Part 4 "The Joy Of The Lord Is Our Strength!" Series

Question: When the race gets tough what do you do?

Nehemiah 8:5-12

When Life is Tough:

1. Don't give up!

Our resolve is to never give up!

Isaiah 40:28-31

William Barclay "Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory."

Lamentations 3:40-41 "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven." (NIV)

2. Believe that the Joy of the Lord is Your Strength!

JOY OF THE LORD is: "During tough times, the core of your joy is going to be in your relationship with Jesus Christ!"

2 Corinthians 8:1-3 "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability." (NIV)

3. Practice Joy!

Nehemiah 8:9-12

Nehemiah gave the theory of joy. The Levites gave the command to be joyful. But until the people actually went away and practiced joy, they didn't know it.

Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (NIV)

Question: Why did God invite His people to come home then, and why does God keep making a way for people to come home today?