Hello
Friends!
Welcome back! As you well know, we have been deeply
discerning The Holy Spirit: His Work & Ministry
according to God’s WONDERFUL Word…
RECAP REMINDER: Throughout this multi-part
serious study series regarding the “Holy Spirit”
of God, we have already diligently discussed the following SIX
poignant points of critical concern:
FIRST critical concern: The WORK of the Holy Spirit in SALVATION!
SECOND critical concern: The BIRTH of the Church BY the
Holy Spirit!
THIRD critical concern: The BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit at SALVATION!
FOURTH critical concern: The WORK of the Holy Spirit in SANCTIFICATION!
FIFTH critical concern: GRIEVING the Holy
Spirit!
SIXTH critical concern: QUENCHING the Holy
Spirit!
Therefore,
let’s now consider the SEVENTH and final critical concern
regarding this important subject matter surrounding the third PERSON of the thrice Holy Trinity within
the Godhead – TRODDENING the Holy Spirit!
The Holy Spirit: His Work & Ministry (Part 7)
TRODDENING the
Holy Spirit!
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: As a sincere “Christian” and FOLLOWER
of “Jesus Christ” our Lord, do you ever struggle
with the pressures of on-going “sin”
issues in your life? And as a result, do you ever doubt that God is
actually PLEASED with your “life” even though the Bible states otherwise?
If we’re honest with God and ourselves, we ALL
feel this way from time to time – Our Sanctification
Struggle!
QUIZZING QUESTION: Can a TRUE
beloved “born-again” Bible-believing “Christian”
actually “trodden” upon
(deny) “God” Himself – TRODDENING the Holy
Spirit?
Of how
much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God, and hath counted
the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath
done despite unto
the Spirit of grace? – Hebrews
10:29
BIBLICAL
ANSWER: ~ NO!
However… As
we’ve learned, the “Christian” can
indeed “grieve” and “quench” the “Holy Spirit” of “God” and MUST therefore continually
be BEING always FILLED His POWER
unto “holiness” through Him – Be INCREASINGLY filled!
To
be “saved’ from “sin”
and “damnation” of the SOUL,
one must NEVER truly “trodden” upon the “Spirit
of grace” unto God – WHAT does THIS mean?
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: In the book of Hebrews, the Apostle Paul is putting forth a severe
warning to the PROFESSING
beguiled bystanders of whom BLATANTLY
continue “sinning” and thus CONCIOUSLY without the slightest
desire to heed God’s Word, REFUSE
to REPENT unto the Lord. These PIOUS people have HEARD
the message of God’s great “gospel”
of “grace” and have UNDERSTOOD
it as such. However, they have readily REJECTED
God’s great offer of “forgiveness”
through Himself. Thus Paul says they have REJECTED
the PERSON of “Jesus Christ” as they “trodden under foot the Son of God”
incarnate. HOW? By a DEFIANT
act of their “wicked” waning WILL of “heart”
and “mind” in habitual UNBELIEF
unto “God” Himself – Hard-heartedness!
They
have hence REJECTED the PERSON and WORK
of “Jesus Christ” as they considered “the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was
sanctified, an unholy thing” by REJECTING
God Himself! And they have thus “trodden”
upon the POWER of “Jesus Christ” through the “Spirit of grace” in FORFIETURE of His “salvation”
offer of “eternal life” in Him. This IS indeed – The UNPARDONALBLE sin!
The
“Spirit of grace” is
the ONE of Whom brings to us the REGENERATING great “gift”
of “grace” and applies the FULLNESS of “Jesus
Christ’s” wonderful “redemptive”
work unto every “believer” in Him. Therefore,
to consistently
reject the marvelous and gracious WORK
by the “Holy Spirit” is the height
of rank rebellion and fickle folly…
For it
is impossible for
those who were once
enlightened, and have
tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted
the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they
shall fall away, to
renew them again unto
repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame
– Hebrews 6:4-6
For if
we sin wilfully
after that we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries – Hebrews 10:26-27
Today
we hear MUCH of the magnificent
“mercy” and great “grace”
of God. And RIGHTFULLY so! However,
we MUST also REMEMBER
the SEVERITY of God’s just “judgment” and “wrath”
upon “lost” and UNREPENTANT souls – Damning DOOM!
