CELEBRATE

Day: Day 17
Date: January 24, 2024

We have seen the work that the Word has done in the people in Nehemiah’s day, and I believe we are experiencing the same.

As the Word brings conviction, it also brings life.

We see there is a time for repentance.

Nehemiah 8:9 KJV

And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, “This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.

There is also a time when you acknowledge that repentance has brought you out of condemnation. Therefore, it is time to celebrate the freedom and the goodness of God.

The English word worship comes from the Old English word “worthship,” which means “to give something worth—to demonstratively attribute value, especially to a deity or god.”

Worship is expressed in many ways, some of which are described in the Word of God:

• Standing
• Bowing down
• Facedown

But there are other expressions that are also worship unto God if done from the heart.

• Clapping
• Shouting
• Dancing
• Walking and leaping

So, the people were not released from continued worship, but they were released to worship differently.

Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

Then he said unto them, “Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

I don’t know how you respond, but when God reveals where I have failed Him and what I need to change, it breaks my heart that I have broken His heart.

So, I repent.

As we all should! True repentance means to turn away from and not just to say that you are sorry.

Be on guard though because satan will try to take away your energy and try to accuse you of not staying on track, just to bring condemnation.

However, when God forgives us, He also forgets our sins (See Isaiah 43:25), and we need to forget them, too.

It is a time to stop weeping and start rejoicing because we have been relieved of our sins. We should begin to express worship with joy knowing that we are not as we used to be. We are growing in the knowledge of God’s great love that He has given to us. We rejoice! Satan hates this because the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Strength here means a fortified place; figuratively, a defense: force, fortress, rock, and stronghold.

So, now the Lord has released us of sin and turned our weakness into a fortified place. We have a place from which we can operate against the enemy’s strongholds. The LORD has released His joy to us, and it is now a force in our life!

It is time to get past the past and rise again in gladness.

Nehemiah 8:11-12 NKJV

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.”
12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

When the people understood this, they got up and celebrated AND they sent portions to others.

It is time for us to arise from the sadness of what is past and partake of what God has released to us and release it to others as well.

Nehemiah 8:14-15 KJV

14 And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:
15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

Go celebrate—not just in your home—but celebrate by coming together and making what has happened a BIG DEAL with each other!

Nehemiah 8:16-17 KJV

16 So the people went forth and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

God was RE-ESTABLISHING things that they had not been doing because of their lack of knowledge, and because they were in exile.

Now is the time for us to awaken to the instructions of the Lord.

• Come together AS ONE
• Listen to the Word of the Lord and be moved by the LOVE it reveals to us
• Obey as the move of the Spirit draws us to worship
• Repent
• Restore each other in joyous celebrations
• Keep the Word before us

Nehemiah 8:18 KJV

Also, day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

Hallelujah!

Let us celebrate the freedom that God is bringing to us, and others as we share what He has done and what He is doing.

PRAYER

YAY GOD!

Thank you so much for your kindness in releasing us from our past and setting us on solid ground for our future.

Our future is set by You.

We are rejoicing in You today! We are thankful that You have brought us all together to begin to understand on a deeper level all You are accomplishing, as we set aside these times to come into Your presence.

We are so in love with You!

We are going to worship You today with:

• Clapping!
• Shouting!
• Dancing!
• Walking and leaping!

We will worship You in our homes and our Church assemblies!

We are grateful for all You are and all You have done.

Holy is our God!

Amen and Amen!

WORSHIP/VIDEOS

I Thank God – Maverick City Music

Praise – Elevation Worship