The Spirit.

I love it when a sermon hits me right between the eyes. It's like God taps me on the shoulder and whispers, "Beloved, I want to show you something new. I want to take you a step deeper." Then it's up to me to take that opportunity or walk away from him. I'd like to say that more often than not that I take the opportunity and run with God, but I fear that has not always been true. It's definitely a journey and I just have to follow step-by-step, in faith.

Today, my pastor brought it with an anointed sermon on Ephesians 5:15-21. I love that he totally busted it into a sermon about the Holy Spirit. Ever since before Passion I had longing to learn more about the Holy Spirit. At Passion, a friend and I had this conversation and he suggested a book for me to read. By God's sovereignty, I had the opportunity to attend a bible study led by my high school mentor on that very book. (Very neat!) With all the busyness of my life currently, this was a well-timed reminder.

My pastor mentioned that there are two negative dealings we have with the Spirit. Quenching and grieving. I've heard those phrases over and over yet never really dug into them deep.

Quench (1 Thessalonians 5:16-21) - "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
Grieve (Ephesians 4:30) - "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Here are the conclusions I came to regarding these dealings:

Quench- things we don't do. (like, we don't rejoice, we don't pray, we don't do what God tells us to, etc.)
Grieve- things we do. (like, we are angry, have unwholesome talk, etc.)

After further reflection I came to a few realizations of how I do both of these things.

Ashley's confessional time: (yep, that's right!)

Quench (things I don't do) - Not taking actions to further my relationship with the Lord above all other things.
What are these actions that I don't do? (Not an exhaustive list.. just a few examples):
Matthew 6:33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Isaiah 55:6-9 (read the whole chapter when you can.. but I need to grab a few bits from this chapter to save your eyes)- "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Grieve (things I do) - Doing life (whether in thoughts, attitudes, or actions) my own way instead of seeking his desires.
What does this look like? (Not an exhaustive list.. just a few examples):
Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Philippians 2:5-8 - "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross!"
James 2:17-18 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

I think my next step is to dig into these verses (and others that apply.. which there are several) and really seek the Lord in these matters so that I may "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).

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P.S. Did you know that in scripture the phrase "filled with the Spirit" usually comes with amazing power and boldness? I WANT THAT! There a tons of examples (especailly in Acts) but these are a few of my favorites!
Check it out:
Micah 3:8 - “But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.”
Acts 4:31 - “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Acts 13:9-12 - “Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.’ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.