A People Of Joy - LIVE

(upbeat music) - Okay, also want to say happy Father's Day to all of you who are out there. And this is the end of the series, as we're gonna talk about that in a moment, but it's also, oh, you know, I want to go back to something. The Father's Day, little welcome that Pastor Tim made. You know, after service, we're gonna be having a photo booth as well, and there'll be an opportunity to get some pictures and have some memories, and just mark the moment. There's extra refreshments out there as well. So we wanna make sure that there's a time at the end of service to be able to just enjoy fathers and grandfathers and father figures and really just celebrate it together. But as he mentioned, the series is coming to a close, this idea of staying power. And I too wanna welcome those of you who this might be your first time, or your first time back after a long hiatus, you're here, and I'm so glad you're with us right now. And also realize that on some of those announcers that we make and some of the things that are mentioned, especially like that, what's it called, the chat that they're gonna be having at the end? What was it? The rap party, the rap party. Yeah, well that, you know, I know for sure that some of you take notes a lot. Many times you share them with me, you'll share an idea that has stuck with you. And some of you do this in your very diligent to just honor the moment of being in the Lord's house. You do, I do this too, when I'm listening to someone share and teach, I always ask the Lord to speak to me. And then I try to write it down or capture it in some way. There is a additional layer of interaction when we write down things that we sense the Lord is wanting us to remember. And sometimes now we even take pictures and you're free to do that on the overheads as well. And I realize that on some of those QR codes, they go up so fast that, unless you're like super quick, they're gone, but you can connect on anything that we're doing at the table as well or go online, all that information is there. That's something we're gonna be improving when we get back to mission. We have a lot of ideas on how to just make connectivity even more essential and easy. But I was thinking about that rap. And I would wanna encourage some of you who have been and have had the practice of note-taking. And to consider revisiting your notes and then coming to the rap. And highlighting certain things that maybe the Lord just impressed upon you. And so way to recapture some of that and then interact with it. And all that says when we share what we are learning, we learn it more just like when we write down what we're learning or recapture, what we're learning. It deepens it in us. And a lot of times people say, "Well, it doesn't really make a difference." I don't know always if it makes a huge difference in the moment, but I will tell you this. Over time, the little practice creates a big thing. It grows us at a deeper level with the Lord. And there's a certain seriousness and honoring of the Lord when we engage material more than just listening. So I really wanna encourage you to do that. And it's something that I've found to be very meaningful. And again, because this is a conclusion of our Staying Power series. And really, actually, it's not just the conclusion of the Staying Power series, which is something I know God wants us all to be able to do well. But it's also the end of the study that I've been sharing with my messages along the way. Actually, since the beginning of the year I'm the book of Nehemiah. And I think it's so fitting that the final piece, the final piece of Staying Power and the final lesson that I'm sharing from myself, my input on Nehemiah, this book and the Older Testament, this amazing man who God used to help the people of Israel gain dimensions of freedom and security in their lives. A type of the Holy Spirit, really. But the conclusion of Nehemiah is about, as we mentioned, joy. And I thought, how wonderful is this? At the end of the story of Nehemiah for us and the end of Staying Power. And then, also Father's Day, it's all coming together to call this thing and it's all built around joy. And if God has His way, we will have more joy in our lives, so much more. And in fact, I had a couple of quick questions because I think one of the keys for Staying Power is going to be learning how to cultivate a spirit of joy and learning how to resist an inclination towards negativity. And especially if we've experienced pain or hurt, it's, or frustration with ourselves, there is a, it's very easy to drop in, or with others. It's very easy to drop into negativity. But the joy of the Lord and negativity are really not compatible. It's almost like light and darkness. One will chase out the other. So a couple of quick questions, just to set the table for what we're going. What do you think joy, why do you think joy is such an indispensable part of the Christian life? When you think of joy, what actually is it? And what is the difference between joy and happiness? Because there is a difference, at least in the Bible. Another question, how can His joy help us to overcome the inevitable disappointments and tough parts of life? Or if I was adding something to that, I would say, or how can His joy help us not to be overcome by them? So that we are not defined by the hurts of life, but as many of us have found, we are defined by the grace and love of God, that we are forging our identity foremost as His beloved son or His beloved daughter. Very important, all connected. I add one more thought here. The joy of the Lord is critical for resilience. And resilience is absolutely key or essential for staying powered. Don't run past that too quickly. The joy of the Lord is just, I will call it, it is critical for resilience, bounce back ability. And resilience is the key for staying power. If we, if we, part of following Christ is learning how to get back up. It's learning how to