The Holy Spirit

"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all. . . And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him" 1 John 2:20,27

Devotion #9 of 14

THE MINISTERING SPIRIT, #4 Righteousness, peace, and joy

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17). This triplet--"righteousness," "peace," and "joy"--is essential to spiritual life. Without righteousness, we cannot come before God. Without peace, we cannot survive in an evil world. Without joy, our strength becomes dissipated, and we perish in our own weakness. How is it that we "joy in the Holy Spirit." Some presume this is being overcome with laughter. Such speak of "laughing in the Spirit." This is an imagination for which men will answer. The laughter of which they speak is uncontrollable, irrational, and entirely apart from intelligent expression. To credit such things to the Holy Spirit of God, Who is nowhere credited with such things, is most serious indeed. The Spirit produces joy in believers by clarifying the hope that is set before them. The earth and all of its grievous experiences are thereby diminished in the light of the joy that is set before us. There is nothing about God, Jesus, salvation, or the world to come, that is morose to the believer. Beauty and wonder surround the Persons of God and Christ as well as Their glorious promises. The contemplation of these things produces spiritual joy; a joy that is rational and strengthening to the heart. That is why "joy" can be joined to "righteousness" and "peace." Joy and peace in believing "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom 15:13). The involvement of Deity with the believer is an arresting consideration. The "God of all hope" fills you! This is the God Whose presence fosters hope. He brings spiritual optimism concerning the future to those that are in Christ Jesus. His objective is to cause us to "abound in hope." This is a dominating hope that renders the accolades of this world paltry and nauseous to the child of God. An abounding hope is one that anxiously anticipates the coming of the Lord. Those possessing such a hope look forward to the day when Jesus will return and receive them to Himself. God fills His people "with joy and peace in believing." Faith is the wellspring of gladness and tranquility of soul. When the things of God are clear in your mind and ravishing your heart, joy breaks forth like a mighty torrent. Peace invades the heart and mind, dispelling fear and moroseness. The "believing" that works so effectually comes from God Himself. It has, after all, been "given" to us to "believe" (Phil 1:29). This is a faith that is "obtained," and is therefore "precious" (2 Pet 1:1). An abounding hope, however, is not simply the result of joy and peace, as powerful as they are. The word of the Lord affirms that we abound in hope "through the power of the Holy Spirit." An overflowing hope, therefore, is evidence of the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit. On the other hand, an individual that is not dominated by hope cannot have a large measure of the Holy Spirit, or be led by Him in any unusual way.