God Had Made Them Rejoice - Part 3

CAPITOL BAPTIST CHURCH w 401 KESSELRING AVENUE w DOVER, DE 19904 w CBCOFDOVER.COM w 96.1 FM

For the past few weeks, we have been considering a statement found in

Nehemiah 12:43. It reads, “… for God had made them rejoice with great joy:” God’s people were rejoicing! Biblical joy is defined as “a steadfast confidence in God regardless of one’s circumstances.” True joy is something that God desires all of His children to have. We read in John 15:11, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” The question that we are asking from this passage of Scripture in Nehemiah is, What was it that caused God’s people to have joy?”

Last week, we saw that true joy occurs: I. When God’s Purpose

Becomes Our Purpose (vs. 1-26)This week, we will see that

true joy occurs: II. When God’s Place Becomes

Our Place (vs. 27-42) Verses 1-26 of this chapter

give us a list of those people who chose to return to the land and make God’s purpose their purpose. After this list is given, we read that the Jews began the service of the dedication of the wall that was rebuilt under the leadership of Nehemiah. We find that everyone is assigned their God-given place in this dedication service. In verse 27, the Levites were assigned to give thanksgiving and sing with cymbals, psalteries, and harps. In verse 30, the priests and other Levites were given the task of purifying themselves and then purifying the people, gates, and walls. In verses 31-40, the princes were divided into two groups.

The first group was to march one way around the wall. The second group was to march the other way around the wall. While marching, both groups were to give thanks, praise God, and sing loudly. They would then meet at the house of God. Everyone had a place appointed to them by God, and they not only accepted their God-given assignment, but they also did it with joy!

There are many Christians that are serving God in a ministry, but are not happy doing it. In fact, they would rather be serving God in a different ministry. They are constantly looking around and thinking, “If I only could be doing something else … life would be much more enjoyable.” They

think that if they could only get out of the nursery, or get off of their bus route, or get someone else to usher, or get another person to clean the building, and if they could do something else, then their life would be more enjoyable. But if the place that they are serving in is the place that God has led them to, then why don’t they accept it?

It’s interesting how we all like to say that we are surrendered to God. God will work in our hearts through a sermon or some other way, convincing us that we should serve Him, and we make the Romans 12:1 decision to “… present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto

God, which is your reasonable service.” We say, “Lord I’ll do whatever it is you want me to do.” Yet, when God gives us something to do, we don’t accept it. Although we may not say it audibly, the truth of the matter is that we say in our hearts, “I’m fully surrendered to God, but I’m not doing THAT!”

If we are fully surrendered to God, then anything that He calls us to do, or leads us to do, should be seen as a privilege. True joy will only come when we accept the place that God has given us to serve. When “God’s place becomes our place,” joy will follow.

We read of this principle in 1 Corinthians 12:14-25. In this passage, God speaks of spiritual gifts. In verse 24, we read that “… God hath tempered the body together …” In other words, God has assigned each of us in the local church a place and a purpose and has given us the ability to fulfill it. We are all given different gifts and different places of service. We need to be careful that we do not adopt the spirit of jealousy or envy. Paul writes in verse 15, “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” Then in verses 17-18, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” We need to be careful that we do not disdain the place that God has given to us. If God has given it to us, then it is important, and it is only when we accept the place that God has given us—making His place our place—that we will have true joy!

Nehemiah 12 :1 , 27-47 | Pastor T. H. Moore• Workers’ Meeting

- Sun., September 27 5:35 PM in the Auditorium

• Mommies & Ministry Meeting - Fri., October 2 7:00 PM at the Moores’ home (for mothers with young children; childcare not provided)

• Missions Conference - October 14-18 Conference Speaker: Dr. John O’MalleyVisiting Missionaries:Bill & Karen Dillon - IsraelJoshua & Katie Pate - Ivory CoastAdam & Rebekah Shedal - Hamburg, PA

*All events will follow appropriate COVID-19 guidelines.

Current Reopening Phase: Two Sundays

Sunday School at 9:45 AMMorning Service at 11:00 AM

Evening Service at 6:00 PM

WednesdaysPrayer Meeting at 7:00 PM

SaturdaysTract Distribution at 10:00 AM

In Phase 2, since we can be at 60% capacity, everyone is welcome to attend!

For a list of Sunday school classes planned for this time, please check the website or stop by the Welcome Center.

*Face coverings are now required for kindergarten age and up, and social

distancing guidelines are still in effect. For more details on current restrictions,

please visit our website.

Weekly Events

Church Activities September 24, 2020

CAPTIONSCapitol Baptist

“Son”-shine Join us in prayer for...•Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic•Easton Baptist Church•First State Baptist Church: needs a

permanent building solution•Future Church Plant•Grace Baptist Church - Oxford, PA -

seeking a pastor •Laborers for the Harvest (Matt. 9:38)•Property Development: wisdom moving

forward •Matthew Ansalvish: recovery from

emergency surgery for an infection•Judy Bungori: health; recovering at home•Carrow Family: bereavement - passing of Larry

Engle (Kim’s dad)•Eugene Church: liver cancer; surgery recovery•Carol Hassler: declining health•Hutchinson Family: bereavement - passing

of Bob Hutchinson; funeral on Friday, September 25 at the church (viewing at 12:30 pm; service at 1:30 pm)

•Ralph & Cindy Prange: health •Jared Rieff: recovery from procedure•Rivera & Vanderpool Families: serious

tornado damage

Listen Live to 96.1 FM | Visit CbcofDover.com

Bill & Kim CarrowBereavement

27 E. Darby CircleDover, DE 19904

Please pray for the Carrows this week, as Larry Engle, Kim’s dad, went home to be

with the Lord on Sunday. Consider sending them a note of encouragement!

Soul-Winning/Discipleship 3 salvations

Church Services 2 visitors

Corner Harvest from Heaven

From the Mission FieldOUR MISSIONARIES IN INDIA

Due to increasing security concerns for our missionaries in India,this week’s missionary highlight will not be posted online.

Please pray this week for all of the missionaries who are serving the Lord in southeast Asia.