You’ll never know what to fight for if you don’t know what’s been promised. To contend for heaven on earth, we need a clear vision of what heaven looks like—what’s there, what’s not—and then we can recognize where God’s kingdom needs to break through here.
February 16th | Week 6
Joy
Speakers
Josh Blount
Lead Pastor
Worship
Notes
Luke 11:2 — "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Joy— On earth as it is in heaven.
Luke 15:7 — "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
You can’t add more of something to something if there’s not already something.
Luke 15:10 — "In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life."
Every time someone says “yes” to Jesus, heaven erupts in celebration!
chara — a celebratory, outwardly expressive joy—a rejoicing, exultant gladness that is often vocal and communal.
Heaven takes joy seriously.
"Joy is the serious business of heaven." — C.S. Lewis
Joy — a deep, abiding sense of gladness, contentment, and hope that is not dependent on circumstances but rooted in God’s presence, His promises, and His salvation.
The joy of heaven is not rooted in the perfection of heaven.
The joy of heaven is rooted in the presence of God.
Psalm 16:11 — "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy."
Joy isn’t about how well life is going—it's about who you’re with.
"There is a joy in the presence of the Lord that nothing can rival. He is the fountain of delight, and where He is, there is heaven." — Charles Spurgeon
"Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God." — Dallas Willard
Galatians 2:20 — "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
1. Recognize That Joy is Normal
Romans 14:17 — "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Joy is part of God’s nature.
Proximity matters. You catch what you’re close to.
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel (PIC)
John 1:1 — "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 1:3 — "All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made."
John 1:14 — "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
Proverbs 8:30-31 — "I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world, and delighting in mankind."
shakah — to frolic, to dance, to leap, to spin around with joy, to jump up and down and clap your hands.
Zephaniah 3:17 — "The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
Joy is at the heart of the Gospel.
Glad tidings — it’s the news, it’s the facts that bring joy.
We Were Built for This Joy…
"Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger—there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim—there is such a thing as water. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." — C.S. Lewis
2. Joy & Sorrow Can Coexist
The opposite of joy isn’t sadness or sorrow—it’s hopelessness.
John 16:21 — "A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born, she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world."
John 16:33 — "In this world, you will have trouble."
Hebrews 12:2 — "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross."
1 Thessalonians 4:13 — "We do not grieve as those who have no hope."
Ezekiel 36:26 — "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Psalm 30:5 — "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning."
Sorrow is always a temporary condition for a Christian, and joy is a permanent condition.
3. Joy Can Be Permanent & Deep
John 16:22 — "Now is your time of grief, but you will see me again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."
Joy is buoyancy.
What you’re filled with determines whether you sink or float.
Joy and obedience are connected.
John 15:10-11 — "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."
You can’t have joy while carrying a guilty conscience.
Joy isn’t something we have to chase; it’s something we receive.
"Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us—like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he can’t imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." — C.S. Lewis
Joy is here. Now. Available.
Because Jesus is here. Now. Available.
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Sermon Series || As It Is In Heaven - Joy || Luke 15:7 "I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
"Joy is the serious business of heaven." — C.S. Lewis
When was the last time you really felt the joy of the Lord? Do you find it abnormal?
Joy is part of God’s nature. Proximity matters, and you will catch what you’re close to.
Are you staying close to God?
Joy does not mean there won’t be sorrow, they can coexist. Sorrow is always a temporary condition for a Christian, and joy is a permanent condition. So even amid trial and sorrow, you can have joy. How? God.
Where do you go when things get hard? Where do you find joy? Where do you go to fill yourself up? Truthfully.
Joy is buoyancy, and what you’re filled with determines whether you sink or float. You can’t have joy while carrying a guilty conscience. Joy isn’t something we have to chase; it’s something we receive. Joy is here, now, and available, because Jesus is here, now, and available.
Are you filling your life with guilt, are you hanging onto that guilt, are you filling yourself up with things of this world that ultimately weigh you down? Or are you filling yourself up with Jesus, leaving you floating and not sinking?
How can you fill yourself up with Jesus? How can you receive the JOY of the Lord?
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CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
Power Verse: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8
February 16: Isaiah 41:10 - God is always with me
Why do we not have to fear? because God is with us
What can we remember when we feel discouraged? God is our God!
What is one way that God strengthens you?
What is His “righteous right hand”? -
STAY HUNGRY
Power Verse: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6
February 16: Psalm 107:9 - God fills us with good things
What does it mean to be spiritually hungry?
What are some things that God fill our spiritual hunger with?
How does it feel for your thirst to be quenched after a sports game?
How do you think that translates to spiritual thirst?
What is one way you can utilize what God wants to fill you with? -
FEELINGS by saddleback kids
Power Verse: “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Psalm 145:8
Learn the power verse motions here!
Hannah & God - When I feel sad, I can pray to God
Why did Hannah feel sad? because she couldn’t have a baby
What did she tell God when she prayed? exactly how she felt
What did Hannah do when she felt happy and sad? she prayed to God
Did God answer her prayer? yes
When do you feel happy?
When do you feel sad?
Does God love you more when you’re happy or when you’re sad? neither! -
FEELINGS by saddleback kids
Power Verse: “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Psalm 145:8
Learn the power verse motions here!
Adam & Eve - I can talk to God about how I feel (all month!)
What is sin? disobeying God
Who forgives us when we sin? Jesus
What did Adam & Eve feel? ashamed
Are feelings bad? no!
What do we do with our feelings? tell God