SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIESRev. Robert C. Lewis • Glendale Baptist Church • Houston, Texas

quicknotes.org • 2007

GRIEVING THE GRIEVING THE HOLY SPIRITHOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians Ephesians 4:304:30

And do not And do not grieve the Holy grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Spirit of God, by whom you were whom you were sealed for the sealed for the

day of day of redemption redemption (Ephesians (Ephesians

4:30).4:30).

SIN PRODUCES SIN PRODUCES GRIEFGRIEF

• • sin produces grief in our sin produces grief in our relationships with others:relationships with others:

feelings are hurt and feelings are hurt and sadness, emotional pain, sadness, emotional pain,

and anger resultand anger result

• • sin also produces grief sin also produces grief in our relationship with in our relationship with

God:God:

He is saddened by the He is saddened by the sinful things we say and sinful things we say and

dodo

• • the first half of this verse the first half of this verse speaks about grieving the Holy speaks about grieving the Holy

Spirit;Spirit;

And do not grieve the Holy And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Spirit of God…

the second half about the the second half about the sealing ministry of the Spiritsealing ministry of the Spirit

by whom you were sealed for by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Eph. the day of redemption (Eph.

4:30).4:30).

GRIEF IS AN GRIEF IS AN EMOTIONEMOTION

• • the word "grieve" the word "grieve" implies the Holy Spirit implies the Holy Spirit is a divine person who is a divine person who has feelings and can has feelings and can be hurt emotionallybe hurt emotionally

• • the Holy Spirit has a the Holy Spirit has a mind (Rom 8:27), mind (Rom 8:27),

emotions (love, in Rom emotions (love, in Rom 15:30; grief, in Eph 15:30; grief, in Eph

4:30), and a will (1 Cor 4:30), and a will (1 Cor 12:11)12:11)

• • the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit teaches (John teaches (John

14:26),14:26),

testifies (John testifies (John 15:26; Rom 8:16),15:26; Rom 8:16),

guides (Rom guides (Rom 8:14),8:14),

convicts (John 16:7–8),convicts (John 16:7–8),

restrains (Gen 6:3),restrains (Gen 6:3),

commands (Acts 8:29),commands (Acts 8:29),

does miracles (Acts 8:39),does miracles (Acts 8:39),

calls men for special service calls men for special service (Acts 13:2),(Acts 13:2),

sends them forth into sends them forth into Christian service (Acts 13:4),Christian service (Acts 13:4),

and intercedes (Rom 8:26).and intercedes (Rom 8:26).

The Holy Spirit can be The Holy Spirit can be obeyed (Acts 10:19–obeyed (Acts 10:19–

21a),21a),

lied to (Acts 5:3),lied to (Acts 5:3),

and blasphemed (Matt and blasphemed (Matt 12:31).12:31).

• • these things can only these things can only be said of a person:be said of a person:

they're all meaningless they're all meaningless if the Holy Spirit is just if the Holy Spirit is just

a force or influencea force or influence

"DO NOT GRIEVE "DO NOT GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT THE HOLY SPIRIT

OF GOD!" IS A OF GOD!" IS A COMMANDCOMMAND

• • the imperative mood the imperative mood of of lupeolupeo ‘grieve’ is a ‘grieve’ is a

command;command;

the plural number is the plural number is addressed to all addressed to all

Christians;Christians;

• • the iterative present the iterative present tense envisions a tense envisions a

repeated grieving—repeated grieving—

with the negative, with the negative, "Don't make a practice "Don't make a practice

of grieving Me!"of grieving Me!"

