Nehemiah 8:9-12 Awaken Joy
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The Joy of Repentance
INTRODUCTION
Those in Africa finding joy in small things. A piece of sugarcane during a famine.
Photo- me with orphans.
In June 2020 a survey found that only 14% of Americans said they were very happy. A 50 year low. Down from 2018 when 31% said they were very happy.
Americans find joy in their circumstances. Wealth can never buy happiness.
The Jews had just finished building the walls. Very trying and difficult time. Trying to get back to their religion and rebuild their society.
-They learn that they had neglected God’s laws for generations.
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.
3 Ways They Found Joy
Conviction Led to Joy (9)
Conviction Led to Joy (9)
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.
They had been messing up for a long time.
But it was not a day to mourn. It was a day to celebrate.
Sin separates us from God.
How do we celebrate knowing that?
Knowing that God had a plan.
Obedience Led to Joy (10-11)
Obedience Led to Joy (10-11)
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.”
Feast of Trumpets - shofar.
Shofar was a trumpet made of the ram's horn.
Reminder of the ram that God gave in the place of Isaac.
The Feast of Trumpets was a yearly reminder of the coming of the Messiah.
Early Jews recognized this connection.
31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
First day of the year.
Fellowship Meal
Joy of the Lord= trusting him
Knowledge Led to Joy (12)
Knowledge Led to Joy (12)
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.
Hope- confidence in that which was yet to come.
Lived in faith because of the hope of forgiveness.
Confidence in the coming Messiah.
CONCLUSION
Conviction of sin would be hopeless without the Messiah.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Why did Jesus endure the cross? For the joy set before him.
The joy was the outcome of the cross.
Jesus went through the pain so that we may live.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Have you accepted the free gift of salvation through Jesus?
Repent and find joy.