series: Receive His Light #
verse: Nehemiah 9:1-3, 12:43 #
Introduction: #
Main Idea: #
Life is filled with decisions, and we often lean towards the more convenient. We move towards comfort, things that satisfy us temporarily in the present moment. But these verses show us that the Israelites are rejoycing whilst in a season of sacrifice.
Why does our joy fade easily? #
Joy fades when comfort dulls attentiveness to God’s word. We are guilty of moving away from God’s Word. It’s a slow poison that removes us from the Joy we were built to experience.
How does God restore our joy? #
God restores our joy through a loving discipline that reveals His mercy.
Is the life I experience the result of a wordly obsession? Have I been pursuing the Word of God? Or have I been lackadaisical in my faith. God’s merciful to us despite all of the sin and rebellion that we commit. God is the one who restores our joy by placing us in a loving discplinary position. And it’s up to us to make sense of it. It’s up to use to take notice of it. If we look at the text, it’s when the Israelites turn to the Word that they come to the realization of their atrocities. And it’s also when they experience hardship, that they recognize God and how he’s moving faithfully in our lives.
When life is good and well, we rarely have existential concerns. We don’t worry about, “What is my Identity. What is my life’s purpose?”. But this is why God puts us in these hard moments. For us to recognize that we can only find healing, purpose, and joy within Him. In order for us to know whether or not our current struggles are a part of God’s discipline or just inherent human suffering, read the Word.
What does the joy do to our community? #
Restored joy moves a community toward great sacrifices.
God never gave up on the Israelites, even though they failed in many aspects. Instead he gave them purpose, joy, and provisions. And this is why the Israelites celebrated this in Nehemiah 12:43. And similarly, if you are truly a Christian, one who believes in the death and ressurection of our savior Jesus Christ, then we are subject to that very same blessing. And thus, we are similarly expected to joyously sacrifice and praise God.
If you have misplaced your joy in some place apart from God. You need to realign.
God loves you, is merciful, and is constantly with you.