by John Cortright
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Nehemiah 8:1-3; 5-6; 8-12
There was weeping, yet the admonition was that the joy of the Lord was their strength!
Ezra 3:10-13 – A similar experience of weeping and joy occurred when the foundation of the second temple was laid.
Nehemiah 8:13-17 – They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as had not been done since the time of Joshua. The commandments of God convicted them. It was real to them! There was great rejoicing!!!
Throughout the Scriptures when the people of God experienced God’s salvation, they experienced great joy. – When the children of Israel crossed the red sea defeating the Egyptian army; when David and Saul defeated the Philistine armies; when the ark of the covenant was brought into Jerusalem at the time of David; when Israel defeated a great multitude at the time of Jehoshaphat; when the Messiah was born; when the 70 returned with great joy, saying “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name”; when the disciples saw the resurrected Christ; when Philip preached in Samaria bringing great deliverance, the entire city was filled with rejoicing. The Scriptures also speak of great joy that will occur when Jesus returns, when the Kingdom begins, when the true salvation is realized, when there is a restoration of all things (Is 26:19; 35:3-6, 10; 51:3).
Jesus told his disciples of the joy they would experience. John 16:16-22
There is great fortitude in joy. It strengthens the soul in rough times; it helps endure strife, temptation, and tribulation (James 1:2; Hebrews 12:1-3; Acts 5:40-41; 13:50-51).
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
The church at Thessalonica received the word in much tribulation with “the joy of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 17:1-9).
Jeremiah 15:16
The word became the joy and delight in the heart of Jeremiah.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Inexpressible (unspeakable) joy! You can’t put this joy into words. It’s not just being happy. It’s joy! It’s a spiritual reality that comes through the holy spirit, through the Scriptures, through Jesus Christ!
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