pace. The truth is we will not always be on our game. And I am talking to those of us who've made a commitment to follow Jesus and I realize some of us are right there. Maybe we're getting close. We haven't quite made that step yet, but we're so close. When we make that decision to follow Jesus and we decide that we're going to follow Him all the days of our lives, we take His name over our lives is what we have, or a baptize, right? And it's also why we receive communion together. We are identifying ourselves in the family of Jesus. We say that His identity over our lives is the most important piece. More than our ethnicity, more than our sexuality, more than our social status, more than our intellect, more than our outward beauty, whatever. We're saying that we are forging our identity. More than our, certainly more than our bank account, what we are saying, what really matters more than anything else is who we are in Christ. And then we start living towards that. But inevitably it's going to be tested. If I wish it was always smooth sailing, I do. There is no good thing that always comes easy. And I have found, if I may say it this way, we talked about this last couple of weeks, that sometimes this one we're in the process of making our most significant progress spiritually, just like with Nehemiah as they were trying to build that wall, which represented security and safety and the ability to compound blessing, right? When they were trying to build the walls of Jerusalem, they were facing fierce resistance and opposition by those who wanted them to stay oppressed and defeated. And their condition was a product of generational dysfunction. And so from a spiritual standpoint, if we can make the case, that in the same way there are real forces, Jesus talked about the reality of the evil one, that the intention is to keep us in a defeated place, to keep us in a, if I can say, a spiritually dysfunctional condition, to where although we are saved, essentially a citizen of Jerusalem, we never are really able to compound the blessing that the Lord has for us in the way that He wants it to be. because we're going to be a lot of people. that we lack the security that the Lord wants to give us by his Holy Spirit. And there is so much of this that is real and at least I connect to, because the Lord doesn't want us to fail. He wants us to prevail. And he wants us to walk with him all the days of our lives. And I need to say this too, the Christian life, and we've talked about this, it's not a sprint. It's not a sprint I've seen now, since I was a boy, since I was a teenager, really, where I really began to follow the Lord. And my life changed. He became not just a God that I was taught about in Sonny's school, but the Lord that I experienced in my life. And over the years and the decades now, actually in this church, I've seen a lot of people jump out of the gate fast. Fly it out of the gate. And some of them have been able to adjust, but I saw a lot of them not really learn how to pace. And inevitably as Jesus taught us in the parable of the sure foundation, the storms of life hit and when they do, if we've only know how to sprint, we're not gonna make it. We have to learn how to pace, we have to learn how to negotiate challenge, we have to learn how to go through failure and disappointment, the change of the seasons of our life, the loss of things that we've always assumed we would have. Learning how to negotiate those things in ways that are redemptive and still allow us to retain a vital optimism for Christ. Even when sometimes we're our own worst enemy, which we all have been at least I know I have. And it's almost like there's nobody to blame, I can only, I sabotaged myself. And in those places, we have to learn how to live in grace. And even coming things like coming to the Lord's house are such a big part of, as we're gonna see, how God keeps us moving in a healthy way. The goal is to follow Jesus as the years go by and then when we must leave this only life we've known. Okay, I'm gonna jump down here for a moment because I wanna suggest that the Lord wants us and I've been alluding to it, and Nehemiah has been all about this, that the Lord wants to help us grow and become by grace, the men and women, look at this, we were created to be in Christ Jesus. So this is our goal, to grow and become by his grace all the days of our lives, the men and women we were created in Christ Jesus to become. And since his father's day, he wants us to grow into the fathers, and I'll add this, and the mothers, he wants us to be. Into the grandfathers and grandmothers he wants us to be. Into the spiritual fathers and mothers he wants us to be. Like the Lord wants to help us become examples in life givers. We're told in Ephesians 2, one of the great passages of scripture because certainly the New Testament, because it not only declares salvation, but it also declares our value. Look at this, you guys. For by grace you have been saved through faith, that none of yourselves, it's not on your own doing. I'm never good enough for God. Every now and then I get to be reminded of that. None of us are. If it was on the basis of a merit system, none of us would get to heaven. We all have broken things inside of us. Bible calls that sin. We have more than just the capacity to disobey the Lord. We do disobey Him. We hurt Him in things that we do, but even sometimes in things that we do not do. Or in the way that we do them. I can do the right thing in the wrong way. I both can and have many times. And if the Lord were to judge us, our whole is accountable on the basis of a merit system, none of us would get to heaven. But thankfully we have a Savior that is not of your own. It is the gift of God. And if you can put that back up, not a result of works. So no one can boast. We have nothing to be proud about beyond His love at work in us. And look what He says here. But in light of that still, the Apostle says we are His