Do Not Let the Spirit Cease to Strive with Us

2 Nephi 26:11 - "For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul."

President Harold B. Lee - "One of the most tragic experiences that can come to individuals—to have the Lord withdraw His Spirit from us. And when he speaks of His Spirit, it isn't just the Holy Ghost, because many of those spoken of by the prophets had not received the gift of the Holy Ghost. This Spirit to which I refer is the Light of Christ. When withdrawn, it becomes difficult for us to pray, to have direction and guidance, to withstand evil”

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin - “As with all gifts, [the gift of the Holy Ghost] must be received and accepted to be enjoyed. When priesthood hands were laid upon your head to confirm you a member of the Church, you heard the words, ‘Receive the Holy Ghost.’ This did not mean that the Holy Ghost unconditionally became your constant companion. Scriptures warn us that the Spirit of the Lord will ‘not always strive with man.’ When we are confirmed, we are given the right to the companionship of the Holy Ghost, but it is a right that we must continue to earn through obedience and worthiness. We cannot take this gift for granted” 

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Welcome to Speak This Jesus, a daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

One of God's greatest gifts to his children is his willingness to guide us. He does not expect us to navigate mortality alone. Through the light of Christ and the companionship of the Holy Ghost, He warns, comforts, teaches, corrects, and strengthens us. That divine influence quietly points us toward truth and away from danger. When we welcome the Spirit into our lives, we are never without heavenly help. Because this gift is so precious, the scriptures also contain solemn warnings about what happens when people repeatedly reject the Lord's influence. The loss of the Spirit is not merely the absence of peaceful feelings, it is the loss of divine direction, spiritual sensitivity and protecting power. Nephi understood the seriousness of that condition, and it filled him with sorrow. Our verse today is Second Nephi twenty six eleven. For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man, and when the spirit ceaseth to strive with man, then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul. As we study this verse today along with teachings from President Harold B Lee and Elder Joseph B. Worthlin, we will consider why the companionship of the Spirit is vital to our spiritual lives, and how we can faithfully receive this sacred gift. Nephi's words are brief, but they carry tremendous weight. The Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. The word strive is significant. It suggests that the Spirit actively works with us. The Lord continually invites, prompts, warns, teaches, and encourages us. He patiently calls us to repentance and gently leads us toward Jesus Christ. God's influence is constant, loving, and persistent. Yet Nephi teaches that there comes a point when that striving can cease. This does not happen because God suddenly becomes unwilling to help us. Rather, it is the tragic result of repeatedly resisting his invitations. As hearts become harder and spiritual sensitivity diminished diminishes, people gradually lose the ability to recognize and respond to his voice. Nephi then says, Then cometh speedy destruction. While this certainly includes the destruction that sometimes follows widespread wickedness, it also teaches an important spiritual principle. When we lose the influence of the Spirit, we become vulnerable. Without divine guidance, we are more easily deceived, more susceptible to temptation, and more likely to rely upon our own limited understanding. It is no surprise that Nephi concludes, This grieveth my soul. President Harold Beeley explained what this loss of spiritual influence really means. And when he speaks of his spirit, it isn't just the Holy Ghost, because many of those spoken of by the prophets had not received the gift of the Holy Ghost. This spirit to which I refer is the light of Christ. When withdrawn, it becomes difficult for us to pray, to have direction and guidance, to withstand evil. This teaching broadens our understanding of Nephi's warning. Every person is blessed with the light of Christ, which invites us toward goodness and truth. Those who have been confirmed members of the church also have the privilege of seeking the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Both are sacred expressions of God's love. Presently reminds us what happens when the divine influence is diminished. Prayer becomes more difficult. Direction becomes less clear. Temptation becomes harder to resist. Spiritual confusion replaces spiritual confidence. Elder Joseph B. Worthland then reminds us of our responsibility.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

As with all gifts, this gift must be received and accepted to be enjoyed. When priesthood hands were laid upon your head to confirm you a member of the church, you heard the words receive the Holy Ghost. This did not mean that the Holy Ghost unconditionally became your constant companion. Scriptures warn us that the Spirit of the Lord will not strive always strive with man. When we are confirmed, we are given the right to the companionship of the Holy Ghost. But it is a right that we must continue to earn through obedience and worthiness. We cannot take this gift for granted.

SPEAKER_01 5:46

The Lord never forces his spirit upon us. He invites us to receive it. Daily choices either welcome his influence or gradually push it away. One of the blessings of discipleship is learning to recognize the quiet influence of the Spirit. Often his guidance comes gently rather than dramatically, a feeling of peace, a prompting to reach out to someone, a warning that something is not right, a greater understanding while reading the scriptures, a quiet assurance during prayer. Because his influence is often gentle, it is possible to overlook it or even crowd it out. Constant distractions, hurried schedules, unrepented sin, pride, anger, or neglect of spiritual habits can gradually make his voice harder to recognize. The encouraging message of today's verse is that the Lord desires to strive with us. He wants to guide us. He wants to comfort us. He wants to help us overcome temptation and become more like Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is to create a life where influence is welcomed rather than resisted. That means repenting quickly when we make mistakes. It means praying sincerely even when we do not immediately feel inspired. It means studying the scriptures with real intent. It means honoring our covenants and striving to keep our thoughts, words, and actions aligned with the Savior's teachings. As we consistently do these simple things, we become more spiritually sensitive. Promptings become easier to recognize. Peace becomes more familiar. Our confidence in the Lord grows because we learn that He truly is leading us. Nephi's warning is ultimately an invitation. Rather than grieving over the loss of the Spirit, we can choose each day to welcome His influence into our lives. There is no greater protection in a confusing world than the constant companionship of God's Spirit. So here is today's challenge. Take a few quiet minutes today to evaluate your spiritual sensitivity. Ask yourself, what helps me feel the Spirit most consistently and what tends to diminish his influence? Then choose one specific change that will better invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost into your life this week. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helps you draw a little closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. Please, don't let this podcast be your only scripture time today. As we open the scriptures for ourselves, the Spirit will teach us things no podcast ever could. If you are exploring the truths of the Book of Mormon for the first time, you can receive a free copy using the link in the description found in every episode of Seek This Jesus. I invite you to come back tomorrow for another verse and message to help you stay focused on Jesus Christ. Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.