September 5, 2010

Finding True Joy - Nehemiah 12:27-47

The people of Nehemiah’s day faced similar if not worse situations than what we are facing today. The process of rebuilding Jerusalem had just begun. Although the walls were built, they still needed to build the homes, the businesses, the roads, and the other industries needed to run a city. There was nothing to lend their hearts to rejoicing yet they were filled with joy and laughter.

How did they experience true joy?

• Dedicate Time to God

  In Nehemiah 12:27, the people gathered to dedicate the recently completed wall. There was much left to do but at this moment, there was a renewed sense of vision and enthusiasm. What brought about this new sense of vision and enthusiasm? It wasn’t just the completion of the wall. That was just part of the major work that needed to be done. It was the fact that they dedicated it to the Lord that joy came their way. Verses 27-28 reads – “[27] At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. [28] The singers also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem”

• Holiness Precedes Happiness

  The celebration didn’t just involve celebrating with music. In verse 30 something very important happens: “[30] When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.” The celebration included a time of purification. By purification, they had a time of personal cleansing from sin. They offered a sin offering to the Lord. In order for the celebration to be joyous, there first had to be a cleansing of the heart. Holiness always precedes happiness.

  Look back at Nehemiah 12:43 – it never said that the singing was heard from far away – it was the joy, the rejoicing that was heard from far away. God is not so much interested in the lips and the words we offer – he is more interested in the way the lips and the words are offered. Is there joy in our worship, is there true repentance in our confession of sins, is there hope in what we sing and believe?

• Joyful Worship

  One of the best ways to express joy is in enthusiastic worship. Ephesians 5:18-19 – “[18] Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. [19] Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, [20] always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

  Look back at Nehemiah 12:43 – it never said that the singing was heard from far away – it was the joy, the rejoicing that was heard from far away. God is not so much interested in the lips and the words we offer – he is more interested in the way the lips and the words are offered. Is there joy in our worship, is there true repentance in our confession of sins, is there hope in what we sing and believe?

• The Right Focus

  One last word – “True happiness is not born out of better circumstances. It is born out of the right focus.” Are we focused on God who is our joy?

  Do you bring joy wherever you go? Nobody will believe you have good news if you don’t show it or live it. Can you smile at the storm? You should because Jesus is in the boat with you! Do people see you laugh a lot because life is good? Life should be good for us because God in us is good! All the time! Do you need a cure for your depression? For your anxiety? For your worries? Then cheer up – the Lord in us is our joy! He is our medicine!

  Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

  How where the people of Jerusalem able to rejoice? Did their circumstances change? Did their economy improve? Did all the wars stop? No! But they changed – they found their joy and strength in the Lord. Dedicate your life to Him, your plans to him, your children to him, your health to him – and you won’t be able to contain the joy and laughter in your life.

Dino Miciano

February 13, 2010

Tired and can't go on?

I read Luke 5: 1-20. But the verses 4-7 stood out the most. We are reminded that when we have worked, prayed, cried, and fasted for so long, Jesus will ask us to let your nets for a catch (again). And when we follow His command that is when we see His blessings overflow to a point that we would need another boat (so to speak) to carry it all. I just pray that during the praying and the fasting period, that we will not grow weary. The waiting for the answer seems to be the hardest for me. It is when the enemy whispers in my ear “God will not answer you, give up, and give up now.” Then it is time to seek for God’s strength and not ours. We will always fall short. But not when it’s God’s strength. I know, the Lord will answer and He always listens. But in His time, He will respond. So what do we do in the meantime? Here are some verses to help encourage us.

Lamentations 3: 25-26 “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him. It is good to wait quietly for the Salvation of the Lord.” Sometimes I don’t wait quietly. I find myself hurrying God to answer soon. I need to remember that it is always in God’s time. And His timing is perfect.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The Lord will never lead me astray. He never has and he never will. Like the good shepherd, the Lord will always protect me and keep me from harm. And when harm comes my way, He will scoop me up in His arms and protect me from my enemies.

Psalm 73: 26 “My flesh and my heart will fail. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” I don’t know how many times I have failed myself and others. Yet, I continue to be stubborn and try to solve my problems through my strength. I have proven myself many times that I am not strong enough to tackle them. And when I think I am getting an upper hand on my problems, I realize that it was the Lord holding me up and keeping me strong.

Isaiah 39: 29, 31 “He gives strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.” “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not go weary. They will walk and not be faint.”

Have you ever looked at your problem through a magnifying glass? It is so big that it begins to look like a giant. Then we begin to feel overwhelmed and defeated. I have, many times. And yet as soon as I surrender it to the Lord, the peace that cannot be explained by mere words starts to cover me. Then I feel that I begin to soar so high above my problems that it begins to look so tiny, almost unseen. When problems come my way, I need to use my magnifying glass on the Lord and His word instead of my problems. Then the Lord will be the giant and will trample over my enemies. Praise The Lord!!!!!

1 Corinthians 1:8 “He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of the Lord Jesus.” The Lord never keeps me strong only for a moment. He always sees me through the ups and downs of my life. He is always present during times of sadness and happiness. His promise is to keep us strong to the end. Not just the end of a problem but until we meet Him.

Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious by anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God and the peace that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Bible never says Rejoice only when good things are happening in our lives. It says Rejoice always! (It even says it twice) The Bible also says not to be anxious about anything but in everything….The right combination is Prayer+ Petition+ Thanksgiving+ Presenting request to God=Peace that surpasses understanding will cover us through Christ Jesus.

Brenda P.