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Christians receive the Holy Spirit to be with them forever. But it is one thing receiving the Holy Spirit and it is another thing making Him remain on you.
When the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus Christ, He remained on Him (see John 1:32-34). There is no report of the Holy Spirit departing from Jesus Christ throughout His ministry.
Unrepentant sins like bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, crude joking and others in our lives grief the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:25-32).
Years ago, a pastor who had committed adultery told the church he pastored that he could never lose the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon his life. He seemed to suggest that once a pastor received the Holy Spirit, he would always have Him remain on him no matter the habitual sins he committed.
Many misinterpret the verses of Scripture below to deceive themselves and other believers. “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever” (John 14:16).
Yes, the calling and gifts of God upon Christians are without repentance. This means, God does not change His mind about His call upon a person.
And indeed, the Helper, Holy Spirit, is given to be with believers forever, but we must carefully read these verses of Scripture with deeper understanding.
The only way a minister can have the Holy Spirit to be with him forever, that is, without leaving him, is when the minister learns to please God always. That was what Jesus did to have the Spirit remain on Him.
“And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him” (John 8:29).
You see, always doing things that please God is the secret to having the Holy Spirit be with you forever. Doing things that please the Father includes walking by faith, abstaining from immorality, abiding in the doctrine of Christ, living by the Word of God among others.
You can see from the words of Jesus that doing things that displeases God may cause His Spirit to leave you. In other words, the Spirit of God may leave Christians, who deliberately sin against God especially those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ or become apostate.
By James Quansah