GRIEF IS GRIEF IS SADNESS, SADNESS, MENTAL MENTAL

SUFFERING, SUFFERING, AND ANGERAND ANGER

• • the term "grieve the the term "grieve the Holy Spirit" occurs only Holy Spirit" occurs only

once in the New once in the New TestamentTestament

• • definition:definition:

to grieve the Spirit is to grieve the Spirit is to make Him sad, to make Him sad,

sorrowful, unhappy, to sorrowful, unhappy, to cause Him mental and cause Him mental and

emotional pain,emotional pain,to hurt Him deep down to hurt Him deep down inside, to irritate and inside, to irritate and

make Him madmake Him mad

• • lupeolupeo is common word is common word for mental and physical for mental and physical

pain:pain:

it may connote it may connote sadness, unhappiness, sadness, unhappiness,

hurt feelings, emotional hurt feelings, emotional pain, irritation, and pain, irritation, and

angeranger

• • it may connote it may connote sadness and grief:sadness and grief:

the disciples were very the disciples were very sad when Jesus told sad when Jesus told

them he would soon die them he would soon die (Matt 17:22–23)(Matt 17:22–23)

• • it may connote it may connote being hurt and a little being hurt and a little

irritated:irritated:

Peter was grieved Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him when Jesus asked him a third time "Do you a third time "Do you

love Me?" (John 21:17)love Me?" (John 21:17)

• • it may connote it may connote anger:anger:

the king and slaves the king and slaves were sad and angry were sad and angry

when a forgiven slave when a forgiven slave refused to forgive refused to forgive

another slave a small another slave a small debt (Matt 18:31, 34)debt (Matt 18:31, 34)

Herod the Tetrarch was Herod the Tetrarch was angry (not sad, Matt angry (not sad, Matt 14:5) because he had 14:5) because he had

been set up by his wife been set up by his wife to kill John Baptist (Matt to kill John Baptist (Matt

14:9)14:9)

• • it may connote it may connote something irritating, something irritating,

annoying, and painful:annoying, and painful:

of ill-fitting of ill-fitting breastplates that chafe breastplates that chafe the wearer—making him the wearer—making him mad (Xenophon, mad (Xenophon, Mem.Mem.

3:10.15)3:10.15)

• • it's possible to be it's possible to be unhappy, sad, grieved, unhappy, sad, grieved,

hurt, irritated, and hurt, irritated, and angry all at the same angry all at the same

timetime

• • the opposite of the opposite of lupeolupeo is is euphraino,euphraino, "to cheer, "to cheer,

gladden"—gladden"—

the opposite of grieving the opposite of grieving the Spirit is making Him the Spirit is making Him

happyhappy

• • obedience, resisting obedience, resisting sin (beforehand), sin (beforehand),

confessing sin confessing sin (afterward), being (afterward), being

filled, and walking in filled, and walking in the Spirit makes Him the Spirit makes Him

happyhappy

SIN SIN GRIEVES GRIEVES

THE HOLY THE HOLY SPIRITSPIRIT

• • disobedience grieves disobedience grieves Him:Him:

the Spirit would have the Spirit would have been grieved had Paul been grieved had Paul

spoken the word of God spoken the word of God in Asia (Acts 16:6)in Asia (Acts 16:6)

• • lying to Him:lying to Him:

He was grieved when He was grieved when Ananias and Sapphira Ananias and Sapphira lied to Him (Acts 5:3)lied to Him (Acts 5:3)

• • ignoring Bible ignoring Bible teaching:teaching:

He is grieved when He is grieved when people ignore His people ignore His

teaching ministry (John teaching ministry (John 14:26; cf. 1 Tim 2:4)14:26; cf. 1 Tim 2:4)

• • rejecting divine rejecting divine guidance:guidance:

He is grieved when He is grieved when Christians refuse to let Christians refuse to let

Him lead and guide Him lead and guide them (Rom 8:14)them (Rom 8:14)

• • He is grieved when He is grieved when unbelievers insult, unbelievers insult,

blaspheme, or resist blaspheme, or resist His convicting ministry His convicting ministry (Matt 12:31; Heb 10:29; (Matt 12:31; Heb 10:29;

John 16:8–11)John 16:8–11)

• • both believers and both believers and unbelievers may grieve unbelievers may grieve

the Holy Spirit (cf. the Holy Spirit (cf. hithpael of hithpael of bAxDobAxDo "was "was

grieved" in Gen 6:6—grieved" in Gen 6:6—punishment follows punishment follows

grief)grief)

• • since disobedience, since disobedience, lying, and blasphemy lying, and blasphemy

are clearly sins, we may are clearly sins, we may conclude that personal conclude that personal

sins grieve the Holy sins grieve the Holy SpiritSpirit

LIST OF SINS LIST OF SINS IN THE IN THE

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT OF CONTEXT OF EPHESIANS EPHESIANS

4:304:30

And do not grieve the And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Holy Spirit of God, by

whom you were sealed whom you were sealed for the day of for the day of

redemption (Ephesians redemption (Ephesians 4:30).4:30).

