8 PRINCIPLES OF HOW TO BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME
“I THINK MYSELF HAPPY”
Text: Mark 4:35-42 and Acts 26:2
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
(Theses disciples were some un-happy campers)
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
(In the midst of the Great Storm, Jesus brings Great Peace and Great Calm)
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Before you take your seat, tell your neighbor: “Can’t Nobody do me like Jesus Can” Look at em again and say, “Can’t Nobody do you, like Jesus can”.
Acts 26:2I 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:
Let’s Pray…
We all have this misconception about life: “When I overcome this problem, I am really going to be happy.” Whether the problem is a trial, an illness, a bill or a person, you can (and should) be happy BEFORE anything changes or improves. This does not mean that we should just give in to the problem and not trust God to deliver us from the problems because as we trust Him, He will deliver us, but while we are waiting for things to change or while we are waiting for deliverance to come, or while we are waiting for God to move in our situation, we can be happy and we will be happy, as we apply these principles from God’s Word.
1. I Think Myself Happy, because Happiness is Allowing God to Correct My Thinking. Proverbs 23:7—As a man thinks within, so is he. There can be no doubt that a STATE OF MIND always leads to a STATE OF BEING. So before you can be happy, you have to think yourself happy.
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:
Like Paul, no matter what the circumstance you can “think yourself happy”.
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
If you want to be happy all the time, then allow God to correct your thinking on a regular basis.
2. I Think Myself Happy, because Happiness is Realizing the Presence of Jesus in My Life. The problem that makes you unhappy is not the real problem. It's HOW you look at the problem that determines whether you will be happy or un-happy.
When the disciples were in the boat, WATER was flooding their ship. Their focus was on the water (on the problem), when it should have been on JESUS (on the solution) who was in the back of the boat.Psalms 16:11… In His presence is FULLNESS OF JOY at right hand are pleasures for evermore. The disciples forgot that they were in the presence of the Lord. The presence of the Jesus in your life is the solution to every problem and the key to continual happiness. Don’t you forget that you are in the presence of an omnipresent Jesus who is a very present help in the time of trouble who promised that He would never leave you nor forsake you.
3. I Think Myself Happy, because Happiness is LEARNED. In Philippians 4:11 Paul said, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” How did he learn it? He GAVE UP trying to fix everything on the outside, and embraced God’s presence (Christ in him) as his source of true happiness.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
If you want to be happy all the time, then learn to put your hope not in people, not in possessions, not in a position, not in politics, but learn to continually put your hope only in God.
4. I Think Myself Happy, because Happiness in Seeing my Life as a Gift to Others.
You are more blessed (HAPPY, FORTUNATE) when you give, than when you receive.
Acts 20:35…It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
If you want to be happy all the time, then constantly keep reaching out a hand of mercy to the poor (those less fortunate than you). Give to the poor and you will be happy.
5. I Think Myself Happy, because Happiness is Being Persecuted Christ Sake.
1 Peter 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
You will be extremely happy in midst of persecution and unjust treatment because of your faith in Christ, because God chose you and can trust you to bring glory to His Name in this. This is a great Honor to suffer for Christ.
6. I Think Myself Happy, because Happiness is Being a Forgiving Servant to Others.
John 13: 12-17 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
If you want to be happy all the time, then have the spirit of a Servant, continually washing others feet (freely forgiving others of their sins and letting God use you to restore and cleanse them from their faults).
7. I Think Myself Happy, because Happiness is a Decision to Trust in the Finished Work of Jesus.
Romans 4:6-8 Even as David also describeth the blessedness [happiness] of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed [happy] are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed [happy] is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
If you want to be happy all the time, then a make decision to stop living under condemnation and to allow yourself to be happy in the Gift of Righteousness that Jesus purchased for you at the Cross.
Get delivered from the un-happiness of Self-Righteousness,
from the un-happiness of Religion and from Man-made Rules, Regulations and Traditions of Men that hinder your joy and freedom in Christ.
