THERE IS JOY: FIRST THINGS FIRST

Sermon Notes, November 10, 2013

Pastor Jan Sinozich

Pastor Jan’s message was titled “There is Joy: First Things First” and was based on Nehemiah 9:1-37.  In chapter 8, Ezra the priest and Nehemiah comfort the afflicted.  In chapter 9, the comfortable are afflicted.  Joy and grief are two sides of the same coin. 

In chapter 8, the people couldn’t wait to hear God’s Word.  They saw God’s greatness and it led to worship.  In chapter 9 we find very powerful prayers: the people confess who God is, and they confess their sins. 

Verses 1-6 are about the Greatness of God.  The people are fasting, wearing sackcloth, and have put dust on their heads—signs of mourning.  They’re ready to repent and recommit their lives to God, to separate themselves from those who would be a bad influence on them.  When we read the Word we se ourselves stacked up against God’s greatness and that’s when worship begins

Verses 7-30 focus on the Goodness of God.  We see His goodness in the forming of the nation of Israel (v. 7-18), in leading them daily, even when they disobeyed him (v. 19-21), in providing for them (v.22-25), and in correcting them (v. 26-30).

Verses 31-37 speak of the Grace of God.  The people recognize that in everything that has happened to them, God has been just and acted faithfully, even while they did wrong.  The same is true today: He helps us break the cycle of sin.  God is there every time we repent. His grace makes it possible for us to accept Him; it is possible to change.

Verse 38 says that the people made a binding agreement with God.  It was personal, practical, and public.  We need to do the same thing—to see God as great, good and gracious; to allow the Holy Spirit to prompt us to do something practical to serve Him; to live, publicly, our decision to follow Jesus.