Joy of the Lord
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 33:19
0 ratings
· 18 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
My Strength
My Strength
Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.
We often hear the phrase “The Joy of the Lord is my strength” but did we ever really consider it true meaning?
The celebration we read about here is the restoration of the people back to God
The people were living in rebelion
As Ezra was reading the Law of God to the people they were broken in heart and mind!
The people had finished the work that Nehemiah was directing and now in celebration they gathered to listen
THEN ALL the people gathered together as one man in the broad place before the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel.
And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first of the seventh month.
He read from it, facing the broad place before the Water Gate, from early morning until noon, in the presence of the men and women and those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Ezra opened the book in sight of all the people, for he was standing above them; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with faces to the ground.
Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah—the Levites—helped the people to understand the Law, and the people [remained] in their place.
So they read from the Book of the Law of God distinctly, faithfully amplifying and giving the sense so that [the people] understood the reading.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all of them, This day is holy to the Lord your God; mourn not nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law.
The people knew the hardship of rejecting God’s leadership
It reminds me of the book of Acts
Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”
Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
The joy of the Lord is found on the road to restoration. God convicts us of sin, and often our first reaction is guilt and shame.
But those feelings never come from God. Ezra the scribe gathered all the people.
He read to them from God’s book and skilled ministers explained the words and their meaning to the people. Nehemiah 8:8 says, “They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.”
The Word of God is designed to defend itself. It will bring men to a place of decision!
The message to the people was that God was forgiving, gracious, and compassionate.
The same remains tru today!
The word Joy in Hebrew is the word meaning to be “made glad” The root word of which means “to be strong,: or “strength” “a place of protection and refuge”
Our strength never ends because it is rooted in the finished work of Christ.
We often confuse joy with happiness!
Happiness is an emotion based upon my expectations. Joy however is rooted in the unchangeableness of Christ’s finished work in us!
Joy takes us to a place of worship regardless of how we feel emotionally!
In the list of the fruits of the Spirit we see -
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
All of these are not emotions but rather choices we make!
Peter addressed this is his Epistle
So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
You see the vision is eternal not temporal!
James put it this way
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Many Christians think once they’ve made that decision for Christ that everything will fall into place and life will be that proverbial bowl of cherries. And when trials and tough times come upon them or continue, they begin to question, “why?” Wondering how they could possibly endure horrible circumstances and consider it joy.
Remember that the joy that the world provides is a fleeting moment! It like waves of the ocean hitting the shore!
The Spirit’s joy in contrast is like the wind of a hurricane, strong, consistent and endless!
It is a bottomless well from which Jesus calls us to drink!
Remember the words of Jesus?
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
Joy my friends is a choice!
We must grab onto it like a life preserver thrown to us in the mists of the waves of a raging sea trying to takes us under!
The Apostle Paul mentioned this about the church at Corinth
They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
To the church at Philippi he wrote
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Joy comes from knowing and believing that God is in control!
It comes as the Word of God sinks deep into our spirit!
Remember
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes.
I’ll clos with this verse
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Seeking for Joy this Christmas season? You only need to look at the root of the Word “Christ!”