Section 13
temple and have His Spirit indwelling us (1 Cor. 6:17, 19; Rom. 8:9, 11, 16). This Spirit within is not a "force" or a "thing," but a living person, Jesus Christ Himself (1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:17; 13:5). Like every living person, He has feelings and atti tudes. Thus, when we speak or do things contrary to Him, He is grieved within us. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, our spirit, which is joined to Him (1 Cor. 6:17), is grieved, and we lose our joy.
The Maintenance of Joy
Our salvation is like a rock, immovable, but the joy of our salvation is like a delicate flower, eas ily upset by a little breeze. Therefore, it is some thing we must cultivate and nourish. What, then, can we do to maintain this joy?
First, we can confess our sins (1 John 1:7, 9). When we confess our offenses to the Lord, His blood cleanses us, and our fellowship with Him is restored. After David sinned, he prayed, "Re store to me the gladness of Your salvation" (Psa. 51:12). There is no need to wait. The precious blood of Christ cleanses us from every sin.
Second, we can take God's Word as our food. Jeremiah said, "Your words were found and I ate them, and Your word became to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jer. 15:16). Often we