Sermon Notes
10 October 2006
A
SEVEN ingredient recipe for HAPPINESS
Part one of two
INTRODUCTION:
a. Often people make their own lives miserable
b. Abraham Lincoln once said "most folks are about as happy as they make up
their minds to be." Are you laying out a plan for happiness?
I. TRUST IN GOD:
A. The great man of wisdom Solomon tells us who is to be the object of our
trust
5
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
6
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
20
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the
LORD, happy is he.
B. When we trust in the Lord to guide our lives we will experience a peace
which the world cannot experience
27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
C. Truly trusting in God will allow us to enjoy contentment
25
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not
the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much
better than they?
27
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how
they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these.
30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to
morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of
little faith?
31
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we
drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father
knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
II. RELISH THE SCRIPTURES:
A. The child of God takes joy in God's book
103
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
72
The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
163
I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
16
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy
and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of
hosts.
B. As Christians, we have reason to rejoice in the Law of God, the Word of
God:
1. It gives us comfort in time of trouble
For
whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that
we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
5
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus:
2. It keeps us from sinning
11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
3. It can strengthen and build us up as His children
32
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which
is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which
are sanctified.
4. It furnishes the Christian with everything that one needs
15
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain
unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to
glory and virtue:
III. LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY:
A. There is a general principle that we weep what we sow
7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall
he also reap.
8
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he
that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
B. Living righteously avoids the stings and sorrows that those in the world
often experience
10
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy
shall compass him about.
11
Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye
that are upright in heart.
10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted
after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with
many sorrows.
C. While there are sorrows and pains that the righteous suffer there are so
many problems which the righteous will never have to undergo ( give some
examples)
A SEVEN ingredient
recipe for HAPPINESS
Part two of two
IV. WORSHIP GOD WITH REGULARITY:
A. The regular worship of God is a source of joy and happiness for God's
saints
1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
1
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of
our salvation.
2
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise
unto him with psalms.
B. There is a great spiritual strength to regular worship
24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some
is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
c. The Scriptures urge us to keep a clean conscience
5
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
8
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much
wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9
Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
d. The value of a good conscience
16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of
evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in
Christ.
VI. LEARN CONTENTMENT:
A. The grass is not greener on the other side
4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be
opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
B. the key to contentment
5
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake
thee.
Deut
31:6,8
Joshua 1:5
11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state
I am, therewith to be content.
VII. STAY BUSY AND CONSTRUCTIVE:
A. Idleness is a recipe for displeasure, restlessness, and despondency
10
For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not
work, neither should he eat.
11
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not
at all, but are busybodies.
12
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that
with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
b. We should stay active in the work of the Lord
58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in
vain in the Lord.
10
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no
work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou
goest.
11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
CONCLUSION:
A. are you happy in Jesus?
B. the way is to trust and obey!
