Home Events Contact Us
Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
and to day, and for ever.
- Heb. 13:8

Sermon

The Joy of the Lord

Posted on 26 Apr 2020, Pastor: Tolu Makinde
Title: The Joy of the Lord
Text: Neh. 8:7-12 
 
[Neh 8:7]  Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
[Neh 8:8]  So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
[Neh 8:9]  And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
[Neh 8:10]  Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
[Neh 8:11]  So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
[Neh 8:12]  And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
 
Introduction
 
  • Nehemiah received the call to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.
  • There were oppositions in the person of Sanballat and Tobiah, but the Lord to put them to shame.
  • Nehemiah and his team managed to complete the wall.
  • After the completion of the wall, Ezra the priest and the scribe, read the book of the law.
  • When the people heard the Word of God, they started to weep.
  • Nehemiah then explained to the people that it was not a time to weep, but a time of joy.
  • That the joy of the Lord is their strength.
  • May the joy of the Lord be your strength in Jesus name
 
What is joy? 
  • Joy is a feeling of elation that comes from the depth of man, but has it’s source in God.
  • It is not based on what is happening around a man, but based on what is happening within the man
  • Happiness is based on what is happening around a man.
 
Main Topic
 
My prayer is that our joy shall not turn sour and shall never diminish in Jesus name.
 
There are different levels of joy: Joy, Great Joy, Exceeding Joy, Exceeding Great Joy, Fullness of Joy, and Everlasting Joy.
 
Different levels of joy
  • Joy
    • [Isa 60:15]  Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
    • [Psa 51:12]  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
    • Joy comes as a result of salvation and as a result of keeping one’s salvation.
    • Joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit as mentioned in Gal. 5:22
    • If you have given your life to Jesus, joy is yours by default.
  • Great joy
    • [Act 8:4]  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
    • [Act 8:5]  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
    • [Act 8:6]  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
    • [Act 8:7]  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
    • [Act 8:8]  And there was great joy in that city.
    • When people with joy come together in fellowship, one accord, and purpose, there is great joy.
    • When there are new converts, healings, and deliverance, there will be great joy among the children of God.
  • Exceeding joy
    • [Psa 43:4]  Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
    • [1Pe 4:13]  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
    • The Psalmist referred to God as the exceeding joy.
    • Peter said that when the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, be glad with exceeding joy since you are partakers of Christ’s suffering.
  • Exceeding great joy
    • [Mat 2:9]  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
    • [Mat 2:10]  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
    • The wise men had exceeding great joy because they saw the star of Jesus
    • The star of Jesus guided them to Jesus Christ.
  • Fullness of joy
    • [Psa 16:11]  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
    • [Joh 16:24]  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
    • It is in the presence of God that we can experience fullness of joy.
  • Everlasting joy
    • [Isa 51:11]  Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
    • [Isa 61:7]  For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
    • When we get to the presence of our Maker, everlasting joy will be our testimony.
 
  • What brings joy?
    • There is nowhere mentioned in the Bible that joy comes from the abundance of possession.
    • Joy comes from the Word of God
    • Joy comes from preaching the Word of God
    • Joy comes from the presence of God
  • What are the benefits of joy?
    • [Pro 15:13]  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
    • A broken spirit comes through sorrow, which come
    • Joy gives you strength
    • Joy gives you hope
    • Joy makes your countenance to be cheerful
  • Joy can be lost
    • If we forget the source of our joy, it can be lost.
    • Judas Iscariot forgot the source of his joy and he died in sorrow.
    • Stephen, in Acts 6-8, did not forget the source of his joy.  Despite being stoned, he died in joy.
 
Conclusion
  • Joy is not in the abundance of what we possess.  
  • Joy is in the abundance of what is within.  If God is within you, abundance of joy will be within you, and it will also  come from you.
  • There are different levels of joy: Joy, Great Joy, Exceeding Joy, Exceeding Great Joy, Fullness of Joy, and Everlasting Joy.
  • I pray that your joy shall be full in Jesus name.
Givelify
May 2023
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
Copyright 2022 - The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) - The House of Prayer