Time to Celebrate: Nehemiah 12 - Serving God with Joy
Discover the four elements needed for celebration as outlined in Nehemiah 12. From overcoming struggles to purifying oneself, find joy in serving God and be encouraged through this inspirational journey of rebuilding Jerusalem.
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Presentation Transcript
Time to Celebrate Nehemiah 12:27-47 SERVING GOD SHOULD RESULT IN CELEBRATION.
Celebrate means Be Happy Happy here is not funny, joke, silly, humorous Happy is an inner pleasure, delight, joy Do you want to celebrate? There are FOUR elements needed for Celebration They are found in Nehemiah 12
Introduction BEFORE you can celebrate There is a time of struggle, difficulty, and challenges. Background to Nehemiah Jerusalem invaded and destroyed 70 years earlier Not just the temple the entire city, the wall around the city, the houses and businesses Many taken into captivity in Babylon Now Babylon is conquered by Assyria
Introduction Background to Nehemiah Nehemiah is the cup bearer for the king He wants to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the city How do you ask your captor to let you go back home? Finally, given permission to return. BUT There are some who oppose them rebuilding the city. They must build and fight.
1. Clean up your act Neh. 12:30 (Neh 12:30) Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall. First, purify yourself Get right with God. Make sure your life is in harmony with God s will. Begin your prayer Forgive me so my prayer will be acceptable.
1. Clean up your act Neh. 12:30 (Neh 12:30) Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall. Second, examine yourself Be honest about your life. Examine yourself As you partake of communion. Song Is Thy Heart Right With God?
2. Everybody on the wall 31-32, 38, 43 (Neh 12:31) So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs. One went to the right hand on the wall toward the Refuse Gate. (Neh 12:32) After them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, Ezra is leading half the people.
2. Everybody on the wall 31-32, 38, 43 (Neh 12:38) The other thanksgiving choir went the opposite way, and I was behind them with half of the people on the wall, going past the Tower of the Ovens as far as the Broad Wall, Nehemiah is with the second group. Half the people are with Nehemiah
2. Everybody on the wall 31-32, 38, 43 (Neh 12:43) Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. Not just the fighting men and workers. Women and children are on the wall.
3. NEEDED: Smiling, Singing, Happy 43 (Neh 12:43) Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. Notice the words REJOICED, REJOICE, GREAT JOY, JOY OF JERUSALEM They were HEARD AFAR OFF
3. NEEDED: Smiling, Singing, Happy 43 (Pro 17:22) A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. (Pro 15:13) A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
4. The Secret: The Right Focus Happiness is not dependent on outward circumstances, but upon inward focus. Keep your focus. When surrounded by alligators, it is difficult to remember that you came here to drain the swamp!
4. The Secret: The Right Focus Keep your eye on Jesus (Heb 12:1) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
