Message by Reinhard on ‘The Joy of the Lord is my Strength’ The phrase is from Nehemiah chapter 8 where the people were celebrating the feast of tabernacles.
Neh 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
https://goodpassage.com/audio_files/TheJoyoftheLordisMyStrength.mp3
We have joy when we are saved out of the power of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of His Son. Isa 12:3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
We keep our joy by:
- Following close behind our Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the primary ways to do this is spending time in God’s Word, the Bible. Ps 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
- Quickly confessing and turning away from any known sin. Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
- Loving right things and hating wrong things. Heb 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Jesus Christ is the example for us by ‘who for the joy set before Him’ endured the cross and suffered the reproach of men. We look forward to one day being in heaven. In the meanwhile, we can endure occasional discomfort as we live for Jesus and tell others about Him.
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.
Our joy can be full: John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.