Good morning: I came up with a rule last week I want to implement. The rule is, “you must greet the pastor either before service starts or when the service is over. I want to make sure I shake your hand or give you a hug and thank you for worshipping with us. I’m going to have minister Morris give the benediction allowing me to be in the foyer as you leave.

Last week I preached on forgiveness verses unforgiveness. We had a good discussion on the zoom call on Wednesday evening. Many of the storms we face in our lives, not the rain, thunder, and lightening kind of storms, but storms of disagreement and unrepented sin are the result of a root of bitterness that is growing in us because of unforgiveness. If we are not forgiving others, God is not forgiving us. The result of our disobedience are the storms we face.

Hillview Family and Friends!

 Ushers and greeters. We can create an alternate schedule. If anyone is interested, please see LaTanya Dunn.

Sis. Debbie will be having Children’s ministry 1st through 4th Sundays.  On the 1st Sunday the children will  do special projects. Please text Sis. Debbie if your child will not be in attendance. 5th Sunday no children’s ministry. 

Dec 14th Third Sunday of Advent- Joy

Hillview will be adopting a family from Stony Point North. The list of the family and their needs is located at the events table. Gifts need to be delivered to the school by Dec. 18th..  In a spirit of giving, Hillview has Angel Ornaments available for a $5.00 donation. All proceeds will go towards our Adoptive family of Stony Point North.

Hillview will be contributing to The  McKinney Vento efforts to support homeless children  and their families in our area. The goal is to collect personal items for both girls and boys (i.e.: deodorant , shampoo’s, body lotion etc.). There is a box in the foyer for you to drop off your donations. The deadline is Sun  Nov 16th, so we can present  our “gift  of love”  for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Dec 20th Board Management Meeting 9am.

Dec 21st Christ Birthday Offering.

Dec 24th Christmas Eve.

Dec 24th Candlelight Service 6pm at Hillview. A chili dinner will be served after service.

Dec 25th Christmas Day.

Dec 31st New Years Eve.

Jan 1 New Years Day.

Offering Envelopes are located on the wall outside of the sound booth.

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As I prepared today’s message, a question came to mine, is joy and happiness the same thing? It seems like they ought to be, but they are different.

Happiness is defined as a temporary, external state of well-being derived from positive actions (like receiving a gift). This happiness is linked to a chemical in our bodies called dopamine. When something pleasurable happens, dopamine neurons release dopamine into our bodies, signaling “This is good, remember this!” This chemical then binds to receptors on other nerve cells, transmitting the signal, which motivates you to seek out that feeling again, forming habits and even addictions. FYI there are also chemicals in our bodies that are linked to depression and sadness.

Feeling happy is not a choice we make, being happy is a response to external pleasures we receive and enjoy.

Joy unlike happiness is the result of an eternal love relationship rooted in God and His promises. When you received Jesus into your life as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit took up residence inside of you. The Joy I’m talking about is one of the nine fruits of the Spirit that the Apostle Paul mentions in the book of Galatians in the fifth chapter verses 22 and 23. Our joy regardless of what we are experiencing in this fallen world continues to encourage us and emanate from inside of us because of the presence of the Lord. We are going to experience trouble in this life impacting our happiness, but it should not impact our joy.

John 16:33

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

There is a difference between happiness and joy.

From today’s text we have Nehemiah, the one who led a contingent of Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, and Ezra the priest who had returned to Jerusalem before Nehemiah’s by several years. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in 458 BC. Ezra was a descendant of Aaron the first high priest brother to Moses. He was a priest, a scribe, and a great leader. Tradition says that Ezra wrote most of 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Psalm 119. He led the council of 120 men who compiled the Old Testament canon.

Nehemiah joined Ezra in Jerusalem in 445 BC. He functioned as the governor; he was the political leader. Ezra functioned as the religious leader.

My Bible says this between Nehemiah chapter seven and chapter eight, “When Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem, he finds more than just a broken wall; he finds broken lives. In response Nehemiah gathers the people together to hear Ezra read God’s law. The people repent and promise to change their lives by obeying God’s words.”

Nehemiah 8:1, 2

1 all the people assembled as one man in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.

A tall platform was built for the occasion. Ezra, along with several others, joined him on the platform. The Book of the law of Moses was probably the first five books of the Bible.

