for judgment will follow unconfessed unkind words that bite and hurt.
We must guard our words, for it is impossible ever to take them back. Cursing is a very hard habit for many to break. Changing our old pattern of unwholesome words often takes much prayer, in Scripture, with the influence of sacred music. They will need to be “Born of the Spirit” (John 3:8) and learn how to “put off your old self” (Eph 4:22) and to be taught the “truth that it is in Jesus” (Eph 4:21). This is accomplished by going to the Cross of Christ, where we receive full forgiveness and empowerment to transform our speech into kindness. Through prayer, Scripture study, and confession of sins, we will receive a new vocabulary that creates peace and imparts grace to those we converse with.
Words of Salt
Paul taught the Colossian believers, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone” (Col 4:6). The salt refers to its preserving quality. For example, cured salt pork, when properly handled, can be stored for one to three months at its best. When our words are salted, they are helpful and encouraging to the lonely, sorrowful, grieving, discouraged, or the young and inexperienced.
Believers should be cautioned to avoid some movies that use profane words; although we have not spoken them, a danger remains that we will find it easy to repeat them. Instead, we should focus on positive words of grace, peace, praise, and thanksgiving.
Unwholesome Words Grieve the Spirit
When we use foul language, if we are “Born of God” (1 John 3:9), the Spirit will warn us of our mistake. Unless we turn to prayer and seek God’s power for better replacement of our words, it will have a dampening effect on the labors of the Spirit on our behalf. Over time, blindness will set in, and we will feel little desire to stop our unkind or cruel words spoken to others. Our understanding of Scripture and the comfort, love, and joy that come from the Spirit are lost sight of or greatly diminished.
Worst of all, those with continued unwholesome speech toward their spouse, children, or employees are in danger of being like one of the “foolish” “virgins” (Matt 25:2), believers in Christ, who lost the oil of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It is the Spirit of God that re-creates words in our mouths, which are kind and pure.
All ten of the virgins in this parable were expecting the return of Christ so that they could go “inside with Him to the wedding banquet” (Matt 25:10). Instead, the five foolish believers find themselves on the day the Lord returns, out of “oil” (Matt 25:8), the symbol for the Holy Spirit, prayer, and Scripture. Together, they have the power needed to change our lives.
When, later, they come to the door of the wedding feast, they knocked and said, “Lord, lord! Let us in!’ But inside the room they heard the reply, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!” (Matt 25:11). The foolish virgins were unprepared for the Second Coming of Jesus because they were without the Spirit, having grieved the Spirit, and were left with all the rest of the lost, in a hopeless condition, with unclean habits.
Words That Build Others Up
Paul, writing to the Corinthian believers, said, "So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it” (2 Cor 10:8). Paul had authority as an Apostle. Yet, despite all his authority, he would never use it to tear others down but only build them up. Paul did not follow today's “cancel culture,” which cancels those who don’t follow the exact narrative provided. This is a lesson for anyone who uses their authority to abuse or mistreat others. Not to give them justice or mercy when they really could.
When believers have grieved the Spirit, they will bruise and humiliate others without even knowing it. Maybe even feeling justified in doing so, while they falsely believe they are among the saved.
Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk [words] come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit [building up] those who listen [nearby].
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve [bring sorrow] the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NIV
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NKJV
4:30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. New Living Translation
Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage [bad temper] and anger [being mad, shouting], brawling quarreling, [contention, strife] and slander [cursing], along with every form of malice [maliciousness, evil intent]. 4:32 And be kind to one another [helpful], tenderhearted [compassionate], forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. NIV
4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. NKJV
The Context
Ephesians 4:29-31 form the immediate context of what it means to grieve the Holy Spirit. Negative descriptions, such as bitterness and unwholesome speech, affect the Spirit’s presence in our lives. In short, they grieve the Spirit. We should never lose sight of the fact that spiritual decline and indifference often stem from our words reflecting the unremedied darkness inside us. Instead, imagine how important words of grace, pleasant greetings, warm embraces, and uplifting words are.
Likewise, positive word descriptions, such as building others up and being kind to one another, show evidence of the Spirit’s presence in our lives. The nine fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23) have space to grow so that our lives are fruitful with good works. Best of all, through the Spirit’s presence we are drawn very close to God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
1-Do Not Grieve the Spirit
The Spirit is not grieved with himself—but for us. We can grieve the Spirit with our anger, jealousy, and irritability with others and our “unwholesome speech” (Eph 4:29), or words that hurt others in any way.
