By Reverend Grace Alquiza Bangisan
Sixth series of sermon on the Holy Spirit
August 16, 2020
You probably asked the question what is this grieving the Holy Spirit all about. Is it really true that the Holy Spirit grieves or can be offended?
While it is true that human as we are we grieve especially when somebody has repeatedly done things that really hurt us, but mind you, even the Holy Spirit can be offended and grieve.
How? The Holy Spirit grieves because knowing that we are already followers, believers of Christ and yet our deeds and words that come out of our lips it won’t manifest or reflect the kind of life that is being filled, anointed by the Holy Spirit.
We still walk in darkness and sin because of what we are doing.
Christiano man kaha ta? Sa halip nga maging source or encouragement tayo, maka uplift sa iba, na discourage na tuloy at natisod dahil sa ating ginawa at sinabi.
Lets closely see and read again the text so we will know what are the things that makes the Holy Spirit grieve.
Verse 29 says, do not use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Grieving the Holy Spirit here means making the Holy Spirit sad or sorrowful and one very specific and direct word mentioned here in verse 29 is “do not use foul or abusive language.”
“Usa ka writer nag sabi na actually there is no such thing daw as foul language because it depends on the nation or country you are referring to. So basically it depends on the context like for instance here in the Philippines when you say the word F-U-C-K that is foul for many but in other countries it is not. In fact, halos bukambibig na nila.
This foul or abusive language in other Bible version like in the New International Version, it says unwholesome talk. So do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths. Unsa pud ning unwholesome talk? Because even though our words may seem harmless, context changes everything.
How we say something or why we are saying it can totally change the impact of the words even if they sound the right thing to say.
To further understand this word, there are three basic types of unwholesome talk that I would like to share.
First, is LYING. Meaning not telling the truth and we know that there is consequence of it. If we lie we are only making the situation worse. Like many of us when we lie we thought that truth would not be revealed. But mind you as stated in Proverbs 12:19 of the NIV, “truthful lips and endure forever but a lying tongue lasts only for a moment.”
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we know that there is nothing good about lying. Truthfulness, trust is necessary to have a healthy and strong relationship. When we destroy the trust with deceit it is very hard work to gain that trust back.
Second, is gossiping. Base daw in one of a research in an article I have read that a woman’s battle is against gossip. How true is that women?
The definition of gossip is casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people. Typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. Gossip is literally a form of lying but even if what I am saying is true, unconstrained conversation about another person is usually not helpful for building others up.
When we gossip about others, we are focusing on their faults and not speaking to their strength. Also, when we gossip, the words we speak often affect how we view the person we are talking about. The more we gossip, the more negatively we perceive the other person to be. Proverbs 25:23 says, as the north wind brings rain, so as light tongue brings angry looks.
Third is complaining, God says that he hates a lying tongue. It is found in Proverbs chapter 6:16-19. A mother shared her personal take about this complaining and she said, “I hate how I feel after complaining. I feel drained, pessimistic and angry.”
Complaining would really help her. It damages her physical, emotional, and mental being. And true enough, because when we hear others complaining it doesn’t exactly lift our spirits. Instead, ma-down tayo. And take note, nakaka hawa iyan. Kung gaanong klaseng tao ang lagi mong kasama di mo na mamalayan na ganoon ka na rin.
A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Complaining does not create positive change in anybody. If we keep on complaining about our husband, parents, in-laws and children our words didn’t inspire them to change instead it will only create conflict within our relationships.
Now the question how to combat this complaining attitude. Well for me, the answer is very simple. It says in the Bible the only way to combat it is by GIVING THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.
Yes indeed, it is only when we have a greatful heart that inspite of the circumstance or conditions is not always favorable to us we can still see the brighter side and utter our great thanks giving to Almighty God.
Now the second point of the thing that makes the Holy Spirit sad and sorrowful is bitterness.
In verse 31 says, get rid of all bitterness, range, anger, harsh words and slander as well as all types of evil behavior.
What is bitterness? It is an imbittered and resentful spirit that refuses to be reconciled. Person who is bitter is harsh, critical, judgmental, full of anger, he/she just like to be mad. He or she lives for conflict, arguing and fighting and the sad thing is that bitter person rarely wants to keep it to himself instead he spreads it around.
Yes, I have mentioned earlier nakaka hawa. Like virus it could easily spread out. The Bible reminds us in Hebrews 12 verse 15, “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of god and that not bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
Well I guess, no one would admit that he or she is a bitter person but let’s just test daw ourselves with these questions:
1. Does it irritate you when people don’t agree with you?
2. Do you think you are usually right and others are usually wrong?
3. Do you find yourself giving more criticism than compliments?
4. Are you short with people?
5. Do you ask people loaded questions just to irritate them?
6. Does this kind of questions make you defensive?
Friends, bitterness, anger, saying harsh words to others this would bring no good to our physical and spiritual health because borrowing from one preacher when he says, that bitterness is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die.
It is a sin that can linger in our lives and separate us from God which removes holiness and peace of mind from our lives
Instead what we are supposed to do is we are now children of God, we are now filled by the Holy Spirit, walk, guided and lead by the Holy Spirit so what is expected of us is to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another just as God through Christ has forgiven you. The key word here is forgiveness. Christ has forgiven you therefore you must also forgive others who have done wrong to you.
