Happiness
Notes
Transcript
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Series - our want and God’s Plenty
Series - our want and God’s Plenty
E.g. -Tyler: Does your religion make you happy? Do you want to be happy?
Baptized in the Holy Spirit or w vinegar?
Virgin Health Miles!
Everyone happy today? Closed ballot? 2 options
Wrong questions - easily make wrong assumption; distorted idea of happiness
Assume that we assess by our own happiness, feel good, about me; what I have; my needs
already sermon off to a bad start because of the title
Happinesses
Thank god for house, etc. what is we lose it? Still be happy.
Happinesses
Thank god for house, etc. what is we lose it? Still be happy.
Baptized in the Holy Spirit or w vinegar?
happiness in temporary v eternal
happiness is a need; God created us to be happy. God’s intention. ,
Where do we find it? What does it look like?
How has your faith contribute
Make you happy
Baptized in the Holy Spirit or w vinegar?
Happiness in god, faithfulness, God's purpose not our personal contentment, comfort, our definition of happiness;
our definition of need doesn’t match ours; def. happiness
Wrong questions
Assume that we assess by our own happiness, feel good, about me
our definition of need doesn’t match ours; def. happiness
Happiness in god, faithfulness, God's purpose not our plan
Happiness in god, faithfulness, God's purpose not our plan
Review:
Review:
Elijah rediscover his purpose; lost it last week
Last week: failed, depressed, burned out, suicidal; in a cave rethinking his purpose; clearing his head; remembering his original call; without knowing your calling, it’s your calling that sustains you when you are depressed; burned out; disillusioned;
calling that brings you true happiness
Does your belief make you happy? bring you happiness?
God’s people don’t have what they need - solve things ourselves
Transition: Elijah was suicidal, now he’s in a better place. He’s clearing his head.
Like last week, he’s lost his purpose, and God is helping him find it.
Does your religion make you happy? Has it made you better?
Happiness - not as the world defines: consumption; owning; feeling; we will find that outside of God; seeking satisfaction outside of God
Rediscovering Our Purpose
Rediscovering Our Purpose
There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Is this our problem? Do we look for purpose in the first place? How earnestly do we pray, “What is your will for my life?”
Not always clear:
Or do we set our own goals? Pray about that job? Pray about marriage (God chosen for me?)
Pray about our choices? How does calling work? Sometimes loud and clear; sometimes in the natural course of events; how do we know? content? joy?
Purpose, no matter how clear, gets lost.
Good v bad frustration
Good v bad frustration
Good: frustrated for God’s sake; sharing God’s disappointment; not seeing the fruit; not seeing the obedience; not seeing the God-focus.
Not just okay, but necessary
Good (God centered) complaints - not enough faithfulness; God not being lifted up;
do I really need to list the bad complaints? might think I’m picking on you; fill in the blanks
Bad: frustrated because the results aren’t satisfactory; we are disappointed with results
frustrated for whose sake? personal frustration or sharing God’s disappointment?
1 Kings 19:
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
is this our problem? not frustrated because we don’t care, or do we try at all? doesn’t apply to us because we don’t do it; avoid frustration by not trying
Hearing God and Being Recommissioned
Hearing God and Being Recommissioned
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
Look for God is the easy to spot? Doesn’t require much attention or focus, seeking; agonizing prayer; just God’s showing.
Elijah responded to God, not to a miracle.
Is this our problem? Listening for the voice of God? Commissioned to begin with?
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings
The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.