JOY-FILLED REVIVAL

Nehemiah 8:1 (NLT) – “All the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey.”

Nehemiah 8:2 (NLT) – “So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand.”

Nehemiah 8:3 (NLT) – “He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.”

Nehemiah 8:4a (NLT) – “Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion.”

1. Let the Word Transform (Wash) You

Nehemiah 8:5 (NLT) – “Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet.”

Nehemiah 8:6 (NLT) – “Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, ‘Amen! Amen!’ as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

Nehemiah 8:7 (NLT) – “The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah—then instructed the people in the Law while everyone remained in their places.”

Nehemiah 8:8 (NLT) – “They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage.”

Nehemiah 8:9 (NLT) – “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, ‘Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.’ For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.”

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT) – “And Nehemiah continued, ‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’”

Nehemiah 8:11 (NLT) – “And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, ‘Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.’”

Nehemiah 8:12 (NLT) – “So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.”

Nehemiah 8:13 (NLT) – “On October 9 the family leaders of all the people, together with the priests and Levites, met with Ezra the scribe to go over the Law in greater detail.”

Nehemiah 8:14 (NLT) – “As they studied the Law, they discovered that the Lord had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in shelters during the festival to be held that month.”

Nehemiah 8:15 (NLT) – “He had said that a proclamation should be made throughout their towns and in Jerusalem, telling the people to go to the hills to get branches from olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees. They were to use these branches to make shelters in which they would live during the festival, as prescribed in the Law.”

Nehemiah 8:16 (NLT) – “So the people went out and cut branches and used them to build shelters on the roofs of their houses, in their courtyards, in the courtyards of God’s Temple, or in the squares just inside the Water Gate and the Ephraim Gate.”

Nehemiah 8:17 (NLT) – “So everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelters during the festival, and they were all filled with great joy! The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua son of Nun.”

Nehemiah 8:18 (NLT) – “Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God on each of the seven days of the festival. Then on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, as was required by law.”

Galatians 5:22a (NLT) – “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace.”

Romans 14:17 – “For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 14:17b (NLT) – “But of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Psalm 16:11 – “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16:11 (NIV) – “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”

Ephesians 2:6 – “And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

John 15:9 (NLT) – “I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love.”

John 15:10 (NLT) – “When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.”

John 15:11 (NLT) – “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.”

2. We Fight for Joy

Galatians 5:20 (NLT) – “Idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division.”

Galatians 5:25 (NLT) – “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Galatians 5:26 (NLT) – “Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

3. Enter Happiness

Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Matthew 5:3 (TPT) – “What happiness comes to you when you feel your spiritual poverty! For yours is the realm of Heaven’s Kingdom.”

Isaiah 57:15 (NLT) – “The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: ‘I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.’”

Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT) – “And Nehemiah continued, ‘Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!’”

Habakkuk 3:17 (NLT) – “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,”

Habakkuk 3:18 (NLT) – “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”

Habakkuk 3:19 (NLT) – “The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

Isaiah 61:3 – “To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Have you ever experienced the joy of the Lord?

2. Why do you think so many of our encounters with the Lord dwell in somber/tears, etc?

3. Do you think God is happy? Do you believe there is joy in His presence?

4. What needs to die in your life so the joy of the Lord can live?