Advent3

Advent

Merry Christmas my friends. God is Faithful. As we light the Advent wreath today, I want to point out to you that there are different colored candles here. there are purple, pink and white candles.

Now purple is the color that represents preparation. so on those Sunday where we are lighting a purple candle we are stopping, reflecting and preparing our hearts for the coming Christ.

Pink on the hand represents celebration, so when when light the pink candle we are stopping to celebrate and rejoice in Jesus. now the white candle represents Jesus. It is the Christ candle.

The last two weeks we have lit purple candles. the candles of hope and peace. We are hoping in Christs return and we are resting in his Joy. preparing our hearts for that second coming.

Now the wreath itself represents the unity of God. the power and the

Intro

Nehemiah was back in Jerusalem. He had rebuilt the walls of the City. God had miraculously used him to save Jerusalem and to restore Gods City. When all was done, Nehemiah and Ezra brought the people together for the reading of the Law. the 5 books of moses. Now this hadn’t been done for a long time. You with Nehemiah, God reestablished Jerusalem, but once the city was complete Ezra the priest went to work to begin reestablishing the religious life.

So they gather everyone in the square and begin reading. The story of Creation, Israel, joseph, Moses, the ten commandments. Thou shalt not have any other gods before Me.

As Ezra is reading this and nehemiah and the leaders are explaining everything. The Holy Spirit Fell. and people began crying. Oh God I’m sorry. Forgive me.

Nehemiah 8:9 ESV

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.

Nehemiah and Ezra tell people. Stop crying. Today is Holy. Your crying over your sin. but crying is Sin. So they are trying their best to steady the crowd so that they can finish, but the holy Spirit is just convicting. Hallelujah.

Today we are talking about joy. How many of you will admit its hard to follow God at times, when you feel like you constantly mess up. This happens in any relationship. Its the I’m not good enough attitude.

News flash. No your not. Nor am I.

It’s hard to serve Jesus when all you feel is guilt. it’s also hard to have any relationship when all you feel is guilt.

Lets talk Three things about joy this morning.

Joy is Caught! It is Never Bought!

Joy Anticipates

Joy Strengthens

Joy is Caught. It is Never Bought.

John 15:10–11 ESV

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.

People try and buy Joy every day. This is why Disney World exists. But true true Joy is acquired to through financial means, but through Resting in the Lord.

Stop Breathe, Gather your thoughts and move forward

Joy Anticipates

Romans 12:12 NIV

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Be Joyful. In what? Hope! Hope? Hope in what? Hope in a church? hope in a nation? Hope in the past? No. Where does our hope now lay? It lies in the Death, Resurrection and soon coming return of our Lord and Savior.

Our past is dealt with. Death has been conquered and our future is secured! Praise the Lord!

Romans 15:13 ESV

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

May the God of Hope! Fill you with all “Joy and Peace”

You see these three things, hope Joy and and peace are all intertwined.

Hope gives birth to Joy. Joy Gives birth to peace.

Luke 2:10–11 ESV

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Today, a savior has been born. Hope has arrived. Now Rejoice!

Stop Breathe, Gather your thoughts and move forward

Joy Strengthens (Hannah Comes Up)

John 16:22 NIV

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Jesus is giving His disciples Hope. Yes, you are about to go through a hard time. But You will see me again, and you will rejoice, and no one will be able to take that Joy from you.

Zephaniah 3:17 NASB95

“The Lord your God is in your midst, A victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

The lord is in your midst. He is the warrior here. It is His Joy that that shout over you.

God my friends is where our victory comes from. We want his hope and His Joy. Not our own. Zephaniah is encouraging Israel Here when he promises. God will rejoice over you with shouts of Joy. His Joy.

I want His Joy this morning church Amen. Not my own, but his Joy reigning over me in my life Amen.

Stop Breathe, Gather your thoughts and move forward

Joy is for All who Choose to Abide in Jesus (Gary Comes Up)

John 15:10–11 ESV

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.

Finally we see in this moment Nehemiah and the Ezra bring this message to a conclusion. the People of God have been utterly convicted and are lost in their Sin. We have fallen. how will god ever use me again? This is where the people of Jerusalem are. They are broken, and need help. they are on the edge of giving up. how can We bare the weight of this God? How can we ever live up to His standard? How can we ever make it as a Jew? When we are sinners like this and He is so Holy. Nehemiah delivers this message.

It is not through your strength that you serve Jehovah, or my teaching. It is through Him. It is His joy that will carry you through.

Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

His Joy will be your strength! He is not like the gods of the Babylonians. He is different. His joy will bring you to Him. Just Abide in him. Obey him. Walk with Him. Let his Joy Strengthen you.

Closing

Nehemiah's solutions for the people of God was to rest in the Joy of the Lord.

I know your guilt, is keeping you from reaching Jesus.

But you see their guilt was actually preventing them from walking with God. that festival was a a day of Rejoicing but they were mourning. it was sin before God. Ezra and Nehemiah were happy they were repentant, but guilt alone wouldn’t sustain their faith. Duty wouldn’t sustain it. Something greater had to rise. the People needed the Lords Joy to be their strength.

Is your faith Running on guilt today? is it fueled by duty? or honor? or tradition? If it is. those things will not be able to carry you all the way. You must learn to rely on and Abide in the Joy of the Lord.

Joy is more than a song. We are about to sing joy to the World again but if your pursuit of joy ends with this song. Don’t expect to secure anything. Joy must be caught!

How do you and I secure Joy?

By Spending time with Jesus.

Praying, Worshiping. Meditating on his Word.

Let His Joy be your strength.