Making God Happy

What would it take to make you, or your family Happy?

Wealth, Popularity, Success in your career, Relationships, Power, pleasure?

Quotes

I am happy when I go hunting or fishing. (shopping)

I am happy when I go see a friend or loved one

I am happy when I go to church and experience a good service

I am happy when I have fun with my kids

OR

Some people are happy while they are high

Some people are happy while they are skiing, or snowmobiling

Some people are happy while they are partying

Some people are happy while they are camping

Some people are happy while they are gambling

Truth is, none of these will bring happiness. Only a relationship with Jesus will bring true and lasting happiness.

Think about this...

What does it take to make God happy & Heaven happy?

Luke 15:1–7 NLT

1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! 3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Salvaging Lost and hopeless lives is what makes God happy

The Parable of the lost sheep shows the condition of people.

Luke 15:3–4 NLT

3 So Jesus told them this story: 4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?

People, like sheep have a tendency to wander off.

Isaiah 53:6 NLT

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

1 Peter 2:25 NLT

25 Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

Not being close to Jesus causes dumbness in your life.

Sheep are the dumbest animals on the planet, and Jesus continually refers to us as sheep. Why? Because we act like them. We always seem to do stupid stuff. We hear God tell us to:

put off gossip, but we still do it.

to Live pure lives, but we still have moral failures.

to give each ohter the benefit of the doubt because we love each other, but we don’t.

We will pray for God to bless us and when he does, we forget all about God and we fall away.

Not being close to Jesus causes a dirtiness in your life.

When you don’t live for the Lord, you will feel dirty. When I came to Jesus, I felt clean.

Not being close to Jesus causes you to become defenseless.

Sheep rely totally on the shepherd for defense from predators. We must rely on our shepherd. If we do not, we are defenseless against our carnal nature & temptation.

Not being close to Jesus exposes you to danger.

Sin not only separates us from God, but it endangers you and those around you. Jonah / Boy with drug deal in his house with mom and sister there.

Write this down.

How has not being close to Jesus negatively affected me at times in my life?

gambled away your money

Drank, smoked, or injected money that was for bills

Got high and were tagged for a DUI

Maybe you left a marriage looking for happiness somewhere else.

Maybe you work all the time because, Just a little more money will help.

The Parable of the lost sheep shows the compassion of the Savior.

Luke 15:4–5 NLT

4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.

John 10:11 NLT

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

The Good Shepherd cares for all sheep.

1 Peter 5:7 GNB

7 Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.

The Pharisees did not care for the sheep… Jesus cares for the sheep… you and me.

The Lod wants to take care of our emotional mental, physical, social and spiritual needs.

Psalm 23:1–6 NLT

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

The Good Shepherd searches for lost sheep.

Luke 15:4 NLT

4 “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?

Luke 19:10 NLT

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Jesus is on a search for people who have lost their way. (the search for the little boy I went on)

The Good shepherd rescues sheep who are in danger.

Any sheep who strays away from the shepherd is in danger to the wold animals.

When the Lord Rescues us, He saves us.

He saves us from spiritual depravity, death and doom.

Ephesians 2:1–3 NLT

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

He saves us for a supernatural destiny.

Ephesians 2:4–10 NLT

4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

The Parable of the lost sheep shows us the commission of the Saints.

The Lord has called all Believers to rescue lost sheep

Matthew 28:19–20 NLT

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We can help rescue sheep by Praying for them.

Romans 10:1 NLT

1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.

We can help rescue sheep by living a godly life in front of them.

Matthew 5:16 NLT

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

1 Peter 3:16 NLT

16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

We can help rescue sheep by inviting them to church, or other church activity.

John 1:40–42 NLT

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”).

We can help rescue sheep by serving them through church ministry.

We can help rescue sheep by sharing our faith and relationship with Jesus with them.

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Many Christians don’t share their faith with others because they are afraid.

Many Christians don’t share their faith with others because they lack faith.

Many Christians don’t share their faith with others because they have a hard heart.

Many Christians don’t share their faith with others because they are lazy.

Many Christians don’t share their faith with others because they are selfish.

What’s keeping us from being more involved in reaching our lost friends and family?

Write out three lost sheep in your life.

1

2

3

The Parable of the lost sheep shows the celebration of Salvation.

Luke 15:6–7 NLT

6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

When someone gives their life to the Lord, it brings great joy to the person, to the Lord and to all of heaven.

What steps can I take to reach the lost sheep in my life?

Live passionately for the Lord.

List the three names above

Pray for an opportunity to share Jesus with them.

Tell them about Jesus.

Invite them to church… Harvest Festival… Functions...