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 23rd | Week 7
Life (No Death)
Speakers
Josh Blount
Lead Pastor
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 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.
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.