• • the command not to the command not to grieve the Spirit grieve the Spirit

occurs near the end of occurs near the end of a list of sins that may a list of sins that may be committed against be committed against

one anotherone another

• • nine virtues are nine virtues are listed that make the listed that make the

Holy Spirit happy and Holy Spirit happy and eleven sins are listed eleven sins are listed that grieve Him (Eph that grieve Him (Eph

4:25–32)4:25–32)

• • these eleven sins are, these eleven sins are, for the most part, for the most part,

balanced with balanced with alternatives or alternatives or

opposites—things we opposites—things we should do for each should do for each

otherother

• • the following eleven the following eleven sins are prohibited and sins are prohibited and

grieve Him:grieve Him:

(1) lying to each other (1) lying to each other (4:25; cf. Prov 6:17; (4:25; cf. Prov 6:17;

12:22),12:22),

(2) letting your anger (2) letting your anger cause you to sin (4:26),cause you to sin (4:26),

(3) giving the Devil an (3) giving the Devil an opportunity to cause opportunity to cause you to sin (4:27; cf. 1 you to sin (4:27; cf. 1

Cor 7:5),Cor 7:5),

(4) stealing from one (4) stealing from one another (4:28),another (4:28),

(5) speaking rotten (5) speaking rotten words to each other words to each other

(4:29),(4:29),

(6) expressing (6) expressing bitterness—bitterness—

makes you wince makes you wince emotionally (emotionally (pikriapikria

4:31; cf. Acts 8:23; Heb 4:31; cf. Acts 8:23; Heb 12:15),12:15),

(7) wrath (4:31),(7) wrath (4:31),

(8) anger (4:31), and(8) anger (4:31), and

(9) malice toward one (9) malice toward one another (4:31),another (4:31),

(10) shouting at each (10) shouting at each other (4:31; in a other (4:31; in a

quarrel Acts 23:9), quarrel Acts 23:9), andand

(11) slandering each (11) slandering each other (4:31)other (4:31)

• • these sins are mental these sins are mental (bitterness, wrath, (bitterness, wrath,

anger),anger),

verbal (lying, rotten verbal (lying, rotten words, shouting, words, shouting,

slander),slander),

and overt (stealing, and overt (stealing, malice)malice)

• • the Spirit is grieved—the Spirit is grieved—both sad and angry—if both sad and angry—if

we commit any of we commit any of these eleven sinsthese eleven sins

BALANCING BALANCING LIST OF LIST OF

VIRTUES IN VIRTUES IN THE THE

IMMEDIATE IMMEDIATE CONTEXTCONTEXT

• • the following nine the following nine Christian virtues are Christian virtues are

commanded and do not commanded and do not grieve Him:grieve Him:

(1) speaking the truth (1) speaking the truth to each other (4:25),to each other (4:25),

(2) being angry without (2) being angry without sinning (4:26),sinning (4:26),

(3) not letting the sun (3) not letting the sun go down on your anger go down on your anger

(4:26),(4:26),

(4) not giving the devil (4) not giving the devil an opportunity to cause an opportunity to cause

you to sin (4:27),you to sin (4:27),

(5) not stealing any (5) not stealing any longer (4:28),longer (4:28),

(6) working for a living (6) working for a living and sharing your and sharing your

surplus with those who surplus with those who have needs (4:28),have needs (4:28),

(7) speaking edifying (7) speaking edifying words that give grace words that give grace

to those who hear to those who hear them (4:29),them (4:29),

(8) being kind to one (8) being kind to one another and tender-another and tender-hearted (4:32), andhearted (4:32), and

