Where is my Joy?

***Quick Update about Gathering In Person at KING’s on Nov.13th @7pm**

***Let’s Read the Word and Pray together*** — Click on the Button and Join me in Prayer —

Philippians 1:6 NLT

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Introduction: Can you think of a time when you experienced Joy but nothing was perfect?

Every single one of my kids was born with some kinda crazy

some of the best moments of joy in dating and being married to Tarah have been the most imperfect

Joy isn’t found the ABSENCE of pain, it’s found the PRESENCE of Jesus

The Problem:

Some people think that real joy will happen when everything is perfect — Or when they finally get All the Things They Want

The Answer:

Realizing that true Joy is the result of Experiencing God — The

Explain the Context of Chapter 8:

Ch.7 — They Finished the Wall! — This is going to lead to a series of events

Ch.9 They are going to repent

Ch.10-11 they are going to sign a covenant

Ch.12 they are going to dedicate the Wall — They are going to put hundreds of people on the wall (heavier than foxes!)

But it all starts with what happens in Ch.8

They are going to hear God’s word as a community for the first time in a long time

It’s going to stir some emotion in the people

How do I find Joy?

1. I’ll find JOY when the words I say about God are the words He says about Himself

Nehemiah 8:5–6 NLT

5 Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. 6 Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

The people are having a genuine emotional and spiritual response to Ezra’s reading of the Law (God’s Words)

They are actually DOING acts of Worship but I want to remind us that....

The Bible (God’s Word) wasn’t written for me to do something, it was written for me to know someone

Notice this though…The people didn’t understand what Ezra was reading...It wasn’t until the Levites went into the crowd that the people really understood

Nehemiah 8:7–8 NLT

7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places. 8 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.

Ezra’s Platform for preaching was only as effective as the Levites ability to help the people understand — (SMALL GROUPS)

God’s word isn’t supposed to live on the Platform, it’s supposed to live in people

We often value what happens on platforms more than we value what happens in people.

“people” occurs 13x in vs.1-12 — What happens in PEOPLE matters — But what we do on platforms get’s so much attention

We settle for doing ‘good’ things and ‘getting’ good bible information not gospel transformation

I’m not going to find joy by praying for or performing for a feeling, I’m going to experience Joy when I spend time with a person…I want to UNDERSTAND better....to the get the right view

When I get the right view of God, then I’ll get the right view of myself...

2. I’ll find JOY when the words I say about myself are the words that He says about me

8:9 — When the people hear God’s Word they weep — Ezra, Nehemiah and the Levites had to tell them to stop — Today is sacred!

When people measure their life against God’s word it might cause discouragement — but when they understand the God behind the words it should cause them to celebrate.

Rejoicing is as necessary as Repentance

Nehemiah 8:10 NLT — Nehemiah says Celebrate with good foods — Share it

This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Nehemiah 8:12 NLT

12 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.

They key to the JOY of the people was their UNDERSTANDING

CH.9 is a rehearsal God’s people saying God’s words about Himself back to Him — His words about Them— it’s them understanding

This is the same reason Paul writes...

Ephesians 1:16–18 NLT

16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

REMEMBER that they were Still under the rule of PERSIA! — Not the absence of pain but the presence of God

If the key to their Joy was their understanding…Then what did they understand...

That no matter how much they had turned from God, rebelled, did wrong — God still chose them — They were still God’s PEOPLE

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed than we would ever dare to believe or admit, and at the same we are more loved and accepted in Jesus than we could ever dare to hope.”

APPLY: Let’s Get in the WORD — Let’s Read our BIBLE — Let’s spend time in the PRESENCE of God

Conclusion: Joy isn’t the absence of pain, it’s the presence of Jesus

Revival at the Water Gate

What’s incredible about this passage is the picture of Jesus that we get

All of this is happening while the people are in front of the Water Gate — This would be where they got their fresh water

Jesus said he was the Living Water — you’ll never get thirsty

Jesus said to the disciples that they were clean b/c of the WORD that He spoke to them

It’s when my life is filled with God’s word that I find joy — What He says about Himself and what He says about me

Illustration: Water & Ping Pong - Fill up on God’s Word

Where is my Joy? Where is my Identity? It’s found in the WORD of GOD! The PERSON OF JESUS

We have all kinds of opinions and information that we let form our picture of God (Drop Ping Pong Balls)

my own thoughts — what someone told me once — my experience at church

We have all kinds of voices and experiences that form our picture of ourselves

pain — injustice — expectations --

We need to let the WORD of God (POUR in WATER)

DON’t just stop at HEARING — Don’t just stop at DOING (half-way full) (Don’t Live Half-Hearted)

PRESS on to UNDERSTANDING AND INTO OVERFLOW! TO JOY!

Is it found in what people say about me? Is it found in what I think of myself?

People tell us things — Experiences tell me things — What I think I should have?

It’s found when I drink fresh from the Word of God — When I say back to God what He says about Himself

When I speak over myself what God says about me

Small Group Questions:

What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message?

Share your thoughts concerning this statement: “The proclaiming and hearing of the Word of God is a form of corporate worship.”

How does the ability we have to take refuge and protection in God’s joy over us impact your life?

Read Zephaniah 3:17. Is this the way you view God? If no, why not? Why do we doubt that God takes great delight in and rejoices over us?

How does knowing your spiritual identity affect you? In what ways do you struggle with your identity?

How can I pray for you?

OTHER THOUGHTS:

I don’t want to settle for hearing God’s word, I want to be determined to understand it

Nothing will turn a feast of God’s word into a famine quicker than a heart that desires something more than God

A famine of God’s word leaves me hearing but not understanding, a Feast isn’t over until I am full on understanding

I’m in a famine of God’s word when I allow someone else to feed my spirit through their understanding. I’m in a feast of God’s word when I sit down and feed on His word myself

A famine leaves me thinking that I’ve got it figured out

A famine leaves me weak and mourning, a Feast gives me strength and cause for celebration.