10-07 Finding True Happiness - Joshua Goodling
Updated Jul 08, 2010
Excerpt from Finding True Happiness:
V. THE DESCRIPTION OF TRUE HAPPINESS
Matthew 5:3-12 describes the Christian's life as "Blessed..." The word blessed in meaning is, "consecrated, joyful, blissful, and holy. In other words, Jesus said, "Blessed (consecrated, joyful, blissful, and holy) are those who serve Me." Notice throughout this passage, Jesus said blessed are those who are persecuted, pure in heart, those who seek avidly after me, etc. Jesus was saying if you live for Me, if you serve Me, you will be happy!
True and loving service to God can change your life from misery to exciting joy and happiness! "It pays to serve Jesus, it pays everyday, and it pays every step of the way!"
Secondly, we find that the true happiness a Christian should have is all the happiness a Christian can have! People are daily searching the world for happiness, for something to please them. But what the world finds never satisfies them. They are constantly looking and looking for something new in their lives. However, if we enjoy the true happiness found only in Christ, we will never have to look elsewhere to find happiness.
"How excellent is they loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of they wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house: and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures." Psalm 36:7-8.
"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." Psalm 65:4. The word abundant is described as; great amount, more than enough. That definitely defines and describes the great joy and happiness we as a Christian can now enjoy!
Then, we find that this happiness is found only in GOD. "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for His help, whose hope is in the Lord." Psalm 146:5 "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7.
The reason this world tries everything from sex, to drugs, to entertainment, to who knows what else, is because they are looking for some thing to give them happiness. The reason many people go from one religion to another, join cults, etc., is, they are looking for happiness in religion. The only lasting and true joy is found in Jesus Christ. God can do without us, but if we want true happiness, we cannot do without God. And on the other hand, God doesn't cram our lives full of His joy and happiness. He gives us the choice, the ability to make our own decisions.
If I was dying of some disease or something, and I had the only antidote that would cure me, but did not take it, I would be considered an idiot. But thousands of Christians are in the same boat. They know that Jesus Christ can help them in and through their problems, they know that life serving Him can be one of true happiness, yet they are too stubborn and stupid to do anything about it! If we don't serve God we cannot be happy! But, also, we must make the choice ourselves.
Then, we find that Peter describes the JOY of knowing Christ as unspeakable. I Peter 1:8; "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with JOY unspeakable and full of glory." Peter says the joy of the Lord is unspeakable, unexplainable, indescribable, so great and wonderful it cannot be explained! Yes, this is true happiness!
This is the happiness that each of us as Christians can experience, and should be experiencing each and every day of our life! All that the world has to offer cannot even be compared to what Jesus Christ has so graciously promised us...true happiness.
V. THE DESCRIPTION OF TRUE HAPPINESS
Matthew 5:3-12 describes the Christian's life as "Blessed..." The word blessed in meaning is, "consecrated, joyful, blissful, and holy. In other words, Jesus said, "Blessed (consecrated, joyful, blissful, and holy) are those who serve Me." Notice throughout this passage, Jesus said blessed are those who are persecuted, pure in heart, those who seek avidly after me, etc. Jesus was saying if you live for Me, if you serve Me, you will be happy!
True and loving service to God can change your life from misery to exciting joy and happiness! "It pays to serve Jesus, it pays everyday, and it pays every step of the way!"
Secondly, we find that the true happiness a Christian should have is all the happiness a Christian can have! People are daily searching the world for happiness, for something to please them. But what the world finds never satisfies them. They are constantly looking and looking for something new in their lives. However, if we enjoy the true happiness found only in Christ, we will never have to look elsewhere to find happiness.
"How excellent is they loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of they wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house: and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures." Psalm 36:7-8.
"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple." Psalm 65:4. The word abundant is described as; great amount, more than enough. That definitely defines and describes the great joy and happiness we as a Christian can now enjoy!
Then, we find that this happiness is found only in GOD. "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for His help, whose hope is in the Lord." Psalm 146:5 "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7.
The reason this world tries everything from sex, to drugs, to entertainment, to who knows what else, is because they are looking for some thing to give them happiness. The reason many people go from one religion to another, join cults, etc., is, they are looking for happiness in religion. The only lasting and true joy is found in Jesus Christ. God can do without us, but if we want true happiness, we cannot do without God. And on the other hand, God doesn't cram our lives full of His joy and happiness. He gives us the choice, the ability to make our own decisions.
If I was dying of some disease or something, and I had the only antidote that would cure me, but did not take it, I would be considered an idiot. But thousands of Christians are in the same boat. They know that Jesus Christ can help them in and through their problems, they know that life serving Him can be one of true happiness, yet they are too stubborn and stupid to do anything about it! If we don't serve God we cannot be happy! But, also, we must make the choice ourselves.
Then, we find that Peter describes the JOY of knowing Christ as unspeakable. I Peter 1:8; "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with JOY unspeakable and full of glory." Peter says the joy of the Lord is unspeakable, unexplainable, indescribable, so great and wonderful it cannot be explained! Yes, this is true happiness!
This is the happiness that each of us as Christians can experience, and should be experiencing each and every day of our life! All that the world has to offer cannot even be compared to what Jesus Christ has so graciously promised us...true happiness.
Originally published July 08, 2010.
