The Secret to True Happiness

Intro: A man walked into a fancy car dealership, and said. “If I buy this sports car will it make me happy? The salesmen grinned and said, “absolutely.… At least until the first payment is due!” Isn't that the truth!

Most of us desire happiness, but we look for happiness in the things of this world. That kind of happiness is fleeing, it changes with seasons and circumstances. A man is happy in this world then faces death and happiness is replaced with fear and despair, then death is followed by darkness and damnation.

Can a person truly find lasting happiness? Yes! The key.… The LORD is My Shepherd! We find true and lasting happiness when we come to complete dependence on the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the Primary duty of a Shepherd? It is to tend to his flock. What is the duty of a sheep, to follow! When these two things come together the sheep has all their needs met. That is the theme of this Psalm, I shall not want.

CPS: Those who come to complete dependence on the Good Shepherd will not lack for anything in life, death, and eternity.… This is to true happiness.

I. The Secret of a happy life. (Ps. 23:1-3)

Its not independence that brings happiness but dependence upon God that truly makes you happy! The Good Shepherd, cares for His sheep and meets ALL their needs of (Phil. 4:19!)(Ps. 100:3?)

Some of the happiest people in this world are poor in this world, but they depend on Jesus and He ministers to their total person!

ILL: They are like little Timmy who was called to quote the Psalm in Sunday school, he stands and says “The LORD is my Shepherd, What more shall I want.”

He meets my needs:

A. Physical Needs

The Good Shepherd sees to it that His sheep lack for nothing. Those of us who depend on the Good Shepherd will have what we need when we need it!

Rest

Sheep are fragile, If pushed to hard they die. They are given ample time to rest, likewise we need rest. Jesus gives us rest and even initiated a day of rest. At times we are too busy for rest and He makes us rest.

ILL: (For me Covid 2020)(perspective)

2. Substance (Food and Water)

Jesus is the giver of everything! In Malawi Africa the Gross National Income is $650 a year. Many people survive off of $1.25 a day. But the Christians there are the happiest people I’ve ever met!

ILL: While out preaching… someone gave a Harold (translator) a live chicken in a cardboard box. His face lit up like you have never seen, he said “look everyone, a Chicken Box!”

He didn't have much but He had true happiness because He knew from experience that when food comes from the hand of God it tastes better! When water comes from the hand of God its more refreshing! When shelter comes from the hand of God is homier! B. Emotional Needs

The good shepherd tends to the needs of the inner man. Our mind and heart.

Love

He loves us and His love is unlike any love you find in this world. The Good Shepherd proves His love. During the dry season a shepherd must find area suitable for grazing and drinking. It is a daunting task, involves long searches and rescue missions from starving predators and thieves! Shepherds are often torn by razor sharp thorns and battered by opposition.

Likewise, God proves His love for us (Romans 5:8) (John 10:11). To know that we are loved is a basic need that we all have. We know that if no one else loves us, Jesus does (1 John 3:16a).

2. Peace

The Good Shepherd gives us peace! Sheep are dumb, if they are brought to a fast flowing river they will not drink and if they get too close they become anxious, panic, and drown. So they are lead to quiet places with smooth shallow brooks.

Anxiety plagues many of us, but complete dependence on the Good Shepherd brings us peace of mind. The greatest cause of anxiety is the fear of lacking physical needs. That is because we look back on yesterday’s bread and focus on tomorrows bread, but Jesus said (Matt. 6:11)! He will Provide for the day!

C. The Spiritual

The Good Shepherd brings us restoration. Hew renews are soul and turns us back to Him so that we can live life in the presence of God! For the sake of His great name, He leads us down the right paths, the straight paths, that lead to godliness. When we follow the Good Shepherd we will not be lead astray, its only when we follow our own paths that we wander off.

What brings true happiness in life, total dependence on Jesus! He meets the needs of the whole person!

II. The Secret of a happy death. (Ps. 23:4-5)

For most people, death is the scariest thing we can imagine. Have you given thought to your death? If the LORD tarries it will happen sooner or later.

ILL: For me, to die in a plane crash is the scariest death imaginable. Falling from the air and knowing what is happening… I’m about to blow up. I once saw a program on TV (Geraldo) that said the safest place on an airplane is in the back. The theory was, if a plane goes down, it will likely go down nose 1st, so you have a better chance of surviving if you are in the back. When I first started traveling I always reserved seats in the back. then I realized, if a plane falls from 30,000 feet (6 miles) its not going to matter where I sit.

Yes, to think of death can be scary, but it doesn't have to be scary when it comes! The psalmist says I will fear no evil, for thou art with me! No one wants to die alone, if people had their way, they would die holding the hands of their loved ones. When Jesus is our shepherd He is there with us so their is nothing to fear, not death… He is the life, not evil… He has overcome!

ILL: A schoolmate of mine died of cancer a few years back. Two of his friends and my fellow school mates visited him in the hospital just before he passed. They recall him looking beyond them and saying, “Isn't it beautiful.” I can only imagine that He saw the face of Jesus, the Good Shepherd standing their with him, holding his hand and getting ready to take him home.

The secret to a happy death, is total dependency on Jesus in life, because He will be with you and His peace will comfort you and remove all your fear because through His blood the enemy has not hold on you!

III. The Secrete of a happy eternity (Ps. 23:6)

No one questions, life after birth! Imagine a conversation between a pair of twins in their Mother’s womb. One believe the womb is all there is and all ther ever will be. The other hears the faint sounds of his mother and knows their is something more. To the one who was in disbelief, you can imagine his surprise when He was born. To the other, life was far more beautiful than he could imagine. It will be the same way in death!

One will face the Judge with no savior, the Other will see the king and receive crowns. One will be surprised and in torment, the other in glory and finally at home!

The Good Shepherd tends to His flock and always brings them home, there we will find the truest happiness because there all our desires will be met, because we will be like Him and His house will be our house..… forever!

Rev. 7:17, Rev. 21:4-7

Do you want true happiness? Depend on the Good Shepherd, In life you will have all you need, in death you will have no fear, in eternity you will have glory!