WEBVTT 00:04.520 --> 00:13.153 [SPEAKER_00]: As we end our week today on a biting in the true vine, today we'll explore how to abide in God's promised joy. 00:14.315 --> 00:19.202 [SPEAKER_00]: What does it mean for us to walk and joy and be marked by joy in this world? 00:20.143 --> 00:22.186 [SPEAKER_00]: How do we even go about doing that? 00:23.268 --> 00:27.975 [SPEAKER_00]: May we be filled a fresh with joy today as we seek these answers out? 00:28.896 --> 00:31.320 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:59.583 --> 01:03.848 [SPEAKER_00]: our scripture for today comes from John 15 verse 11. 01:04.670 --> 01:14.802 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, these things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full. 01:18.267 --> 01:24.595 [SPEAKER_00]: The kingdom of our God is one of joy rejoicing and gladness. 01:24.997 --> 01:30.909 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Heavenly Father is the one who throws a massive party for the prodigal return home. 01:32.031 --> 01:37.943 [SPEAKER_00]: He's the God of the angels who rejoices over one sinner who repents. 01:38.783 --> 01:45.376 [SPEAKER_00]: He's the God who celebrates with us, sings over us, and rejoices in us. 01:46.478 --> 01:56.657 [SPEAKER_00]: And at the end of this age, he will throw a wedding feast in celebration of the joy he has over total restored relationship with us as bride. 01:58.240 --> 02:07.413 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is clear that our God doesn't desire to keep His joy to Himself, but longs to fill us with it to overflowing. 02:08.814 --> 02:13.982 [SPEAKER_00]: Toward the end of the John 15-1 through 17 passage, we've been studying this week. 02:14.562 --> 02:23.134 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus says, these things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 02:24.751 --> 02:35.341 [SPEAKER_00]: God's plan is to fill us with the fullness of joy that is grounded solely in Him rather than the ever-changing circumstances around us. 02:36.722 --> 02:42.367 [SPEAKER_00]: That's why Galatians 522 tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is joy. 02:43.768 --> 02:46.551 [SPEAKER_00]: Joy is meant to come from the Holy Spirit within us. 02:47.632 --> 02:52.176 [SPEAKER_00]: It's in relationship with God that we 02:53.371 --> 03:00.820 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's go wholeheartedly into the heart of God today, and find the reservoir of joy he longs to guide us to. 03:02.081 --> 03:10.131 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's be believers marked by the joy of our heavenly Father, rather than the dissatisfaction we experience from the world. 03:12.233 --> 03:15.077 [SPEAKER_00]: So how do we experience the joy of God? 03:15.958 --> 03:21.184 [SPEAKER_00]: How can the joy of Jesus be in us as he spoke of in John 1511? 03:22.818 --> 03:26.801 [SPEAKER_00]: Philippians 44 says, rejoice in the Lord always. 03:27.462 --> 03:29.424 [SPEAKER_00]: Again, I will say, rejoice. 03:31.065 --> 03:36.330 [SPEAKER_00]: As children of God, we must rejoice in our heavenly Father above all else. 03:37.811 --> 03:42.275 [SPEAKER_00]: There is always joy to be found when our highest priority is God. 03:43.756 --> 03:51.643 [SPEAKER_00]: Our God is always turning what the enemy meant for evil into our good, if we will choose to love him above all else. 03:53.041 --> 04:04.838 [SPEAKER_00]: When we lean on God as the source of our contentment, rather than the opinion of man or success in the world, we will have a sure foundation on which to experience joy. 04:06.140 --> 04:13.311 [SPEAKER_00]: But when our emotions change with the tides of the world, our joy will come and go like the waves. 04:14.540 --> 04:29.260 [SPEAKER_00]: ground yourself in God, rejoice in the Lord always because He's always worthy of rejoicing in and in placing Him first, you will experience vast and unshakable joy. 04:31.463 --> 04:37.712 [SPEAKER_00]: To experience the fullness of joy God has for us, we must also trust in His plans. 04:38.671 --> 04:47.030 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 118 verse 24 says, this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. 04:48.694 --> 04:52.022 [SPEAKER_00]: Each day of our life was created by God. 04:52.643 --> 05:09.117 [SPEAKER_00]: and while the world operates apart from his leadership, when we trust in him and allow him to work in and through us, he takes circumstances that would normally harm us, and turns them into miraculous examples of his unceasing love. 05:10.463 --> 05:20.563 [SPEAKER_00]: Acts 16 verses 25 to 26 tells us a story in which Paul and Silas exemplify a lifestyle of trusting in God. 05:21.806 --> 05:31.746 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 05:31.726 --> 05:37.858 [SPEAKER_00]: And suddenly, there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. 05:38.840 --> 05:44.731 [SPEAKER_00]: And immediately, all the doors were opened and everyone's bonds were unfassened. 