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Joyfully Receiving Christ
Joyfully Receiving Christ
This morning I want to dig into your identity. I don’t know if you’re a first time visitor or if you have been saved longer than you can remember, but often times it’s good to remember who Christ says we are because often times we are the most critical of ourselves. I know in many churches sermons like these are focused on our sins and being a sinner in need of Grace and it’s, but honestly if you’re anything like me you already know you’ve messed up. You already know you fallen short. No one can beat you up better than you do about the past choices you have made. So I feel like you need to know this:
12 For I will demonstrate my mercy to them and will forgive their evil deeds, and never remember again their sins.”
The idea of mercy is receiving something that isn’t deserved. Do we deserve our sins to be forgotten…no, but Christ bore our sins on the cross so that we no longer have to carry them. This doesn’t always remove the Earthly consequences of our sin, but it does remove the eternal punishment of our sins and helps us to walk out things on this Earth knowing that God is walking with us. We see this played out in Nehemiah
Prior to Nehemiah Israel had sinned and they were walking out their sin in slavery. It’s a physical representation of what happens to us today. When we separate ourselves from God we are enslaved to sin. It’s why I hear all the time, Pastor I would stop swearing, but I can’t. Pastor I would stop drinking, but I can’t. Pastor I can’t control my anger. Why? because when we let a behavior run wild that behavior starts to control us. Think of an untrained dog. It jumps on people. You can’t have people over. It steals your food. It does everything you don’t want it to do because the dog doesn’t feel the need to listen to you. Sin, if done for a while will start to control us and this is where Israel was. Being controlled by their rebellion.
Nehemiah gets a word from God that God wants to bring his people back to be there own nation, but like any house that has been abandoned for a long time their town needs work. So he gathers up the Israeli people who are still alive and they begin to work on rebuilding their community.
In Chapter 8 where we will be they are in the process of rebuilding and find they find the Words of God written down.
9 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.
10 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.”
11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.”
12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
Anytime you find yourself giving into sin if we speak truth to it the overwhelming desire to sin must go away. So they found God’s law. Realizing how far off their behaviors have been they begin to cry, mourn, or feel horrible for the things they have done.
It’s part of repentance. Repentance is not just feeling sorry for your sins though. When you repent and turn to God for the forgiveness of your sins you’re telling God you don’t want to commit those sins anymore and that you are going to live from Him. Repentance is a complete change of mind. When I was a kid I used to like to drink. Now Alcohol doesn’t even sound good. It isn’t a thing I even wish I could have.
So Israel begins to cry for their sin, but Nehemiah does something different. V11 Be quiet—stop crying. For this day is holy. Do not be greived because the joy of the Lord is your strength. When faced with their sin Nehemiah told them to celebrate because of the focus was not on what they did, but rather that they were forgiven.
We get so caught up in beating ourselves up with things. When we should take them to Christ to be forgotten. Nehemiah said Eat and drink. Be Merry.
Why because we discover
Salvation, becoming Holy, and walking with Christ is more connected with and rejoicing than it is with tears and mourning.
The bible says when someone comes to Christ to have their sins forgotten
10 That’s the way God responds every time one lost sinner repents and turns to him. He says to all his angels, ‘Let’s have a joyous celebration, for that one who was lost I have found!’ ”
Sinners saved by graced are brought in with Joy—why? Because once you receive Christ. There is no condemnation. Israel was called to rejoice because Nehemiah understood what God’s call to holiness really means.
Everyone focuses on the rules of Christianity instead of the freedom we receive. I get told so many times that there are too many rules, but what I have found is that often times for me breaking those rules brings more problems than solutions.
Cheating on my wife would bering more problems. Gambling all my money away would bring more problems. Yelling in anger at everyone would make my life more difficult.
Being free from the pain, the guilt, and shame of past decisions—-brings me joy.
Understand there is a place for tears. We are told
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Prior to repentance I am sorrowful for my sin. That sorrow drives me to God because he is full of mercy and grace. Because of Jesus death on the cross and resurrection back to life-when applied—my sins are forgotten and I am joyful again.
Many people have a skewed view of God and believe He waits to just condemn us getting joy when he sees things go wrong because of our sin.
Some of my kids will do this…They will scream you just enjoy grounding me. Which is nonsense because now they are grounded which means they are bored and will annoy me more. Grounding them makes my life miserable. I’d rather them always be free roam chickens I just have to feed every now and again. But because I love them I tell them—my job is to make sure you grow up into a 35 year old people want to be around.
Focusing on our problems more than God’s answers leads to anxiety, depression, and ultimately death.
We understand we aren’t perfect. We will mess up, but that’s why there is grace. you are loved you are Holy.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
All to often people focus on the all have sinned part and the falling short part. What we should focus on is that we are made to be in the Glory of God.
Yes we fall short, but God is like the dad who lifts the daughter up so she can slam dunk the basketball. We are short. He is tall. He lifts us up so we can experience his glory here on earth. God desires to be with you. He wants to bring you into his glory. He wants to help you walk the road to healing. He wants to fix your marriage. Help your relaitonships. Get you back on track when you get lost off the path. He will receive you with joy.
Do you want to joyfully receive him?