(9) forgiving one (9) forgiving one another as God has another as God has forgiven you (4:32)forgiven you (4:32)

• • these nine virtues these nine virtues make Him happy, not make Him happy, not

sad or angry:sad or angry:

they're all things He they're all things He desires and has desires and has

commanded us to docommanded us to do

GRIEF IS THE GRIEF IS THE SPIRIT'S SPIRIT'S

EMOTIONAL EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO RESPONSE TO HUMAN SINHUMAN SIN

• • the greater the the greater the love the greater love the greater

the pain—so the pain—so infinite love is infinite love is

deeply hurtdeeply hurt

• • He feels grief He feels grief immediately when immediately when you sin because He you sin because He

is omniscient:is omniscient:

as soon as you sin, as soon as you sin, every time you sin, every time you sin,

He's grievedHe's grieved

• • why would you why would you want to grieve the want to grieve the Holy Spirit? He has Holy Spirit? He has done so much for done so much for

you!you!

GRIEVING GRIEVING AND BEING AND BEING

FILLEDFILLED

• • grieving the grieving the Spirit results in Spirit results in carnality, loss of carnality, loss of fellowship, and fellowship, and divine disciplinedivine discipline

• • grieving the grieving the Spirit blocks your Spirit blocks your

prayers and prayers and quenches His quenches His

ministry in your ministry in your lifelife

• • you can't grieve you can't grieve the Spirit and be the Spirit and be

filled with the filled with the SpiritSpirit

• • if you grieve Him, if you grieve Him, confess your sinsconfess your sins

(1 John 1:9);(1 John 1:9);

your fellowship your fellowship with God is with God is

restored and the restored and the Spirit will be happy Spirit will be happy

once again!once again!

SEALING SEALING MINISTRY OF MINISTRY OF THE SPIRITTHE SPIRIT

What does it What does it mean to be mean to be

sealed with the sealed with the Holy Spirit?Holy Spirit?

• • being sealed with the being sealed with the Holy Spirit is Holy Spirit is

mentioned three times mentioned three times in the New Testament:in the New Testament:

in 2 Corinthians 1:22 in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13–14 and Ephesians 1:13–14

and 4:30and 4:30

Now He who Now He who establishes us with you establishes us with you in Christ and anointed in Christ and anointed

us is God, us is God, who also who also sealed ussealed us and gave us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts the Spirit in our hearts

as a pledge (2 as a pledge (2 Corinthians 1:21–22).Corinthians 1:21–22).

In Him, you also, after In Him, you also, after listening to the message of listening to the message of

truth, the gospel of your truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also salvation — having also

believed, believed, you were sealed in you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,promise, who is given as a who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, pledge of our inheritance,

with a view to the with a view to the redemption of God’s own redemption of God’s own

possession, to the praise of possession, to the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13–His glory (Ephesians 1:13–

14).14).

And do not grieve And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit of

God, God, by whom by whom you were sealed you were sealed

for the day of for the day of redemptionredemption

(Ephesians 4:30).(Ephesians 4:30).

• God the Father seals believers at the moment of

salvation (2 Corinthians 1:22)

and this sealing preserves us until “the day of

redemption” (Ephesians 4:30b)—until we receive our

resurrection bodies (Philippians 3:20–21)

• • the word “seal” the word “seal” (sfragi÷ß)(sfragi÷ß) refers to refers to physical seals such physical seals such as signet rings that as signet rings that made impressionsmade impressions

and to the and to the impressions impressions themselvesthemselves

• • on some occasions on some occasions the impression was the impression was

equivalent to a equivalent to a signaturesignature

• sometimes seals • sometimes seals were among the were among the

decorative decorative attachments to attachments to

clothingclothing

• • physical seals were physical seals were widely used in ancient widely used in ancient times, as documented times, as documented

by Herodotus’ by Herodotus’ statement that every statement that every man possessed a staff man possessed a staff

and a sealand a seal

SEAL OF BARUCHSEAL OF BARUCH

SEAL OF SEAL OF JEZEBELJEZEBEL

SEAL SEAL OF OF

KING KING AHAZAHAZ

SHIP ON ISRAELITE SHIP ON ISRAELITE SEALSEAL

ASSYRIASSYRIAN AN

STAMP STAMP AND AND

CYLINDCYLINDER ER

SEALSSEALS

AGATE CYLINDER SEAL FROM AGATE CYLINDER SEAL FROM ASSYRIAASSYRIA

• • things were sealed for things were sealed for three reasons:three reasons:

