White Flag Joy

Back story to Neh and why they were reading the law that day. What day was it, where had they come from, what challenges did they still face, and why read the law?

Nehemiah 8:1–2 NLT

all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.

Neh

Nehemiah 8:8–10 NLT

They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

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What joy is – Joy is the state of gladness or elation that people experience through their relationship with God and through good things in their lives.[1]

What joy is not – It is not the effect of everything going the way you want it. Rather it is the underlying happiness of being connected to God that sees us through the rough times.

(Poor, broken down car, not enough money to even pay for college and yet during that opening day of worship I knew I was in the middle of God’s will. I experienced an overwhelming sense of joy. )

Nothing was going good but I was in a right relationship with God- God was my ultimate good.

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Continual Joy Comes Through Surrendering To The Word of God.

Isaiah 55:11 NLT

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isaiah 55:11–12 NLT

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

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Three Ways the Word of God Creates Joy in Our Lives.

Nehemiah 8:12 NLT

So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.

Understanding allows you to apply God’s word to your life.

Psalm 16:11 NLT

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.

His word shows us the way of Life and allows us to experience the joy of being in his presence.

Jeremiah 15:16 NLT

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

Jeremiah 15:6 NLT

You have abandoned me and turned your back on me,” says the Lord. “Therefore, I will raise my fist to destroy you. I am tired of always giving you another chance.

You are what you eat!

If I eat a lot of junk food my body will be junk

If I feed my mind junk my mind will be junk.

If I devour the Word of God my mind, will be conformed to the Word of God.

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God Wants Us To Always Be Filled With Joy!

Philippians 4:4 NLT

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

Even in the dark times we can be full of joy if we surrender to God’s Word.

2 Corinthians 6:10 NLT

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

2 Corinthians 8:2 NLT

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.

Juarez - Teens hot and exhausted - full of joy.

Children living in deep poverty - full of joy.

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4 Ways God’s Word Tells Us We Can Receive Joy!

Let God’s Word define you.

Often we allow the World, co-workers, failures, sin, past define us. (Joy Killer)

You must allow the Word of God to define you. You are who he says you are.

You are Saints, His beloved, His Temple, Co-workers of Grace, Holy, His Children.

2. Be in community with other believers.

Psalm 133:1 NLT

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

In community we are with others with common purpose

In community we are able to support one another

In community there is encouragement, correction, healing, help, love.

Sunday services yes. But more - Life Groups - Dinner table - Real friendships.

(How the Tabernacle loved, corrected, restored, mentored and gave Callie and I hope. - Correction - Baby Shower - Support - Mentored - Restored .)

3. Living for more than just yourself.

John 15:

John 15:6–15 NLT

Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Live for more than your own ambitions.

Live for your church family

Live for a broken world

Live for the good news of Jesus.

Sweed Sec General -Dag Hammarskjold quoted a poem “Will the day ever come where joy is great and sorrow is small?” He then added this line. “On a day we fill we are living with a duty, well fulfilled and worth our while, on that day joy is great and we can look on sorrow as being small.”

4. Be a peace maker

Proverbs 12:20 NLT

Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!

Prov 12:20

When we are focused on the destruction or harm of others we have no peace.

When we are focused on reconciliation and peace, we have joy.

A church full of egg shells turns people away.

A church full of joy attracts people.

Seek peace in your family, at your work, with your enemies, with God’s people.

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Let God’s Word Define You, Be in community with other believers,

Live for more than yourself, Peace Maker.

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Jesus tells us that the sun and rain shine and fall on the righteous and the unrighteous. In other words we will all experience good days and bad days. Times will be good and times will be really rough. Yet, God promise to you is a life full of joy.

Surrender to the Word of God in all areas of your life and Joy will over flow.