(Walking in the Spirit) 14. HINDERING THE HOLY SPIRIT
A.B. Simpson teaches that believers must avoid grieving, resisting, and quenching the Holy Spirit by yielding to His guidance and allowing His free work in their lives and churches.
In this sermon, A.B. Simpson explores the ways believers can hinder the work of the Holy Spirit through disobedience, resistance, and improper worship. He emphasizes the Spirit's gentle respect for human will and the importance of yielding to His promptings. Simpson warns against formalism and rigidity in worship that can grieve the Spirit and calls for openness to His spontaneous work in the church and individual lives.
Text
"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God." Eph. 4: 30.
"Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost." Acts 7: 51.
"Quench not the Spirit." 1 Thess. 5: 19.
It is very touching and solemn that while the Holy Ghost might, in the exercise of His omnipotence, coerce our will, and compel us to submit to His authority, yet He approaches us with the most deferential regard for our feelings and independence, even suffering us to resist and disobey Him, and bearing long with our willfulness and waywardness.
There are several terms used in the Scriptures to denote the manner in which we may sin against the Holy Spirit.
I. We May Quench the Spirit.
This has reference, perhaps, mainly to the hindrance we offer to His work in others, rather than to our resistance of His personal dealings with our own souls.
Among the various hindrances which we may offer to the Holy Spirit may be mentioned such as these:
1. We may refuse to obey His impulses in us when He bids us speak or act for Him. We may be conscious of a distinct impression of the Spirit of God bidding us to testify for Christ, and by disobedience, or timidity, or procrastination, we may quench His working, both in our own soul and in the heart of another.
2. We may suppress His voice in others, either by using our authority to restrain His messages, when He speaks through His servants or refusing to allow the liberty of testimony. Many hold the reins of ecclesiastical authority unduly, and thus lose the free and effectual working of the Holy Ghost in their churches and in their work.
There is a less direct way, however, of politely silencing Him by forcing Him out, and so filling the atmosphere with the spirit of stiffness, criticism, and a certain air of respectability and rigidness that He gently withdraws from the uncongenial scene, and refuses to thrust His messages upon unwilling hearts.
3. The Spirit may be grieved by the method of public worship in a congregation.
It may be either so stiff and formal that there is no room for His spontaneous working, or so full of worldly and unscriptural elements as to repel and offend Him from taking any part in a pompous ritual. An operatic choir and a ritualistic service will effectually quench all the fire of God\
Sermon Outline
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I. Quenching the Spirit
- Refusing to obey His impulses to speak or act
- Suppressing His voice in others through authority
- Creating an atmosphere that repels the Spirit in worship
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II. Resisting the Holy Spirit
- The Spirit respects our will and allows resistance
- Resistance leads to grieving the Spirit
- Long-suffering of the Spirit despite disobedience
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III. Grieving the Holy Spirit
- Caused by stiff, formal worship lacking spontaneity
- Worldly or unscriptural elements offend the Spirit
- The Spirit withdraws from pompous ritualism
Key Quotes
“It is very touching and solemn that while the Holy Ghost might, in the exercise of His omnipotence, coerce our will, and compel us to submit to His authority, yet He approaches us with the most deferential regard for our feelings and independence.” — A.B. Simpson
“We may refuse to obey His impulses in us when He bids us speak or act for Him... we may quench His working, both in our own soul and in the heart of another.” — A.B. Simpson
“An operatic choir and a ritualistic service will effectually quench all the fire of God.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Be attentive and obedient to the Holy Spirit's promptings in daily life.
- Encourage freedom of testimony and Spirit-led ministry within the church.
- Cultivate worship that is sincere and open to the Spirit's spontaneous work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to quench the Holy Spirit?
To quench the Spirit means to hinder or suppress His work in ourselves or others, often by disobedience or creating an unwelcoming environment.
How can we resist the Holy Spirit?
We resist the Spirit by refusing to submit to His guidance and commands, despite His patient and respectful approach to our will.
Why is formal worship a hindrance to the Holy Spirit?
Formal or rigid worship can stifle the Spirit's spontaneous work and cause Him to withdraw due to lack of genuine openness.
Can the Holy Spirit force us to obey?
No, the Holy Spirit respects our independence and will not coerce our will, allowing us to resist or disobey Him.
What are some ways churches can hinder the Holy Spirit?
By suppressing testimonies, enforcing strict control over worship, or allowing worldly elements in services that repel the Spirit.