workmanship. We've been created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. And as more than a few of us are aware, the Greek word that we render workmanship is the word "poema." And you can recognize immediately that that is where our words poem and poetry come from. And it most literally refers to some work of artistic creation. Something that has been made and crafted by the hands of a creator with the attention, think of an artist with the attention to detail and care. And there's a certain gentleness and sinceriousness attached to it. The artist, a true creator, pours their soul into it. And according to Ephesians 2 and in Christ Jesus, then we have been made God's artistry. And we are not only have we been made, we are His artistry, and we've been crafted and put on full display. So if I can take a principle from that passage, I'll say this. We are to live for His pleasure and even more to live in His pleasure. You want to know one good definition of the life of a Christian. We are to live for His pleasure, that is we were created, as we were told, for good works. But also we are to live in His pleasure. As His worthmanship, His pow'os, do you see it? His work of art. So we are to live for His pleasure. I am to seek to live in a way that brings you pleasure, Lord. Help me to do this. Because there's a part of me that wants to do, there's a part of me that drifts. Help me to live for your pleasure. And then also thank you Jesus that you take pleasure in me. He does in you too, that we are to live in His pleasure. We are to love, listen, we are to live our life for God as one loved. That is our truest anchor. This is our inheritance in Jesus. And it is also something that the evil one, the enemy of our soul would want to rip away from us. Steal it away. And these twin truths that I just shared with you, they are captured beautifully by Jesus Himself. When in an intimate moment He shared with His disciples with these just utterly tender words. He shared it for them, but by extension there for all of us. As the cross is looming, He says these words. And see the connection to how we are His pow'os. So greatly loved and how He wants goodness for us and wants strength for us and wants us to live not only for His pleasure but in His pleasure. Look what it says here in John 15. It says if you keep my commandments, what will happen? You will abide in my love. Just as I have kept my father's commandments and abide in His love. But then look at verse 11. And these things I have spoken to you that may my joy may be in you. And that your joy may be full. I mean where does this come from? There's no one like Jesus. He says I want you to abide in my love. I want you to learn to live in my love. And I want you to keep my father's commands and live in my love because I think at least and I want you to know my joy. And the thing about it is that the more we keep His commands, the more we abide in His love and the more we abide in His love, the more His joy can flow. Do you see that? There's a real connection there. Jesus saying if you will keep my commands, you will abide in my love. And if you abide in my love, your joy will be full. It's when we push Him away and go our own way that we, in a sense, we lose our ability to receive His joy. The joy is found in receiving, receiving His love and living in a way that brings in pleasure. Now I've just laid that as a foundation because I'm pivoting over to Nehemiah as we close here. And this in so many ways is a reminder that when it really comes down to it, the people of God are called to be a people of joy. That joy is to be our dominant way. It is to be the spiritual water in which we swim. And that's why the Lord doesn't want us bogged. down with things that will steal away our joy. It's like I remember what I said earlier, our evil one wants to rip away our inheritance. He wants to steal it away. Take it from us. The Lord wants our joy full. And He says, "Your joy will be full when you abide in my love." And my love is most abiding in you when you do, as I say. Okay, let's go back to Nehemiah and bring this all to a point of just tight closure and intersect that what we just learned about what Jesus has been teaching us and about joy and then watch how Nehemiah, as we finish out here, talking about staying power, how he gets to the same place just in a different way. So in verse one, it says this, "And all the people gathered as one man." Remember the wall had been built. And for those of you who've been following along, it took a lot to get that wall built. Generations, they had no wall in Jerusalem. But the wall had been built. And now it says the people gathered as one man. They all came together in the square before the water gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. So they got the Bible, if you will. Ezra was the spokesman. He was the spiritual leader in Jerusalem. He was a scribe, a master of the law, a teacher of the scriptures. Remember Nehemiah, that was not his role. He was a leader who had been inspired by a dream to do something for God that would bless people. And he put his heart into it. But now it got to a point where Nehemiah was wise enough to be able to see the limits. And he deferred to Ezra. In fact, in the Bible, the book that precedes the book of Nehemiah, Ezra Nehemiah, Esther Job, Psalm, Proverbs. Is that Ezra is actually the book that precedes Nehemiah. And we're told this verse two. So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could understand what they heard on the first day of the seventh month. Now historically for the Jewish people, the first day of the seventh month was not just any day of the year, by the way, it was a special day. Today it is actually celebrated as Rosh Hashanah, right? Which means head of the year, New Year's Day, in the Jewish calendar. It marked not only the beginning of the Feast of Trumpus, again, this would mean more something others, but that was when the shofar