The Holy Spirit’s Frustration with God's People

Many teachings in the Christian world today suggest that God never gets angry at His children, and that they can do whatever they want without consequences. However, this is not what we see in Scripture. The book of Hebrews gives us a clear picture of how God feels about people who hear the truth yet continue in sin.

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Hebrews 10:26-31 ESV

“Deliberately”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Deliberately” is the Greek word hekousiós (1596), which means voluntarily, willfully
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: voluntarily, willingly, of one's own accord: Hebrews 10:26 (ἑκουσίως ἁμαρτάνειν (A. V. to sin willfully) is tacitly opposed to sins committed inconsiderately, and from ignorance or from weakness); 1 Peter 5:2.
“Knowledge”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Knowledge” is the Greek word epignósis (1922), which means Knowledge, full knowledge, discernment, recognition
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 1922 epígnōsis (from 1909 /epí, "on, fitting" which intensifies 1108/gnṓsis, "knowledge gained through first-hand relationship") – properly, "contact-knowledge" that is appropriate ("apt, fitting") to first-hand, experiential knowing. This is defined by the individual context.
“Outraged”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Outraged” is the Greek word enubrizó (1796), which means to insult, to treat shamefully, to outrage

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 ESV

“Grieve”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Grieve” is the Greek word lupeó (3076), which means to grieve, to cause sorrow, to distress
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 3076 lypéō (from 3077 /lýpē, "deep grief") – to experience deep, emotional pain (sadness), i.e. severe sorrow (grief). 3076 (lypéō) is very intense and hence even used of the pain of childbirth (see Gen 3:16, LXX). See 3077 (lypē).

31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:31-32 ESV

“Blasphemy”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Blasphemy” is the Greek word blasphémia (988), which means Blasphemy, slander, defamation, reviling
HELPS Word Studies: Cognate: 988 blasphēmía (from blax, "sluggish/slow," and 5345 /phḗmē, "reputation, fame") – blasphemy – literally, slow (sluggish) to call something good (that really is good) – and slow to identify what is truly bad (that really is evil). Blasphemy (988 /blasphēmía) "switches" right for wrong (wrong for right), i.e., calls what God disapproves, "right," which "exchanges the truth of God for a lie" (Ro 1:25).

I have always thought that blasphemy meant using curse words toward God. Because of that, I believed Jesus was talking about using curse words against the Holy Spirit. But when we understand the true meaning of the word blasphemy, we see it is more than just using bad language. I encourage anyone reading this to take a close look at what this word really means.

Hebrews 6 shows what happens to people who do not embrace the changes the Holy Spirit wants to make in their lives. This is an example of not bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.

4 For it is impossible, in the case of those
who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift,
and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 and then have fallen away,
to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.
8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
Hebrews 6:4-8 ESV

This section of Scripture is sobering and, in many cases, has frightened people because it describes what is required for it to be impossible to again restore a person to repentance. If this scares you, I want to encourage you to really ponder whether you have actually taken part in all of the things listed.

Once been enlightened
Have tasted the heavenly gift
Have shared in the Holy Spirit
Have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come
Then have fallen away

If this is not you and you hear His voice today, do not harden your heart like in the rebellion.

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,
“Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked Me.”
Hebrews 3:14-15 NASB® 1995

“Harden”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Harden” is the Greek word sklérunó (4546), which means to harden
HELPS Word Studies: Cognate: 4645 sklērýnō – properly, to harden; become inflexible (literally "dried out"); (figuratively) obstinately stubborn, resisting what God says is right.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 ESV

“Quench”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Quench” is the Greek word sbennumi (4570), which means to quench, to extinguish, to put out
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: b. metaphorically, to quench, i. e., to suppress, stifle
“Despise”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Despise” is the Greek word exoutheneó (1848), which means to despise, to treat with contempt, to regard as nothing.
HELPS Word-studies: 1848 eksouthenéō (from 1537/ek, "completely out from," which intensifies outheneō, "bring to naught, reduce to nothing") – properly, cast out as nothing; set at nought; "to count as nothing, to treat with utter contempt, i.e. as zero" (WP, 2, 281); "set at nought, despise utterly" (A-S); to regard something as lacking any standing (value).

We can see from these verses that God cares about how His children live. The entire Bible is full of warnings to His children to be obedient to Him.

Consequences of Rejecting Him

God will fight against those who rebel and grieve His Holy Spirit.

But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit;
therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them.
Isaiah 63:10 ESV

“Rebelled”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Rebelled” is the Hebrew word marah (4784), which means to rebel, be disobedient, be contentious
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: bitter, change, be disobedient, disobey, grievously, provocation, provoking
“Grieved”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Grieved” is the Hebrew word atsab (6087), which means to grieve, to hurt, to pain, to vex
“Enemy”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Enemy” is the Hebrew word ayab (340), which means to be hostile to, to be an enemy, to oppose
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon: of God as enemy of rebellious people, Isaiah 63:10,
“Fought”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Fought” is the Hebrew word lacham (3898), which means to fight, to battle, to wage war

King Saul was given a demon because he refused to obey God.

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him.
1 Samuel 16:14 NASB® 1995

“Departed”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Departed” is the Hebrew word sur (5493), which means to depart, remove, removed
“Evil”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Evil” is the Hebrew word ra' (7451), which means Evil, bad, wicked, harmful, unpleasant
“Terrorized”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Terrorized” is the Hebrew word baath (1204), which means to terrify, to startle, to dismay

Disciples of Jesus were killed because they lied to the Holy Spirit.

