God bless you all, brothers and sisters. The presence of the Lord is in this place, amen! When the presence of the Lord descends with power over man, things truly happen. That is why we have come; we give thanks to the Lord. Welcome all who are here today in the house of the Lord, amen.

When I talk to the young people, I sometimes tell them things from when I was young and in school. Back then, if I had a research assignment, I had to go to the National Library. There was no internet, and we didn't have computers, so I had to go all the way downtown. I don't know if the library still exists, but if it does, no one uses it, right?

I had to learn how to use filing cabinets—I think that’s what they were called. It was a piece of furniture at the entrance where all the serial numbers were kept to look up books. Then, I had to ask the staff for the books because I didn't know exactly where they were located. I would request several books and then I needed to read them there. If I had time, I'd read them; if not, then I would make photocopies. Then I'd go home and write out what I needed by hand. And that’s how the assignments were done at that time.

Obviously, none of that is done anymore. The internet has changed everything, right? Now you just press a key. Actually, you don't even have to press a key. Now you can just talk to artificial intelligence, and it will answer. It can give you a summary for your homework. And forget the bibliography—that’s something the young people don't even do anymore, right? All those things are obsolete; they’re a thing of the past. That's all over now because technology has replaced it.

One of my first jobs was at a photo developing shop. Who remembers that? The younger ones don't know what that is, do they? Going to get photos developed. People used to buy regular cameras, buy film, and take pictures. It wasn’t for taking pictures of just anything, was it? People bought cameras, went out for evenings, then went to the store and paid to have them developed. And sometimes the photos didn’t come out; they might be blurry. Now, people take pictures of anything. Everything, food, you name it. Before, it wasn't like that because it was very special; you had to buy the film. That no longer exists because now the phone has replaced a lot of things we used to use.

I remember when I was little, my mom paid a membership to a place where they rented VHS movies. So, if you had a VHS or a Betamax in your house, it was quite an ordeal. We would leave the house with my mom and catch a bus to the store. We'd walk through all the aisles, look at the movies, and pick one—that’s all that you could get. They’d give it to you for two or three days. You'd go back home, watch the movie, rewind it (otherwise you could be charged), and then return it. It was a process! People don’t do that anymore. Now, they're subscribed to tons of apps and spend half an hour to an hour scrolling through them and don’t watch anything.

Everything has changed. There are many things from the not-so-distant past that are no longer used because technology advances very fast. We talk to someone older and hear about how they used to solve a certain problem. Now, you can solve it faster with a phone. Someone older might say, “No, in my time we did it like this.” And maybe now it's not done that way anymore, right? We have better solutions for most things in our lives; everything has changed. Our children won't know the truth about the things we experienced in many aspects of our life.

However, you know what is the most worrying? That we often believe that the Word of God is no longer relevant for these times. Many people believe that the Bible no longer applies to the times in which we live and that it can no longer be applied to the situations we face every day.

Many people say, “No, the Bible is good for my aunt, my grandmother, my grandfather. They’re the ones who said Christ was coming soon, but He hasn't come. He hasn't come. My grandmother and the others live by the Bible—it’s for my aunt who dresses in a long skirt, but not for me. Times have changed, the laws have changed, and the Bible is no longer relevant for us.” However, that’s a lie. That is a lie!

The Word of God has power. The Word of God is still relevant today. The Word of God has the power to transform man, transform the mind and the heart of man. It is relevant for every situation we face in our lives today. How many say amen to that? And how many say the Word of God has power?

If we live by the Word of God, then God's promises will reach us. If we live by the Word of God, then we will see the power of God. People are looking for supernatural things in many places. They are looking for someone to lay a hand on them. They are looking for a special anointing. They are hoping gold will fall from the sky. They're hoping their bank account will change. But no, not if you don’t live by the Word of God. And that thing about gold falling from the sky? Well, we’ll talk about that another day.

Today, we are going to talk about the power of the Word of God. I want us to go to Nehemiah chapter 8, verse 2. Nehemiah chapter 8—the power of God's Word in our lives. If you don't have a Bible, the verses are right up here. We are reading these verses in the New International Version. (Only one other verse will be in the Reina Valera, the one from Revelations.)

Nehemiah chapter 8, verse 2-3 says, "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. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law."

How were the people? Attentive to the reading of the Book of the Law. "Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood many people..."—he said to his right were six people—"to his left were seven other people.” Verse 5L “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. 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."

Brother, the Word of God has power. I want to talk to you about a few points quickly. Number one is that the Word of God is influential. The Word of God is influential, and it has to be influential for you and for me.

