‘Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the countryside around Jerusalem, from the villages of the Netophathites, from the house of Gilgal, and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages all around Jerusalem. Then the priests and Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, the gates, and the wall.’ Nehemiah 12:27-30
Our dedications to God should include: Holiness, Thanksgiving, Joy, and Obedience. Joy is not the absence of problems, it’s in spite of them. To have joy we must look at the outcome, not at the problems.
‘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.’ Hebrews 12:2
Joy is not the absence of problems, it’s in spite of them.
Joy comes as result of building your life, home and work upon the Lord.
‘Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.’ Psalms 127:1-2
‘And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”’ Matthew 16:18-19
‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.’ Luke 14:28-33
Defeat comes as a result of sin and Satan.
‘You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ‘ 1 John 4:4
Important Insights:
- Spiritual joy is often inward condition of the heart—knowing you’re doing God’s will and work.
- Physical joy is often enjoyed after the hard work is accomplished.
- It was the spiritual joy that gave the strength to keep going in spite of the work and odds against them.
- Knowing the hand of God is upon us and our church—should be all the strength to keep going.
- Physical joy is enjoyed at the end of much of the work and the beginning of the spiritual maintenance and growth.
