Text: Romans 14 v 14 – 19; Isa. 32 v 17

Introduction: - The Kingdom of God in the life of every believer should be fully rooted and established on these 3 pillars; Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost, for if in these things we serve Christ the Lord, v18 says; we’ll be acceptable of God and approved of Men. May God accept us as we grow in Him and study tonight in Jesus Christ Mighty Name; Amen.

Righteousness And Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost

  • Righteousness: - Isa. 61 v 10. Rev. 3 v 18. To enjoy fellowship with God, we must not only know that we have been forgiven of every sin but we must also know that we are clothed with a righteousness that is acceptable to God. Rom. 1 v 17; Jer. 23 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Isa. 54 v 14; How does God make us Righteous? He does this by placing us in His Son. 1 Cor. 1 v 30; 2 Cor. 5 v 21. We ourselves are not righteous, but God has put us IN CHRIST. When God looks at us, He does not see us as we are; He sees only Christ. Because we are IN CHRIST, we have a perfect righteousness before God. Christ is our righteousness. What happens when God looks at us and sees us as we are?
  • Peace: - Eph. 2 v 14; Isa. 9 v 6; Heb. 7 v 2; Phil. 4 v 7; Rom. 3 v 17; Heb. 12 v 14; Beloved, Jehovah Shalom, our God is Peace; Judges 6 v 24; and the peace of God is incomprehensible but capable of keeping our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ. The Lord in His sovereignty gives peace to His people. To have effectual fellowship with God, we must be at peace and also follow peace with all men. Ex. 14 v 14. When you fight and quarrel with others, you have taken upon the battle yourself, and you cannot hold onto your peace anymore. If God is indeed your peace, can anything pluck you out of God’s hands? No. John 10 v 28-30. To enjoy God’s divine peace, we must shun Unfaithfulness, envy, evil-plots, lies, flatteries, bitterness, iniquities, etc. Psalm 37: 12; Psalm 52:3; Psalm 64:3; Proverbs 14:6; Isaiah 1:4 for there is no peace for the wicked.
  • Joy in the Holy Ghost: - Rom. 5 v 1 – 5; Math. 2 v 10; Psalm 16 v 11; Neh. 8 v 10; Heb. 12 v 1-2; When we have peace like a river, we enter in the Joy of the Lord by the Wonderful Holy Ghost. “When the enemy comes rushing like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall raise a standard” - Isa. 59 v 19. When we have His Spirit, we’re sure going to live according to his standard without even knowing it. The Holy Ghost ensures our that our Joy in God through Christ Jesus our Lord is preserved and maintained. The Holy Ghost opens the channel of God’s Love abundantly into your heart, so nothing should make you fear. Joy is the natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled. Joy expresses God’s kingdom and we have joy because of God’s grace. The Spirit’s production of joy can manifest (i) The joy of deliverance (1Samuel 2:1; Acts 12:14). (ii) The joy of salvation (Luke 15:7; Acts 8:8; 15:3) (iii) The joy of spiritual maturity (2Corinthians 1:24; 1Thessalonians 2:19-20)

Conclusion
The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. The work of Righteousness is Peace (Isa. 32 v 17), the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9 v 6) makes us one with the Father in whose presence there’s Joy everlasting, and this Joy is shed into our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Shalom!!!