are you happy? 1 peter 3:8-12. 2 are you happy? what is happiness?what is happiness? –world’s...
TRANSCRIPT
Are You Happy?Are You Happy?1 Peter 3:8-121 Peter 3:8-12
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Are You Happy?Are You Happy?• What is happiness?What is happiness?
– World’s definition: Self-satisfactionWorld’s definition: Self-satisfaction– Do not confuse the pleasures of sin Do not confuse the pleasures of sin
with real happinesswith real happiness– Sin destroys happiness,Sin destroys happiness, Prov. 13:15Prov. 13:15
• God’s definition, God’s definition, 1 Pet. 3:10-12 1 Pet. 3:10-12 (Matt. 5:3-12)(Matt. 5:3-12)– Blessed, Blessed, 1 Pet. 3:91 Pet. 3:9
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Are You Happy?Are You Happy?• God wants our happiness, but God wants our happiness, but
as He defines it, as He defines it, Eccl. 3:12-13; Eccl. 3:12-13; 9:7-99:7-9
• Jesus is our way out of Jesus is our way out of unhappiness and despair to joy unhappiness and despair to joy and blessedness, and blessedness, Jno. 16:22, 33Jno. 16:22, 33
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Happiness: Joy of LifeHappiness: Joy of Life• State of mind; attitude of heart State of mind; attitude of heart
(Prov. 23:7)(Prov. 23:7) – A decision of the mind (will)A decision of the mind (will)
• Christians live in joy (Gal. 5:22)Christians live in joy (Gal. 5:22)– Right viewpoint of lifeRight viewpoint of life– Forgiveness of sinsForgiveness of sins– Pure livingPure living– Trusting God’s promisesTrusting God’s promises
Jno. 14:1, 27; 16:22; 2 Cor. 6:10Jno. 14:1, 27; 16:22; 2 Cor. 6:10
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Happiness: Joy of LifeHappiness: Joy of Life• Build a happy life by building Build a happy life by building
faith in Godfaith in God– Set Set your hope on God, your hope on God, Heb. Heb.
13:5-613:5-6– Blessedness in trusting God, Blessedness in trusting God,
Phil. 4:10-13Phil. 4:10-13– Count your blessings and Count your blessings and
rejoice, rejoice, Eph. 1:3 (Phil. 4:4)Eph. 1:3 (Phil. 4:4)– Obey Jesus, Obey Jesus, Jno. 15:10-11Jno. 15:10-11
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness, Eccl.
1:13; 2:3
Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting Happiness, Eccl.
1:13; 2:3• ““Life’s a party!” Life’s a party!” ((pleasurepleasure) )
Eccl. 2:1-2Eccl. 2:1-2– Sorrow in laughter,Sorrow in laughter, Prov. 14:13Prov. 14:13– Sensual pleasures are momentary, Sensual pleasures are momentary,
Heb. 11:25; Lk. 12:19Heb. 11:25; Lk. 12:19– Distorts one’s view of life and Distorts one’s view of life and
death, death, Eccl. 7:2-4Eccl. 7:2-4
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness
Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness• ““The one with the most toys, The one with the most toys,
wins!” wins!” ((possessionspossessions) ) Eccl. 2:4-11 (Lk. 12:15-21)Eccl. 2:4-11 (Lk. 12:15-21)– Tend to isolate,Tend to isolate, 4:7-84:7-8– No satisfaction…more anxiety,No satisfaction…more anxiety,
Eccl. 5:10-12; 1 Tim. Eccl. 5:10-12; 1 Tim. 6:106:10
– Great possessions, yet great Great possessions, yet great sorrow,sorrow, Matt. 19:21-22Matt. 19:21-22
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness
Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness• ““I’ve got it all figured out” I’ve got it all figured out”
((wisdomwisdom) ) Eccl. 2:12-17Eccl. 2:12-17– Trusting in your own wisdom Trusting in your own wisdom
is foolish, is foolish, 1 Cor. 3:18 (8:2)1 Cor. 3:18 (8:2)– Death still comes, Death still comes, 2:142:14– Divine wisdom needed, Divine wisdom needed,
8:16-17; 1 Cor. 1:218:16-17; 1 Cor. 1:21
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness
Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness• ““See what I have done?” See what I have done?” ((laborlabor) )
Eccl. 2:18-23 (24)Eccl. 2:18-23 (24)– Whose shall it be? Whose shall it be? 2:18-19 (Lk. 2:18-19 (Lk.
12:20)12:20)– Elements of despair, Elements of despair, 2:20; 2:20;
5:13-175:13-17– Good, but not for ultimate joy, Good, but not for ultimate joy,
1 Ths. 4:11-121 Ths. 4:11-12
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness
Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness• ““I’ve made it!” I’ve made it!” ((successsuccess) )
Eccl. 4:4-6Eccl. 4:4-6– Often envied, Often envied, 4:44:4
– While working to succeed we While working to succeed we must learn to be content with must learn to be content with what our labor provides, what our labor provides, 1 Tim. 6:6-81 Tim. 6:6-8
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Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness
Things of Earth do not Bring Lasting
Happiness• ““When I do/get that, I’ll be When I do/get that, I’ll be
happy!” happy!” ((desiresdesires) ) Eccl. 6:7-9Eccl. 6:7-9– Never satisfied when desire Never satisfied when desire
rulesrules– Desires must be godly and be Desires must be godly and be
controlled by contented faith, controlled by contented faith, Phil. 4:11-13Phil. 4:11-13
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Things We Need to be Happy (Joy)
Things We Need to be Happy (Joy)
• Fear and obey God, Fear and obey God, Eccl. 12:13Eccl. 12:13
• Address sin in God’s way, Address sin in God’s way, Acts 2:37-42; 16:27, 34Acts 2:37-42; 16:27, 34
• Seek first the things of God, Seek first the things of God, Matt. 6:33 (1 Pet. 3:10-11)Matt. 6:33 (1 Pet. 3:10-11)
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Things We Need to be Happy (Joy)
Things We Need to be Happy (Joy)
• Pray often, Pray often, 1 Pet. 3:12 1 Pet. 3:12 (Phil. 4:4-7)(Phil. 4:4-7)
• Count your blessings,Count your blessings, 1 Tim. 6:7-81 Tim. 6:7-8
• Patient faith, Patient faith, Isa. 40:27-31 Isa. 40:27-31 (1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 13:5-6) (1 Pet. 5:7; Heb. 13:5-6)
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God Wants You to be
Happy!
God Wants You to be
Happy!11 BlessedBlessed is every one who is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. His ways. 2 2 When you eat the When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall labor of your hands, you shall be be happyhappy, and it shall be well , and it shall be well with you. (Psalm 128:1-2)with you. (Psalm 128:1-2)