Don’t Resist the Holy Ghost
Acts 7:51 (KJV) “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
What does it mean to be stiff-necked? This is referring to someone who refuses to be led. They are often obstinate and, by and large, a difficult person. The term comes from farming with oxen. When the farmer used a stick to poke the oxen to get them to go in the direction he wanted, a stiff-necked ox would refuse to turn. They would not go the direction the owner wanted them to go; therefore, they were referred to as stiff-necked. It is obviously not a compliment.
What does it mean to be uncircumcised in the heart or ears? Circumcision has to do with covenant. It is the sign of the covenant with God. Remember David, in dealing with Goliath, said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he would defy the armies of the living God?” We know this: when someone is born again, it is known as the circumcision of the heart (Romans 2:28–29). It is inward and not outward; but nonetheless, it is a sign of the covenant you made with God through Jesus Christ when you were born again.
It is then interesting that this verse also deals with the uncircumcised ears. Jeremiah 6:10 (AMPC) says, “To whom shall I [Jeremiah] speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised [never brought into covenant with God or consecrated to His service], and they cannot hear or obey. Behold, the word of the Lord has become to them a reproach and the object of their scorn; they have no delight in it.”
It starts with their ears giving place to the Word of God and really hearing and then doing the Word; but if you are hearing the Word of God from a non-consecrated place, or you have not brought your ears into subjection to your covenant or to the Word of God, then the Word of God will not profit you. You will be deceived, just like James says.
We need to clearly see why people are acting the way they do, and it has to do with being stiff-necked and with our ears and our heart not being in covenant. The rest of this verse says the result of being stiff-necked and the problem with our heart and ears causes us to resist the Holy Ghost.
If we are pliable and teachable before the Lord and consecrate our ears and our hearts to Him in full submission, then it will produce a yielded life to the Holy Ghost. It so grieves the Holy Ghost when people resist Him—especially those who are born again and should know Him. However, the Holy Ghost will never give up trying to point people to Jesus and teaching the believer the Word of God, which He, the Holy Ghost, inspired.