Mastery of Happiness

intro

I very, very seldom preach on happiness.

Joy intrests me much morte than happiness because Joy is eternal and based in Jesus Christ.

Happiness is tempory nd is based on what happens to us.

Curcumstances are dangerous to base our well being on bercause circum stances change.

Moses went from a prince of egypt to a simple sheopherd.

David went from a simple shephed to a king.

Peter went from a fisherma into a preacher

nd Saul went from a murder to a minister.

In a world where life is so unpredictible many people end up as victems of life and not victors.

But the Word of God says:

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

and Jesus said:

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

It is clear that God wants us to have and live in victory and not be just another casutaly of life and circum stances.

But how do we live in victoey when things can change to fast?

Lets look at Life

LINE

If we put life on this line - on this end life is difficult (unhealthy, bad marriage, poor) and on the other life is easy (healthy, good marriage rich).

Now this is the life of a christian so on both ends you still have a relationship with God.

Let us first establish some facts:

1: God does not love the “easy” life people more than the “hafrd” life people.

2: The “poor” life is not less blessed than the “easy” life.

3: The “easy” life is not more abudnant than the “hard” life.

Abundant life is not an easy life - it is simply life with your sins forgiven by God;s grace and being in fellowship with Jesus.

When the bible says:

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The “easy” life is NOT more victorious than the “hard” life!

The victorious life is not any specific point on the LINE! - Victorious life is ANY point on the line WITH JESUS.

It is the presence of Christ than life victorious.

Real Talk

Ok knowing this, lets look at the Line again.

LINE

So we know that on any end, so long as we have Jesus we are blessed, abundant and victorious.

HOWEVER - if we still had a prefrence on where on the line we could live our blessed, abundant and victirious life - where would we choose?

Unlerss you are a total hypocrite you would admit that nyou would prefer the “easy” life - SO LONG AS THE EASY LIFE WAS SILL A CHRISTAN LIFE.

If we had to choose between Jesus OR an easy life we would i hoipe all choose Jesus, but if the choice was between an easy life with Jesus or a hard life with Jesus - we would centanily prefer an easy life with Jesus.

LINE

God’s prefrence

LINE

Ok so we have a prefrence - our prefrence is on the easier side - thants not sinful to want that btw.

But here is an intresting question: WE would prefer the easier, but which doesd God prefer?

Now you might be tempted in one of 2 ways: You could prent to be spiritual and say “The difficult life”!

Or, you you could be material and say “the easy life”.

But if we look at scripture what do we see?

Abraham was rich, but his relationships were poor. The widow was poor but her relationships were rich, the leper was sick but his faith was strong....

Its all varied.

It turns outr that God does not have a prefrence.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost and to give us abundant life, an d as we have seen salvation nd abundance and blessing and victory can be enjoyed ANYWHERTE on the LINE.

I know of wonderful, blessed and godly christians whos life is difficult. I know of wonderful, blessed and godly christians whos life is easy.

The intersection of our prefrence and God’s prefrence

But here is the thing, God may no have a prefrece, BUT we do.

And that actually matters! Why? because it may be our hearts derire to be healthy, or happly married or free of financial burdens.

Psalm 37:4 ESV

4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

So we make our requests known to God.

But there is actually even more to this:

The proveb writer tells us something very intresting about God’s involvment in our position on the Line.

Proverbs 30:7–9 ESV

7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

What is he saying? He is reminding us that our relationship with God is the highest priority, NOT our place on the Line.

So he says: Dont make me so rich that i forget you OR to poor that i resent you.

What is he saying? Well God is actually speaking to us today, God says:

I will not put you far enough on the right (easy) that you forget me, and I will never put you far enough on the left (hard) that you resent me.

And this is very intresting, because it might just explain our life and its situation.

God knows you better than you know you.

Forgetting God

Just how easy must life get before you forget God, and by forget we dont mean :loose momory off” it means neglect, stop fearing, - How easy?

Its intresting because it different for each and every one of us!

There are people who if you give them a financial gift of R10 000 will mforget God immeditly and go and buy drugs, or booze or gamble.

There are people who will forget God for much less.

What about rersenting God?

There are people who only get a half bonus and curse God for forsaking them, and there are people who will get R500 and praise God for blessing them.

What is intresting about the “CUT OFF” points is that they are difined by the person’s responce to the easy and to the hard.

Revelation: You set the limits.

If living an easy life cause you to sin and forget God, you use your expensive internet to look at porn or but drugs or get drunk - God is going to change your position on the Line.

And likewise, if all you do is moan and curse God for his provision no matter how “small” it may be, why would increase your provision if you are so ungrateful?

God does not care where you are on the Line so long as you love and fear Him.

He is willin g to move you as your heart desires BUT NOT at the expence of your charicter and holiness.

AND

He is willing to move you AGAINT your hearts desire if your place in life (on the line) is erroding your spiritual charicter.

Conclusion and Solution:

The solution to this issue is vital to our spiritual joy and Paul found the solution.

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I have learned the secret.

What is th secret? The secret is to learn to master both ends of the spectrum - to master life wherever you currently find yourself.

If you are on the hard side - learn to be thankful and joyful in your lack and learn to praise God inspte of the difficulty.

If you are on the easy side - learn to be contest and humble, never forget God and never use your wealth to do evil.

Wherever you are on this line - learn to be content and joyful, do not neglect the things of God, persure holiness, fellowship in prayer, be humble and thanful or all you have.

Mastor you life right now - dont put your happiness or joy anywhere else on the line but where you are rtight now.