Happiness

HAPPINESS

Outline from Meet Yourself in the Psalms “Happiness Is” pg 43, Warren Wiersbe

Scripture: Psalm 126 1“When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

I. Introduction: Defining what happiness is and what happiness is not.

A. Happiness is:

1. From Great Preachers

a. The strength and the happiness of a man consists in finding out the way in which

God is going, and going in that way too. Henry Ward Beecher

b. It is not have much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

2. From a Great Statesmen

a. “Do not worry; eat three square meals a day; say your prayers; be courteous to your creditors; keep you digestion good; exercise, go slow and easy. Maybe there are other things your special case requires to make you happy, but, my friend, these I reckon will give you a good life.” Abraham Lincoln

b. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The Declaration of Independence

B. Happiness:

1. Does not consist of things, because some of the most miserable people in the world have e everything money can buy.

A London newspaper offered a prize for the best definition of money. It was awarded to a young man whose definition was, “Money is an article which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven and as a universal provider of everything except happiness.” (Illustrations of Truth, Zodhiates)

A businessman once overtook a black man trudging through the snow, humming to himself. He talked with him and found that he was very poor. Finally he asked him if he didn’t think he’d be happier if he were rich. “No, Boss, all the rich men I work for never laugh.” (Illustrations of Truth, Zodhiates)

Matthew 19:16 - The Rich Man with great possessions, but yet sorrowful.

Matt. 19:2- “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

Luke 12:15 “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. 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:”

“Happiness is he who has all that he desires, provided that he desire nothing amiss.” Augustine

2. Does not come from pleasures alone, because some pleasures leave people feeling far worse than before.

a. Luke 8:11 The Parable of the Sower

Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

b. Pleasure in Evil/Sin

Romans 1:32 “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

II Thes. 2:11-12 “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”

II Timothy 3:1 - 4 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”

Hebrews 11:25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”

II. HAPPINESS IS FREEDOM

A. The Jewish people in Psalms 126 were celebrating a great deliverance; “the captivity

of Zion” had ended.

1. Probably the deliverance from Sennacherib and the Assyrian army. II Kings 18 -19

a. Sudden and surprising deliverance.

Deliverance may not come when you think it should, but God is always on right on time.

If we could have listened in on the soldiers just before that night as they made their brags about how many men they would kill and how many women they would assault (rape).