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NEHEMIAH 8:9,10

"THE JOY OF THE LORD"

Intro: Ezra stood before the watergate in Jerusalem the people all gathered to hear  him read
       the law of the LORD from daybreak to noon. As the scriptures were  explained they wept.
       vs.10.

I. THERE IS JOY IN THE LORD AND OF THE LORD.
        A. Sad period of church history when spirituality was equated with mournfulness.
                1. To smile was frivolous.
                2. To laugh was blasphemy.
        B. When Angels announced the birth of Jesus- "Good tidings of great joy!"
        C. The first word Paul uses to describe the love which is the fruit of the Spirit -
           "JOY!"
        D. What joy I have knowing my sins are forgiven.
                1. My past guilt is blotted out.
        E. What a joy it is to walk with Jesus.
                1. Jesus made reference to fullness of joy.
                        a. Related it to abiding in Him.
                        b. Fellowshipping with Him.
                        c. Prayer through His name.
        F. Someday He is going to present me faultless before the presence of His  glory with
           exceeding joy.
        G. The Lord is my source of joy.
                1. He gives joy unspeakable and full of glory.
                        a. This joy is mine in the midst of calamity.
                                1.   "And it came to pass."
                        b. Paul wrote the letter of rejoicing from his prison cell.

II. THIS JOY IS OUR STRENGTH.
        A. Living isn't easy.
                1. My grandson when he was three told me he wanted to come live with me.
                2. Interpersonal relationships can become strained.
                3. You may feel you don't have the strength to cope any longer.
        B. Sometimes the duties or obligations seem to heavy to handle.
                1. We must learn to do things as unto the LORD.
                2. Alexander the great.
        C. Your strength becomes a powerful witness to the world.
                1. The ability to smile at adversity.
                2. To sing in the midst of trials.

III. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS ATTRACTIVE.
        A. People are drawn to happy people.
        B. When you hear people laughing and having a great time you desire to join them.

IV. THE JOY OF THE LORD IS CONTAGIOUS.
        A. Gloom and discouragement is also.
                1. Next time someone says "Good morning" with a smile you scowl and say
                   "oh yeah" what's so good about it."
                2. You can actually make it a bad morning for them.
        B. With the joy of the Lord you can lift the depressed spirits of a room full of 
           people.