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Acts 5:3-11 ESV

“Lie”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Lie” is the Greek word pseudomai (5574), which means to lie, to speak falsely, to deceive
HELPS Word-studies: 5574 pseúdomai (from pseudō, "to falsify, lie") – properly, lie (falsify), willfully misrepresent (mislead).

John gives us specific instructions on whom we are to pray for and whom we are not to pray for. We are not to pray for those who call themselves Christians yet choose intentional sin. (Read all of 1 John)

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
1 John 5:16-17 ESV

We must also pair this section of Scripture with Matthew 18:15–17, which tells us what to do when we see a brother sin.

God also speaks to Jeremiah about His children who refuse to listen to Him.

And now, because you have done all these things,” declares the LORD, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you did not hear, and I called you but you did not answer, therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave you and your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, all the offspring of Ephraim. “As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods in order to spite Me. Do they spite Me?” declares the LORD. “Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?” Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, My anger and My wrath will be poured out on this place, on man and on beast and on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground; and it will burn and not be quenched.”
Jeremiah 7:13-20 NASB® 1995

“Intercede”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Intercede” is the Hebrew word paga (6293), which means to meet, encounter, entreat, intercede, strike, reach
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: come between, cause to entreat, fall upon, make intercession, intercessor, entreat
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon: 4 encounter with request, entreat, with ב person Jeremiah 7:16;

You may read this and think, “I don’t sacrifice to some pagan god called the queen of heaven.” I challenge everyone reading this to consider what they do sacrifice to.

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 NASB® 1995

“Receive”: The word “Receive” is the Greek word dechomai (1209), which means to receive, accept, welcome
“Deluding”: The word “Deluding” is the Greek word plané (4106), which means deception, error, delusion, wandering
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 4106 plánē (a feminine noun derived from 4105 /planáō) – deviant behavior; a departure from what God says is true; an error (deception) which results in wandering (roaming into sin).
“Influence”: The word “Influence” is the Greek word energeia (1753), which means energy, working, operation, activity
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 1753 enérgeia (the root of the English term "energy") – energy; "power in action" (Wm. Barclay, More NT Words, 46). See 1754 (energeō).
1753 /enérgeia ("divine energy") typically refers to God's energy, which transitions the believer from point to point in His plan (accomplishing His definition of progress).
[1753 (enérgeia) occurs 8 times – always of God's energy, except at 2 Thes 2:9.]
What is “False”: The word “False” is the Greek word pseudos (5579), which means falsehood, lie, deception

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Romans 1:20-32 NASB® 1995

So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
Ephesians 4:17-19 NASB® 1995

“Futility”: The word “Futility” is the Greek word mataiotés (3153), which means vanity, futility, emptiness
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 3153 mataiótēs (a noun) – aimlessness due to lacking purpose or any meaningful end; nonsense because transitory.
“Hardness”: The word “Hardness” is the Greek word pórósis (4457), which means hardening, callousness
HELPS Word-studies: Cognate: 4457 pṓrōsis – hardness (from "pōros, a kind of marble, used later of a callus formed on fractured bones); (figuratively) callousness or hardness in general" (WS, 97); "originally petrifaction, hardness and then the result of this, i.e. metaphorically applied to organs of feeling, meaning insensibility, numbness, obtuseness, dulling of the faculty of perception, deadness" (Souter). See 4456 (pōroō).

Be Aware

30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.
Luke 11:30-35 ESV

The Holy Spirit requires us to live lives of obedience. We must regularly test and examine ourselves to ensure we are living in Him.

5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
    on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
    and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
    they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
    ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice,do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” 16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:5-19 ESV

We must be aware that God has poured out His Spirit on all flesh. Signs, wonders, and experiences that we have do not validate or confirm that we abide in Him and that He is pleased with us.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.”
Joel 2:28-29 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

Lawlessness is sin.

“Lawlessness”: The word “Lawlessness” is the Greek word anomia (458), which means lawlessness, iniquity, transgression
HELPS Word-studies: 458 anomía (from 1 /A "not" and 3551 /nómos, "law") – properly, without law;
lawlessness; the utter disregard for God's law (His written and living Word).
458 /anomía ("lawlessness") includes the end-impact of law breaking – i.e., its negative influence on a person's soul (status before God).

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:4-10 NASB® 1995

Many Christians do not know how to overcome sin. I was one of them. I hated the sin in my life, but did not know how to stop practicing it. I believed it was simply part of life and that I would always be a failure. If you find yourself struggling to overcome sin, I encourage you to dig deeper into this topic. Sin & How To Master It

Years ago, when I began reading 1 John, I realized I could no longer continue in sin, yet I had no idea how to stop. I cried out to God for help, and He led me to 1 Corinthians 10:13 and James 1:5. He showed me that I needed to ask for help and that He would always provide a way of escape. At times, I felt trapped with no way out, but He revealed an open door away from sin.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB® 1995

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 NASB® 1995

He will do this for anyone willing to obey what He says to cut sin out of their life. However, you must be prepared to be humbled through obedience. In my own life, I struggled with lying and gossip. The way of escape and the lesson He gave me was to go to the person I had lied to or gossiped to and tell them the truth. This was extremely hard and humbling, but it taught me to stop.

I began asking God to help me think before I spoke, and He did exactly that. In the middle of a sentence, He would make me aware of what I was saying, and I would stop myself and correct it in the moment. This training helped me become quicker at checking myself before speaking harmful words. I do not practice lying or gossiping anymore. Those sins have no power over me.

For more on examining yourself, see: Test and Examine Yourself

References:

“Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.”
Lexicon: Biblehub.com
Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Biblehub.com
Edited 2/2026