The result is not that the Spirit abandons or leaves us. It is that we will experience a loss of inner peace and joy in the Lord. When, after “anger” (4:31), we follow it with repentance, the Spirit will be there for us. The Spirit will give us “access” (2:18) to our Father God, where we will receive forgiveness and justification by faith alone.
However, if we grieve the Spirit in our rough treatment of others, tenants in our apartment, we stand a chance that we will justify our actions, feeling no need to be sensitive to the feelings of others. This is very dangerous, for such a person cannot be sealed for the day of redemption into eternal life.
2-Grieve the Spirit
The worst possible thing that could happen to us is when God takes away His Holy Spirit from us and leaves us “orphans” (John 14:18) in this world. David knew this and believed his sin could have so grieved God’s Spirit that it would be forever gone from his life. So, he prayed to God, “Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (Ps 51:11). What a sad day to lose the sweet abiding presence of the Spirit in your life. Worst of all, you lose what you had first in your encounter with God the day you gave your heart to God and received His Spirit.
Activities that support the presence of the Spirit include following the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Lk 6:31). When you don't follow it, the Spirit will tell you of your mistakes; if you ignore it time after time, the Spirit is grieved.
3-Do not Grieve
In Greek, this is in the present tense. What Paul is saying is that “Unwholesome” (Eph 4:29) language is seen in “bitterness, rage, and anger.” This grieves the Holy Spirit.
When we are bitter, angry, or have criticized others with malice, we grieve the Spirit. When we say spiteful words to others, we grieve the Spirit. This blunts our spiritual growth.
When a person is “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8), their “bodies” become “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 6:19); then unwholesome words create discomfort in the Spirit’s temple. It is as if the Spirit creates a kind of ruckus of disapproval, especially when profanity uses God’s name in slander. Listeners should be warned about the potential danger of listening to “obscenity” (Eph 5:4) in a movie, relaxed in their front rooms while eating popcorn.
Don’t Put Out the Spirit’s Fire
In a list of fifteen practices of the “children of light” in Thessalonians, Paul encourages the believers, saying to them, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thess 5:19). In other words, don’t stifle or turn away the Spirit’s fire burning inside your spirit.
The Greek word for “quench” means to extinguish or suppress the fire. In practical terms, the Spirit’s good influence on our lives—fighting our flesh on our behalf (Gal 5:17), planting the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:19)—is suppressed, and we are left to “walk around in the darkness” (1 John 2:11).
We are not to quench the fire of enthusiasm, which often will burst out in prayers, praises, and thanksgivings. What a privilege to teach “With words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words” (1 Cor 2:13). What a shame to lose this privilege because our anger or unkindness has dampened the Spirit, resulting in further blindness as to our real spiritual condition.
John the Baptist predicted that Jesus “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matt 3:11).
The Holy Spirit’s influence in our lives is compared with fire. At times it burns high and bright; at other times, it is a bed of hot coals. The first presence of the Spirit, after the resurrection of Jesus, was at Pentecost, where “tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them” (Acts 2:3). There is an old proverb which says, "Where the Spirit is, He burns.”
Where the Spirit is not present, there is no enthusiasm in songs of praise. There are no “Spirit-taught words” (1 Cor 2:13) from the public pulpit.
It is formal, often like reading a manuscript. They are like sermons that are filled with personal anecdotes, with very little Scripture. They are words with no wings that move the listener into conviction and heartfelt prayers, at times forcing them in their seats and bringing them to tears of repentance and peace with God.
The presence of the Spirit brings a warmth that percolates through the heart, and at times the body is swayed by deep emotion of love for God and heartfelt prayers of repentance.
Quenching the Spirit by activities that run counter to the “fruits of the Spirit” (Gal 5:23).
Instead of love—Hate and unkindness
Instead of Joy—Neglect of others who need comfort and friendship.
Instead of peace—Arguments and disagreements.
The Lord’s Prayer
We will often pray the Lord’s Prayer, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt 6:13). This means we need to ask God to guide our lives and our steps safely around the places where we might dishonor God’s name and “grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph 4:30).
As we pray for His guidance, we ask Him: “to preserve our lives and keep our feet from slipping” (Ps 66:9). For we know that the evil one has set temptations along our path to cause us to fall into sin.
“Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me” (Ps 31:3). When we are faced with trouble causing us to fear, we can, like David says, “I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm” (Ps 55:8).
Paul Continues this Theme in the Next Chapter
Paul develops the theme further in the next chapter, saying “not a hint of sexual immorality” or “obscenity” should be in our lives, or we will not “inherit the kingdom of God” (Eph 5:4). Thus, we must be very careful in watching movies that have swearing or constant cursing as part of their script. When we voluntarily watch profanity with graphic sexual encounters, with enjoyment, it will impact the Spirit of God in our lives, grieving the Spirit. For the Spirit creates a Holy space inside us, known as the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13), so what your eyes are watching is not only lies, but evil—all the opposite of truth.