05:46.695 --> 05:53.768 [SPEAKER_00]: Paul and Silas knew that God can and will work in our lives when we place our trust in Him. 05:54.625 --> 06:02.574 [SPEAKER_00]: So they were able to praise and worship God enjoy through any circumstance and God did the miraculous. 06:04.095 --> 06:14.707 [SPEAKER_00]: James describes this principle in James one versus two through four when he writes, count it all joy my brothers when you meet trials of various kinds. 06:15.628 --> 06:20.093 [SPEAKER_00]: For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, 06:20.900 --> 06:28.893 [SPEAKER_00]: and let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 06:30.936 --> 06:36.866 [SPEAKER_00]: We can have joy in trial when we trust in God and live for Him above all else. 06:39.030 --> 06:41.794 [SPEAKER_00]: You and I were not created solely for this world. 06:43.036 --> 06:46.502 [SPEAKER_00]: Our home is with our heavenly Father in heaven. 06:47.056 --> 06:52.785 [SPEAKER_00]: unceasing joy comes from living with the perspective of God rather than the world. 06:54.187 --> 07:01.818 [SPEAKER_00]: Rejoicing comes from trusting that our God is perfectly loving, perfectly real, and perfectly powerful. 07:03.401 --> 07:11.393 [SPEAKER_00]: Spend time in God's presence, experiencing His joy, allow the Spirit to bear the fruit of joy in your life, 07:12.605 --> 07:22.373 [SPEAKER_00]: Trust in God alone to bring about all that he has planned for you and live your life on the unshakable foundation of his love and joy today. 07:23.657 --> 07:26.445 [SPEAKER_00]: Let's take some time today for Guided Prayer. 08:10.672 --> 08:16.483 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on God's desire to fill you with a bounding joy. 08:17.965 --> 08:31.330 [SPEAKER_00]: John 1511 says, These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 08:42.059 --> 09:10.851 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, reflect on your own life, where are you not experiencing joy? 09:11.776 --> 09:14.680 [SPEAKER_00]: What do you think is stealing your joy in those areas? 09:16.262 --> 09:21.289 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the spirit to lead you into the fullness of joy in every area of your life. 09:22.591 --> 09:28.819 [SPEAKER_00]: Trust him as he guides you into a life of faith and submission to God. 09:28.839 --> 09:39.353 [SPEAKER_00]: John 1624 says, until now you have asked nothing in my name, ask and you will receive that your joy may be full. 09:55.853 --> 09:56.735 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 10:20.305 --> 10:38.408 [SPEAKER_00]: and last, receive the joy of Jesus, rejoice in Him, rejoice in His plans for your day, thank Him for His love and desire to celebrate in You, spend time resting in His joyful and peaceful presence. 10:39.750 --> 10:48.321 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 118 verse 24 says, this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. 10:53.870 --> 10:56.387 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 11:22.793 --> 11:32.525 [SPEAKER_00]: Seek out the joy of your heavenly Father all day today. 11:33.606 --> 11:45.460 [SPEAKER_00]: When you begin to feel down, burdened, or depressed, spend time rejoicing in God, allow God to reveal to you his heart for situations in your life. 11:46.604 --> 11:54.113 [SPEAKER_00]: respond to hard times with celebration in the fact that God will turn what was meant for evil into good. 11:54.153 --> 11:57.977 [SPEAKER_00]: If you will commit yourself to his plans and purposes. 11:59.419 --> 12:03.984 [SPEAKER_00]: God's plan is to fill you with unceasing joy every day of your life. 12:05.265 --> 12:13.995 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to lay a foundation of his love for you every morning, so that you can go out into your day filled with unshakable joy. 12:15.072 --> 12:20.078 [SPEAKER_00]: May his promise in Isaiah 55-12 come to fruition in your life today. 12:20.919 --> 12:26.746 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, for you shall go out and joy and be led forth in peace. 12:27.748 --> 12:32.013 [SPEAKER_00]: The mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing. 12:32.854 --> 12:36.338 [SPEAKER_00]: And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 12:57.749 --> 12:59.892 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 12:59.952 --> 13:01.994 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with verse 16. 13:02.875 --> 13:12.106 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, take notice of when you begin to feel a lack of joy and choose to invite God into those moments. 13:12.126 --> 13:16.231 [SPEAKER_00]: There is an avenue to joy in the midst of literally any circumstance. 13:16.912 --> 13:21.537 [SPEAKER_00]: We just have to see God and choose to follow him down the path of joy. 13:22.579 --> 13:27.064 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek him.