WEBVTT 00:04.604 --> 00:11.315 [SPEAKER_00]: What would it be like to have unhindered, abundant joy in the midst of all circumstances? 00:12.597 --> 00:18.527 [SPEAKER_00]: The beauty of the joy God belongs to give is that it's not fleeting or temporary. 00:19.348 --> 00:22.714 [SPEAKER_00]: It is sustaining, strong and true. 00:23.470 --> 00:31.460 [SPEAKER_00]: As we continue to discover what it means to live for heaven, today we look at what it means for us to be marked by joy. 00:31.520 --> 00:34.712 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:58.992 --> 01:14.052 [SPEAKER_00]: our Scripture for today comes from Proverbs 10, verse 28, Scripture says, the hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 01:17.817 --> 01:18.218 [SPEAKER_00]: C.S. 01:18.278 --> 01:23.565 [SPEAKER_00]: Lewis said, all joy emphasizes our pilgrim status. 01:23.866 --> 01:28.054 [SPEAKER_00]: Always reminds Beckens, Awaken's Desire. 01:29.156 --> 01:31.842 [SPEAKER_00]: Our best havings are one-tinks. 01:34.787 --> 01:45.368 [SPEAKER_00]: As pilgrims on the journey to boundless communion with our Heavenly Father, we are called to be marked by us sustaining and transcendent joy. 01:46.276 --> 01:48.759 [SPEAKER_00]: our God is a God of joy. 01:49.740 --> 01:54.447 [SPEAKER_00]: He is the creator of fun and the giver of abundant life. 01:55.808 --> 02:00.154 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for his children to taste and see his goodness. 02:01.756 --> 02:11.929 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for us to open our hearts, cast off the cares of this world, and receive the joy that comes from living for heaven. 02:13.934 --> 02:27.461 [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 14 verse 17 says, for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness and peace and joy and the Holy Spirit. 02:29.385 --> 02:35.638 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 1611 says, you make known to me the path of life. 02:36.125 --> 02:43.975 [SPEAKER_00]: In your presence, there is fullness of joy at your right hand, our pleasures for evermore. 02:45.977 --> 02:55.969 [SPEAKER_00]: Proverbs 10, verse 28 says, the hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 02:58.052 --> 03:00.495 [SPEAKER_00]: We serve a joyful king 03:01.623 --> 03:08.391 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no greater joy than living in the fullness of relationship available to us in Christ. 03:09.973 --> 03:16.660 [SPEAKER_00]: To live for heaven is to throw off whatever weight would entangle us to the depravity of this world. 03:17.681 --> 03:23.428 [SPEAKER_00]: And seek sustaining joy that comes down from heaven to fill our hearts. 03:25.872 --> 03:29.838 [SPEAKER_00]: Our father cares deeply about the concerns of this world. 03:30.980 --> 03:32.863 [SPEAKER_00]: He weaps over the lost. 03:34.205 --> 03:37.430 [SPEAKER_00]: He becomes angry over the works of the enemy. 03:38.832 --> 03:48.707 [SPEAKER_00]: He is deeply saddened when we choose the fleeting and unsatisfying ways of the world over his fulfilling and perfect plans. 03:50.003 --> 03:57.096 [SPEAKER_00]: but in the midst of all his emotions, he is joyfully expectant for the age that is to come. 03:58.860 --> 04:06.915 [SPEAKER_00]: He sees the depravity and wounds, and celebrates that one day soon, it will all be redeemed. 04:08.549 --> 04:19.446 [SPEAKER_00]: We see in Revelation 21-4 that he is elated over the day, that he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. 04:20.247 --> 04:28.279 [SPEAKER_00]: Neither shall there be mourning nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. 04:31.381 --> 04:35.845 [SPEAKER_00]: and there is sustaining joy available to us this side of heaven. 04:36.706 --> 04:51.280 [SPEAKER_00]: If we will allow him to fill us with his perspective, James I versus two through four says, count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds. 04:52.381 --> 04:57.726 [SPEAKER_00]: For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, 04:58.195 --> 05:06.668 [SPEAKER_00]: and let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 05:08.851 --> 05:19.848 [SPEAKER_00]: If we will allow the Lord to redeem the trials and testing we endure in this life, we will begin to bear the fruit of joy in the midst of any circumstance. 