Deeper Life #197

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

—Romans 14:17

THE ONLY ABIDING FRUIT OF entire sanctification is not my joy in God, but God’s joy in me.

The psalmist says in Psalm 43:4: “Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy.” Note that the emphasis is not on the joy we have as we come to God, which is a much shallower thing, but on God Himself as the mainspring of joy.

The consciousness of the Christian after entire sanctification is not simply one of blessing and benediction; that is characteristic of all those who are born again. But the sanctified believer has a consciousness of the inner presence of God and a complete absorption into God’s purposes, God’s plans, and God’s ideas.

Prayer Thought: Share with me, Father, the consciousness of Your joy within my life.

SUGGESTED READING: Romans 14:17–23