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11-1-2020 weekly message

Meditation of the week: Psalm 91:1-16

Text: Ephesians 4:30-5:10

Title: Grieve not the holy Spirit of God

       When God, who was the Word in the beginning, became in the name of Jesus came to the Jews, they constantly grieved Jesus, their Messiah. Before Jesus died, looking at the city of Jerusalem, he mourned:

” O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! “(Luke 13:34)

       Furthermore, Jesus looked at the city and wept and said:

” If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. .” (Luke 19:42:44)

          At that time, the Jews were the chosen people of God, their understanding was darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance within them because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness They were just like other nations of  the Gentiles (Ephesians 4:18-19).

           Apostle Paul spoke unto the Christians who were saved by believing in Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit, to be renewed in the spirit of their mind; and to put on the new man,  which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. And he also encouraged them to put away lying, speak every man truth with their neighbour: and  urged them neither to give any place to the devil being away from sins.    

      He also spoke very important words to the Saints who received the Holy Spirit. He admonished them not to grieve the holy Spirit of God dwelling within them.  The reason was that the Holy Spirit indwelling them is sealed unto the day of redemption of body. Because they are already sealed by the holy Spirit of God, he testified that even though they grieve him through the sinful life, he is not to leave until the day when they put off body in the day of Christ.

         The grace given to the members of the Church of God sealed with the Holy Spirit is a great grace that cannot be compared to the grace given to Jews and Gentiles. This is because the Church of God has already become one body with Christ engaged to him.

         For this reason, Apostle Paul pleaded with the saints who became children of God:

” Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:1-2). )

          He didn’t say to imitate Christ but to follow him.  We have to understand what he means saying to follow Christ not to imitate him. Satan is the one that deceives people by imitating Christ. However, the members of the church of God who have become children of God and become one body with God are not just imitating Him, but  have to clothed with Christ obeying his words to walk being led by the Holy Spirit. This is a command to deny ourselves and follow  Him no matter what kind of suffering comes by in obeying the Words of God.

        The word of Jesus said unto his disciples tells us what it is like to follow God:

” If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.… And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 16:24, 10:38, Mark 8:34). , Luke 9:23)

        Apostle Paul testified of the things that he faced with on his way to follow the Lord by denying himself, taking up his cross. He testified of the strong power of Christ within him when he was weak:

” Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

           When he wrote to the saints in Rome, he testified of following Christ:

” For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:13-14).

            Apostle Paul testified of the difficult things that had happened after he was born again  of  the Holy Spirit when he made a spiritual mistake:

“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.21I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:19-24)

          As Apostle Paul, we can reach the knowledge of the truth through the spiritual conflict that all believers face after being saved. Although through the blood of Jesus Christ we are forgiven all our sins in the mortal body that is the old man,  the body of  the Jew and the Gentile, or even the children of God are still the body of sin. However, when the soul is saved through faith, through the circumcision of Christ, the body of sin is put off spiritually. However, physically still living in the body of sin, we are no longer living as the body of sin wants, but obeying the Word of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit, fighting against the body of sin, and living a life of victory.

          Therefore, the children of God who are regenerated by the Holy Spirit shall physically put off their sinful bodies in the day of the rapture when Jesus Christ appears ,and shall put on the holy body, immortal as well as  incorruptible. Until that day comes, God’s children must wear the full armor of God’s Word and live a life pleasing God not grieving the Holy Spirit by obeying the Words of God

        Apostle Paul, who realized this truth, testified:

“I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 7:25-8:2).

          Apostle Paul delivered a warning message to the members of the church in Ephesus, who he shared with the knowledge of the gospel and truth of Christ. When they do not walk according to the Spirit but according to the flesh and commit all kinds of sins, they cannot receive any inheritance in the kingdom of God. It is also a warning to all Christians who grieve the Holy Spirit living in the end times:

“ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.“ (Ephesians 5:3-5).

           Apostle Paul also testified of the deceptions being done in the end times:

” Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:6).

Amen! Hallelujah!