POIGNANT POINT: When the “Holy Spirit” is PROMPTING
an UNBELIEVER to “repent”
of their “sin” but they rebelliously CONTINUE in it “wilfully” unabated, they are in
dire DANGER of DENYING
the “Holy Spirit” and thus making it “impossible” to EVER return unto Him. Thus they – TRODDEN upon God’s great
GRACE!
HELPFUL
HINTS: Here is a bit of
further INSIGHT regarding the SERIOUS study of the book of Hebrews
to aid in AVOIDING the common CONFUSION today between a true “believer” actually LOOSING
their “salvation” as opposed
to the Biblical PROMISE of
Eternal Security for the true “follower” of “Jesus
Christ” our Lord. HOW?
The book of Hebrews was written by the “Holy
Spirit” in A.D. 65 to
CONVICT the many unbelieving
first-century JEWISH people for the
expressed PURPOSE of “preaching the Gospel” to the “nation” of “Israel”
at a time PRIOR
to the DESTRUCTION
of the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. when God’s sacrificial system
was actively in place. Therefore, it was NOT primarily written to CONFRONT the “Church”
body and “Bride of Christ” itself. WHY? Because those individual “Christians” were ALREADY secured in the ETERNAL family of “God”
through the FINAL atoning SACRIFICE of “Jesus
Christ” our Lord – Important DISTINCTION
through proper CONTEXT!
Hide
these contextual DISTINCTIONS in your “heart” and the DISCERNING
of these Biblical TRUTHS will become a JOYFUL journey of PEACE and “understanding”
through God’s WONDERFUL Word – Praise the Lord!
In closing:
Here
are some poignant points offered by a man referred to as the “Prince of Preachers” in his day,
concerning the “Holy Spirit” of God:
“The other day we were asked to mention the
name of some person who might be a suitable pastor for a vacant church, and the
deacon who wrote said, "Let him be a converted man, and let him be one who
believes what he preaches; for there are those around us who give us the idea
that they have neither part nor lot in the matter." This remark is more
commonly made than we like to remember, and there is, alas! too much need for
it. A student from a certain college preached to a congregation we sometimes
visit such a sermon that the deacon said to him in the vestry, "Sir, do
you believe in the Holy Ghost?" The youth replied, "I suppose
I do." To which the deacon answered, "I suppose you do not, or you would not have insulted us with such false doctrine."
A little plain-speaking would do a world of good just now. These
gentlemen desire to be let alone. They want no noise raised. Of course
thieves hate watch-dogs, and love darkness. It is time that somebody should
spring his rattle, and call attention to the way in which God
is being robbed of his glory, and man of his hope.” – Charles Spurgeon "The Down
Grade" The Sword and the Trowel
~ August, 1887 (emphasis mine)
This excellent excerpt is framed within an
analyzing article representing Charles Spurgeon's first major entry into what
was to be coined the “war of printed words” regarding what
he referred to as the "Down Grade Controversy” of which he recognized
was festering
among the majority of faltering “church” pulpits in his day. These wonderful writings would
spark a controversy of commentary that fiercely pursued brother
Spurgeon to his grievous grave – A Faithful Friend of Jesus Christ!
REAL REFLECTIONS:
Beloved, the “Holy Spirit” will
indeed meet you, fill you and send
you RENEWED in His POWER to do BATTLE for
the “Kingdom of God” through His “Gospel” grace
– According to HIS wonderful WILL and WORD!
For
though we walk in the flesh, we
do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling
down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought
to the obedience of
Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Therefore, if you answered “YES” to any
of the very difficult self-examining questions
poignantly posed throughout this serious Bible study of which are in direct OPPOSITION to our
“Lord and Savior” Himself… REPENT and turn BACK
to Jesus Christ IN true CONFESSION and CONTRITION!
For godly sorrow worketh repentance
to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death – 2 Corinthians 7:10
FINAL FACTS: Our “walk” with
the Lord is NOT one
of PERFECTION
but one of DIRECTION!
There is a distinct
difference concerning
our eternal RELATIONSHIP with God verses our earthly FELLOWSHIP with Him. There are MANY FILLINGS received FROM
the “Holy
Spirit” in your
“sanctification” and YOU have ALL of HIM at
the MOMENT of your “salvation”
in “Jesus Christ” alone – HOWEVER… Does HE have ALL of
YOU?
Keep looking up and sharing
the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha – Come quickly Lord Jesus!
We
are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't
yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus
Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
Lighthouse Publications <><
