1 Samuel 16:14 (ESV): “14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.”
The Holy Spirit is our comforter and source of peace. When He is not active in our lives we lack both. Thankfully, God will never remove His Spirit from us, but we can grieve the Spirit by living in rebellion. Repentance is the means of our restoration with the Spirit.
When Saul rebelled against the Lord not only was his kingdom torn from him and given to David, but the Spirit was removed from him. The Lord, by way of removing His hand of protection (His Spirit) from Saul, “sent” a tormenting spirit upon him. When God removed Saul's covering and protection, it opened him up for attack from the enemy. The Lord did this not as a payment for his sin, but that Saul would repent. Sadly, Saul would live the rest of his days void of the Spirit because he would not truly repent and return to the Lord.
Aren't you grateful that the Lord will never remove His Spirit from us? We are sealed with the Spirit when we are saved as a guarantee of our inheritance (Eph 1:13-14). What that doesn't mean is that we can live ungodly and still experience the comfort and peace of the Spirit. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we sin. We are convicted so that we will repent. Be quick to restore your fellowship with the Spirit by confessing and turning away from your sin, and He will re-establish your comfort and peace. Amen?
Father, we thank You for giving us Your Spirit by way of Your Son. We have all we need for life and godliness. Help us to repent when we go astray so that the comfort and peace of your Spirit will return to us. Most of all, help us to be obedient we pray, in Jesus' mighty name, amen and amen!
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