05:21.410 --> 05:24.034 [SPEAKER_00]: Unshakable joy is our portion. 05:25.297 --> 05:30.544 [SPEAKER_00]: The heart of our father is to make us of people marked by the joy of heaven. 05:30.604 --> 05:34.870 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time today, in guided prayer. 05:35.651 --> 05:40.758 [SPEAKER_00]: To throw off whatever is keeping you from experiencing the joy of the Lord. 05:42.160 --> 05:45.264 [SPEAKER_00]: Rest in his presence and search out his heart. 05:46.526 --> 05:51.372 [SPEAKER_00]: May you be a child marked by the joy of your heavenly Father today. 06:14.825 --> 06:21.217 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the importance and availability of joy to you. 06:22.780 --> 06:28.311 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow scripture to fill your heart with a longing to pursue continual joy. 06:30.012 --> 06:38.108 [SPEAKER_00]: Isaiah 55 verse 12 says for you shall go out enjoy and be led forth in peace. 06:39.130 --> 06:48.207 [SPEAKER_00]: The mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 06:56.168 --> 07:16.540 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much. 07:28.872 --> 07:29.413 [SPEAKER_00]: next. 07:30.615 --> 07:33.300 [SPEAKER_00]: What is keeping you from experiencing joy? 07:33.360 --> 07:36.206 [SPEAKER_00]: What is weighing you down today? 07:36.226 --> 07:42.878 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask for the Lord's help in throwing off that which is robbing you of his joy. 07:44.401 --> 07:48.990 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to guide you to a path of unshakable joy today. 07:50.084 --> 08:14.590 [SPEAKER_00]: James 1 verses 2 through 4 says, Count at all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, and let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 08:41.958 --> 09:03.958 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, take time to rest in the presence of your father and search out his heart. 09:05.780 --> 09:09.163 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to share with you his perspective for your life. 09:10.308 --> 09:14.135 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to help you care about only the things he cares about. 09:15.999 --> 09:21.569 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 1611 says, You make known to me the path of life. 09:22.811 --> 09:30.105 [SPEAKER_00]: In your presence, there is fullness of joy at your right hand or pleasures for ever more. 10:18.719 --> 10:25.045 [SPEAKER_00]: The S. Lewis is also quoted as saying, joy is the serious business of heaven. 10:26.427 --> 10:28.809 [SPEAKER_00]: We are not to be flipping about our joy. 10:29.810 --> 10:35.136 [SPEAKER_00]: To be marked by joy is to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in our lives. 10:36.517 --> 10:47.308 [SPEAKER_00]: When we have genuine joy in the midst of trials and troubles, we declare to the world the unchanging, intangible goodness of our heavenly Father. 10:47.947 --> 10:56.480 [SPEAKER_00]: When we meet challenges head on with joy, we declare with our attitudes the hope we have for the age that is to come. 10:57.982 --> 11:00.245 [SPEAKER_00]: Pursue joy wholeheartedly today. 11:00.285 --> 11:10.140 [SPEAKER_00]: And declare with your life the principles of God's kingdom so that others might come to restore relationship with their creator. 11:24.346 --> 11:28.931 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast on being marked by joy. 11:28.971 --> 11:31.194 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with verse 15. 11:32.235 --> 11:44.209 [SPEAKER_00]: If life is especially hard for you right now, where joy feels especially elusive, take some time today to ask God where his joy is in the midst of your circumstances. 11:45.130 --> 11:53.880 [SPEAKER_00]: When you face a trial or challenge, stop and invite God into that moment and open your heart to receive his wisdom. 11:54.687 --> 12:04.652 [SPEAKER_00]: The good news of the gospel is that God meets us where we are and leads us to a abundant life in the midst of anything life throws at us. 12:05.875 --> 12:10.587 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek Him.