When a person receives new birth (Born again) in Christ he receives the Holy Spirit by Holy Spirit baptism. After receiving the new life the person needs to live in obedience to the Lord. Living in obedience is also called – walking in Spirit, walking in holiness or being faithful to the Lord. As the person obeys the Holy Spirit, he grows up in holiness. Same time the Holy Spirit helps the person to be a powerful witness for the world. The Holy Spirit never forces a person to do anything but he leads the person into God’s will. A born again person grieve the Holy Spirit when he chooses to walk in his own rebellious way and do not allow the Holy Spirit to lead.
The Bible refers to two ways a Christian can walk – in the Spirit or in the flesh. Walking in the flesh means the person in walking in old nature. It is also called –walking in sin or rebellion. The Bible makes it clear that a born again Christian cannot walk in the Spirit and flesh at the same time( Galatians 5:17). Sin is anything that goes against God’s will and it displeases Him. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey God.
The Bible reveals the conditions that can affect the ongoing leading of the Spirit of God in the born again person’s life. These are grieving the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30) and quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
1. Do not grieve the Spirit:
Ephesians 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
The in dowelling Holy Spirit within a person is the presence of Christ within that person. Through His presence in us, spirit of God witnesses our words, thoughts and actions. We can grieve the Spirit of God by our actions, thoughts and words. The context of this verse describes how exactly a born again Christian can grieve the Holy Spirit- through his words (Eph 4:29), and through corrupt emotions like – bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, every form of malice (Eph 4:31).
A born again person needs to be careful of his words. He should use words that are true, helpful and which can help to build up others. Words revels the hidden things of the heart. So he needs to cleanse his heart (sanctify) regularly in order to care for his words. He needs to repent for bitterness, un-forgiveness, anger, hate or any other ungodly emotions and walk by obedience.
2. Do not quench the Spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:16-20 Rejoice always,pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.Abstain from every form of evil.
The words “quench” means – to extinguish or to put out. The word was used to refer to putting out the leading of Holy Spirit in our life by rebellious attitude. Let’s see the context-
In the context of this verse we can see a born again person can quench the Spirit of God by treating prophecies with contempt. God wants us to test everything and to abstain from every form of evil. The quenching the Spirit means we can resist something the Holy Spirit wants to do in us or through us. It is refusing to follow His leading, ignoring His warnings, by limiting his gifts, misusing gifts, misrepresenting the Holy Spirit and doing things our way. When we obey the desire of the flesh (sin) we quench the Holy Spirit.
Bible revels both quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit are similar in their effects – both hinder our walk with God. These conditions happen when a believer walks in rebellion and follows his own fleshly desires. Flesh cannot please God. One needs to repent for these and in the same time he needs to walk in the spirit. Walking in the Spirit is that same thing as walking in faith. It is a daily attitude that one is totally dependent on the Holy Spirit to please God. We need to hear from God and obey Him in our day to day life.
