Introduction

Some of us walked in today with a smile that’s doing a lot of work. Bills stack up, headlines shout, and our own hearts whisper old worries with new volume. And yet, into that ache comes a whisper stronger than worry: the King is here, and where the King is, joy begins to sing. Not a thin grin, not a fragile mood, but the glad gravity of God that steadies us, surprises us, and sets us free to live as people of the Kingdom.

Tim Keller put it like this: "The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope." — Tim Keller

Hear that again. More loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we’ve dared to hope. What if that love is the well that fills our cups even when circumstances feel dry? What if the Father’s smile over the Son, and the Son’s joy in the Spirit, becomes the air our souls breathe? What if church isn’t a crowded calendar but a community carried by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? Wouldn’t that sound like revival on ordinary streets?

Picture it: Jesus, the happiest person who ever lived, breaking into praise “in the Holy Spirit.” He raises His voice to the Father, not because everything around Him is easy, but because the Father’s will is beautiful and wise. That same Spirit is here, ready to tune our hearts to Heaven’s harmony. And Paul reminds us that the Kingdom shows up in real relationships—with integrity that does right, with peace that quiets the storm, with joy that cannot be quarantined. Hallway hellos become holy moments. Kitchen tables turn into Kingdom tables. Offices, classrooms, and cul-de-sacs fill with a quiet courage and a contagious gladness that point to Jesus.

So today, let’s set our watches by a different clock and our hearts by a different horizon. Let’s ask for a deep, durable gladness that outlasts bad news and outshines old fears. Let’s welcome the Spirit who makes ordinary people into carriers of extraordinary grace—where righteousness mends what’s broken, peace calms what’s anxious, and joy breaks out like morning light. Are you hungry for that? Are you ready for the kind of revival that walks on two feet into the living room, the break room, the locker room?

Scripture Reading Romans 14:17 (ESV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Luke 10:21 (ESV) "In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.’"

Opening Prayer Father, thank You for welcoming us today. Thank You that Your Kingdom is full of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, teach our hearts to rejoice as You rejoice—in the Spirit and in the Father’s will. Holy Spirit, come and fill us now. Lift heaviness, quiet anxiety, and awaken holy delight. Shape in us lives that do what is right, seek peace, and spread joy to every person we meet. Let Your glad grace visit our homes, our workplaces, and our city. Align our thoughts with Your truth, our steps with Your wisdom, and our words with Your kindness. We ask for a fresh work of renewal that is humble, holy, and happy in You. In the strong name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Joy flows from the Kingdom of God

Joy is the sound of God’s reign taking hold. It grows where His will is welcomed. It fills people who receive His way as good. It moves into our bones and our habits. It steadies our inner life and spills into our words and our work. It has a clean, bright quality to it. It feels like air after rain.

This joy holds up in hard seasons. It has weight. It carries us when life is heavy. It comes from above, yet it fits our everyday. It walks with us through daily tasks and long nights. It gives strength to keep loving. It gives courage to keep serving. It gives warmth where hearts have cooled.

The Scriptures do not treat joy as a bonus. They treat it as family resemblance. It is the tone of people who belong to the King. It is the echo of His presence. It is the fruit that grows when He is in charge. It is the light that rises when His voice is trusted.

Think about what Paul says to the church in Rome. He names three marks that stand together: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness is God setting things right and teaching us to do what is right. Peace is God healing what is torn and helping us make peace with others. Joy is God gladdening the heart and brightening the house. These three belong together. When God’s way shapes our decisions, joy finds a home in us. When we treat people with fairness, joy does not have to fight through shame. When we seek peace and make room for others, joy has space to breathe. Paul speaks into a church where people disagreed about food and days. He guides them to care more for each other than for winning the argument. He points them to the Spirit as the shared life of the family. In that shared life, joy is not fragile. Joy becomes normal.

Look at Jesus in Luke. He rejoices in the Holy Spirit and lifts thanks to the Father. His heart rises as He watches the Father reveal His ways to those who trust Him like children. That moment shows us the core of joy. Joy grows when the Father’s goodness is seen and welcomed. Joy feeds on the Father’s wisdom, even when our plans feel small or slow. Childlike trust opens the door wide. It says, “Father, You know what You are doing.” It says, “Your timing is kind.” It says, “Your way is wise for me.” This trust does not need polish. It needs an open hand. Joy fills that open hand. Joy turns thanks into song. Joy makes worship feel natural, even when the setting is plain and the day is long.

Notice the shared phrase that holds both passages together. Joy happens in the Holy Spirit. That means joy has a source and a setting. The Spirit is the one who pours God’s love into our hearts. The Spirit is the one who takes what belongs to Jesus and makes it real to us. The Spirit is the one who brings the life of the age to come into this present hour. So we do not have to manufacture a mood. We welcome a Person. We listen. We yield. We ask. We receive. We set aside space for prayer, even small minutes with honest words. We confess where our hearts have grown dull. We forgive where we have held on to hurt. We bless people by name. We sing simple songs. We keep step with the Spirit in small acts of obedience. As we do, the current of joy rises. Quiet at first. Then steady. Then strong.

Paul’s line also helps us see how joy works in a body, not just in one soul. Righteousness, peace, and joy shape a culture. Think of what that looks like across a week. People keep promises. People tell the truth with kindness. People honor the weak and slow down for them. People settle old quarrels. People carry each other’s burdens without keeping score. People share meals and notice the person on the edge. This is righteousness that serves relationship. This is peace that mends trust. And then joy shows up in the room. Laughter feels clean. Tears feel safe. Songs sound full. Even hard talks carry hope. The Spirit makes this possible. He takes the teaching of Jesus and presses it into patterns. He makes holiness warm. He makes peace practical. He makes joy durable at the soccer sidelines, in hospital corridors, on late-night phone calls, and at bus stops. Where this life spreads, neighbors can sense it, and they want in.

Jesus rejoices in the Holy Spirit and aligns with the Father's will

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