The Secret to Cheerfulness
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5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; Trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Introduction.
Introduction.
Cheerfulness: The quality or state of being noticeably happy and optimistic.
“Cheerfulness and contentment are great beautifiers, and are famous preservers of good looks.” — Charles Dickens
This is different from happiness or joy. Cheerfulness is happiness that lasts, and joy that shows itself. It is a pleasant disposition when there is no reason for it.
Everyday attitude.
The opposite of cheerfulness is melancholy.
“The eyes of the cheerful and of the melancholy man are fixed upon the same creation; but very different are the aspects which it bears to them.” — Albert Pike
When you are cheerful, very little bothers you, when you are melancholy everything bothers you.
Spiritual people are sometimes melancholy, but depression is not a spiritual attribute. It doesn’t make you more holy.
What causes Melancholy?
Sometimes a lack of faith in the atonement.
6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
My, so what we got to worry about? Why are you walking along with a long face, like you eat oats, or the bottom of a churn. Why, my, smile. We’re happy. We’re Christians, and God has ordained us so and has given Christ for us.
(You didn’t seek God)
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
So now, whether we live, whether we die, whether the world stands, or whether it doesn’t, whether the people thinks this or that, there’s only one alternative that we should have: That’s worship God, and be just as happy as we can be.
Believe Him for everything He said. ’Cause and life, or death, or nothing can separate us from the love of God that’s in Christ. And there we’ll be with Him in His Presence forever. 53-1205 — The Resurrection
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Little eaglets being watched over.
He’s watching over you tonight. Just have a good time. That’s what He wants you to do. Be happy. Don’t go along great long face, be happy. Rejoice in the Spirit. “No condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus that walk not after the flesh but the Spirit.”
No condemnation to them that’s in Christ Jesus that’s laid aside every weight and the sin that so easily beset them. They fly away. 55-1007 — The Power Of Decision
Can’t fail, there’s no failing in it. It don’t rest upon what I do; it’s rest upon what He did. Amen. It’s already finished. The believer once anchored in Christ Jesus, coming through the door back there, put on this highway, you can’t get any way but straight up to God with it, Angels to take care of you. God made a way of this.
When He seen in the beginning, in our first parent’s fall, He seen the covenant He made with Adam; He tried to hook the ladder into him, and it failed. Then there’s nothing else He could hook it to, but to bring down His own Son and hook it to Him. So it can’t fail now.
So what we worried about? What we stewing about? Why we go along, great big long face? Let’s look up and grin. Look up, and not only grin, but laugh, not only laugh, but raise up holy hands everywhere, giving praise and glory to God, for His promises is yea and amen, not yes and no, not yes and no, but yes. There’s no no in it. Yes.
Our foundation stands sure. Foundation of God laid in Zion the cornerstone. There we are, can’t slip, can’t slide, can’t move. Then we come into the door, through Christ, put on here. Oh, we may have our ups-and-downs along; that’s true enough, sicknesses and troubles.
But remember, there’s a great company of Angels all along the road, bear thee up any time. Taking you on up when you fall. Oh, yes, He’s there. He promised it. And He had to make a way of it. 56-0404 — The Infallibility Of God's Spoken Word
You aren’t always going to be cheerful. Things are going to make you sad, and there’s a certain healing in that, but you can’t live that way.
Sometimes melancholy is caused by change.
13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Hattie Wright’s sister Edith.
She is setting, her limbs hit together, and she can’t even move them apart, it’s because of the tremendous pressure on the nerve system. But, what it is, there is nothing physically wrong with the child, outside of the affliction of infantile paralysis when she was about six months old.
She screamed and cried all of her life, nearly, till…We prayed for her many years ago, and she’s been happy ever since, until about a year ago.
(You don’t have to be well to be cheerful)
And now it’s really menopause. In other words, the changing of her life, and her nerves are in such a tremendous condition. And the little lady has got on her mind that she is dying, she’s just not going to live, just from one hour to the other.
And you know. And healthy, strong women have terrible time, sometime have to take shots of hormone, and go into the institutions, and take shock treatments and everything, during that time.
The human being has two changes of life. They have the change from a boy to a man; from a girl to a woman. About sixteen, seventeen years old, they get like a bunch of just fly-by-nights. And if you can just suffer with them during that age.
I got a daughter in that age right now, Rebekah. Pray for her. And Billy, oh, every one of us, we come through that little frantic age. And so we must suffer with them, realizing it’s something that they have to go through.
And now, Edith, with this changing of the seven years. Every seven years, your life changes. So the seven times seven, you see, and it’s makes it kind of hard, and that’s a complete change. And it bothers the women.
Men usually get a kind of a funny carrying-on during that time, and sometimes leave their wives. But women are unfertile after that. And we all go through that, and we must remember that it’s things that we must bear with one another, and understand those things.
What she needed was to be cheered up. Listen what Bro. Branham prescribes:
And little Edith has got in this condition, and she’s lost much weight, and she looks bad. And I tell you, some night, not all of you together, but just a little trip down…
They set up with her, day and night. And a little trip down there from this tabernacle and the different tabernacles, the sister tabernacles here, some of you people go down and see the Wright family.