Ezra was standing as he read, so the people also stood. They worshipped God.

Nehemiah 8:5, 6

5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

It wasn’t enough that the people heard the Word, they were also instructed on the meaning of the Word being read so they could understand what they heard.

Have you ever left a service knowing you didn’t understand what you had just heard? Maybe what you heard contradicted something you believed, or maybe you just hadn’t heard it that way before. You left service with more questions than answers. How has the leadership of this church tried to help you with your understanding? The Wednesday night service is built around helping you understand what you heard on Sunday morning.

An interesting thing happened as the people heard the Word being read and were receiving instructions to the meaning of the Word.

Nehemiah 8:8, 9

8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

What effect does the Word of God have on you? There should be a noticeable change in your character/behavior because of the Word of God. Why did those who heard the Word weep? They wept because they realized how far they had strayed from obeying God’s laws and commands.

I can think of two occassions, once it was a woman and once it was a man that attended our worship service, and they wept throughout the service, from the time they entered the sanctuary till the time service was over. They wept because they realized they were living lives that were contrary to what the Word of God commanded and taught. Even though their lives were in shambles, they made it to church, and the church loved them in accordance with God’s Word. I don’t know what the man is doing now, but the woman co-pastors a church with her husband and they stay in touch with Karen and me.

The people were instructed to go enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and to send some to those that had nothing prepared. And they were told, “This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

“As Ezra read and explained the Word, the assembly’s first response was one of conviction and grief. They mourned over their sins. The Word of God brings conviction and leads to repentance, but it also brings us joy, for the same Word that wounds also heals.”¹

“Assisted by the Levites, Nehemiah convinced the people to stop mourning and start celebrating. It is as wrong to mourn when God has forgiven us as it is to rejoice when sin has conquered us. The sinner has no reason for rejoicing, and the forgiven child of God has no reason for mourning. Yes, as God’s children we carry burdens and know what it is to weep, but we also experience power that transforms sorrow into joy.”²

I would have to admit that times have changed, but the Word of God remains the same. How is the Joy of the Lord applicable to us today?

• Encouragement in trials: Life tends to expose us to negative experiences that steal our happiness. As believers, we can turn to God’s unchanging character for lasting joy. This eternal resource doesn’t fade with our bad experiences because God never fails.
• Motivation for obedience: Being reconciled to God inspires obedience from gratitude, not fear. Our devotion to God strengthens the heart against temptation and nurtures spiritual growth.
• Healing and restoration: Like the rebuilding of Jerusalem, lives broken by sin can be restored. Hope in God’s promises brings renewed emotional and spiritual vitality, as well as courage to pursue reconciliation and healing.
• Witness to others: A sustained joy that transcends adversity testifies to God’s power. This draws others to contemplate the source of such peace, opening opportunities to share the good news of salvation that hinges on Christ’s resurrection.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” anchors God’s people in the truth that His saving work, steadfast character, and covenant loyalty provide a source of joy transcending immediate circumstances. This God centered joy grants the power to rebuild, endure hardships, walk in obedience, and testify of God’s goodness to a watching world.”³

One song came to mind as I worked on this message. The song simply says, “This joy I have the world didn’t give it to me, the world didn’t give it the world can’t take it away.

Our joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. Regardless of what we face in this life, we might not be happy, but the joy of the Lord will keep you from throwing in the towel to disappointment. Continue drawing close to Jesus.

Study Questions on

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

1. Do you understand the difference between happiness and joy?
2. Since joy is based on a relationship with God, not what happens to us in the world, how would you rate your level of joy today?
3. How does the Word of God impact your life?
4. Are you ever moved to tears when you sin and disappoint God?
5. We stand when the Word of God is read at worship, is it genuine or habit?
6. The sermon listed several ways the joy of the Lord is applicable to us today. Can you think of any other ways?
7. Can your joy be stolen?
8. How do we joy proof our lives?

Continue to pray for the sick and shut-ins and their caregivers. Prayer is needed for our entire congregation as we are all dealing with spoken and unspoken needs and requests.

Weekly Events

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Worship Service 10:45 am Sermon live stream 11:15 am You tube http://www.youtube.com/@HillviewChurchofGod-u3m

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