Can You Grieve God?
How is it that the one who is all knowing can be stricken with sadness? Is it possible that my incorrect decisions were not predestined? It is impossible to surprise God. He knew us and every decision we would make before even the creation of the earth! How freeing can it be to know that we are incapable of causing Him sorrow. The fruit of our grieving is conviction. He is not a God of conviction or condemnation. John 3:17 -- “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
Why do we think we are capable of such things? How is it that we can change the mood of God by out actions? If we believe and preach that He is the Rock and is the only unshakable force, then why are we taught that God’s mood is dependent on our daily choices.... If this is the case then wow, God must enjoy being in a “bad mood” all the time. Guess He didn’t think it through before He decided to created man.
We can see in scripture that the word Grief is used in various places. Too often we read the Bible just for it’s face value - then we write books, sermons, teachings etc.
There are some 20 Hebrew words translated in King James Version for “grief”, “grieve,” “to be grieved,” etc. Among the chief are chalah, choli, yaghon, ka’ac, atsabh. They differ, partly in their physical origin, and partly in the nature and cause of the feeling expressed. The revised Version (British and American) in several instances gives effect to this.
Eph 4:30
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God”; - Or [diaponeomai] not the Holy Spirit of God
diaponeomai is the Greek word that is used in this scripture for “grieve” -- Which means: to toil through, to be worn out or annoyed. -- [Strongs Concordinance]
Lexicon definition:
-to work out laboriously,
-make complete by labor
-to exert one’s self, strive
-to manage with pains, accomplish with great labor
-to be troubled, displeased, offended, pained, to be worked up
Basically He is saying do not conflict with the Holy Spirit. Our flesh wants to be the exact oposite to what the HS is trying to influence. So don’t battle with the HS, submit to the will of God aka Holy Spirit. The holy Spirit is not an element of God but IS God! The Trinity is ONE. So do not toil with God!
Another way to view the Scriputre is like this:
“Strive not the Holy Spirit of God” or “Labor not the Holy Spirit of God”
With this now in the correct perspective we can easily see now that the word grieve [diaponeomai] in Eph 4:30 is meaning not to cause to labor or block the natural flow of the Holy Spirit. This is not relating to causing the Holy Spirit to become sorrowful or sad about our choices in life. Sorrow is stemmed from disappointment. If you are the ALL knowing creator you are never surprised therefore you can never be disappointed.
In sum the Scripture is saying we are not to follow the ways of the flesh which will in turn, labor the Holy Spirit with in us. Because the Holy Spirit has already been pured out on ALL flesh there is not labor or tolling that SHOULD be done. He said it is finished! So the laboring comes in when we allow the flesh to get in the way of the river of life that we call the Holy Spirit. Once the strong holds of the flesh are allowed to restrict the natural flow of the Spirit you will notice that it takes a work. it takes some toiling to tear those things in our lives down. Well how do we avoid restricting the Holy Spirit in our lives? - Continue to read past verse 31, 32 in chapter 4 of Ephesians.
Eph 4:31,32 -- Get rid of all bitterness, rage anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tender hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
He gives us clear understanding of what we allow that will restrict the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He also tells us what we need to do to keep this flow going - and once we have submitted fully to the Holy Spirit the labor / toiling in doing so becomes easier and easier, hence the natural flow of the Spirit. What is natural is what comes expected with no work involved. Because it is not by our works but HIS! Hallelujah!
Created over 1 year ago