I want to quickly remind you that these people we are talking about here have just come from being in Babylon for 70 years. The message we are reading here is that Ezra stands in front of these people, the Israelites, who have seen a prophecy fulfilled. They were taken as slaves to Babylon and, after 70 years there, the prophecy was fulfilled, and they were released by King Cyrus. Most of them did not return; most of the Jews did not return to Jerusalem. Why didn't they return to Jerusalem? Brother, this is different from what we have read about slavery in Egypt. In Egypt, they couldn't endure the slavery, they couldn't endure the work and all those hardships.

What’s happening here in Babylon? They already had established lives, and it was completely different. They were comfortable; they had houses and they had jobs. How do we know that? Because Daniel and his friends were there. And what were Daniel and his friends? They were government officials, high-ranking officials. And Nehemiah, the one who is in this passage, says that he was the King’s Cupbearer, which was one of the three most important positions in the government. So it’s not that they were doing badly; they were comfortable.

But at the beginning of this passage in the book of Nehemiah, it says that when Nehemiah learned of what was happening in Jerusalem, something stirred in his heart, and he said, “I have to go back there. I’m fine here, I seem to be fine here, but something has hit my heart.” He began to pray to the Lord and had to return to where God had told them that He was going to prosper them, where God had blessed them. And only the people who felt that in their hearts returned to the land of Jerusalem.

So very few of them decided to return. What’s more, for many of them—of those who returned, because not all did—maybe there was a father who decided to return, and maybe his children or his wife didn’t want to go with him? A couple of them were forced to go, but maybe one said, “Why return if we’re fine here? For what? Why get uncomfortable if we have lived our whole lives here? We have lived our lives and grown up here.”

And this reminded me a little of us, because most of the people who returned had never lived in Jerusalem. I want to give you a quick example. It’s as if right now we were taken as slaves to another country and told, “In 70 years you will be released.” Do you think I would make it? Would you make it? Some of you, right? Well, back then maybe we would have, but not now; we wouldn’t make it. But our children would. Our children who were born here and haven’t lived here long, but who would live most of their lives there. Those are the people who came back.

I imagine them saying, “Why get uncomfortable? We're fine like this. Why get uncomfortable?” And you know, brother, that's why we come here to the church. And I pray—I was praying yesterday—that the Holy Spirit will shake us up, shake you up, because that’s why we’ve come here, to shake up our lives.

Although the truth is, we don't come here to get out of our comfort zone; we come here to get settled. The Lord comes to set our lives right. We think we are fine, but He comes to set our lives right. And I have prayed that the Lord, the Holy Spirit, would stir you up, and that you wouldn’t be comfortable, you wouldn’t feel that you already have your life all figured out, and wouldn’t feel that you’re okay just the way you are. Because when the Word of God comes, something has to happen in the heart; something moves. These people had houses, cars, everything. Yet they said, “I’m going to go to that city that’s destroyed and we’re going to rebuild something because God is there, His presence is there, and that’s where I need to be.” Babylon was the most incredible place in the world at that time, the most developed empire. “What are you going to Jerusalem for?” That place had been burned down and abandoned for 70 years. They had to go to rebuild houses, the temple, all that. Imagine it. But it's not that they didn't see miracles at that time either. Of course they saw miracles. They saw how the Lord helped them, despite the opposition, to rebuild the wall, rebuild the temple; so many things. But this passage we are reading takes place after all that. After they had seen the hand of God.

"When the Word of God comes, something has to happen in the heart…"

Suddenly, something began to influence these people: The Word of God. Because, brothers, it's not just about listening. The Word of God is not just about listening. The Gospel isn’t just about hearing and reciting verses. It's not just about talking like a Christian. A person who is influenced is a person who has changed, who has been moved from where they were.

And that's what is so incredible in this passage. We see here—it says, and you can read it later—that they listened to the Word for six hours. Six hours! We can’t even pay attention for 20 minutes straight. And these people were listening for six hours. But not because the sermon was more interesting. It's just that the Word had touched them. It’s that they were hungry and thirsty for the Lord. They had arrived there. The Word entered their hearts. We, too, must let it enter. You have to ask the Lord, “Come in with your Word, Lord. I want to change. I want to. I need to change.”

And you know why I say that the Word of God is an influence? That word is common to us now, but perhaps back then—I don’t know where you heard it from. That word, “influence, influential,”—let's look at verse 3: "He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law." What are we paying attention to now? Everything else, because with technology we’re aware of everything; nothing escapes us now. You see the news from all over the world—we’re so attentive to it.

And what about the word "influencer"? We've all heard that, haven’t we? We've all seen someone with that title. The word "influencer" comes from a person—literally, by definition—a person who has the ability to influence the opinions and behaviors of others. A person who is capable of influencing opinions and behavior. I'm going to give you a very simple example; we’re not going to extremes. Don't we walk down the street, and you’re on the phone looking at the latest social media sensation, and everyone’s talking about it? I don't know how often—I don't know if it's something programmed here in our country—but every month or two, someone becomes famous, right? Because of a phrase they say on the news or something. And you go to work, or you're at university, and you do something and your coworker says, “What’s up, soup?” And you already know where that comes from; you've already heard it, yes or no? That's something very Honduran, that's something of ours. And you go to college and you're there, and you’re like, “Why don't I talk?” You laugh because you know where that comes from, right? It's obvious. There’s so many other things.

What do I mean by this? We are attentive to all those things. And if they influence us, they influence us in such a way that they change our vocabulary, they change the way in which we behave, in how we express ourselves. If and when people of the future read things we have written in this time, maybe they won't even understand it, right? Because they won't have the context for those things. It changes our vocabulary—well, that’s an influencer. That’s something that influences, something that changes your way of being, something that has changed your vocabulary, something that has changed your way of thinking.

And these influences aren’t just in things that seem trivial; they change our opinion about buying one product or the other. Or even choosing one presidential candidate over the other. All those things influence our lives. But how has the Word of God influenced your life? How has the Word of God changed your vocabulary, your way of speaking to people? How has the Word influenced you?

Well, let me tell you something: That’s what the Word of God does. It changes the person, it influences them in such a way that it changes their vocabulary. So much so that now people no longer recognize the person anymore. Now people say, “Look at this guy, what’s he talking about?” He is talking about what the Word of the Lord says. He is no longer speaking about his opinions. He’s no longer talking about his desires. He’s speaking about the desires of God. He’s speaking about the heart of God.

If there is anyone who has been influential in life, it has been Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He is the most influential figure of all time. He changed history. And people might say, "No, it's just that He has so many followers." Yes, Christ does have millions of followers and He has changed millions of lives throughout the centuries. And He continues to do so. The Word of God has power. You have to let yourself be influenced by the Word of God and not by other things. You have to let yourself be influenced by the Word of God—you have to let it in. Oh, the Word is so influential that it can make a simple fisherman—that fisherman whom the Lord called when he couldn’t even fish—the Lord called Peter. He was a humble man, but he was stubborn. That man was stubborn, impulsive, angry, and he walked around armed. And then suddenly, the Word of the Lord turned him into one of the best orators the Bible has ever seen. In his first speech, thousands of people were converted because that’s how the Word of the Lord is. Peter was a man who had pulled a sword on another, had talked nonsense to Jesus—and that was the same man who stood in front of thousands of people, and they witnessed the power of God there. That’s how the Word of God works; that’s how the Word of God changes the lives of men. That’s how the Word of God has changed his life; that’s how others see it.

That’s the thing: What is the power of influencers? What is the power of influence? It’s about others seeing you. You’re not an influencer if no one sees you. Who sees you? Who is following you? Because that’s discipleship. That’s the church. Those who follow me, follow me because of my example, not because of my words. Because that’s the Word of God: Not because of what we say, not because of the verses we know, but because of what we live, because of what we do. That’s the influence of the Word of God on us.

But each one of us has to be willing for something to happen in our hearts with the Word of the Lord. I have to be willing for the Word to speak to me every Sunday. Every Sunday, I have to come to the Lord's house thinking, “The Lord is going to talk to me, the Lord will change something in my heart.” If we don't come to the Lord's house in that way, brother, I want to tell you that you have wasted your time on many occasions.

But the Word of God, no matter who speaks it or who tells it to you, has something for you, has something for your heart, for your mind. We have to come willing to say, “Lord, change something here; do something in me, Lord.” Only then will what is around me change.

Number two, the Word of the Lord has the power to transform. The Word of God has the power to transform. Let's read verses 5 and 6 again. It says, "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. 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."

When we look at the history of Babylon, they accomplished incredible things. At the time the Jews were there, Babylon was a world power. If you read a little history, you’ll realize the wonders that existed there—the technological advancements they had at that time in terms of harvesting, planting, and many other things like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

I imagine those young people arriving in Jerusalem—those who had come from seeing those grand palaces and that army—and seeing Jerusalem: The houses burned, the temple fallen, everything destroyed. There are many people inside the churches who don't believe that anything like this can happen, a miraculous transformation, in the churches. I mean, what more is God going to do? What can God do that hasn’t already been seen? There are so many things already! Now people are talking to artificial intelligence. Do you know that there are divorces worldwide because there are men who have relationships with AI and their wives found out? That’s the point we’ve reached in technology.

Man is capable today of making any kind of vehicle, any structure, any building, ships, airplanes. People are even traveling to space! To that point, to that level, man then feels intelligent, he feels powerful, right? He feels like, "So what? What am I going to achieve in this life?" But let me tell you something: The Word of God has power. It’s the only thing that can truly transform a person, and it’s the only thing that can bring a person back from the clutches of hell. The Word of God is the only thing that has the power to break the clutches of sin that have you bound in your heart. You may see many things out there, but there is nothing that can free you from sin. There is nothing that can free you from anguish and hell—only the Word of God. That’s the power of the Word of God.

"The Word of God has power. It’s the only thing that can truly transform a person, and it’s the only thing that can bring a person back from the clutches of hell."

The most ironic thing about all this is that people think that by achieving all those things, they are searching for happiness. There's a movie called that, right? And the whole movie is about a job, searching for happiness through a job. And people cry, “Poor thing,” but it’s real because people go around looking for happiness in many things: In a person, in a job, in money. And yet, that is the only thing that doesn't bring happiness to the heart.

I don’t know if Christians know that. I’ve always told you that in most of the jobs I’ve had, the most bitter people were the Christians, the ones who claimed to be Christians. So, if someone tells me that there is happiness in the Lord, why were they so bitter?

The Word has the power to transform, but you have to take a step back, you have to see it; it’s not just about talking about it. The Lord is my strength, the Lord is my joy, but of course you’re going to say, “And how am I going to be happy with everything that’s happening to me?” If I told you—and it's true, if you told me all the things that are happening—but what does the Bible say about it? Do we believe in the Word of the Lord or not?

I’m going to give you a preview for next week: You know we’re gullible—because we do believe the words that are spoken to us. We do believe the words. When you were little and they told you that you were stupid, when they told you that you couldn’t do anything, you believed that. But when the Word tells you, “You can do all things through Christ,” you can do all things through Christ, in the midst of—as we read last week in the Psalm—"Lord, in the midst of anguish, in the storm." There I can see we do not believe that word. But I tell you, if you believe that word, then it will become a reality in your life.

We have to come with faith to the House of the Lord. The people we see in Nehemiah, they were attentive. Be attentive and come with faith to the House of the Lord, and I assure you, as Psalm 34 says, you will “taste that the Lord is good.” Taste that the Lord is good and He will transform your heart, and He will transform your life. I assure you.

Here’s one speaking to you from the depths of your heart. People say, "Do things this way or that way," but I’ve told you of the anguish, loneliness, and sadness that was here in my own heart. There’s nothing in the world, nothing in the world, that can truly take that sorrow away. But the Word of God can. The power of God can because He transforms hearts. He transforms hearts and transforms lives.

That reality is evident. It’s evident on the outside. This is why the Word of the Lord says, in Revelation chapter 12, verse 11 (we will read it here in the Reina Valera version): "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Look how incredible that is! Where is the power? In the blood of Christ and in testimony. Why testimony? Why is testimony so important? Because our testimony is the proof that God has power. It is proof that God changes lives. It is proof that the Word has transformed their lives.

"Where is the power? In the blood of Christ and in testimony."

And you know what, people? Those of us who have been with the Lord longer have often spoken with others; we have often preached to them. There are people who get discouraged because nothing seems to be happening, whatever the reason. But you need to know: It is not just the Word. It is not just words. People see. People see your own life. It is not just words. The Gospel isn't just about talking and it’s not just about listening.

People see and say, "I am going to follow this person not because of what they are telling me, but because they live it." They follow because, "I have seen it. Look how that woman lives. Look how that man lives. I know his needs. I know he is in need, I know he is sick, I know his children are struggling, but look how happy he is, look how he praises God, I want that."

People don't say, "Oh, I want to go to Bible seminary." They may go, but deep down, what they really want is that transformation. When we see someone transformed, we say, "That's it! That's it!" The Word of God has the power to transform. Many of us here could testify, amen, to what God has done. And that testimony has power because the Word is real. The Word is real.

Number three: The Word has the power to save. Let's go back to Nehemiah chapter 8-9 onward. Nehemiah chapter 8, verse 9. The Word says: "Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘This day is holy 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."

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord.” Then Nehemiah added, "Go and eat well, drink sweet drinks, and share your food with those who have nothing, for this day is holy to our Lord."

What does it say there? What follows: "Don't be sad. The joy of the Lord is our strength." Why not be sad? Why? Because the joy of the Lord is our strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. I don't know if you need to eat this word. Let them come in here, because sadness is coming.

It says there that they were weeping, but they were weeping because the Word had convicted them of their sin. And that sadness is necessary. Oh, the day we recognize that we are sinners! Friends, we have walked around and in the world we have been told that we can do whatever we want because our life is ours. And many have come to the house of the Lord, probably without any expectations, without anything, but blessed be God that you are here today. Blessed be God that you are here today.

In the house of the Lord, you can hear the truth, and the truth is that the Word says that we have all sinned and are far from the glory of God. Every man is a sinner, and sin deserves death. The wages of sin is death. That is what the people heard. They began to read the law of God and realized that they were far from God.

There are people in churches who, because they are in church, believe that they are close to God until they come to the Word, and the Word tells them how their life is. Because the Word is a mirror. Nobody, nobody, absolutely nobody goes to a special event without looking in a mirror. I assure you. Whatever you're going to do, before you leave your house, you look in the mirror to see how you look. Well, the Word of God is that mirror. And before we present ourselves to God, we have to look at ourselves. And the Word will tell us, "You're unclean. You have sinned. You have broken the law," and that is why they were crying; they were sad.

It’s the brokenness that comes from repentance that brings salvation. When the heart is broken by realizing that, when we are before God, we are far from Him, then that begins to bring salvation into our lives. But it says there, "Do not be sad about that, for the joy of the Lord is our strength."

And we are saddened by other things: Because we’re sick, because we’re going through a need. But the Word of the Lord also has something for all of that, for each one of us. He has a promise for us. Don’t be sad, brothers and sisters, do not be sad, for the Lord is your strength. Even when you think you can't go on, the Lord is with you. Even when you think you are alone, when you think others are there and will abandon you, it doesn't matter. The Word says that even if your mother and father forsake you, I will be with you. Do not worry; I will be with you until the end of the world. How we need the Word of God in our hearts! Amen.

He is our strength, and it says in verse 11: "'Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.'" The Levites reassured the entire town, telling them to be calm, not to be sad, for this was a holy day. So the whole town went to eat and drink and share their food, happy for the food, happy for having understood the Word of God because the Word brings freedom. The Word brings freedom, brother. There is joy in the Word of God.

The enemy's work is to steal, kill, and destroy. Just like he told Eve, he lied to her; he changed things a little, didn't he? "That's not true." God told her, "If you touch that tree, then you will die." And the devil said, "No, that's not true, you won't die. Rather, your eyes will be opened." It was a half-truth. And that's what people believe. We won't die when we're out there, or even when we're here in the church and we're doing things in secret, or we're doing our thoughts and whatever. We won't die, because I've been doing this and nothing has happened to me. The pastors come; they see me and they don't say anything. My brothers are looking at me. Surely we won't die?

But when Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they died immediately because they were separated from God. Their bodies continued, but friend death is being separated from God. That's what death is: Being separated from God.

I was saying to myself, "Lord, how many times have I come to Your house? How many times have I come here, Lord, to hear Your Word? Just to hear Your Word. But I leave the same. And what's more, for some reason I know that I am separated from You. I know I am, Lord. I know I am." But that's a lie. I mean, it's a lie in what we say we’re living, because the devil has told us, "You won't die," because we're still here. We're still in the church. You keep going. And keep going.

In the Word of God, there is power. This story is incredible because at this moment, these people felt good, though they were far from God. Far from God. God's people felt good in some distant place where they were far from God. But my desire, my prayer, has been that you never feel comfortable away from God, that you never feel comfortable away from the presence of the Lord.

I pray that the Holy Spirit stirs you, makes you uncomfortable, that wherever you are, no matter where, at home or at work, the Holy Spirit stirs you, convicts you, because we cannot be away from the presence of God. That is death, my brother; that is being dead, being far from the presence of God. These people were comfortable, they felt at ease, and even in the Holy Land they felt comfortable, but it wasn't until the Word of God struck their hearts. They let the Word of the Lord enter their hearts.

