Grieving God is a Grievous Thing!
By Jill Briscoe
“You have not lied to men but to God.” ~ Acts 5:4
“What can God do for me?” inquired a divorced woman. “I am a Christian, but I’m lonely and bitter and all my friends have turned away from me.” I began to work with her on studying the Bible and learning about the Holy Spirit who had come to be her Companion and Helper. At the end of our time together she said, “I started off asking what He could do for me – but I’ve found out what I’ve been doing to Him!” She had learned that we can grieve, quench, and resist the Holy Spirit. We can even lie to Him!
There was a married couple in the early church who tried to do that. Their names were Ananias and Sapphira. They sold a piece of property for the church and, keeping back part of the price for themselves, brought the rest of the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet, saying they had brought it all! Both died as a result of this terrible deception (see Acts 5:4-10).
Did you know you can grieve, quench, and resist the Holy Spirit? Have you ever told Him a lie? Have you ever said, “Lord, I give you my life” – and then kept back part of it; or “Lord, I give you my money” – and kept back part; or “Lord, I give you my heart” – and again kept back part to love a person you knew He would not have you involved with?
When people say they would like to go back to the days of the early church, I wonder if they take into account God’s drastic dealings with His people? Grieving God is a grievous thing!
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