The Biggest No-No

June 9

(Luke 12:10 NIV) “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.”

(Matthew 12:22-24,27-32 NIV) “Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. {23} All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" {24} But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons… {27} And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. {28} But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. {29} "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. {30} "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. {31} And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. {32} 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, either in this age or in the age to come.”

(Acts 7:51-58 NIV) ““You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! {52} Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him-- {53} you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it." {54} When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. {55} But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. {56} "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." {57} At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, {58} dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.””

Jesus said the unforgivable sin is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Jesus had cast out a demon and the Pharisees said He used the power of the devil to do it. But Christ said it was the power of the Holy Spirit. God was present among them. The Kingdom of God had come to Earth and was working right before their eyes. Denying the Spirit of Truth and the Lord Jesus is the unforgivable sin. Denying the call to glorify God, ignoring the Spirit of God when we hear Him calling us to Him, and attributing God’s work to the devil or ourselves -- this is unforgivable. Stephen told the Pharisees, “You always resist the Holy Spirit”. Instead of repenting, they killed him. They heard the Holy Spirit speaking, but didn’t believe Him. They were on the highway to hell. When we hear the Spirit calling us, but ignore Him or ridicule Him, we are blaspheming the Holy Spirit. If we die in this state of unbelief, there is no forgiveness available -- we are lost for eternity -- we have blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Believe God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day