"How to Find True Happiness"
Text: John 13:17
-John 13:17, teaches how to find true happiness
-"If ye know these things" = knowledge
-"if ye do them" = obedience
-"happy are ye" = happiness
-Knowledge + Obedience = Happiness
-The reasons many Christians are unhappy:
-They may know their Bible but do not put it into practice.
-They do not do what the Word of God commands them do.
-They are not obedient to the Word of God.
-Illustration:
-In Philippians 4:4-6, provides the knowledge for an anxiety free or worry free life.
-The Bible promises that it is possible to have a worry free life if we would just
be obedient to His Word.
-The Apostle Paul and Silas could be happy in a very difficult situation.
-They were thrown into jail for freeing a young woman of an evil spirit.
-Notice their attitude because they had knowledge of God’s Word and were obedient to it.
-Read Acts 16:25
-They believed Romans 8:28
-They believed Gen. 50:20 - As a result many were saved as a result of them being in jail.
-Despite all the trials and tribulations that Paul had been through at the end of his life and he was a happy Christian and could say - See 2 Tim. 4:6-8.
-Why? - Because he had knowledge and was obedient to that knowledge.
-Therefore, he was a happy Christian no matter what his circumstances were.
-Elijah is a good example of what happens when you have knowledge and are obedient to it and likewise when you have knowledge and are not obedient to it.
A. 1 Kings 18 - Great victory / happiness because Elijah was obedient to the Word of God (knowledge).
-See 1 Kings 18:1-2 - Elijah listens to the Lord and is obedient to the Lord.
-Result great victory over the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
B. 1 Kings 19 - God did not instruct Elijah to run for his life because of Jezebel’s threats.
-But he did and got so depressed that he wanted to die.
-You see he had knowledge but was not obedient to it.
-He knew that God would protect him, but he had a lapse of faith.
-He did not trust the Lord like he should have and became full of fear and
ran for his life.
-The Bible says, "The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his
trust in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29:25.
-So, as a Christian you can find true happiness if you remember according to John 13:17, "If know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