Instead, treasure the Spirit’s presence, guard it with your life, your “eyes” (Matt 6:22,23), and your “ears” (Matt 13:15) in tune with “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phil 4:8).
For it is not belief in church doctrines, church attendance, tithe paying, or being a worship leader that seals us for the day of redemption, our resurrection at the Second Coming of our Lord. It is the treasured presence of the Spirit of God “guiding” us and “teaching” us the way of the Lord (John 16:13; 14:26). We can know, we can be assured, by the “Spirit himself,” which “testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom 8:16), that we are redeemed because our “robes” are “made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14).
One final thought. Keep your conscience sensitive to what Scripture teaches, not the “traditions of men” (Mark 7:8; Col 2:8). Remember it is not what an organization tells you, but what you must do to be saved. Avoid adding new doctrines that are not New Testament-based, which can make you feel guilty.
Daily, We Should Ask God for the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit Should Be Central in Gospel Teaching
The subject of the ministry of the Spirit should be, must be, central in gospel teaching and preaching. Anytime we neglect to teach about the Spirit, we become poorer spiritually. We will be like the Church in Laodicea that was counseled “to buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you can become rich” (Rev 3:18). The fire represents the Spirit that came upon the disciples as “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3). The gold stands for the Spirit-filled life, which is the gold standard for every believer in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Peter on Receiving the Spirit
In his Pentecost sermon, Peter tells us how to receive the Spirit. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). There is no complicated formula of things you must do to receive the Spirit. The Spirit accompanies sincere confession of sin with repentance. Any time we come to God with a confession of sin and a heartfelt desire to be changed, God gives us the Spirit.
Paul on Receiving the Spirit
Paul wants the Galatians to remember how they first received the Spirit. “So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Gal 3:5-6). They received the Spirit when they heard the gospel message and believed it to be true. They did not receive the Spirit because they first kept the Commandments of God, the law; instead, they received it by faith alone.
We do not receive the Spirit after confession. No, we have been led to confession by the influence of the Spirit. Afterward, the Spirit creates space in us, sets up His “temple” (1 Cor 6:19) inside us, and brings us closer and closer to God the Father and His Son.
The Spirit Was Released in Full Measure at Pentecost
The Spirit has a special mission held in reserve until Pentecost. Jesus told his disciples that the Spirit is yet to come to them, “when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). And “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me” (John 15:26). Jesus told the disciples to gather together to receive the Spirit, known as the day of Pentecost, saying, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:8).
We should always consider the Spirit a holy influence on us, which means a sacred and pure influence on every aspect of our lives. Because the Spirit is an exact likeness to God the Father, the Spirit is entitled as God’s Holy Spirit.
The Spirit’s influence will always lead to kindness to one another, because God is kind to us (Titus 3:4). “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Col 3:12). The Spirit, over time, mirrors the exact character of God to us.
The Holy Spirit of God
“The Holy Spirit of God,” this expression is used only once in either the New or the Old Testament, in all translations. This expression relates to the closeness of the Holy Spirit to God the Father. The Spirit’s presence in our lives represents the fullness of God’s character. The two, the Spirit and God, cannot be completely separated. In the New Testament, the phrase “Spirit of God” appears twelve times in the NKJV, KJV, and NAS. The Spirit brings God’s presence to us, in us, because the Spirit comes from God; thus, “the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3:6; John 6:63).
As Jesus has taught us, “When the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father” (John 15:26 NKJV). Meaning that the Spirit comes from God the Father to us in answer to the prayer of Jesus on our behalf. The Spirit is sent to be close to us, personal, bringing holy, saving, uplifting, “sanctifying” (1 Pet 1:2), powerful influences directly from God the Father.
The Spirit is our Helper, Advocate, and Comforter
In the NKJV, the Spirit is called “Helper” in four places: John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7. The Greek word is paraklaytos meaning “advocate, intercessor, consoler, comforter, helper, one called alongside like a companion and one that stands by us.” There are many ways to describe the Spirit's actions. Finding a suitable English translation is difficult. No single English word has the same range of meaning as the Greek word, for all the words apply to the work of the Spirit. Various Bible translations use these words to refer to the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit has many functions, all for our good. The Spirit can be with us all day in all these roles for our spiritual growth. Jesus promised us that the “Advocate” will be “with you and will be in you” (Jn 14:17). The Spirit will be where you are, closer than the physical presence of Jesus.
