Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:6–7

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  

Tuesday, 23^rd July 2024

 THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES US JOY

Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:6–7

Memory verse: Luke 10: 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

There is a unique connection between the Holy Spirit and joy. For example, Luke tells us how at one point Jesus “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” as in Luke 10:21 and Paul tells us how the Thessalonica Christians had “received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit”. In Romans, Paul instructs us that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” Romans 14:17. Solid spiritual happiness; a joy which springs from a clear sense of God's mercy; the love of God being shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost.  In a word, it is happiness brought into the soul by the Holy Spirit and maintained there by the same influence.  This is a genuine counterpart of heaven, righteousness without sin, PEACE without inward disturbance, JOY without any kind of mental agony or distressing fear.

I call this connection unique and worthy of further reflection because the New Testament pairs joy with the Holy Spirit in a way it doesn’t with other affections. For instance, we don’t read of people experiencing the “sorrow of the Holy Spirit” or the “anger of the Holy Spirit,” even though it’s clear the Spirit can be grieved Ephesians 4:30 and angered Romans 1:18.

But righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; consists of but not limited to being just, benevolent, and merciful; at peace with God and one another, rejoicing in his government, and in hope, through grace, of dwelling with him for ever in heaven. So, why does the New Testament uniquely tie joy to the Holy Spirit, this Spirit-empowered joy, and what difference it makes in the Christian life?

CGDS Hymn 18; SS & S 1.

PRAISE, MY SOUL, THE KING OF HEAVEN.

1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven.

To His feet thy tribute bring.

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,

Who like thee His praise shall sing?

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Praise the everlasting King!

2. Praise Him for His grace and favour

To our fathers in distress.

Praise Him still the same as ever,

Slow to chide, and swift to bless:

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Glorious in His faithfulness!

3. Farther-like He tends and spares us,

Well, our feeble frame He knows.

In His hands he gently bears us,

Rescues us from all our foes.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Widely as His mercy flows.

4. Angels, help us to adore him,

Ye behold him face to face!

Sun and moon bow down before him!

Dwellers all in time and space,

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Praise with us the God of grace!   

 Prayers

1.  Lord Jesus, let Your joy out of my heart swallow up every sorrow within my heart.

2.  LORD God Almighty, with the joy of the Holy Spirit within me I draw water out of the well of salvation in Jesus’ name. Amen.    

3.  Pray for others in this regard.