was sounded. But also it initiated 10 days of consecration and repentance. But at its core, this is important. It was a festival. It was a joyful celebration. That's what it was meant to be. It was created to be a joyful celebration of God's faithfulness. But in any case, we are told that the citizens of Jerusalem had gathered to do something they hadn't done for years. They gathered on this special day at the Watergate with the completion of the wall and the gates had been hung. And everything was done. And now they were gathering to hear something that hadn't happened for generations. They were something we take for granted, because we do it every week. But they were coming to hear the public reading of the scriptures. That was not something that they had happened. And it says, and by the way, look at verse 3. You want to talk about, anybody who complains about a long service, and he read from it, "Facing the square before the Watergate from early morning until midday." That was a pretty long service, right? And in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law, they gathered attentively to hear God's Word, just like we're doing right now. And this is how we should also come to the Lord's house when we come to church. So we were talking about earlier about the idea of having something to wrap up the things that we've been learning together in this series journey that we come attentive. When we come to the Lord's house, it's so how we come is important that we come attentive and prepared with a willing and open heart. Now, I realize that sometimes getting to the Lord's house, we may not come in that way. But when we make a decision, that's why I love being able to worship at the beginning of a time together, because it is a way of getting our heart open to God, it's sort of like stretching our cells spiritually. We're just kind of moving those muscles and getting ready and we're rejoicing and singing and reminding ourselves of who God is and who He is to us. And then we get ready to hear, we're focusing, we're listening. You know, there's so many voices calling to us. And constantly we're being bombarded all the time, just nonstop, good information, not good information, things that we were intending to listen to, things that we didn't intend to listen to, but we got stuck into for hours or we just got lost in and we wasted so much time and there's just everybody's yelling and everybody's talking and there's so much information. This is not the era where there is not the limitation of information. This is an era where we have been literally swamped with access to information. And with AI and just the different options that are available to us, I just am astonished at the ability to access quality information and to have it assembled so rapidly is unbelievable, but not just rapid assembly of information, but for the most part, accurate and helpful, not not completely, but let's be honest, we are living in one of the most remarkable change periods in the history of human civilization. I mean, this is at the same level of printing press and some of the major changes that have occurred in the history of humankind. I don't think we realized the time that we're living in a more than we are realizing it in some ways. We're being affected by it, we're being rewired by it. Our brains are being rewired. And actually, I think, and there'll be a, I'm looking forward to a series later on called Cultivate, but it's coming up in the summer because I think it's going to invite us to slow down. But I actually feel like in the midst of all the noise and all the words and all the information and all the access, like we have to be even more intentional than ever to pay attention to our soul. And I wish it wasn't the case, but human beings are created with addictive tendencies. We, and differs, we all are different, not the same, just like we all have different challenges based on our demeanor upbringing, right, our family way. Those things impact our experiences. So we're all different, but in some ways we're all the same. We're all different, but in some ways we're all the same. Because we're all been created in the image of God and we're all broken and in need of a savior. So we have this one side of us that is what they call the Yamago Day, theologians, the image of God on the other hand, and that image of God is showing up in the things that we're creating. And then we have this whole other side of us that unfortunately is very broken and capable of tremendous evil. Those two things together are creating a unique period that many, I'm not the only one that believes this, but I think that we are heading into the last of the last days. But whenever the Lord brings this to a close, and it may be many, many years let down the road, what I know is that now we're going to have to work a little bit harder keeping our soul in a good place and staying out of unhealthy things and unhealthy patterns. And even the discipline of coming to the Lord's house, having people connect with us, listening, writing, this matters, this is one of the keys to staying power. And I think it's going to be even more significant heading into the coming years because there are going to be many things that will be pulling at us. Okay, Batani Amaya, and that truly was a journey down a trail. But I think it matters. I want us to listen. They had come, when you come to the Lord's house, and they were coming to listen to his word, we come to listen to his words, and we come to listen for his word within the word. Listen for the word within the word because God is speaking to you. He's speaking a word. It's almost like sometimes if we're really in our, if we're locked in proper, the Lord is almost like he pulls out a pen and he just circles this and he says, "Did you hear that?" Did you write it down? Share this, sit with this, hear this, receive this. Holy Spirit highlights, get out that Holy Spirit highlighter. Highlighted. The Word within the Word, verse 4. And as are the scribes, stood on a wooden platform. You want to know where the tradition of preaching from a platform comes from. Back it out, verse 4. That's where the tradition of the pulpit came from. They made for the purpose. And beside them you see the number of men that were standing beside them. I'm not even going to read through those names. You can see them. And I'll be happier for it. Okay. And so will you. And as are open the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people and he opened it and all the people stood. So they were, so in some Christian traditions when the Bible is read, people will stand. This is connected back to Ezra. Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God and all the people answered, amen and amen. Another tradition. I mean you want to see where a lot of traditions come from, right here. They said, amen and amen, lifting up their hands. Amen. So be it. Let it be, let it be. Amen and amen. And they bowed their heads and they worshiped the Lord where they are phased us through the ground, right? They got down and they just worshiped the Lord. It was a beautiful moment, the response of the people. "Let it be so, Lord, yes God," but then also their physicality and their worship. Which is why I think it's really important for us to stretch ourselves physically. A lot of the men that I train in the groups that I work with I remind them of one of the best things you can ever do when you come to the Lord's house if you really want to have an effect on your family, is worship God. Not passive, like actually engage in worship, lift up your hands and surrender. Sometimes I have open hands, sometimes I lift it hands, sometimes I praise in my heart. Sometimes just being emotional with the Lord. If our kids see that or our grandchildren see that at different times, especially as they're growing up, that's huge. Not only is it good for us, it's good for them. That was a bonus, I threw that in, threw that bonus in. Okay. Spoken words, bowed heads, in some cases, worships faces on the ground. But I do believe it's good to be physical, not only soft and silent. It's legitimate to be soft and silent and to reflect. I do that a lot too. I write my thoughts down, some seasons I journal. I like to go out into the wilderness, disconnect from all that can seek to create connectivity. And just think long thoughts. Listen to the nature, the very handy work of God. Just like a garden will open up our soul. And then if we're willing, God will speak to us in ways, but not because God is more there, but because we're more able to hear. But when we follow the humble ways of praise that are taught to us in the songs, so sometimes it's good to read through the songs just because it will remind us to be honest and authentic with God. It gives us models, prayers, but it's also a book of songs. And so much of it is about praise and the power of praise. That was Jesus' song book, the songs, and he quotes them all the time. Okay, verse 7. They're all there. They're having a church service. First one in generations like this. And then we're told in verse 7, and again, look at all those names. And they all helped these Levites, the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. In other words, they read from the book from the law of God clearly, and then they gave the sense. Gave the sense means they helped people understand what was being read. And there is a value of teachers, those who have an understanding, who have been given introduction to teachings of the scriptures, and the ability to then share that and give the meaning. It is a very interesting phrase there, give the sense, because it was saying that the people weren't really quite comprehending what was being read. And so they had all these others who were there to help explain it. And they explained the meaning. And in verse 9, Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest in the scribe, and we're near near and close here, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord. Your God, do not mourn or weep. Why?" Because all the people wept as they heard the words of the law. So you see what was happening. They're having a service. They're hearing the word being mentioned. Then it's being, as it's being read. Then they're having time to teach it. And then what happens is, instead of a collective joy, what ends up happening is everybody starts to get really sad. And then people start crying. They start crying. And it was because as they were hearing and discussing the word in their breakout groups, if I can call it that, initially there was joy, "Hey, man!" But then as the hours went on, there was a sadness that began to fall over the gathering. Why? Because as the people began to really listen to the scripture, and then they were talking about its meaning, they began to realize that they as a people for generations had let God down. That they had forgotten his ways. In other words, as they listened and discussed, they started to feel ashamed. Not only for the choices of their ancestors, this is what our fathers did after we were told this, but also because they too felt they had failed the Lord. And listen, although there are times when remorse and sorrow are appropriate, Nehemiah and Ezra both felt that this was not one of them. And what follows is a scripture that contains one of the most memorable and meaningful declarations in the entire Older Testament. Verse 10, then he said to them, "No, go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready for this day is holy to our Lord and do not be grieved for the joy that is the favor and pleasure that he has for us and wants to give to us is our strength." That is the context of this most, one of the most quoted phrases in all the Bible that is still used by so many believers a day. But joy, the Lord is our strength, where is it come from, is it come from this, it's a contrast statement. They were sad, they