Joy in Your Presence
iHope • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsA state of pleasure or joy experienced both by people and by God, but subject to change according to circumstances. True happiness derives from a secure and settled knowledge of God and a rejoicing in his works and covenant faithfulness. God rejoices over his faithful people.
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Opening
Opening
There is a tendency throughout life to search for the easy answer to every problem. We all search for Easy Street. Well, I am told that it actually exists. Just travel to Honolulu, Hawaii, and take the Pali Highway northbound. Travel about a third of the way to the Pali Pass and turn right on Park Street. Go one block and there it is: “Easy Street.” The problem comes when you turn left and go one block more. There’s another sign that says “Dead End.”
Dead end—that’s what happens in life, too, whenever we think we’ve found the easy way.634
If lasting happiness could be found in having material things and in being able to indulge ourselves in whatever we wanted, then most of us in America should be delirious with joy and happy beyond description. We should be producing books and poems that describe our state of unparalleled bliss. Our literature and art should rival that of the ancient Greeks and Romans and Renaissance craftsmen.
Instead we find those who have “things” trying to get more of them, for no apparent reason other than to have more. We find high rates of divorce, suicide, depression, child abuse, and other personal and social problems beyond description. We find housewives trading tranquilizer prescriptions. All this is surely proof that happiness is not found in the state of having all we want and being able to get more.
Introduction
Introduction
Two thirds of Americans are “not very happy”
Two thirds of Americans are “not very happy”
Among minorities, African-American and Hispanic-Americans are the most unhappy
Americans live in one of the most richest countries in the world but, they’re unhappier than before the great recession
US is ranked # 13 according to the latest “World Happiness Report” with Denmark as #1
New York, home of Broadway, Statue of Liberty & Central Park was ranked #1 where Americans are unhappiest
“Happiness Index” reveals how Americans feels right now
“Happiness Index” reveals how Americans feels right now
Results from polling during May and June 2016, Happiness Index down to 31 from the 34 the year before
Women are happier than men
Those who are married are happier than those who are not
People earning $50-75 are surprisingly happier that those who make $75-100 per year
Why Americans struggle to be happy?
May actually be a product of their “individualistic nature”
Happiness is somehow linked to “social engagement”
Happiness and well being is “culturally influenced”
7 Reasons Americans are Unhappy
Wages are not keeping up with inflation
US is ranked # 13 according to the latest “World Happiness Report” with Denmark as #1
New York, home of Broadway, Statue of Liberty & Central Park was ranked #1 where Americans are unhappiest
Wages are not keeping up with inflation
More Americans are heavily medicated
We are zoning out with gadgets
50% of People feel stressed
Lifestyle of Rich & Famous
The are no Siestas in the US
Many Americans are Unhealthy
Are Religious People happier than Non-Religious People? YES
Religion gives people a “sense of purpose” and serves as a resource for coping up with negative experiences
The magic ingredient of Religion that provides happiness is “social connectedness”
Religion itself does not predict happiness
The repeal of “Blue Laws” was associated with decrease of church attendance and decreased happiness
Christians are “more happy than atheist and all other Faith Groups”
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) Christians are happier than those of no religion, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and Sikhs
Christian Psychologist, Nadia Foster said, “people think that all religions are the same but they are not. Those of us who are christians say it’s a relationship and not a religion. That makes a difference because you’re having a relationship with a living God”.
45% of those who attend church weekly would describe themselves as “very happy”
4% of those who never attend church said they were “very unhappy”
Christians Happiest among all Faith Groups
There are biblical truths to these studies:
Happiness found in human relationships
Happiness found in human relationships
If a man has recently married, he must not be sent to war or have any other duty laid on him. For one year he is to be free to stay at home and bring happiness to the wife he has married.
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Happiness found in people and things
Happiness found in people and things
The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.
David and Jonathan:
David and Jonathan:
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But, true happiness is found in God
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Happiness found in God
Happiness found in God
Happiness found in God
Happiness found in God
In God’s presence
In God’s presence
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
See also ; ;
Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.
In God’s word
In God’s word
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.
In God’s actions
In God’s actions
When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
God’s happiness
God’s happiness
In obedient people
In obedient people
David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand.
He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.
They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart
with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it.
David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.
When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.
The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.
Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.
David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?”
He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.
Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.
When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,
while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.
They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord.
After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.
Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.
When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.
I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The Lord will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
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In the righteous
In the righteous
The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse,
but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
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Happiness for those who are forgiven
Happiness for those who are forgiven
David was forgiven after having an affair with Bathsheba
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happiness may not be permanent
Happiness may not be permanent
Happiness for those who trust in God
Happiness for those who trust in God
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
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David trusted the Lord and did not mind what those people will say or think of him
Happiness for those who trust in God
Happiness for those who trust in God
Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.
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Happiness for those who obey God
Happiness for those who obey God
David feared the Lord, he sacrificed. Despite the tragedy & punishment, he trusted the Lord
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
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Happiness for those who suffer persecution
Happiness for those who suffer persecution
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
See also ;
David was persecuted by Michal, daughter of Saul
Happiness for those who suffer persecution
Happiness for those who suffer persecution
But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
See also ;
Happiness may not be permanent
Happiness may not be permanent
When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.
Happiness for those who persevere
Happiness for those who persevere
Despite being persecuted by Michal, David persevered
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Closing
Closing
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2832 Where Is Happiness?
Where Is Happiness?
Not in Unbelief—Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
Not in Pleasure—Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker, and grief are mine alone.”
Not in Money—Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
Not in Position and Fame—Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.”
Not in Military Glory—Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because he said, “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
Where then is happiness found?—the answer is simple, in Christ alone.
Happiness for those who persevere
Happiness for those who persevere
Despite being persecuted by Michal, David persevered
Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Persevere and
Persevere and He will guide your path to happiness
Persevere and you will be filled with joy in His presence
Persevere and enjoy eternal pleasures at His right hand