October 16, 2026, 10:00 AM
Greetings again, and I hope and pray you're enjoying a good week so far.
Have you ever disappointed someone you really care about?
I don't think they ever said it, but I never wanted to hear my parents say, "I'm really disappointed in you."
I'd rather have had 10 spankings or 100 groundings than to hear that.
Maybe that says something about me: I like to please people and make them happy.
However, I also believe none of us want to let people down (especially those we really care about).
In this regard, things are no different with God.
God's grace is amazing, but we often let Him down.
In preparation for our Wednesday night lesson and in one of my morning devotions this week, I came across the idea of "grieving the Holy Spirit of God" (part of the Holy Trinity).
I was presented with Old and New Testament selections that mention it.
Listen to the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:30-32: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Isaiah mentions it as well in Isaiah 63:10, describing how Israel rebelled against God: "Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy, and he himself fought against them."
The word "grieve" means: to cause distress or to suffer.
How do we then grieve the Holy Spirit? We grieve the Holy Spirit when we resist and reject His leading, and sin.
Can the Holy Spirit leave us? It's not quick or easy, but I believe so. Not everyone believes that, but I think the Bible teaches that.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was not yet indwelling in believers, but was poured out by God on certain servants of God like Samson, King Saul, and David. We see the Spirit leaving both Samson (Judges 16:20) and Saul (1 Samuel 16:14).
After his sin with Bathsheba, David prayed in Psalm 51:11, “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.”
This is one of the strongest Old Testament passages concerning the possibility of God's Spirit being withdrawn. David had sinned grievously and feared losing God's presence.
In the New Testament, one of the major passages Christians discuss when considering whether someone can ultimately turn away from faith after genuinely experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit is found in Hebrews.
Hebrews 6:4-6 speaks of people who have: “been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit…”
and then fall away.
So how can we avoid grieving the Holy Spirit?
Well, we please the Spirit when we humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to make our lives increasingly more like Jesus'.
The Apostle Paul writes a lot about this in his letters to other believers.
Ephesians 5:17-18 says, "Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25 says it beautifully: "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
Lord, forgive us when we sin and fail, and help us walk in step with Your Spirit today!
This coming Sunday (10.18.26) at FCC, we will continue our sermon series looking at the Apostle Paul's letter to the Colossians.
The message, "Christ is Our Super Spiritual Support System," will come from Colossians 2:6-15. A strong Christian life is built by becoming deeply rooted in Christ.
I pray you have a great weekend and that we may see you at FCC this coming Sunday. If not, then, Lord willing, we'll see you again soon. Until then, may God bless!
Your friend,
Greg Herriford
