Introduction

Good morning, folks! Let's get cozy and settle in because we've got some good stuff to talk about today. We're going to be chatting about a topic that's near and dear to all of our hearts - happiness. But not just any kind of happiness, we're talking about the kind of happiness that's rooted in our faith, in our relationship with Jesus.

There’s a good quote by Philip Yancey that says, "I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse." Isn't that something? We're going to keep that in mind as we move forward today.

Now, let's look at our Scripture for today. We're going to be focusing on James 1. Here's what it says:

[Read passage]

That's some powerful stuff, isn't it? It's going to be our anchor as we talk about understanding our identity in Jesus, the role of Jesus in our happiness, and discovering true happiness in Jesus.

Before we get into it, let's bow our heads for a prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and open minds. We ask that You guide our conversation, that You open our eyes to see Your truth, and our ears to hear Your word. Help us to understand what it means to find our happiness in You. We thank You for Your love and Your grace. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Alright, are we ready? Let's get into it!

Understanding Our Identity in Jesus

We're all familiar with the idea of identity, right? It's who we are, it's what makes us, us. But when we talk about our identity in Jesus, we're talking about something much deeper. We're talking about the core of who we are, the essence of our being. It's not just about what we do or what we have, it's about who we are in Christ.

The book of James: We see a clear picture of what this identity looks like. James, the author, identifies himself as a "servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." That's a powerful statement. It's not about his status or his achievements, it's about his relationship with Jesus.

What does it mean to be a servant of Jesus?: It means that we are not our own, we belong to Jesus. It means that our lives are not about our own desires or ambitions, but about serving Jesus and doing His will.

A shift in perspective: It's not about us, it's about Jesus. It's not about what we want, it's about what Jesus wants. It's not about our plans, it's about Jesus' plans.

More to it than that: Being a servant of Jesus also means that we are loved, valued, and accepted by Him. It means that we have a purpose and a destiny in Him. It means that we are part of His family, His body, His church. In other words, our identity in Jesus is not just about service, it's also about sonship. It's not just about duty, it's also about delight. It's not just about sacrifice, it's also about satisfaction.

Verse 2: Let's take a closer look at the Scripture. James tells us to "consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds." This is a challenging statement, isn't it? How can we find joy in trials? The answer lies in our identity in Jesus. When we understand who we are in Him, we can face trials with joy because we know that they are not meaningless or random. They are part of God's plan to shape us and mold us into the image of Jesus.

A profound truth: Our trials are not just about our circumstances, they are about our character. They are not just about our problems, they are about our potential. They are not just about our struggles, they are about our sanctification.

Verse 3: James goes on to say that "the testing of your faith produces perseverance." This is another powerful insight. Our trials are not just about our endurance, they are about our empowerment. They are not just about our resilience, they are about our renewal. They are not just about our survival, they are about our spiritual growth. In other words, our trials are not just about what we go through, they are about what we grow into. They are not just about our pain, they are about our progress. They are not just about our hardship, they are about our holiness.

Verse 5: James tells us to "ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." This is a beautiful promise. When we understand our identity in Jesus, we can approach God with confidence and expectation. We can ask Him for wisdom, strength, and guidance. We can trust Him to provide for us and protect us.

A wonderful assurance: Our prayers are not just about our requests, they are about our relationship with God. They are not just about our needs, they are about our nearness to God. They are not just about our wants, they are about our worship of God.

The Role of Jesus in Our Happiness

As we continue our discussion, we find ourselves drawn to the pivotal role Jesus plays in our happiness ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO