PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 12:30-37
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Matthew 12:32)
Jesus is warning the religious leaders, like a parent that warns their child:
‘If you keep making that face, your face will stay like that!’
To speak against God and Jesus is to resist the Spirit’s gracious work in our lives.
The Spirit keeps patiently working for all our lives, to break down our walls.
But the longer we resist the Spirit, the harder our hearts will become.
Jesus is not talking about a one-time act or word against the Spirit.
He is warning against the continued resistance of our hearts to Jesus.
Our words reveal the direction of our heart (12:34).
Someone told me with tears they had committed this unforgiveable sin.
I assured them they had not, the grief flowing from their heart proved that.
Their words revealed a heart that wanted to receive, not reject Jesus.
Listen to the heart behind your own words… do you desperately want Jesus?
An empty or faithless word here or there is not the problem, God knows our heart.
He knows, despite our failures, whether deep down we really want him or not.
PRAYER
Lord, deep down in my heart I want you, despite my failures. You know that I want to be for you and not against you. Keep working in me by your Spirit!
“Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven,” Cursing God – the Father, cursing Jesus and cursing the HS. They all sound bad to me. What is it about speaking against the HS that makes that unforgivable. It makes me think about the work of the HS – the work of shaping me, guiding me or making me more like Jesus. it seems to me that I may ‘slow’ down that work or block it at times, but the important work the HS does in shaping me is my hope -is my blessing – evidence that I’m still God’s child. Jesus seems to be saying that if you stop and reject that work – it is the end – there is no redemption. HS don’t give up on me even when I at times am so stubborn in my own ways. I am so blessed by your presence in my life and how am I to live and serve without you?
As the tree is recognized by its fruit, we are recognized by the words we speak. The words we speak come from the heart, that which gives us life. Everything flows from the heart. May the words I speak show the fruit of Christ living in me. I am His and He is mine. Others need to see Christ in me.
1 Lord, speak to me that I may speak
In living echoes of your tone.
As you have sought, so let me seek
Your erring children, lost and lone.
2 Oh, lead me, Lord, that I may lead
The wand’ring and the wav’ring feet.
Oh, feed me, Lord, that I may feed
Your hungry ones with manna sweet.
3 Oh, teach me, Lord, that I may teach
The precious truths which you impart.
And wing my words that they may reach
The hidden depths of many a heart.
4 Oh, fill me with your fullness, Lord,
Until my very hearts o’erflows
In kindling thought and glowing word,
Your love to tell, your praise to show.
5 Oh, use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as you will, and when, and where
Until your blessed face I see,
Your rest, your joy, your glory share.