Holy Spirit, resisting

The work of the Holy Spirit can be resisted through disobedience and unbelief.

Scriptural images of resisting the Holy Spirit

Grieving the Spirit

Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30

But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Resisting the Spirit

Acts 7:51 See also Genesis 6:3; Acts 6:9–10

You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.

Blaspheming against the Spirit

Mark 3:29 parallels Matthew 12:31, Luke 12:10 See also Hebrews 10:29

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”

Quenching the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Do not extinguish the Spirit.

Lying to the Spirit

Acts 5:3

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?

Testing the Spirit

Acts 5:9

“How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

Ways in which the Holy Spirit is resisted

Through sin

Galatians 5:17 See also Ephesians 4:30–31

For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.

Through rebellion

Psalm 106:33 See also Isaiah 63:10

For they rebelled against His Spirit, and Moses spoke rashly with his lips.

Through hardness of heart

Zechariah 7:12 See also Acts 7:51

They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.

Through spiritual blindness

1 Corinthians 2:14

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.