(1) inaccessibility(1) inaccessibility

(2) authorization and (2) authorization and certificationcertification

(3) ownership and (3) ownership and possessionpossession

INACCESSIBILIINACCESSIBILITYTY

to keep people outto keep people out

• • various objects were sealed various objects were sealed in order to prevent others in order to prevent others from tampering with their from tampering with their

contents without being contents without being detecteddetected

these include vessels, money these include vessels, money bags (Tobit 9:5), a pagan bags (Tobit 9:5), a pagan

temple (Bel and the Dragon temple (Bel and the Dragon 14, 16), and letters (to be 14, 16), and letters (to be

opened only by the intended opened only by the intended recipient who would break recipient who would break

the seal)the seal)

• • examples:examples:

(1) when Darius the (1) when Darius the Medo-Persian king was Medo-Persian king was

manipulated into manipulated into throwing Daniel into the throwing Daniel into the lion’s den, he sealed it lion’s den, he sealed it with his signet ring to with his signet ring to prevent anyone from prevent anyone from

having access to Daniel having access to Daniel (Daniel 6:17)(Daniel 6:17)

(2) the chief priests and (2) the chief priests and Pharisees asked Pontius Pharisees asked Pontius

Pilate to seal Jesus’ tomb to Pilate to seal Jesus’ tomb to prevent His corpse from prevent His corpse from being stolen so that His being stolen so that His

followers could say He was followers could say He was resurrected (Matthew 27:62–resurrected (Matthew 27:62–

65)65)

the seal was affixed to the the seal was affixed to the stone to close the tomb stone to close the tomb

officially by governmental officially by governmental edictedict

• • at the end of the Great at the end of the Great Tribulation an angel hunts Tribulation an angel hunts down, captures, and binds down, captures, and binds Satan with a great chain;Satan with a great chain;

he escorts him to the Abyss, he escorts him to the Abyss, opens the door with a key, opens the door with a key, throws Satan in, then locks throws Satan in, then locks

and seals the door for a and seals the door for a thousand years (Revelation thousand years (Revelation

20:1–2)20:1–2)

AUTHORIZATIOAUTHORIZATION AND N AND

CERTIFICATIONCERTIFICATION

• • the king’s seal the king’s seal extended his royal extended his royal

authority to the one authority to the one who possessed itwho possessed it

• it thereby certified • it thereby certified that the person was that the person was

the king’s official the king’s official agentagent

• • examples:examples:

(1) Pharaoh gave Joseph (1) Pharaoh gave Joseph his royal seal, his royal seal,

authorizing him to enact authorizing him to enact his policies (Gen. 41:42–his policies (Gen. 41:42–

44).44).

(2) Jezebel placed (2) Jezebel placed King Ahab’s seal King Ahab’s seal

on her letters on her letters concerning concerning

Naboth (1 Kings Naboth (1 Kings 21:8).21:8).

(3) The Persian king’s (3) The Persian king’s signet ring was used signet ring was used by Haman to seal his by Haman to seal his decrees against the decrees against the Jews, thus putting Jews, thus putting

royal authority behind royal authority behind the decrees (Esther the decrees (Esther 3:10; cf. 8:8, 10).3:10; cf. 8:8, 10).

• • important documents important documents were agreed to and certified were agreed to and certified

by means of a sealby means of a seal

• examples include a • examples include a marriage contract (Tob. marriage contract (Tob.

