How can we avoid resisting the Holy Spirit as described in Acts 7:53? Acts 7:53 in context “You who received the Law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.” (Acts 7:53) Stephen linked failure to obey God’s revealed Word with “resisting the Holy Spirit” (v. 51). Avoiding that resistance starts with receiving and keeping what God has spoken. What resisting the Holy Spirit looks like - Ignoring or dismissing Scripture (John 8:47; 2 Timothy 3:16) - Delaying obedience when conviction comes (James 4:17) - Hardening the heart through repeated unbelief (Hebrews 3:7-8; Psalm 95:7-8) - Substituting external religion for inner surrender (Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:8) - Justifying sin instead of confessing and forsaking it (Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:8-9) Root causes of resistance - Pride – unwillingness to admit God is right (Proverbs 16:18) - Fear – what full obedience might cost (John 12:42-43) - Worldly entanglements – love for sin or cultural approval (2 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:15-17) - Spiritual dullness from neglect of worship and the Word (Hebrews 5:11-12) Practical ways to avoid resisting Him - Daily, submissive Bible intake • Read, study, and memorize (Psalm 119:11) • Yield immediately when Scripture exposes an attitude or action - Ongoing prayer for sensitivity • “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God.” (Psalm 143:10) • Ask the Spirit to spotlight anything grieving Him (Ephesians 4:30) - Quick confession and repentance • Keep short accounts with God (1 John 1:9) • Replace sin with Spirit-led action (Ephesians 4:22-24) - Fellowship with obedient believers • Spur one another on to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Receive counsel and correction gladly (Proverbs 27:5-6) - Practicing immediate obedience • “Do whatever He tells you.” (John 2:5) • Obey first; understanding often follows - Cultivating gratitude and worship • The Spirit fills hearts that exalt Christ (Ephesians 5:18-20) Positive examples that encourage us - Philip obeyed promptly and the Ethiopian believed (Acts 8:26-39) - Ananias laid hands on Saul despite fear, leading to Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:10-17) - Cornelius and Peter each responded to the Spirit’s prompting, opening the door to Gentiles (Acts 10) Promises for those who yield - Clear guidance: “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) - Inner renewal: “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) - Fruitful character: love, joy, peace, and the rest of the fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) - Effective witness: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:8) Living it out - Treasure Scripture as God’s immediate voice - Keep the heart tender through worship, repentance, and fellowship - Act promptly on every nudge of the Spirit By embracing these patterns, we stay pliable in the Spirit’s hands and avoid the tragic resistance Stephen exposed in Acts 7:53. |
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