Be Happy- part 1
Thesis: The church of Jesus Christ needs to be filled with therapists who dispense laughter and happiness to all they come in contact with.
Introduction:
Today is Palm Sunday and Scripture describes for us what happened that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem Matthew 21:1-11:
Play the video of Matthew 21:1-11
There was Joy and laughter and excitement. People where happy and rejoicing!
The prophet and miracle worker Jesus of Nazareth had come to town. Yet what still amazes me is that less than a week later the “Be Happiness” was not there. The crowd was now chanting Crucify Him! What happened to their happiness, their joy, their excitement?
Was it because he drove out the money changers. Which affected some of their pocket books. Was it because he dealt with sin aggressively and authoritatively? Was it because he challenged the leadership of the Temple? Who in turn influenced the people to turn on their deliverer?
The once happy Israelites watched and observed their prophet be arrested and crucified and their attitude of joy turned to bitterness, to anger, to resentment, and to murder. Their voices of Praise and adoration turned into the voices yelling “Crucify Him!”
The disciples went from experiencing this incredible moment of joy to heartbreak, to fear, to panic, to denial and even depression. Their dreams were shattered and they sank into misery.
The once happy people turned into distraught, bewildered, troubled people.
What happened to their joy, their happiness, their zeal, and their festive nature? By the time we Get to Friday of this week we could look at the same crowd and see despair written on their faces.
Swindoll states:
“Just look around. Bad news, long faces, and heavy hearts are everywhere-even in houses of worship (especially in houses of worship!). Much of today’s popular music, which many consider a voice for the nation’s conscience, promotes, misery, sorrow, and despair. If sex and violence are not pulsating themes in new film, some expression of unhappiness is. Newspapers thrive on tragedies and calamities, lost jobs and horrible accidents. The same can be said of televised newscasts. Even the weather reports give their primary attention to storms, droughts, and blizzards. Tomorrow is usually “partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain,’ never ‘mostly clear with 80 percent chance of sunshine “(20).
Where is the happiness and the joy? What happened to it? Where did it go? Who stole the joy? Who ripped off everyone’s happiness? How come the church is seen as somber and rigid and not having a sense of humor? When did laughter and happiness and joy get stolen out of the church and out of many Christians lives?
Swindoll adds, “This long faced, heavy hearted attitude has now invaded the ranks of Christianity.” We have to many “Grumpy Old Christians” in the church. Who stole their joy? How come they don’t laugh? How come they don’t split a gut and bellow out with expressions of joy? I wonder if they need a vacation to go find their joyful, fun filled attitude again.
Turning ninety-five, comedian Bob Hope told TV guide the secret to his longevity: “Laughter is it. Laughter is therapy-an instant vacation.”
I agree with Bob Hope Laughter is therapy. So lets become therapists of dispensing laughter to one another.
Show- Cartoon of usher
T.S.- Happiness is a choice in life and Jesus desires us to be dispensers of joy.
I. When we have the “Be Happy Attitude” life is fun and not Ho hum.
a. The Lord desires us to live with a good sense of fun and laughter.
b. The words tells us this about joy:
i. Texts: Proverbs 15:13
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.
A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day (The Message).
· Happiness is the key to succeeding in this life. It’s what makes life worth living.
o It’s the smile from the little one you help each day.
o It’s the thank you from others for helping them out.
o It’s the attitude of looking at the gas tank as being half full and not half empty.
o It’s the heart that plays in the snow in April.
o It’s the one who rejoices in the traffic jam and looks at as a time to spend in prayer with the Lord.
o It’s the laughing with family and friends at our exploits.
· All of this makes it easier and delightful to go through the day.
Proverbs 15:15
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast (NIV).
A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song (The Message).
· Have you ever met a person who is always bubbly and cheerful they are an absolute pleasure to be around.
· How about you do you fill you day with singing or do you fill it with complaining. Do you look for a song or for a bong.
Proverbs 15:30
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart, and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle (The Message).
· It’s a medical fact that laughter and humor is healthy for a body.
· People who laugh and enjoy life live longer.
· Comedian Bob Newhart stated, ‘People with a sense of humor tend to be less egocentric. They are more humble in moments of success and less defeated in times of travail.”
Proverbs 17:22
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (NIV).
“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired” (The Message).
