0792. 774. Sins Against the Holy Spirit

774. Sins Against the Holy Spirit

“They Rebelled, and Vexed His Holy Spirit” Isa_63:10

A few years ago a pioneer in Northern Canada had a pet dove, which he cherished as his own child. He used to spend his evenings reading with the dove gently cooing on his shoulder, and when he woke up in the morning it used to fly and nestle close to his face. In fact, they were inseparable. One day the man came home drunk, and the dove, not knowing his condition, flew as it used to, and lighted on his shoulder, close to his face. With an oath the man shook himself, and, being unaccustomed to such treatment, the dove flew to the window-sill, where it looked around, astonished at its master. After a little while, longing for the usual caress, the dove tried again, and this time perched not so near his face. With another terrible oath the man reeled back, and tried to hit the bird. It seemed as if the bird would fly out this time, but still hoping, as it were, that it was only a sudden fit, and its master would be normal soon, after quite a little while it made another attempt, this time landing on the very extremity of his shoulder, and looked around with a timid and frightened look. The man, as if in a fit of devilish rage, broke forth in terrible curses, and reeling back, he hit the dove with his fist. The poor, wounded bird flew to the window, and, stopping for a moment, it looked around with a look of pain and despair, and then flew out, never to return. How often we treat the Holy Spirit in that very same way; we slam, as it were, the door in His face. No wonder the Scripture likens Him to a dove. Could you have anything more gentle, tender, and faithful, and yet how easily disturbed and frightened away?

1. The Spirit may cease to “strive” through disobedience—Gen_6:3; 1Pe_3:20.

2. The Spirit may be lied against by evil promise and untruth—Act_5:9.

3. The Spirit may be resisted by opposition to the truth—Act_7:51.

4. We may “grieve” the Spirit by inconsistency—Eph_4:30.

5. We may “quench” the Spirit by discouraging others—1Th_5:19.

6. We may do “despite” to the Spirit by rejecting Christ—Heb_10:29.

7. We shall be walking after the flesh in opposition, if we do not walk after the Spirit—Rom_8:4, Rom_8:5.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH