03 The Way To Happiness Series

03 The Way To Happiness

Mt. 5:3

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Proverbs 14:12 (AV)

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Rich Young Ruler

- Jesus met a man who had it all

• He was Young (Mt 19:20, 22)

• He was powerful (Lk 18:18)

• He was very rich (Lk 18:23)

• He was unhappy (very sorrowful Lk 18;23)

Solomon’s Glory

- OT Solomon had it all but completely empty

• Magnificent Kingdom

• Royal linage of David

• Wealth immeasurable (silver as common as rocks)

• Property of palaces, servants, gardens, farmlands, stables, women, power, the wisest man who ever lived

• Yet unhappy

Ecclesiastes 1:2 (AV)

2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

2 Vanity (Meaningless, Pointless, Useless, Futile), of vanities, saith the Preacher (Quester, Teacher, Philosopher, Spokesman), vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Chasing the Wind

Luke 12:15 (AV)

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

We say Re. 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…

- You can’t fill a Sp. need with physical things

- The OT is full of tears & Judgment

- The last word in the OT is curse Mal 4:6

- The first word from Jesus to people in the NT is blessed

- Can real happiness be had?

- With empty lives all around us can I live a full life?

- Wouldn’t be something to have heaven on earth

Value Full Happiness

Come back to Mt. 5:3 Amplified Bible: Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) ….

- This is the condition of God Himself is BLESSED

2 Corinthians 1:3 (AV)

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Ephesians 1:3 (AV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

1 Peter 1:3 (AV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

- He passes the blessing (happiness) onto us

Our Greatest Treasure

The Kingdom of heaven is finding great treasure

Matthew 5:3 (AV)

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:20–21 (AV)

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

- That exactly what this man wanted

Matthew 13:44 (AV)

44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

What Is The Way To Happiness?

Blessed are: - Observe the sequence

v.3 - Poor in Sp – We recognize a need in our life

v.4 - They that mourn – Repent of our self-sufficiency

v.5 - The Meek – Surrender to God

v.6 - Hunger & Thirst – Desiring more of Him

v.7 - The merciful – Becoming like Jesus – We forgive

v.8 – Pure in Heart – Changing our focus & desires

v.9 – The Peacemaker – Loving others

v.10 – Persecuted – Remaining faithful in spite of wrongdoing

Happiness Begins With My Attitude

- What’s going on inside of me

- I need to recognize that I am Re. 3:17b …wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked

Proverbs 4:23 (AV)

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

- Mt. 5:3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit…

- Having no resource in yourself – Completely helpless

Mark 2:22 (AV)

22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.