· Laughter Really is the Best medicine by Sue Casiglia – highlights from her study:
o The affect of laughter on the body is immediate. Laughing actually lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones and increases muscle flexion.
o It also increases your resistance level to infections.
o Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and produces a general sense of well-being.
o In the US, laughter is used as a pain management technique for terminally ill cancer patients. Patients who regularly employ laughter therapy are found to be more tolerant of pain than those who don’t. (www.selfgrowth.com)
· Laughter may be best medicine for heart disease CNN report- Highlights from study:
o People who report that they laugh more are less likely to have heart disease.
o Miller said many studies had shown that feelings of anger and hostility cause the cells lining blood vessels to release chemicals that make them restrict and cause heart disease.
o Dr. Peter Angerer in Munich, Germany found that angry, lonely people developed heart disease.
· We need to laugh more by Enda Junkins – highlights from the report:
o Laughter relieves stress.
o It reduces aggression and conflict. People laughing are unable to hold each other at sword point. Some how there is no longer a point, only acceptable differences.
o It relieves anxiety. One cannot laugh and be afraid simultaneously. It’s physically impossible. Laughter also shrinks the source and size of our fears.
§ Maybe we need to do a 30 minute physical workout a day along with a 30 minute laughter work out a day so we keep the doctor away.
ii. Martin Luther King stated, “Humor is a divine quality, and God has the greatest sense of humor of all. He must have; otherwise He wouldn’t have made so many politicians.”
iii. Catherine Marshall stated, “Whence comes the idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can’t be God’s will? The God who made giraffes, a baby’s fingernails, a puppy’s tail, a crooked squash, the bobwhite’s call, and a young girl’s giggle has a sense of humor. Make no mistake about that.”
T.S.- God created laughter and it always amazes me how medicine and therapists confirm what God had said 1,000 of years ago as fact. Laughter – Happiness are healthy for us and we Christians should be filled with “Be Happiness”.
II. When we have the “Be Happy Attitude” life is to be full of enthusiasm and not saturated with pessimism.
a. Nehemiah 8:10”… the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
i. Your trust in Christ is what brings forth the joy filled life. The life of happiness. The life of enthusiasm.
ii. A life filled with pessimism, criticalness is not the spirit filled life God desires for us.
b. We need to live with the mindset that God is here with us and part of God’s plan for us is to “Be Happy” and this happiness comes from trusting Him for today.
i. Helen Mallicot wrote:
I was regretting the past
And fearing the future…
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
‘My Name Is I AM.” He paused.
I waited. He continued,
“When you live in the past,
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I Am not there.
My name is not I was.
When you live in the future,
With its problems and fears,
It is hard. I AM not there.
My name is not I will Be.
When you live in this moment,
It is not hard.
I AM here.
My name is I Am.
(Swindoll, 26)
ii. If God is the Great I AM then He is here and he desires us to realize this and allow Him to handle things. Which in turn should make us Happy! Especially when He says, “I will handle it!”
1. Illustration: Fostering the Fun Factor taken from More Holy Hilarity pg. 85-89.
2. Here was a man who should have in the world’s view become mad at life and even mad at God for what he had to suffer in this life. But instead of choosing anger, bitterness, criticalness, or pessimism he chose laughter, joy and humor to focus on.
3. Overhead – 2 cartoons on life
iii. Paul’s letter to the Philippians reiterates that we as Christians need to “Be Happy!” Not pessimistic and critics!
1. Swindoll notes:
a. In the first chapter of Philippians we learn there is laughter in living-whether or not we get what we want, in spite of difficult circumstances, and even when there are conflicts “(27).
b. Philippians 1 is written by Paul as he is sitting in chains in Rome. He is a prisoner!
i. He does not have the freedom to come and go as he pleases.
ii. He does not have a home.
iii. He does not have security.
iv. He does not have privacy.
v. He does not have the good life.
vi. He does not have riches.
vii. He does not have a car.
viii. He does not have a fancy wardrobe.
ix. He does not have the latest technology.
x. He does not have a Hot Tub.
1. Note complaints in California of How people will not shut their hot tubs off to prevent rolling Blackouts.
2. They claim they must have them for therapeutic purposes.
xi. He does not know whether he will go to prison or not.
xii. He does not know whether he will live or die.
c. Yet in Philippians Chapter one Paul talks about this “Be Happy Attitude”.
i. Is he delusional?
ii. Has he lost his mind?
iii. Many would say, ‘You cannot be happy when you are under arrest!”
1. The man was on drugs! He is living in denial to his situation.
d. Paul demonstrates to us and in essence writes to us today in the new millennium how we are to “Be Happy!’
c. Lets explore Philippians 1 and see how many times Paul talks about his “Be Happy” outlook on life.
The Holy Bible, New International Version
Philippians 1:1 (NIV)
1Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers£ and deacons:
Philippians 1:2 (NIV)
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
3I thank my God every time I remember you.
