The message was brought by Rev. Tim Powers on Oct 4, 2026.
Nehemiah 8:10b for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Open your Bible to this chapter to follow what the Word says.)
Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in record time. Security began to be felt again by the people because the joy of the Lord is your strength. Our church has been through a lot in two weeks. I saw joy and love in both Norma and Betty. It wasn’t because they were good people. It came from their knowing the Lord as Savior. Because the joy of the Lord is your strength.
What do we see in the people of Israel at this time? Unity. We need that too. Then when we look back at the verses prior to verse 10, we see they longed to hear the Word of God. Ezra, the scribe, brought the writings of Moses and read it before the people. I love good singing, but the Word of God is what we need. These are rough times in our nation. We all see that. Our joy will come from the Word. We need to be hungry for it. My opinion doesn’t matter. The Word matters. In verse 3 we see the people listened and were very attentive. We need substance these days, not junk. Let’s feed our minds with the Word. Be hungry. Listen.
Look at verse 8. Not only were they hungry for the Word and listened to it being read, but they also understood. Pray before you read. Pray before you come to church. When we prepare our hearts and minds, God will open the Word to us. We can’t understand it on our own. Study with prayer. The people asked questions. It is interesting. It has the words of eternal life. We will never understand it all. I may get some things wrong. But one day we’ll understand it. Be hungry. Listen. Pray for understanding.
The Word also convicts us. When we are hungry for it, listen to it and understand it, we are helped. Sin drags us down. We get engrossed in life. Conviction brings us closer to Him. The Holy Spirit tugs on our heart letting us know we have sinned. We pray and ask forgiveness. When we ask, He forgives. How can one be a Christian and never pray? Never go to church? Never read the Word? The Word of God is in our hands, and we are accountable to God for it. Let it convict us to live right. The Word brings sinners to salvation and helps the saved to live right before God. Hunger for it. Listen to it. Pray to understand. Let it convict.
We see that the people responded to the Word. How long since you responded to what you’ve read, what you have heard? Why is it important? We learn from the Word. Through the Word you will indeed find that the joy of the Lord is your strength.
