GOD NEVER SAID THAT—1
GOD WANTS YOU HAPPY
If I told you that God doesn’t want you happy—Upsetting to many of you.
Sounds better: God wants you happy! Enjoy your life! Good things store for u!
May all who are godly be happy… Ps 97:12 NLT
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.
Clap along if you feel that happiness is a truth.
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THE THEOLOGY OF HAPPINESS
1. Whatever makes me happy must be right. Whatever makes me unhappy must be wrong.
Sheryl Crow, “If it makes you happy, It can’t be that bad.”
If it makes you happy, Then why the hell are you so sad?
2. Discomfort, delay, risk, suffering, inconveniences, and obstacles can’t be God’s will.
3. Without knowing it, I begin to worship the false gods of comfort, money, pleasure, and things.
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Happy—God exists to serve me—Reduced him Cosmic Coke machine
If God wants me happy—and I’m not—God failed!
Tried religion—Church—Didn’t work.
Your happiness isn’t the highest priority to God!
Delights in your happiness—parent child!
God doesn’t want you to pursue happiness—He wants you to pursue him!
Not pursuing him for our happiness but for who he is.
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GOD DOESN’T WANT YOU HAPPY
1) WHEN IT CAUSES YOU TO DO SOMETHING WRONG OR UNWISE. (Sinful or Stupid)
Joy—Zip line! (Seems right to a man)
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do… 1 Peter 1:15
Be happy * Not staying married!
Since I’m not happy—allowed do something that would otherwise be wrong.
Eating Cake
Quit job—3 kids under 4.
Wife isn’t meeting my needs… porn!
Premarital sex… We’re in love. God will understand. Married.
Show dishonors God—Enjoy it! Crude: Funny doesn’t make wrong—right.
Worship at altar of happiness.
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2) WHEN IT IS ONLY BASED ON THINGS OF THIS WORLD.
Snuggie: blanket w/holes in it! Miracle lotion, Shake weight!
New iPhone, Purse, Kicks (Socks)
Better possessions + peaceful circumstances + thrilling experiences + the right relationships + the perfect appearance = happiness.
Counterfeit… Crab meat! ($3.99) (Wrong thing & extra) (Not real thing)
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
GOD WANTS YOU BLESSED
blessed: makarios (mak-ar'-ee-os); supremely blessed, more than happy.
Doesn’t mean…
Doesn’t mean never get sick, never lose job, never get a zit before the prom.
Always go your way, God say yes to every prayer, Dream house
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Pain, Storm, Weak, Trial.
Comfort in pain * Peace in storm * Strength in weakness * Joy in trials.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Ps 37:4 ESV
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Fish on the beach… Is he happy?
Pile of cash? Beach chair & sunglasses? Martini & playfish
Never be happy on the beach, wasn’t designed for the beach.
You weren’t made for earth. Moments of happiness and joy cannot compare to what’s ahead. Lower your expectations of earth. Not heaven. No new car, new wife, new baby, new boat will give you the joy your heart craves. Max Lucado
May all who are godly be happy in the LORD and praise his holy name!
Ps 97:12 NLT