Philippians 1:4 (NIV)
4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy
Philippians 1:5 (NIV)
5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:7 (NIV)
7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.
Philippians 1:8 (NIV)
8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:9 (NIV)
9And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Philippians 1:10 (NIV)
10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
Philippians 1:11 (NIV)
11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:12 (NIV)
12Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Philippians 1:13 (NIV)
13As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard£ and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Philippians 1:14 (NIV)
14Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
Philippians 1:15 (NIV)
15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
Philippians 1:16 (NIV)
16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
Philippians 1:17 (NIV)
17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.£
Philippians 1:18 (NIV)
18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Philippians 1:19 (NIV)
19for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.£
Philippians 1:20 (NIV)
20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:22 (NIV)
22If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!
Philippians 1:23 (NIV)
23I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
Philippians 1:24 (NIV)
24but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
Philippians 1:25 (NIV)
25Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Philippians 1:26 (NIV)
26so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Philippians 1:27 (NIV)
27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
Philippians 1:28 (NIV)
28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
Philippians 1:29 (NIV)
29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
Philippians 1:30 (NIV)
30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
d. Is this “Be happy” perspective alive today?
e. Charles Swindoll states, “I know of no greater need today then the need for joy. Unexplainable, contagious joy. Outrageous joy. When that kind of joy comes aboard our ship of life, it brings good things with it-like enthusiasm for life, determination to hang in there, and a strong desire to be an encouragement to others. Such qualities make our voyage bearable when we hit the open seas and encounter high waves of hardship that tend to demoralize and paralyze. There is nothing better than a joyful attitude when we face the challenges life throws at us” (19).
f. Our hero Paul is telling us how he is happy even though he is in chains.
i. Peter Marshall tells us, “one of the things Christ promised us was trouble. ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation, ‘He said. But be of good cheer’…or in other words, ‘Cheer up…I have overcome the world.’”
ii. Friends Happiness is A choice you make.
1. Dr. Minirth and Meyer tell us that in their book titled the same.
iii. Tony Campolo tells us, “Of all the decisions any of us have to make, perhaps the most important is what we choose to become.”
Summary: What have we learned today?
I. There are plenty of negative things in the world that could make us lose our joy. We find it everywhere and yes, even in the church. But happiness is possible if we pray for it and chose to find the things in life that make us laugh.
· Go have a “Be Happy day!” Look for the funny humorous things in your day!
· The best laugh is at yourself.
o Example of what could have happened if the German people had a sense of humor.
o They would have laughed at Hitler and not took him serious!
· Have a laugh at life! Rejoice in the Lord!
II. Remember a cheerful “Be Happy attitude” is good for your health.
a. Be healthy an laugh. I know what you are thinking HOW!
b. Glad you asked here are 16 things Enda Junkins says we can do to put more laughter in our life. I will add one to the list so there are 17.
i. Pray and ask the Lord to give you a “Be Happy” outlook on life.
1. Remember all things are possible with God even laughing.
ii. Enda’s list:
1. Practice laughing 5 minutes each day. Fake it till you make it.
2. Look for humor all around you—on signs, in people’s behavior, on T.V., in the newspaper, the things others say, the crazy things that happen to you.—Keep a journal on it.
3. Learn to play with things that are serious like work, social issues, money. Etc. For example, use word play, silly songs, or develop a comical view of the issue to help you laugh and cope.
4. Share your embarrassing moments with other people.
5. Laugh with other people when they laugh.
6. Wear a smile. It puts you closer to laughing.
7. Amuse yourself with your own sense of humor.
8. Buy and listen daily to tape of laughter, a laugh box, or a laughing toy.
9. Seek out entertainment which makes you laugh.
10. Buy mindless toys that make you laugh.
11. Wear hats that make you laugh.
12. Cultivate your innate playfulness.
13. Be creative with fun.
14. Make sure you have fun.
15. Give yourself permission to laugh at anything you need to.
16. Do at least one silly, non-conforming thing a day. (www.laughtertherapy.com)
c. So be healthy and laugh!
III. Why should we be joyful and laughing because God said that He has everything under control so ride the wave with the lord and enjoy life.
a. God wants you to have a “Be Happy” attitude even in midst of difficult trials and tribulations and the Word gave us Paul as an example of this attitude.
i. Read Philippians and discover that hardship should not steal your joy and laughter.
b. The greatest need in the church and the world today is joy! But we have to choose to decide to “Be Happy”!
Altar call: We are going to open up the alter to pray for those who desire to live with a “Be Happy” attitude.