The priests in Nehemiah told the people, "It's a day of celebration." It's true that they were far from God, but the most incredible thing, brother, is that this is the grace of God: When man realizes he is far from Him. Then, with this revelation, he draws near to God and that is grace. Grace isn't what says, "Okay, now you are in God, now you are saved, you can continue with your life and you can continue doing what you were doing." No, the grace of God empowers man so that he can say, "Lord, you have saved me, and I no longer have to live in the sin I was in. I don't have to continue living in that." That is the grace of God. It's not what allows me to continue sinning, but what brings me knowledge and revelation. And it tells me, "You no longer need to live that way. It's not necessary. You don't need to seek happiness in those things. You don't need to search for anything because what you lack is Me."

The Lord says, "You have been seeking happiness elsewhere. But I have to tell you something: What you lack is God, my friend. What you lack is God because you have been separated. You were born and created with a purpose—to be with God, to be immersed in God. That is why He created you. That is the grace of God—no matter where you come from, no matter what you have done and what you are doing today, the grace of God can save you. The power of God, the Word, has salvation for your life and your family. That is the Gospel—the one that gathers up the dead, the one that gathers up the addicted, the one that gathers up the depressed, the one that gathers up the troubled, the immoral, the liar, the thief—God gathers them and transforms them into a living being."

"No matter where you come from, no matter what you have done and what you are doing today, the grace of God can save you."

A new person—that is the power of the Word, that is the power of the Gospel, amen. That is the power of the God you and I serve. That is the power of God. Let yourself be touched by God, let yourself be touched by the Word of God. Speak to your heart the Word of God. Don't let other things continue to fill your mind. Let the Lord fill your mind, fill your heart. Let the Word transform us.

The Word confronts us, and sorrow for sin is good, but that is not the end. Sorrow is not the end. The Word brings restoration and brings joy. The Word brings restoration and brings joy. To what? To become our strength. In Nehemiah, they built walls. I don't need to rebuild walls or build other houses. You and I need restoration here and now. Many of us need God to restore our minds.

Verse 10: "Then Nehemiah added, 'You may go now, eat well, drink sweet drinks, and share your food with those who have nothing, for this day has been consecrated to our God. Do not be sad, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.'"

The Lord will not abandon you; you can be sure of that. That's not what the Word does. If the Word brings conviction, and the Word has to be clear so that we understand that we are far from God, then whoever has a broken heart, that heart is also restored. That heart is restored. And not to how it was before. No! It's restored to the original version, 1.0.

Recently, something came out of my mouth to someone, and I thanked God so much for having heard those words that came out of my mouth. Someone was telling me something, saying, "You don't do things the way you used to." And I said, "Of course not, I'm not the same as before. What do you want?" And I heard it myself, and I forgot what I was saying, and I said, "Thank God, thank God, thank God." So, does that mean it's over? No, brother, I'm just starting, I'm just starting because this is only the beginning, this path has only just begun. Until He comes, He says He will perfect me until He comes. But the one who was here the other day, the one who was here last month, don't look for him, he doesn't exist anymore. There's a new one, and that's how it is. And do you know why? Because the Word transforms us day by day. Day by day the Word transforms us. We are renewed in our thinking day by day, Hallelujah! Day by day we are renewed.

What a happy day, they said! What a happy day, the day they realized they were far from God! What a happy day, the day they found salvation, because no one can find salvation until they realize they’re lost, until they realize they are not saved. But what a happy day, the day Christ washed away my sins! The day Christ washed away my sins, what a happy day, brother. Who were we, you and I? Who were we?

But I'm going to tell you something: we no longer want to just hear the Word, no longer say, "Lord, transform me." I no longer want just to hear, I no longer want just to speak verses, I want Your Word to transform me, Lord. Look at that verse, that's not just a saying, that's a reality. I tell you this personally from what I felt when loneliness held me. Literally, I felt it when loneliness embraced me. But one day the Lord said, "Do not be sad anymore, do not be sad anymore, My joy can enter here in your heart.”

And sometimes I'm alone in my house, my wife and daughter are asleep and everything, and I'm all alone, and I say, "How blessed I am, Lord." I'm physically alone, but not lonely—that has never happened again in my life because the joy of the Lord has entered my heart and changed my mind. And now I say to Him at night, "Thank You, Lord. Thank You, God, for what You have done, Father. I will have problems and I will have needs, but that feeling, Lord, You have changed.” Because that's what the Lord does. That's the power of His words. He continues to perform miracles. He continues to change. He continues to transform.

And I pray that the Lord will stir you today and not let you become complacent. Today is a day of celebration, the day that the Word of the Lord can transform our lives. Amen. Amen.