Sermon Central
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How To Be Happy
Contributed by David Radcliff on Mar 25, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: Happiness is not something that just happens accidentally. God's word makes it plain that the only source is in Christ Jesus the Lord. It would not seem so strange if only the lost were void of happiness, but numbers of those who call themselves Christians are found in the sad company.
HOW TO BE HAPPY
INTRODUCTION: Happiness is not something that just happens accidentally. God's word makes it plain that the only source is in Christ Jesus the Lord. It would not seem so strange if only the lost were void of happiness, but numbers of those who call themselves Christians are found in the sad company.
Let us look at some of the classes who do not have abiding peace and lasting joy. (1) The wicked; (2) The moral man; (3) The backsliders; (4) The proud; (5) The greedy and selfish; (6) The one who harbors hatred.
Now, look at some that are happy.
I. HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO WALK RIGHT (Psalms 128).
A. We must walk in the fear of the Lord.
B. We must walk in honesty. (I Thes. 4:12). That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
C. We must walk in humility (Micah 6:8). He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
D. We must walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:4). Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
E. We must walk in the light. (I John 1:6 7). If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
II. HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO TALK RIGHT
A. We must speak the truth. (Eph. 4:25). Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
B. We must speak the truth in all soberness.
C. We must speak the truth in love.
III. HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO LIVE RIGHT (Titus 2:11 15).
A. We must live soberly. (I Thes. 5:4 8). But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
B. We must live righteously.
C. We must live Godly in this present life.
D. We must live from God's eternal word.
E. We must live wisely. (Matt. 10:16). Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
IV. HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO GIVE RIGHT (11 Cor. 9:6 8).
A. We must give scripturally.
1. Cheerfully (11 Cor. 9:7). Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2. Freely. (Matt. 10:8). Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
3. Regularly. (I Cor. 16:1 2). Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
4. Tithe. (Lev. 27 30) And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
(Mal. 3:8 12)Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
B. We must give to Jesus.
C. We must lay treasures in Heaven.