8. I Think Myself Happy, because Earthly Happiness is Gained from Living Daily in the Wisdom of God
Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 3:18 She [wisdom] is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
1 Kings 10:8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Keep an Eternal Focus: We DO need to set our minds on things above, not on this earth (Colossians 3:2). No matter how good or how happy our life on earth can be, it is nothing compared to the pleasures, happiness and joy we will have in heaven.
THINK IT & SAY IT:
The Bible teaches me from God’s Word that I can be happy all the time, so here’s what I will do:
1. I will humble myself and let God correct my thinking about life. God’s correction will bring real happiness into my life. I think myself happy all the time.
2. I will focus more on the PRESENCE OF JESUS in my life, more than on my problems. In His presence, I have fullness of joy.
3. Jesus is always with me, He will never leave me nor forsake me, He is my constant Source of Hope and True Happiness. I will not try to fix everything on the outside of me, but I will enjoy God’s love and expect His presence and peace to produce contentment on the inside of me.
4. I choose to live life on the giving side; I will purposely take delight in sowing to the poor because I know it is more blessed to give than to receive. I will never suffer for my giving; in fact I will be more blessed and happier because I will be reaping more earthly and eternal rewards.
5. When I experience persecution for my witness for Christ or for righteous sake, I won’t get mad, but I’ll get glad, knowing that I will experience great joy and happiness because God chose me for this high honor to suffer for His names sake.
6. I choose to live life as a Forgiving Servant. Happiness will flow from my innermost being as I wash others feet by freely forgiving them of their sins and letting God use me to restore and cleanse them from their faults.
7. I will allow myself to be happy because I refuse to live under condemnation or limited my happiness by man-made religion. I am extremely happy because Jesus is my Righteousness forever.
8. I will daily fill my mind with the Word and the Wisdom of God, and it will produce supernatural joy and happiness in my soul continually.
I Think Myself Happy…
because when Think About the goodness of Jesus and all He’s done for me,
I Think Myself Happy…
My soul cries out Hallelujah, thank God for saving me,
I Think Myself Happy…
Because Jesus is my joy in the midst of sorrow,
I Think Myself Happy…
Because Jesus is my hope for tomorrow,
I Think Myself Happy…
Be He who knew no sin, became sin for me, He became my scapegoat,
That I might be made the righteousness of God, in Him…
I Think Myself Happy…
Because by Jesus became my Lamb, my perfect sacrifice and my substitute, who took my sins away,
I Think Myself Happy…
(Isa 53:4 KJV) Because…Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
I Think Myself Happy…
(Isa 53:5 KJV) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
I Think Myself Happy…
Because can’t nobody, do me like Jesus can…
I Think Myself Happy…
If you’ll just stop and Think About it… You will think yourself happy also
I Think Myself Happy…
Because can’t nobody, turn water into wine like Jesus can…
Because can’t nobody, turn my blunders into blessing like Jesus can…
Because can’t nobody, turn my mistakes into miracles like Jesus can…
You just need stop…… and Think About it…
Because can’t nobody, multiply the fish and the loaves, like Jesus can…
I Think Myself Happy…Because Jesus is my El Shaddai,
the God of more than enough, He makes for me a way out of no way…
I Think Myself Happy…
Because can’t nobody, give me peace in the midst of the storm, like Jesus can…
Let Us Pray:
(Every head bowed and every eye closed, everyone please repeat after me)
Heavenly Father,
with my heart I believe
that you gave Jesus as the Lamb of God
as the Perfect Sacrifice
to die in my place,
with His blood, he paid the price,
to forgive me of all my sin,
with my mouth I now confess
that Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior.
Heavenly Father,
I believe you raised Jesus from the dead,
For my justification,
And to give me the gift of Eternal Life.
I receive it now, In Jesus Name, Amen.
The Doors of the Church are now open:
- If you just prayed with me and you really meant it, You should come now as a candidate for baptism…
- (As the choir begins to sing, don’t let this miracle moment pass you by)
- If you have been away from the Lord and you want to come back to Jesus, now is the time to come…
- If you don’t have a Church home, where you are a faithful member, we invite you to come now and become a part of this Congregation…
- If you are already a member here and you need special prayer, we invite you to come…
- Come now, and allow God to confirm the preaching of His Word, by answering your prayer.
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