Brian Yeager's Outlines
How to Obtain Happiness

Introduction:

Many people have things that make them happy. But being happy and having happiness the way the Bible defines it are two different things. Being happy is to be "favored by circumstances, lucky, ... fortunate, ...feeling of great pleasure, contentment, joy, etc. Bible happiness is greater. It has no mention of luck or just circumstances. The bible defines those that are happy as those that endure. (James 5:11) "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." The bible defines happiness as those that suffer for righteousness sake. (I Peter 3:14) "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled." Let's explore this subject through the Bible, and see more about how to be happy! We must also realize that all good gifts are from God James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

I. Happy is the people of the Lord

A. Psalms 144:14 "Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord."

B. Happy is he who has the Lord helping him Psalms 146:5-10 "5. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God: 6. Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever: 7. Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners: 8. The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous: 9. The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. 10. The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord."

C. The people of the Lord can be happy because they are the saved Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."

 II. Who does the Bible call the happy A. Happy are those that fear the Lord Psalms 128:1-2 "1. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. 2. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." 1. This fear must always be Proverbs 28:14 "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief."

2. Fear also provides obedience Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "13. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil."

a. Obedience provides happiness Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." 3. Fear and trust in God must work together Psalms 115:11 "Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield." B. Those who trust in the Lord Proverbs 16:20 "He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." 1. The righteous are glad to trust in God Psalms 64:10 "The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory." a. True trust in God will make us unmoveable Psalms 125:1 "They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever." C. Those who find wisdom Proverbs 3:13 "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." 1. Wisdom come from learning God's word Proverbs 2:6 "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding."

2. The word of God is given to us in written form II Timothy 3:15-17 "15. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

a. Not the wisdom of the world I Corinthians 3:19 "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness."

b. Not the wisdom of men I Corinthians 2:4-5;13 "4. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power: 5. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 13. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

 D. Those who help the poor Proverbs 14:21 "He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." 1. These are those who inherit Heaven Matthew 25:31-46 III. Biblical examples of those who were happy A. Christians who have been converted (Acts 2:37-41) and are in fellowship one with the other Acts 2:46 "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart."

B. Paul as he was arrested and had opportunity to defend himself Acts 26:2 "I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews."

1. Paul used that opportunity to tell of His conversion, to preach Christ, and to try and convert Agrippa Acts 26:19-29. C. The Gentiles as the found the word was open to them Acts 13:44-49 "44. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region." Conclusion:

If you are not obedient and in Christ, you are not happy. Make your life a happy life and your eternal destination a thing to rejoice about!
Copyright 2001 by Brian Yeager may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.

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