03 The Way To Happiness
Mt. 5:3
(NEWSER 9/3/12) – The price of stubborn pride: Men waste $3,000 in gas over their lifetimes because they won't ask for directions when lost, a study says. British researchers determined that men drive an average of 276 unnecessary miles per year trying to figure out their destination. A quarter of men said they would wait at least half an hour after realizing they were lost to ask for directions, while 1 in 10 said they would never, ever ask a stranger for help, AOL News reports. (Three in four women had no problem asking for directions at any time.)
Proverbs 14:12 (AV)
12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Rich Young Ruler
- Jesus met a man who had it all
• He was Young (Mt 19:20, 22)
• He was powerful (Lk 18:18)
• He was very rich (Lk 18:23)
• He was unhappy (very sorrowful Lk 18;23)
Solomon’s Glory
- OT Solomon had it all but completely empty
• Magnificent Kingdom
• Royal linage of David
• Wealth immeasurable (silver as common as rocks)
• Property of palaces, servants, gardens, farmlands, stables, women, power, the wisest man who ever lived
• Yet unhappy
Ecclesiastes 1:2 (AV)
2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
2 Vanity (Meaningless, Pointless, Useless, Futile), of vanities, saith the Preacher (Quester, Teacher, Philosopher, Spokesman), vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Chasing the Wind
Luke 12:15 (AV)
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
We say Re. 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…
- You can’t fill a Sp. need with physical things
- The OT is full of tears & Judgment
- The last word in the OT is curse Mal 4:6
- The first word from Jesus to people in the NT is blessed
- Can real happiness be had?
- With empty lives all around us can I live a full life?
- Wouldn’t be something to have heaven on earth
Value Full Happiness
Come back to Mt. 5:3 Amplified Bible: Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) ….
- This is the condition of God Himself is BLESSED
2 Corinthians 1:3 (AV)
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Ephesians 1:3 (AV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
1 Peter 1:3 (AV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- He passes the blessing (happiness) onto us
Our Greatest Treasure
The Kingdom of heaven is finding great treasure
Matthew 5:3 (AV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 6:20–21 (AV)
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
- That exactly what this man wanted
Matthew 13:44 (AV)
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
What Is The Way To Happiness?
Blessed are: - Observe the sequence
v.3 - Poor in Sp – We recognize a need in our life
v.4 - They that mourn – Repent of our self-sufficiency
v.5 - The Meek – Surrender to God
v.6 - Hunger & Thirst – Desiring more of Him
v.7 - The merciful – Becoming like Jesus – We forgive
v.8 – Pure in Heart – Changing our focus & desires
v.9 – The Peacemaker – Loving others
v.10 – Persecuted – Remaining faithful in spite of wrongdoing
Happiness Begins With My Attitude
- What’s going on inside of me
- I need to recognize that I am Re. 3:17b …wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
Proverbs 4:23 (AV)
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
- Mt. 5:3 Blessed are the poor in Spirit…
- Having no resource in yourself – Completely helpless
Mark 2:22 (AV)
22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
- Empty of self
- You don’t keep some of the old self and then try to put new wine in
- Like only cleaning out the top half of the glass
- Old stuff has to be dumped out
- Cleaned completely and then filled
- Surrender – Repent – Be filled – Be used