were feeling like, "What will we let you down?" And then Nehemiah said, "No, yes, it's true, but God's pleasure is sitting upon you." And he is so pleased with what you're doing and the way in which your heart is softening to him. He wants you to know his joy and his joy will be your strength. And it says, "The Levi's calm the people," look at verse 11, saying, "Be quiet." No, no, no, no, no, don't cry out and no, do not be grieved. This day is holy and all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing because they had understood the words that were declared to them. In other words, this is a time for joy and celebration. And it's a reminder of what we do when we celebrate. We eat tasty and we drink sweet, right? I mean, that's what it said here. And I take note, if I could just real quick, I take note of the connection between holy and happy. I think sometimes we think holy and sacred means somber and serious and austere. At least I have tended to because God is holy and I'm not. I'm afraid of Him. And there are times where it is important to have reverence and there are times when it is important to honor Him in His holiness and there are times when it is important to remember you are God and I am not. Right? There is a time for that. There are also times. And I think I just feel like we got to also see this because I think this verse challenges the notion of holiness and happiness. There is a real connection between the holiness of God and the happiness of God. Look at Psalm 16, verse 11. This is the last verse. You may know to me the path of life in your presence is fullness of joy and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Holiness and joy are intertwined in God's nature. I think we sometimes forget this at least I do. And by the way, what did they even mean when they said the joy the Lord is our strength? I alluded to it. But at least in part what they were doing was they were reminding the people that they were blessed with God's favor and recipients of his pleasure. You can't be sad when you are realizing the Lord is so happy with what you have been doing. For the Lord was with them in such an incredible way. What Nees, as are Neumai were saying, is you guys don't cry, don't mourn, don't weep. This is the time to rejoice at what God has been doing in and through you, look around you. Do you see it? Do you see the goodness of God on full display? This is the time to rejoice in the Lord. And it's almost like they were to allow the joy that he had for them and wanted to give them to strengthen them and lift their spirits. It's like they were saying there is a time to lament and even grieve, but this is not one of them. The law is complete, the word is received and happy are we. Love ones, the joy the Lord, and I'll just finish with this little piece. The joy the Lord at work in us gives strength to rise. We allow his joy in. The joy the Lord is my strength, strength to rise. It can lift our spirits. His joy can break our despair. His joy can warm our hearts. Look at this. His joy at work in us can help us just like it did with them. Overcome our shame. And one more thing. His joy at work in us can build confidence and shoot hope into our spiritual veins. The joy the Lord is my strength, which is one of the reasons why we are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord because when we do his joy, when I rejoice in him, his joy is released and then strength flows into my being. In that regard, joy is not just a provision. It's a choice. Joy is not just a provision. It's a choice that we make to embrace and welcome in. Joy is a choice. It's a product of intentional focus on the Lord and his love and goodness. So I'll say it another way. Sometimes we sing because we're happy. And sometimes we are to sing because we need to get happy. We rejoice in the Lord always and again, I say rejoice. The joy the Lord is your strength. A fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace. Jesus said, my love for you is real, abiding my love and I want your joy to be full. Come what may. Sometimes that's exactly what we need, right? So rejoice in the Lord always and again, I say, okay, with that in mind, because you know we're gonna have to end. You know how we're gonna have to end. Come on, I don't have the ban come up here. Because we cannot talk about joy and rejoicing and the power of joy to break things down and to send blessing where there's been pain and loss and whatever, you know what? We can't end that way without singing joyfully. So I want you to stand with me and we're gonna just end with an honoring of the joy giver. And we're gonna ask the Lord to fill us with joy. His incredible joy. Sometimes I say, why don't you feel like it? Come on, come on. We, yeah, come on, that's right. (audience applauding) Nope, the West Mr. Catechism was that, you know, the full glory of a man, right? Is to just glorify God and enjoy Him forever, right? There's something about that. The whole duty of a human being, a man or a woman, is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. And the joy of the Lord is my strength. As I allow His joy to come in, even at the most illogical times, when I choose to rejoice in the Lord and welcome in His joy as my strength, the enemy's ability to steal away what is my inheritance is diminished. His grace is greater than all of my sin. His grace is greater than all of my brokenness. His grace is greater. I rejoice in Him. If I have nothing else to rejoice in, I have Him, right? Him, if I was stripped of everything, I still have Him. And some people far more, they've had to pay the ultimate price. But new at the end, that their joy was full because they still had Him and no one could take Him from. No one. Now I know that in theory. I've been asked to do that. So today as we close and then go into the little celebration we have afterwards, let's just end by rejoicing in the joy of the Lord. All right, let's do this. Here we go.