Torch, Spring 1993

Peter's admonition to his readers with which we began this article could rightly be paraphrased, "He who would love life and see good days, let him obey the Scriptures" (1 Peter 3:10-12). The old hymn says it well, Trust and obey, for theres no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. Further, the road to happiness has a second lane. Not only must we be full of Scripture but also filled with the Spirit. We must allow the One who resides within us to preside over us. How so? By confessing all known sin and by depending consciously on Him as present with us. Since the Holy Spirit is not a book but a person, we can cultivate our relationship with Him and short-circuit the kill-joys; we begin to experience the positive fruit of love, joy, and peace. We must not give Him the silent treatment, acting as though He did not exist and we were on our own to produce Christian virtues. He is present within, and He will enable us if we let him. When we are filled with Scripture and the Spirit, the results are always happy- joy within and a pleasant demeanor without! ~/tite.f.s" io.K Q .feeol(r/lalfe. !Vot (JI(" lf(U.O"t «1e be fa! Io/ cfel"tjtal"e bat al.s"o filler/ a1/th, tie cf/;t~it. JI David Warren, associate professor of Bible at Cedarville College, is also a popular camp, Bible, and Sunday school conference speaker. He has filled several interim pastorates and writes Christian education study materials. A Cedarville graduate, Mr. Warren earned his Th.M. at Dallas Theological Seminary and took postgraduate study at the Institute of Holy Land Studies in Jerusalem, Israel. Torch 9