WHERE GOD'S WORD IS REVERED, THE INEVITABLE RESULT IS AN OUT POURING OF GENUINE "JESUS JOY."
"The JOY of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10)
The people wept openly when they heard God's laws and realized how far they were from obeying them. But Ezra told them they should be filled with joy because the day was holy. It was time to celebrate and to give gifts to those in need.
Celebration is not to be self-centered. Ezra connected celebration with giving. This gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well. Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don't feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy. Enter into celebrations that honor God, and allow him to fill you with his joy.
We have many examples of those who had found the secret of joy in the word of God. True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based on God's presence within us. As we contemplate his daily presence, we will find contentment. As we understand the future he has for us, we will experience joy. Don't base your life on circumstances, but on God.
It is possible to find joy in a disappointing world. As Jesus has promised in John 16:22, "I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man can take from you." This joy of the Lord is a full joy, not partial; it is a remaining joy, not a fleeting emotion that comes and goes; and no one may take it from us.
"Jesus Joy" is yours for the taking. An attitude of joy is your strength. Determine to maintain that attitude of joy. There is hope in the cross. Weep endures for a night - so weep, but know that joy comes in the morning.
God's testimony is never that his people are lying on their faces, crying rivers of tears. No, the testimony he wants to bring forth in his people is joy - genuine, lasting joy. "The joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). This joy - which results from biblical preaching and true repentance - brings true strength to God's people and draws sinners into his house.
Most Christians never associate joy with repentance. But repentance is actually the mother of all joy in Jesus. Without it, there can be no joy. Yet any believer who walks in repentance will be flooded with the joy of the Lord. We must maintain genuine, soul-satisfying joy.
When we sin and disobey as David did - he lost the joy of the Lord. The joy could only be restored by true repentance. So he prayed and asked the Lord to, "wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin ..." (Psalm 51:2-3). David also prayed to regain what he had lost: "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (Psalm 51:12).
We must maintain the joy of the Lord, and to do so, God calls for an even deeper walk of the Spirit. David Wilkerson tells it like this,
"How do we maintain the joy of the Lord? We do it the same way we obtained his joy in the beginning: First, we love, honor, and hunger excitedly for God's word. Second, we continually walk in repentance. And third, we separate ourselves from all worldly influences. This is how a Holy Spirit person maintains "Jesus Joy" - rejoicing always, full of gladness and mirth."
Joy comes from understanding who God is and what he is about. If we understand the words of Scripture, if we hear the goodness of the good news, we will be people who infectiously excited about who God has made us to be and the opportunities we have, and we will be those who invite other people to join in.
Nehemiah told the people - this is a sacred day, so be joyful. Sacredness and joy go together. God encouraged the people that, the JOY of the LORD is your strength!
