For the past several weeks we have noticed different aspects about the Holy Spirit. We have considered some false concepts that seek to diminish the concept of monotheism, sadly, embraced by “so-called” gospel preachers. We have noticed the teaching about the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, Paul’s letters, and the general epistles. We have considered the work of the Holy Spirit like how He helps us to remember, how He re-creates us, and how He helps us to bear fruit. What else should we know? The Holy Spirit can leave us. He can, and eventually will, vanish from our life if we choose to return to a life of wickedness.
We need the Holy Spirit in our lives! However, this relationship between us and the Holy can be damaged. Believers can quench Him (I Thessalonians 5:19) by attempting to hinder His ministry. We can grieve Him by being bitter, angry, hateful, vengeful and unkind toward others (Ephesians 4:30-31). We can also lie against Him (Acts 5:3) through hypocrisy, cheating, and deception. And, we can blaspheme Him (Matthew 12:22-37) by giving credit to someone/something instead of Him and/or trying to physically hinder His good work. The bottom line is that God’s Holy Spirit can leave us (Psalm 51).
The sins I mentioned about involve a heart problem. We can allow our attitude, and relationships with other people/things, to drive us further away from God. We cannot fool God about our attitudes, words, feelings, and actions. He knows us in every intimate way possible and when His Holy Spirit is inside of us, working through us, nothing is hidden. He knows us in the “inward” parts because we are His holy temple (I Corinthians 3:16-17).
How can the Holy Spirit, promised to us in salvation, leave us? The answer is simple. Sin harms our fellowship with God (Ephesians 6:5-9). God cannot, and will not, dwell in the darkness. He is light and He comes into our lives to dispel the darkness. If we ignore His will, and refuse His leading in us, He has to leave. Our holy, righteous, and blameless God will stay inside of us if we are a work in progress. However, if we stray from Him He is compelled to leave us as orphans again (Hebrews 6:5-6). This is part of free will.
What should we do when we realize that we have sinned against God? It’s going to happen from time to time…. We drift, we are offended, or we run away. There is a difference between drifting away from God, being forced out, and leaving His fold. Consider Luke 15 and the three lost things. One was lost accidentally (sheep), one was lost carelessly (coin), and another was lost willingly and rebelliously (son/boy). Like the sheep we may drift, but others may help to retrieve us. Like the coin we may get misplaced, but careless words/actions should be confronted. Like the son/boy we may just leave God out of rebellion. The solution is simple… confess your sins and start a new walk by faith with Him in fellowship (Proverbs 28:13, Galatians 5:16, 25-26, I John 1:9-10). Don’t run away from God, run toward God! Turn back to Him!
God wants to forgive you. He has created you with a glorious purpose. He has provided a way for salvation. He is preparing your reserved spot in heaven right now. Don’t allow anything to get between you and the God who loves you!
You are loved.
Dr. Ray Reynolds
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