Happy and Blessed

Bible Introduction (2m)

9 Places Unhappy People Look for Happiness

Author Joshua Becker:

1. In their next purchase. / 2. In their next pay cheque. / 3. In their next relationship. / 4. In their next physical enhancement. / 5. In their next competition. / 6. In their next job. / 7. In their next escape. / 8. In the next person to solve their problems. / 9. In accepting things just the way they are. 9 = tremendous pressure on shoulders!

The Bible has plenty to say about being happy

Introduction (5m)

People Care About Happiness - It’s a Human Longing

Way back in Greek philosophy Plato saw the right, the good, the value, and the happy life were different aspects of the same thing. The right is the concern of ethics; the good is the quest for the highest of self-realization; the value is that which man cherishes; and the happy life is the kind of total existence all mankind wants. … (Bernard Ramm, ethicist)

Fallen Humans Often Look for Happiness in the Wrong Places

Video: Happiness | 4:00

Explanation (5m)

Jesus Explains What True Happiness Looks Like

GNT: Happy are those ...

Not demands of the Kingdom. / Not just what the Kingdom of God will be like. / “Effective words of grace” (Roger Hahn) - word of blessing cause what they speak - “O how happy! ...”

Those who have accepted Jesus and message are like this

God makes them happy and it looks like this. / How happy, blissful, joyous it is to be a Christian. / It’s godlike joy.

Christians are happy because they know they are spiritually poor

Matthew 5:3 GNB

“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

They put all their trust and hope in God and find the KoH.

Christians are happy because when they mourn the loss of loved ones, God himself will comfort them

Matthew 5:4 GNB

Happy are those who mourn; God will comfort them!

Christians are happy because they have humbly learned to trust God

Matthew 5:5 GNB

Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised!

Trusting in him rather than themselves is what opens their hearts and hands to receive what God has promised.

Christians are happy because their first priority is to do what God requires

Matthew 5:6 GNB

Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully!

They want to be in right relationship with God. / They long to do the right thing. / God will satisfy them. A relationship with him is all they need and it enables them to do the right thing as they become more Christlike.

Christians are happy because they are merciful to others

Matthew 5:7 GNB

Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them!

Compassionate and forgiving. They receive God’s compassion and forgiveness.

Christians are happy because they are pure in heart

Matthew 5:8 GNB

Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God!

Intentions/will are pure. No mixed motives or intentions. Promise: They will see God.

Christians are happy because they work for peace

Matthew 5:9 GNB

Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!

Make peace, do things that create peace. / Shalom - wholeness not absence of conflict - bring wellbeing/good into others’ lives. / Children of God = godly people.

Christians are happy because when they are persecuted it is because they are doing what God requires

Matthew 5:10 GNB

Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!

The good news is they are promised the KoH.

Application (5m)

How happy are you?

Have you accepted Good News/Christ? / Asked him to save you from yourself and the wrong in your life? / Asked him to be your leader in life and guide you to the purpose God has for you?

Or do you think it’s all down to you? How you express, believe in, use the powers of yourself. Self-confidence, self-reliance, self-assurance?

If Christian for a long time, are you trying to keep yourself saved by trying hard to live like this? No way to happiness!

If you are saved, if you are a Christian, Jesus is saying life is like this. You should be happy and celebrate!

It is as if Jesus is saying that life in the kingdom with him is a life of profound joy, a joy that no person and no circumstance can take away. And this blessedness is not reserved for some nebulous future. It is for now! It is the mark of those who have really surrendered to the King and tasted his grace, although of course there is a future to rejoice in too. (Michael Green)

Focus on Jesus

Knowing him more deeply, finding joy in him, finding power to live his way, loving him > that is happiness.

Questions for Reflection/Small Group Discussion

Where is your “happy place?” Or what makes you the most happy?

Which of the beatitudes do you find hardest to live out?

Is the Christian life making you more happy or more miserable? Why do you think this is?

Prayer Subjects for This Week

Pray for Afghanistan.

Pray for our children as they return to school and college.

Pray for the cadets of the Reflectors of Holiness session who have begun their learning at William Booth College.

Next Steps

SB 267 - O how happy are they who the Saviour obey

O how happy are they who the Saviour obey And have laid up their treasure above. Tongue can never express the sweet comfort and peace Of a soul filled with Jesus? love. We?ll all shout hallelujah As we march along the way. We will sing redeeming love With the shining host above, And with Jesus we?ll be happy all the day. 2 That sweet comfort is mine now the favour divine I?ve received through the blood of the Lamb; With my heart I believe, and what joy I receive, What a Heaven in Jesus? name! 3 ?Tis a Heaven below my Redeemer to know, And the angels can do nothing more Than to fall at his feet and the story repeat, And the lover of sinners adore. 4 O the rapturous height of the holy delight Which I feel in the life-giving blood! Of my Saviour possessed, I am perfectly blessed, As if filled with the Heaven of God. Charles Wesley (1707-1788) (verses), alt Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 30158 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 267