7:14), a deed of sale (Jer. 7:14), a deed of sale (Jer. 32:9–12, 44), and a 32:9–12, 44), and a

covenant with God (Neh. covenant with God (Neh. 9:38–10:1)9:38–10:1)

OWNERSHIP OWNERSHIP AND AND

PROTECTIONPROTECTION

• • examples:examples:

(1) God had one of His (1) God had one of His servants place a mark on the servants place a mark on the

foreheads of those who foreheads of those who protested the abominations protested the abominations done in their midst (Ezekiel done in their midst (Ezekiel

9:3–4)9:3–4)

• • its purpose was to protect its purpose was to protect them from God’s wrath in His them from God’s wrath in His judgment since they were His judgment since they were His

property (9:6)property (9:6)

(2) in the Tribulation the (2) in the Tribulation the 144,000 will be identified 144,000 will be identified

by a seal on their by a seal on their foreheads (Revelation foreheads (Revelation

7:3–4)7:3–4)

• the seal on the • the seal on the foreheads of the 144,000 foreheads of the 144,000 will be the name of the will be the name of the Lamb and the name of Lamb and the name of the Father (Revelation the Father (Revelation

14:1)14:1)

• • in the fifth trumpet in the fifth trumpet judgment the locusts will judgment the locusts will be allowed to harm “only be allowed to harm “only those people who [will] those people who [will] not have the seal of God not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Rev. on their foreheads” (Rev.

9:4, NIV)9:4, NIV)

• • the purpose of this seal will be the purpose of this seal will be to label God’s people as to label God’s people as belonging to Him—as His belonging to Him—as His

possessionpossession

• what He owns, He also • what He owns, He also protects from the disasters protects from the disasters predicted for the Tribulationpredicted for the Tribulation

• His protection will guarantee • His protection will guarantee their survivaltheir survival

• this will give them comfort, • this will give them comfort, assurance, and security, even in assurance, and security, even in

difficult circumstancesdifficult circumstances

• • pagans expressed their pagans expressed their commitment to and possession commitment to and possession by their god by bearing on their by their god by bearing on their bodies the distinctive mark of a bodies the distinctive mark of a

seal representing the god seal representing the god (Herodotus 2.113).(Herodotus 2.113).

• this supposedly brought them • this supposedly brought them under the protection of that under the protection of that

god.god.

• worshipers of Dionysius had • worshipers of Dionysius had their god’s sign, an ivy leaf, their god’s sign, an ivy leaf,

burned on them—a procedure burned on them—a procedure described by the verb described by the verb

sfragi÷zein sfragi÷zein (3 Maccabees (3 Maccabees 3:29 ).3:29 ).

(3)(3) being sealed with being sealed with the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit certifies God’s certifies God’s ownership and ownership and

protection of His protection of His peoplepeople

• • believers are believers are sealed, the Holy sealed, the Holy Spirit is the seal, Spirit is the seal, and the Father and the Father

does the sealingdoes the sealing

• • we are sealed at the we are sealed at the moment of salvation moment of salvation when the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit

begins His indwelling.begins His indwelling.

• as a result of this action • as a result of this action the salvation of believers the salvation of believers

is securedis secured

• • believers are God’s believers are God’s inviolable property and inviolable property and

He will protect themHe will protect them

• as a result, we can • as a result, we can enjoy complete enjoy complete security in our security in our

relationship with Himrelationship with Him

• • the sealing the sealing ministry of the Holy ministry of the Holy

Spirit is a strong Spirit is a strong argument for eternal argument for eternal

securitysecurity

• • sin grieves Him sin grieves Him but you won't lose but you won't lose

your salvation:your salvation:

the Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit is your seal, your your seal, your security, your security, your guarantee of guarantee of eternal lifeeternal life

• • His indwelling is His indwelling is permanent:permanent:

You areYou are

"sealed for the day of "sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. redemption" (Eph.

4:30b)4:30b)

—and no one can break —and no one can break the sealthe seal

SHEEP IN THE WORD MINISTRIESRev. Robert C. Lewis • Glendale Baptist Church • Houston, Texas

quicknotes.org • 2007