As our Helper, the Spirit is never out of resources or power, because the Spirit comes from God the Father. It is impossible to list all the ways God has sent the Spirit to help us, from finding something lost to guiding us in the right direction in life. They are too numerous, too frequent, too varied to count. The Spirit helps the child, the teen, and the mother of several small children. For “all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27). Thus, we can “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet 5:7).
The Spirit is our Comforter
The Spirit is called a “comforter” (John 14:16 KJV). When sorrow falls on us, it can make us blind with depression. The Spirit will be there, for “the Spirit helps us in our weakness” (Rom 8:26). We become stronger, much stronger with the Spirit’s presence in our lives than without the Spirit. When we are all alone, the Spirit is a companion to us.
The Spirit is an “advocate” (John 14:26 NIV) to the Father on our behalf. “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Rom 8:26). The Spirit is not indifferent to our needs; the Spirit is passionate about us. The Spirit is out ahead of us, providing answers and solutions for us before we are aware of them. The Spirit prays to the Father on our behalf when we are too confused and don’t know what to do, even how to pray. For “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Rom 8:26).
Unseen by you, God has His hand on you, by His Spirit that lives in you, with you and beside you.
The Spirit is Our Advocate
Jesus told the disciples, the day before he was arrested, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate [comforter, helper] to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18). We are not left alone in this life; God is not indifferent to our many small daily tasks in which we ask for His help. He does not sit in heaven, at a safe distance from us. We are not His orphans, fatherless. As a good father to his children, God’s presence is pledged to be with us—Through His Spirit.
Spirit is Like The Wind
Jesus compares the Spirit to the wind, saying, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So, it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Just as each one of us individually feels the force of the wind blowing on our faces. It is as if the Spirit is blowing on them. Others around us also feel the Spirit individually. The Spirit has an unseen presence moving on a global scale, yet also on a personal, individual scale. Changing us, teaching us, reproving us, and giving us the comforting presence of our Father God.
The wind has no boundaries; it is present globally. The wind represents the Spirit's presence, moving across our wide world. In general terms, the Spirit moves in stealth mode. It is beyond the intellect, past human reason. No individual or organization can control it. The Spirit does not come to our request or demand. When the Spirit comes, he comes on his own terms.
Our Helper can personally aid millions of believers around the world, all at the same time. The Spirit has a global influence, as is the air we breathe. He can dwell “inside” the lives of millions of believers, day or night. To lead and teach all believers at the same time. All at one time. All at once. All over the world. Answering needs, supplying the presence of God and His Son in ways that bring us up, that lift us, into an atmosphere of spiritual health. While at the same time giving to all of us the Spirit, His presence seen in “love, joy and peace” (Gal 5:22).
No one can program the Spirit. No one can promise the Spirit’s presence. No one can hold a meeting and announce that the Spirit will be present. God directs His Spirit; we can’t.
How to Invite the Spirit in our Midst
First, we need to be “kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). This does not grieve the Spirit.
The Apostle John tells us how we can receive the Spirit. “And this is His [God’s 1st] command: to believe [have faith] in the name of his [God’s] Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He [God’s 2nd] commanded us. The one who keeps God’s [two] commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he [God] lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He [God] gave us. (1 John 3:23,24).
The first command from God Himself is to have faith in His Son. To fix our eyes on Jesus. To follow him in discipleship. To study his words, his parables, his teachings. To listen to His apostles.
The second command of God is to love one another. “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God [the Father]. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God [at all], because God is love.” (1 John 4:7,8)
The result of keeping God’s two commandments is that He will give us the Spirit. But much more, for God promises to live in us, and we will live in Him. We know this to be real because of His Spirit, because of the presence of His Spirit in our lives.
Thus, if we, as a group, a fellowship, or a congregation, want the Spirit to be active in our lives, we must teach and lead everyone to love one another. To build each other up. To remove by prayer all barriers to love. To practice kindness and friendship among themselves. This will prepare the way for God to send to us the Spirit, as we ask God for this gift.
New Kind of Worship
Now a new kind of worship is made available through the Spirit. As Jesus told the woman at the well, “true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” (John 4:23). This worship is not sanctuary-based, as in a specific location in Jerusalem, where all are mandated to attend, bringing their tithes and offerings.
The Spirit is the means by which God can be at “home” (John 14:23) in us. True worship is done with the Spirit’s presence and influence. This differs radically from Judaism, which is very visual, organized, and based on worship led by the Levites.
The Spirit carries the name of Jesus to us, not its own name. The Spirit comes to us standing in place of the presence of Jesus. From the Spirit flows the love of Jesus and His Father for us as if we were standing near them.
