Communion with the Holy Spirit: Three General Rules | John Owen

Deep Dive into The Saint's Fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by John Owen - Part III: Chapter VIIJohn Owen outlines the saints' communion with the Holy Spirit through three general rules, which are presented as negative cautions in Scripture but encompass positive duties. These rules correspond to three distinct aspects of the Holy Spirit: His indwelling person, His gracious motions, and His work in the ordinances of the Word.The first rule is to not grieve the Holy Spirit, which directly relates to His person dwelling within believers. While the Spirit cannot literally experience sorrow or weakness, believers can act in ways that would typically grieve a tender and caring friend. We grieve Him through sin and by failing to pursue universal sanctification. The positive duty here is to earnestly pursue holiness out of a deep appreciation for the Spirit's love, kindness, and role as our comforter.The second rule is to not quench the Spirit, which refers to His actions and operations within us. The Spirit's work is likened to a fire, which can be quenched when believers yield to lusts and temptations, thereby neglecting His promptings. To commune properly with Him, believers must diligently observe and respond to the Spirit's workings, as He supplies new grace, stirs up existing grace, and prompts good thoughts to help us advance in obedience.The third rule is to not resist the Holy Spirit, which pertains to His administration of the preached Word. Because the Holy Spirit equips ministers with the gifts and wisdom to preach the gospel, disregarding or opposing the preached Word constitutes resisting the Spirit Himself. The corresponding duty is to humbly submit to the preaching of the Word, acknowledging the Spirit's authority, wisdom, and goodness in providing these vital gifts to the Church.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerWorship Music: https://suno.com/playlist/3a498d0f-c90e-4981-8aa7-59834e7239f7https://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730