It is very easy to grieve the Spirit of God; we do it by despising the discipline of the Lord, or by becoming discouraged when He rebukes us. If our experience of being set apart from sin and being made holy through the process of sanctification is still very shallow, we tend to mistake the reality of God for something else. And when the Spirit of God gives us a sense of warning or restraint, we are apt to say mistakenly, “Oh, that must be from the devil.”

“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and do not despise Him when He says to you, in effect, “Don’t be blind on this point anymore— you are not as far along spiritually as you thought you were. Until now I have not been able to reveal this to you, but I’m revealing it to you right now.” When the Lord disciplines you like that, let Him have His way with you. Allow Him to put you into a right-standing relationship before God.

“…nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” We begin to pout, become irritated with God, and then say, “Oh well, I can’t help it. I prayed and things didn’t turn out right anyway. So I’m simply going to give up on everything.” Just think what would happen if we acted like this in any other area of our lives!

Am I fully prepared to allow God to grip me by His power and do a work in me that is truly worthy of Himself? Sanctification is not my idea of what I want God to do for me— sanctification is God’s idea of what He wants to do for me. But He has to get me into the state of mind and spirit where I will allow Him to sanctify me completely, whatever the cost (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

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August 14 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I agree with Chambers on almost everything in this devotional except the piece that says… It is very easy to grieve the Spirit of God; we do it by despising the discipline of the Lord, or by becoming discouraged when He rebukes us. I believe You already know my stubborn, self-righteous, self-serving, discipline avoiding human nature, and You love me anyway and have made a way for me to be conformed into the likeness of Jesus, regardless. Do I grieve You when I go off on my own, or forget that the tough times are part of the sandpaper and whetstones of life that You use to mold me into the shape of Jesus? Do I grieve You when I do not respond to your discipline or give up on You and Your promises?

And God says…”The sacrifice of Jesus allows Me to see Jesus instead of you…He was and is your substitute. I am not grieved; however, I do wish you would learn early and quickly for your own sake. When you go through the same trial time after time it is not because I want to discipline you over and over, it is because you have not availed yourself of the benefits of the trial. And it goes on and on, over and over until you are blessed and transformed by the trial. Jesus cannot operate on your behalf when do not believe. Your abundant life lies inside the teaching and discipline of the Holy Spirit. When you try to avoid the discipline, you are also avoiding the abundant life that lies on the other side of faith, hope, and belief. I simply want my children to enjoy the benefits of the abundant life I prepared on the other side of the discipline. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God which is Jesus, and I will provide everything else you require. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.