The Magic of the Spirit.
The magic of the Spirit is His personal presence with the believer, as if the Spirit is with them alone. Although we know that the Spirit is with others, its personal presence is in real time. Giving us comfort, support, guidance, and wisdom. “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (Col 1:9).
As we receive these gifts, day after day, we become deeply thankful to God the Father, who has sent His Spirit to be with us. We fill our hearts with praise and love for God for His gifts.
We don’t possess the Spirit; the Spirit possesses us. We are to be led by the Spirit of God, “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” (Rom 8:14). We are led into the presence of God. The Spirit leads us to love God (Rom 5:5). It is all the Spirit’s doing.
We don’t ever directly communicate with the Spirit. We don’t talk to the Spirit or pray to the Spirit directly. Our prayers, our praise, our thanksgiving are always directed to “Our Father in Heaven.”
The Spirit never speaks about himself to us. “He will not speak on his own… I said the Spirit will receive from me that he will make known to you (John 16:13,15).
The Spirit is sent to be close, personal, and attentive to individual needs, fears, and unseen internal struggles. The Spirit functions comfortably with men, women, or children. Even with guilty criminals who call on the name of the Lord. The Spirit is attentive to urgent prayers. The Spirit prays to God on our behalf when we are unaware of danger and our need of prayer. For “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (Rom 8:26,27).
Spirit Will Teach You All Things
The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, “will teach you all things” (John 14:26). The teaching role of the Spirit is never to be underestimated. As you open Scriptures, ask God the Father to teach you and give you understanding of Scriptures. Place them in your heart forever.
The Holy Spirit has Been Described in Many Ways in the New Testament.
The term “Holy Spirit” is used about ninety-three times in the NT.
The term “Spirit of God” appears 11 times in the NIV and 12 times in the NKJV.
The Term “The Spirit of the Lord” is used four times in the NIV and five times in the NKJV.
The Term “The Spirit of truth” is used four times in the NIV and five times in the NKJV.
The Term “The Spirit gives life” is used three times in the NIV and once in the NKJV.
The term “Spirit of Christ” is used two times in NIV & NKJV
The term “New way of the Spirit” is used once in the NIV
The term “Newness of the Spirit” is used once in NKJV
The term “God’s Spirit” is used once in NIV
The term “God is Spirit” is used once in NIV & NKJV
The Term “The Spirit of His Son” is used once in NIV & NKJV
The term “the Spirit who is from God” is used once in NIV & NKJV
The “Spirit He (God) gave us” is used once in NIV
The “Spirit whom He (God) has given us” is used once in NKJV
References to the “Spirit” are used somewhere around 75- 100 times in the NT
Other expressions used in the New Testament for the Spirit:
The Spirit of holiness (Rom 1:4)
Set your mind on what the Spirit desires (Rom 8:5)
The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Rom 8:6)
Led by the Spirit (Rom 8:14)
The love of the Spirit (Rom 15:30)
Made alive in the Spirit (1 Pet 3:18)
Receive the power of the Spirit (Lk 4:14)
Overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 15:13)
Live by the Spirit (1 Cor 3:1)
Receive gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 14:1)
Fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, and peace (Gal 5:22)
To please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Gal 6:8)
Songs from the Spirit (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16)
Joy given by the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 1:6)
The Holy Spirit and in sincere love (2 Cor 6:6)
Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Cor 13:14)
Your love in the Spirit (Col 1:8)
The Spirit gives us wisdom and understanding (Col 1:9)
The Spirit gives us wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:17)
Saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit (2 Thess 2:13)
The Spirit God gave us gives us power, love, and self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7)
through Christ Jesus, so by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit (Gal 3:14)
This is how we know that he lives in us: by the Spirit, he gave us. (1 John 3:24)
This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit (1 John 4:13
I tell you; no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5)
How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Lk 11:13).
Sealed by the Spirit of God
The Spirit is the element IN which the believer is sealed. It is by the gracious influences of the Spirit of God that we are sealed. When we are “led by the Spirit (Gal 5:18), we will receive many fruits and gifts. One of the major gifts of the Spirit is what we best describe as an implant in our hearts to do good. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good” (Eph 2:10). This desire to do good to others moves into our lives and fills every corner. We want to make a difference in the lives of others, our family, friends, strangers, animals, and plants. “Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Ps 34:14).
Because our “bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 6:18), where God can dwell in us. This is what is represented as being sealed by the Spirit. This sealing takes place in the here and now, assuring us that at Jesus' Second Coming, we will be ready for that day of redemption.
Written by Brothers & Sisters of Scripture
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