As we end our week today on abiding and the true vine, today will explore how to

abide in God's promise joy.

What does it mean for us to walk in joy and to be people marked by joy in this world?

How do we even go about doing that?

May we befilled afresh with joy today as we seek these answers out.

Welcome to the First 15 podcast.

The kingdom of our heavenly

heavenly father is the one who throws a massive party for the prodigal son returned home.

He's the god of the angels who rejoice over one sinner who repents.

He's the God who celebrates with us, sings over us, and rejoices in us.

And at the end of this age he will throw us a wedding feast in celebration of the joy he has had over total restored relationship with us, his bride.

Scripture is clear that our God doesn't desire to keep his joy to himself, but he longs to fill us

with it overflowing.

Toward the end of the John 15-1-17 passage, we've been studying this week. Jesus says, these things I have spoken to you, that my

joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. God's plan is to fill us with a fullness

of joy that is grounded solely in Him,

rather than the ever-changing circumstances around us.

That's why Galatians 522 tells us that the fruit of the spirit is joy. Joy is meant to come from the

Holy Spirit within us. It's in relationship with God we experience his abundant

joy. Let's go wholeheartedly into the heart of God today and find the

reservoir of joy he longs to guide us to. Let's be believers marked by the joy of

our Heavenly Father rather than the dissatisfaction we experience

...