Raise the Flag • JOY

Joy is the banner that should fly high over a life where the King truly dwells. I opened with that old Scottish image because it names what we sense: when Christ is at home in us, joy should be visible. If it’s not, something is blocking it. I shared my own twenty-year battle with depression to say: I understand the gray, and I also know the Holy Spirit can break in through prayer. Today I named three common barriers that mute joy and showed how God meets each one.

First, a lack of the fear of God. Fear, for a child of God, is not horror but reverence—living aware that the King reigns here and now. That’s why joy is commanded, not suggested. Paul wrote “Rejoice” from a dungeon. Joy isn’t a mood; it’s an act of allegiance to the King. It’s also not a spiritual gift for a few; it’s fruit available to all who belong to Christ. We choose whether to cultivate it or neglect it.

Second, unresolved guilt. Nothing drains joy faster than carrying what Christ has already carried away. David asked, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation,” because joy runs on the rails of forgiveness. Confession is not groveling before an angry judge; it’s returning to a Father whose covenant love has already provided cleansing. Communion and baptism are tangible signs that God is with us and for us. When we take the bread and the cup, or remember our baptism, we stand in the smoke and the sprinkled blood—new covenant realities that anchor our hearts.

Third, chasing happiness instead of joy. “Happy” is rooted in what happens; joy is rooted in who reigns. Trials don’t cancel joy; they deepen it. Like a submarine plunging below the storm line, the Spirit leads us into a steady place where waves still pound the surface, but the depths hold. I told our church’s near-homelessness story to testify: when we live under the King’s reign, we don’t stop storms—we discover peace beneath them. And often, God surprises us with outcomes that our worry could never have produced.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Raise the banner of holy fear Reverent awe re-centers us under the King’s reign, and joy follows authority rightly acknowledged. Fear, for God’s children, is not terror but a deep consciousness that life has a rightful Ruler. When we step back under His protection and purpose, rejoicing becomes obedience rather than optimism. Joy thrives where God’s kingdom is not theoretical but present. [06:30]
• 2. Choose joy; don’t wait to feel Scripture commands rejoicing because joy is a Spirit-enabled decision, not a passing mood. We can direct our attention to God’s character and promises and let our faces follow. Even small acts—like smiling while remembering His goodness—can re-train our hearts to align with truth. Joy grows where we consistently practice it. [11:08]
• 3. Anchor joy in forgiven guilt Unresolved guilt quietly suffocates delight in God. Confession is the God-ordained way to breathe again; He is faithful to cleanse, not reluctant to forgive. Joy doesn’t ignore sin—it remembers that sin has been carried away and that we’re welcomed as family, not tolerated as defendants. Return to the joy of your salvation, not the cycle of self-condemnation. [19:30]
• 4. Remember your covenant signs Communion and baptism are not empty rituals; they are concrete reminders that God is with us and our sins are removed. When your feelings wobble, your covenant stands—signed in Christ’s blood, sealed by His Spirit. Return to these signs; let them ground your assurance and rekindle joy. Presence is not guesswork when Jesus has pledged Himself to you. [23:50]
• 5. Seek depth, not surface happiness Happiness is tide-dependent; joy is deep-water calm. Trials can still howl above while the Spirit holds us steady below, forming endurance, character, and hope. If you pursue joy in God, you’ll find a more resilient happiness thrown in; chase happiness alone, and you lose both. The depths are where the King’s peace resides. [36:22]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:42] - Advent joy and no wasps
• [01:39] - Looking ahead: vision and Luke
• [03:32] - Joy as the King’s banner
• [05:13] - My story with depression
• [06:30] - Barrier 1: No fear of God
• [11:08] - Joy is a commanded choice
• [13:37] - The joy experiment: just smile
• [14:09] - Joy is fruit, not a gift
• [15:41] - Barrier 2: Unresolved guilt
• [19:30] - Confession and cleansing promise
• [23:50] - Communion and covenant assurance
• [25:34] - Baptism and the Spirit’s indwelling
• [30:31] - Barrier 3: Beyond happiness to joy
• [35:54] - Deep-water joy and God’s faithfulness

1. In Philippians 4:4, what is the command, and how often is it to be obeyed? What setting is described for Paul when he wrote it ([10:10])?
2. In 1 John 1:9, what two things does God promise to do when we confess our sins?
3. In Romans 5:3-5, list the sequence that flows from suffering. What is the final outcome and who makes it secure?
4. What two tangible signs were highlighted as reminders that God is with us and our sins are removed ([23:50])?

1. If rejoicing is commanded (Philippians 4:4), what does that say about joy being allegiance to the King rather than a mood? How does “the fear of the Lord” (reverent awe under His reign) fit that picture ([06:30])?
2. 1 John 1:9 says God is “faithful and just” to forgive. Why does it matter that forgiveness is just, not only kind? How could that strengthen assurance when guilt feels loud?
3. Romans 5:3-5 ties joy in suffering to the Spirit pouring God’s love into hearts. How does that connect with the “deep-water calm” image—peace below the storm line ([36:22])?
4. How do communion and baptism function as covenant signs, not empty rituals? In what biblical ways do they anchor joy when feelings wobble ([24:09])?

1. Where are you quietly saying, “I believe in Jesus, but I don’t want to go too far” ([08:57])? What would stepping back under the King’s reign look like this week—in one concrete decision or habit?
2. Try the 30-second practice of rejoicing: direct your attention to who God is and smile on purpose ([11:56]). When during your day could you build this in (morning coffee, commute, lunch break)? What reminder will you set?
3. Is there a specific sin or shame you keep carrying that Christ has already carried away ([18:21])? What would confession look like for you today (1 John 1:9), and how will you receive cleansing rather than keep picking it back up?
4. When God feels distant, how could regularly receiving communion and remembering your baptism steady your heart ([23:50])? What simple rhythm could help you revisit these signs (journal note after communion, baptism date on your calendar)?
5. Where are you chasing “happenings” to feel better ([30:06])? What is one way you will “dive deep” this week—Scripture, prayer walk, silence, serving someone—in order to seek the Spirit’s steadying joy ([36:22])?
6. Name one current trial. Using Romans 5:3-5, what fruit do you want to look for (endurance, character, hope)? Who will you invite to pray with you about it this week?
7. If you’re under a long gray cloud, would you be willing to ask someone to pray over you ([05:13])? What step will you take today—text a friend, meet with a leader, or come to the prayer team?