What does resisting the Holy Spirit look like in our modern lives? Acts 7:51 — The Core Verse “You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; just as your fathers did, you do as well.” What “Resisting” Meant for Stephen’s Hearers • Stubborn pride (“stiff-necked”) • Spiritual insensitivity (“uncircumcised hearts and ears”) • A long habit of rejecting God’s messengers How the Same Resistance Shows Up Today • Persistent refusal to repent when Scripture exposes sin (Hebrews 3:7-8) • Closed ears to biblical preaching that confronts lifestyle choices • Dismissing the Spirit’s quiet convicting voice with: – “Everyone else is doing it.” – “I’ll deal with that later.” • Rationalizing unforgiveness, envy, or impurity though the Word says otherwise (Ephesians 4:31-32) • Quenching Spirit-prompted generosity or service because of convenience or comfort (1 Thessalonians 5:19) • Re-labeling clear sin as mere “struggle” to avoid radical obedience (Galatians 5:19-21) Lingering Symptoms of a Resisting Heart • Loss of joy in worship (Psalm 51:12) • Irritation at biblical counsel from believers (Proverbs 15:32) • Growing comfort with worldly entertainment and values (1 John 2:15-17) • Cooling prayer life and rare confession of sin (1 John 1:9) • Habitual blaming of others or circumstances instead of personal repentance Scripture’s Full Portrait of Resistance • Grieving the Spirit by harboring bitterness or corrupt talk (Ephesians 4:30-31) • Quenching the Spirit by despising prophetic truth or conviction (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20) • Testing God through ongoing disobedience (Hebrews 3:16-19) Yielding Instead of Resisting • Keep a tender conscience: respond quickly when the Word pricks the heart (Psalm 139:23-24) • Embrace daily confession and cleansing (1 John 1:9) • Invite Scripture to reshape thinking; obey immediately (James 1:22-25) • Cultivate sensitivity by thanking the Spirit whenever He convicts, guides, or comforts (John 16:13) • Surround yourself with believers who speak truth in love (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Walk in the Spirit through habitual dependence and surrender (Galatians 5:16, 25) A Closing Picture Resisting the Holy Spirit is not merely a dramatic act of rebellion; it is the quiet, daily choice to tune out His voice. Yielding, on the other hand, turns the stiff neck into a bowed one, the closed ear into an open channel, and the hardened heart into fertile soil for God’s transforming grace. |
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