Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to another beautiful day that the Lord has made. A day to gather, to listen, to learn, and to lean into the love of our Heavenly Father. As we gather here today, we are united by one common purpose – to know our God more, to understand His word, and to find joy in His presence.

Our focus today is on a particular passage from the book of Nehemiah, one that speaks to the heart of every believer. Nehemiah 8:10 tells us, “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” Isn’t it a wonderful reminder, my friends? The joy of the Lord is our strength. Not the fleeting happiness that this world offers, but a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing and loving God.

This joy, dear friends, is what we are going to talk about today. We will talk about how to harness this happiness in the Lord, how heavenly joy compares to earthly pleasures, and how we can hold onto this joy even in times of trial.

As we embark on this discussion, let us remember the words of the great Christian author, Matthew Henry, who said, “Joy in the Lord will guard you from the empty pleasures the tempter uses to bait his hooks.” Indeed, the joy that we find in our relationship with God guards us from sin!

Let us pray. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the joy that we find in You. We thank You for Your word that guides us, for Your love that sustains us, and for Your presence that comforts us. As we discuss Your word today, we pray for open hearts and open minds. Help us to understand Your word and apply it in our lives. We pray that Your joy will be our strength, today and every day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, dear friends, let us now turn our attention to the joy of the Lord, a joy that is our strength, a joy that is our anchor, and a joy that is our hope. Let us learn to harness this joy, to distinguish it from earthly pleasures, and to hold onto it even in times of trial. For the joy of the Lord is not just a feeling, it is a way of life. And it is this joy-filled life that we are called to live.

Harnessing Happiness in the Lord

We find ourselves in a world where happiness is often tied to the material and the temporal. We chase after the next big thing, the next thrill, the next achievement, hoping that it will bring us the happiness we seek. But as followers of Christ, we are called to a different kind of happiness, a happiness that is not dependent on circumstances or possessions, but on our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

The joy of the Lord is our strength. This joy, this happiness, is not something we can manufacture on our own. It is a gift from God, a fruit of the Spirit. It is a deep, abiding joy that sustains us in all circumstances, a joy that is rooted in the knowledge of God's love for us and His presence in our lives.

So how do we harness this happiness in the Lord? How do we cultivate this joy that is our strength?

The first step is to recognize that our happiness is not dependent on our circumstances, but on our relationship with God. This is a profound shift in perspective, one that requires us to let go of our worldly notions of happiness and embrace a heavenly perspective. When we understand this we are free to find joy in the Lord, regardless of what is happening in our lives. We can rejoice in the Lord always, as Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:4, because our joy is not dependent on our circumstances, but on our relationship with God.

The second is to cultivate a spirit of gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful tool in our pursuit of happiness. When we are grateful, we focus on the blessings in our lives, rather than on what we lack. We recognize the goodness of God in our lives, and this recognition fills us with joy. Gratitude shifts our focus from what we don't have to what we do have, from our problems to our blessings, from our wants to our abundance. It reminds us of God's faithfulness and His provision, and it fills our hearts with joy. So let us cultivate a spirit of gratitude, thanking God for His blessings, recognizing His hand in our lives, and rejoicing in His goodness.

Next is to abide in His presence. The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 16:11, 'You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.' When we abide in God's presence, when we spend time in prayer and in His Word, we experience the fullness of joy that He promises. It means drawing near to Him, knowing that He will draw near to us. When we abide in God's presence, we experience His peace, His comfort, and His joy.

The final step in harnessing happiness in the Lord is to share His love with others. Happiness is not meant to be hoarded but shared. When we share God's love with others, when we serve others in His name, we experience a joy that is profound and fulfilling.

Sharing God's love can take many forms. It can be as simple as a kind word or a helping hand, or as profound as sharing the Gospel with someone who does not know Christ. Whatever form it takes, when we share God's love, we are living out our faith, and this brings us great joy.

Transition. Harnessing happiness in the Lord is not about chasing after worldly pleasures or achievements. It is about finding joy in our relationship with God, cultivating a spirit of gratitude, abiding in His presence, and sharing His love with others. This is the joy of the Lord, and it is our strength.

Heavenly Joy versus Earthly Pleasures

As we continue our discussion, we find ourselves drawn to the contrast between heavenly joy and earthly pleasures ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO