Greiving God
Genesis 6.1-6
We don't hear this enough today. Soren Kekegard wrote, "The human race in the course of time has taken the liberty of softening Christianity until at last we have continued to make it exactly the opposite of what it is in the New Testament."
Too we simply look at what we can get from God alone. This shows up in our prayers. We tend to gravitate to what we need. We move over to Thanksgiving but we have to stay focused on that or we revert back to asking. Few people get to the place Isaiah got to where he said, "Here am I. Send me." (Isaiah 6.8)
True disciples of Jesus follow Him and look at what they can give the LORD. They look at how tye can serve Him.
Here in this scripture we see God's heart being grieved. His heart was filled with pain (v.6) The LORD has feelings. It is possible to delight in Him or grieve Him by the way we live.
1. THIS IS THE FIRST INSTANCE OF GRIEVING THE LORD. vs.5-6
Man's great wickedness - His heart inclined to evil thoughts constantly.
v.11 the earth was full of violence
The idea of grief here is to be moved to pity, to have compassion, be comforted.
It carries the idea of hurt, pain, being displeased, torture and vexed
We are told in Genesis 1.31 God saw all that He had made and it was very good.
Now as He looks (6.5) it has become very bad. This is all due to sin, sin entering the human race and the world, men becoming evil and violent and wicked. God is grieved to the point of being sorry He even created life (v.7)
v.8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD... and so we see the beginnings of Grace!
Let's go to the New Testament. Is this concept of grieving the LORD a possibilty? Look at Ephesians 4.30
2. WE NEED TO GUARD AGAINST GREIVING HIS SPIRIT Ephesians 4.29-31
This means we can bring sadness or sorrow upon the Holy Spirit by our lives as believers!
Look at the context.
* v.29 any unwholesome talk
Jokes that are improper, foul language, fourletter words are out of place for God's people.
Gossip tears people up and has absolutely no benefit.
Our conversation should be limited to only what is helpful to building others up.
Following Jesus- He spoke the words that cheered and blessed. Imagine people listening to our conversations and receiving blessings and benefits. That is possible!
A man walked into the Park Street Church in Boston one night after the Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. The wives of the elders were in a meeting with the pastor. The ladies sat in the sanctuary waiting for their husbands when in he came in. He asked to the pastor. The ladies told him he was in a meeting and would be out shortly. The meeting ended. They pointed introduced the man to the pastor. The man said, "I came in here tonight to decide whether to follow the LORD or not. But I don't need to see you now. After listening to these ladies talk my mind has been made up. Their conversation was so good about Him and others that I decided to follow Him. Their conversation drew me in."
This pleases the LORD- unwholesme talk grieves His Spirit.
There is more:
v.31 These things specifically are mentioned here as grieving the Spirit.
Bitterness- we all have things floating around that we could harbor- Don't! Send them out to sea!
Rage and Anger- self control is a fruit of the Spirit/ fits of rage a work of the flesh
Brawling, slander, malice in all its many forms- all grieve the Spirit.
Of course nay sin does.
3. LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE! Ephesians 4.32-5.7
For God vs.4.32-5.2
For Others vs.3-7
Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
Love Others as yourself and you will not grieve the Spirit and you will fulfill the law. Love is the fulfillment of the law and the only way to please the LORD!
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