A Warning That Echoes Through the Ages
Brethren, the Word of God declares in Hebrews 10:29, “…and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.”
What a sobering statement! To trample underfoot the Son of God, to count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing, and to insult the very Spirit who offers grace – that is no small offense. This is not merely neglect; it is rejection of Heaven’s greatest gift. The Spirit of grace is pleading, guiding, convicting, calling men unto repentance – and yet, He can be resisted.
The question must be asked: are we yielding to the Spirit – or grieving Him?
Always Resisting the Holy Ghost
Acts 7:51 thunders across generations: “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
Stephen’s words still pierce the modern heart. From Israel’s wilderness wanderings to the rebellion of today’s world, man has had one consistent problem – he resists God’s Spirit. The Spirit speaks through the Word, through conscience, through circumstance – but man stiffens his neck. Have we not done the same, friends? How many times has God’s whisper been drowned out by our own will?
Rebellion never feels like rebellion at first – it just feels like insisting on our own way.
When the Spirit is Vexed
Isaiah 63:10 declares, “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy.”
O my soul, what a dreadful exchange! The Comforter turned to an adversary, the Friend made an opponent. When the Spirit’s counsel is rejected long enough, His favor turns to judgment. Like a father’s love spurned, God’s patience is not permission – it is mercy, waiting for repentance. But if rebellion persists, mercy gives way to justice.
The Unforgivable Sin
Matthew 12:31–32 warns that “Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven.”
Why? Because the Spirit testifies of Christ. To reject the Spirit’s testimony is to reject the very means by which grace enters the heart. Persistent resistance hardens into blasphemy – a settled, willful defiance against the only power that can save. There is no cure for a heart that refuses its Healer.
Do Not Grieve the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:30 cautions, “Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Grieving the Spirit is not a momentary stumble – it’s a lifestyle of disobedience. Every unkind word, every bitter thought, every hidden sin presses sorrow upon the Spirit who dwells within. The same Spirit who seals us longs to sanctify us. Do we bring Him joy – or grief?
Do Not Quench the Spirit
1 Thessalonians 5:19 commands, “Quench not the Spirit.” The fire of God can be smothered – not by storms from without, but by neglect from within. The Spirit burns to convict, to inspire, to empower – but unbelief and complacency pour cold water upon His flame. Have you ever felt that warmth fade, that hunger cool, that voice grow faint? Beware, for every time we say “not now,” the light grows dimmer.
God’s Stretched-Out Hands
Romans 10:21 reveals the heart of God: “All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
Picture it, friends – hands of grace, extended from dawn till dusk, met with folded arms and turned backs. God’s patience is astonishing, but pride is stubborn. Grace keeps offering; rebellion keeps refusing. Which side are you on?
Years of Forbearance Ignored
Nehemiah 9:30 says, “Many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit… yet would they not give ear.”
For years, God’s Spirit testified through His prophets – and still they would not listen. Do we imagine ourselves different? The same long-suffering Spirit still speaks today – through Scripture, sermons, and conviction – but silence can be deadly when it’s our answer to His call.
When the Heart Becomes Stone
Proverbs 29:1 warns, “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”
Every ignored conviction builds a callus around the heart. The Spirit’s voice grows fainter, not because He stops speaking, but because we stop hearing. Friends, when the Spirit warns, it is mercy knocking. But if we keep the door locked, judgment comes suddenly – and without remedy.
The Tragedy of Turning Away
2 Peter 2:21 reminds us, “It had been better… not to have known the way of righteousness, than… to turn from the holy commandment.”
To know the truth and walk away from it is spiritual suicide. To receive grace, and then despise it, invites greater condemnation than ignorance ever could. Grace is holy ground – walk carefully upon it.
God’s Spirit Will Not Always Strive
Genesis 6:3 declares, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” From the beginning, the Spirit has wrestled with human rebellion, but even divine patience has an end. There comes a day when the Spirit’s striving ceases – not because God gives up, but because man’s heart has shut the door too long. When grace is ignored, judgment fills the silence.
Hearts of Stone and Ears That Will Not Hear
Zechariah 7:11–12 says, “They refused to hearken… made their hearts as an adamant stone.”
A hardened heart hears sermons but feels nothing. It reads Scripture but remains unchanged. Stubbornness is not strength – it’s spiritual blindness pretending to be control. O that we would let the Spirit soften us again!
The Spirit Still Speaks
Jeremiah 7:13, 24–26 reveals God’s sorrow: “I spake unto you… but ye heard not.”
The people of God had prophets, warnings, miracles – and yet they refused to listen. Friends, rebellion is not a lack of knowledge – it’s a lack of submission. The Spirit still speaks today, but are we still listening?
The Spirit Convicts, but Not All Believe
John 16:8–9 declares, “He will reprove the world of sin… because they believe not on me.”
Conviction is grace in motion – it is God’s mercy before His judgment. But when conviction comes and we shrug it off, we insult the Spirit of truth. The first step toward despising grace is to stop believing we need it.
Rebellion Is as Witchcraft
1 Samuel 15:23 makes it plain: “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” When we resist the Spirit’s leading, we align ourselves not with Heaven, but with darkness. To say “I will not obey” is not independence – it is defiance against God Himself. The Spirit of grace leads toward life; rebellion leads to ruin.
Despising the Riches of His Goodness
Romans 2:4–5 asks, “Despisest thou the riches of his goodness… not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
Grace is meant to melt us, not harden us. Every blessing, every breath, every sunrise is an invitation to repent. But those who take grace for granted are storing up wrath for a day they think will never come.
Today, If You Hear His Voice
Hebrews 3:7–8, 15 repeats the warning: “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”
The Spirit still speaks – but not forever. “Today” is God’s word of mercy. “Tomorrow” is man’s word of delay. How many souls have been lost between those two?
The Flesh Against the Spirit
Galatians 5:17 reminds us, “The flesh lusteth against the Spirit.”
This battle rages daily. The Spirit calls us upward, but the flesh pulls us down. To resist the Spirit is to feed the flesh – to grieve, quench, and despise the very power meant to make us holy.
Behold, He Still Knocks
Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.”
The Spirit of Christ knocks still. Not with thunder, but with tenderness. Not demanding, but pleading. And yet, how many homes, how many hearts, remain locked from within? The latch is on our side.
Harden Not Your Hearts
Psalm 95:7–10 repeats the ancient cry: “Harden not your heart, as in the provocation.”
History warns us – when the Spirit speaks, rebellion repeats. The Spirit of grace calls today with mercy, but tomorrow’s dawn may find the door closed.
So I ask you, brethren – will you yield to the Spirit of grace, or resist Him yet again?
The call of grace is not forever. The hour of mercy is now. The Spirit pleads – will you listen?
Call to Action: The Question That Demands an AnswerIn Acts 2:37 Peter and the Apostles were asked the question – What Shall We do? And in Acts 2:38 Peter answered, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Do you understand this? After hearing the gospel and believing, they asked what should would do. The answer hasn’t changed friend, Peter clearly gave the answer. The question for you today is, Have you receieved the Holy Spirit Since you believed? If you’re ready to take that step, or you want to learn more about what it means to be born again of water and Spirit, visit: Come, and let the Spirit make you new. |