I’m sure they would appreciate it. Just go down, set with them a little while, and talk to them, shake their hand, and if no more than a little friendly visit.
We forget that so easy, you know. And when it comes to our own home, then we appreciate it. And we must remember, others appreciate it, too. And the Wright family, I’m sure, would appreciate that.
I know you would have done it if you had knowed this condition existed. But you didn’t know it, so therefore I was telling you this morning, for it.
Go and visit the Wright family, and try to cheer Edith up. Now, don’t tell her she looks bad. Tell her she “looks good,” she “going to be fine.” Which, she’ll be all right if we just keep holding on for her. That’s what we’re here for.
She is our sister, and we’re here to hold on in these times for that child. Just like I want somebody to hold for me and pray while I was going through my trials, and you want somebody for yours. 63-0707M — The Indictment
“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” — Mark Twain
We are to show mercy, with cheerfulness, and the cheerfulness spreads.
God cares about your attitude when you give.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
The secret to cheerfulness is trust that He is alive, and that He is with you.
(Mary Magdalene)
Sometime you aren’t cheerful because your trust has been shaken.
After His resurrection Jesus drew near Cleopas and his friend, walking home.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Our trust has been broken.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Knowledge of His resurrection did not make them cheerful, only when He revealed Himself to them personally in the Word, and proved His resurrection by doing something He did before He died.
1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
They did not understand, so they were sorrowful.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
They could not bear them without the Comforter living in their hearts.
16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
It’s going to be dark for a moment, but there’s a man here who can turn on the light.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
Now they thought they understood.
31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
But how could He die? While they was going along the road, they were so discouraged. Peter got his fishing pole, put it on his back, and can of worms and started down to the sea, said, “I just guess I’ll go fishing.”
Cleopas and his friend, said, “Come on. Let’s go on back to Jerusalem,” or, “go on back to our city where we come from, over to Emmaus. But I don’t know. I can’t make it. Now how could a Person like that…”
And today God’s servants is misunderstood the same way. That’s right. The true Gospel is misunderstood the same way.
And even His disciples didn’t understand Him. He talked a double talk. They never could understand Him, because He talked of heaven. He talked of things they couldn’t understand.
Right at the last they said, “Lo, now we believe and know that no man has to teach You, for God shows You what to do.” Jesus said, “Do you now believe?” After all this time, “Do you now believe?”
But how could that Divine Person…See, they’d failed to know the Word of God. So there was nothing to do but to fulfill their desire to know.
So as they turned down the road, walking along, disheartened…Oh, some women had been up to the grave, and they said He wasn’t there. But they didn’t believe that, so they just went on down the road so discouraged.
And if you notice, it’s when you are discouraged that’s when the devil can really pour it on you. That’s when He gets you. If you come to the church and say, “Well, I don’t know. I don’t know whether I’ll ever get any better or not. I’ve been prayed for twice.” Oh, my. You might as well go home; that’s all.
But when you can cast that aside…God don’t want you to be frowning. God wants you to be happy. The human heart was made to be happy. Worry will cause cancer. Temper will cause cancer. Don’t never be upset. Just walk in His love. Amen.
Knowing that you’re walking in Him, and nothing can harm you. There’s nothing can harm you. There’s neither powers, things present, things future, nothing can separate us from Him. We’re in Him. And we never come in by our own will. He, by choice, elected us and brought us in to Him. Amen.
So it’s His business to take care of what He’s took Hisself. “No man can pluck them from My Father’s hands, ’cause He’s the greatest of all of them.” Amen. It’s the Father Who takes care of it. Who’s got any more power than God?
So what kind of a power have you got over you to take care of you? The whole powers that created the universes. Amen. That took the solar system and, “Phew!” blew like that, and every star went to its place. Sure. And He watches over you. Amen. That’s the kind of a Father we have. 56-0405 — The Resurrection Of Jesus
Timothy was melancholy.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
(Togo-meetings)
We offer to You the adoration of our heart. We praise Thee with all that’s in us. We lift our hearts. We lift our hands. We lift our voice. We lift all that we are, Lord, into Thy Presence. Receive us, O Lord. We consecrate ourselves now to Thee. Take this great, ransomed Church of the living God. Sanctify it, Father. Fill it with the Holy Spirit.
May the Spirit of God sweep over this building now, drunken the people. O God, give them the joy of the Lord, that they’ll be filled with the Holy Ghost like they were on the day of Pentecost:
that from this hour on, they’ll go forth the power of God to every church and to every person, that they may be filled with the goodness of God, that the power of God might operate through everybody, and every soul would be blessed.
May the people be on the streets tomorrow, testifying, glorifying God. Men and women at their work, giving the praises to God. The hour has come, Lord, that when we’re looking for Your coming at any moment.
Let us not stand with shamed faces. Let us be filled with Thy goodness and Thy Spirit. Grant it, Lord, as we offer You our ardent prayer. 60-0711 — The Door Inside The Door
Conclusion.
Conclusion.
The secret to cheerfulness is not things or experiences, it is a person. He is alive, ad He is with me. That never changes.