How can I be happy?

Day 1: 
Today we will begin a new series on "QUESTIONS CHRISTIANS ASK".  Many
Christians have questions, but sometimes we do not dare to ask those
questions.  God is not afraid of our questions, He is not afraid of our
doubts.  It is good to ask questions.  In fact, in the Bible over and
over again we see prophets, chosen people, saints asked God questions.

One of the main reasons why Christians are afraid to ask questions is
because we are afraid that God will not answer our questions or we are
afraid that the Bible does not provide answers for our questions.
Another reason why Christians are afraid to ask questions is we are
afraid that we may not like the answer to our questions, we are not
ready to hear the answer to our questions or we are afraid that we get
an answer that we do not want to hear.

One thing we will realize as we spend more time to study the Bible is
God does answer our questions and the Bible does provide the answers for
our questions.   If we do not spend time to study the Bible, how does we
know that the Bible is practical and it does provide answers to our
questions?  In the last 6 weeks we have seen how relevant the life of
Moses is to our life.  He is not just a character in the Bible, but he
showed a life that includes mistakes, confusion, rebellion, obeying God,
struggle in believing God and blessedness.  We just have to spend enough
time to study the Bible to realize that it does provide answer to our
questions.

On the other hand, sometimes the answer that we get from the Bible is
not the answer that we want to hear.  We have been conditioned into a
"FAX" culture.  Basically, we just want to say, "God, just FAX the
answer to me NOW".  Yes, we want a "microwave" solution.  The problem is
all fundamental questions on basic living do require insight, time to
digest, meditate and finally apply the solution.  There is not a "fast
food" solution.

The secular wisdom do offer a solution, but their solution is just like
a "pain killer".  It is a fast, quick fix that respond to the symptoms,
but it does not solve the root problem.  For example if your kid gets an
ear infection, you may give the kid a tylenol.  The tylenol works as a
pain killer, it soothes the kid for a while and it wears off after a
couple of hours.  The tylenol reacts to the symptom which is fever or
headache.   The tylenol does not cure the illness, which is the
infection.  The doctor will have to prescribe the antibiotic that reacts
and solves the root problem, which is the infection.  Taking the
antibiotic does not immediately soothes the fever or headache.  In fact
it will take 48 hours before we see some changes and the medicine have
to be taken for 10 days.

The solution that the secular (i.e., the "world") offers is just like
the pain killer.  It only reacts to the symptom and it does not solve
the problem.  It reacts quickly, but it wears off quickly too.  On the
other hand, the solution that the Bible offers is like having the
antibiotic as the main medicine and the pain killer as a supplement
medicine.  It emphasizes at solving the root problem (not just reacting
to the symptoms).  It is not just a quick fix, but it truly heals. It
may actually require some time to begin the process of healing, but the
healing is not something that will wear off.

Have we fall into the trap of solving the symptoms of the problem
instead of solving the root problem itself?  Do we only want a quick fix
that will wear off soon, or do we want a permanent fix that will not
wear off?

Day 2:
The secular world defines HAPPiness is a feeling that is due to
HAPPenings.  If good things are happening, then we are happy.  On the
other hand if bad things are happening, then we are not happy.
Therefore, the happiness that the "world" knows depends on what is
happening outside.

The Bible does not define happiness that way.    Now let us look at
Psalm 1:1.  "Blessed is the man ...".  The word "blessed" here means
"happy".  So, Psalm says, "Happy is the man ..."  In the Hebrew
language, "blessed" is a PLURAL, MULTIPLE, ABUNDANT adjective.
Therefore, whenever we see the Bible says, "blessed assurance", "blessed

joy", "blessed grace", "blessed peace", they refers to plural, multiple
and abundant assurance, joy, grace and peace.  In the same way,
"happiness" in the Bible is defined as a plural, multiple and abundant
happiness;  It is a happiness to its FULLNESS.  This happiness is
overflowing and it is not a result of happenings, but it is a result or
consequence of righteousness.

Yes, the SECULAR world defines happiness as a RESULT OF HAPPENINGS,
while the BIBLE defines happiness as a RESULT OR CONSEQUENCE of
RIGTEOUSNESS.  (We will see more of this in Day 4.)
Happiness is more than a choice, it is a result of righteousness.

We see a lot of people are searching for or PURSUING happiness.  This is

wrong because happiness can not pursued.  We should PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS

and as a RESULT of righteousness, we will receive HAPPINESS.  Now, let
us look at this illustration.  People go to college to PURSUE higher
education.  As a RESULT of the higher education, they can have better
living standard (higher education, higher salary, more money, better
living standard).  People are not pursuing better living standard in
college.  In fact, there is no better living standard in college.

What is our definition on happiness?  Is our happiness a result of
happenings?  Happenings that things that are beyond our control.  Or is
our happiness a result of righteousness?  Righteousness is a growing
process.

Day 3:
Now, let's see what the Bible says about "How can I be happy".
A.  First, AVOID THINGS THAT ARE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO HAPPINESS
As we have discussed yesterday, happiness is a result of righteousness.
Righteousness is a life style that fears the Lord and obeys the Lord.
SIN GRATIFIES, but God SATISFIES.  This godless world offers
gratification to our desires.  For a moment, the gratification may be
interpreted as happiness, but as the gratification wears off, then the
emptiness starts creeping back.  This godless world can not offer TRUE
happiness.

TRUE happiness can only be found in the Lord.  Only God can satisfy.
The satisfaction that God offers is "like a tree planted by streams of
water" (Psalm 1:3).  A tree that is planted by streams of water always
has enough water.  It is always provided for, it is always content and
it never thirst for more.  This is the kind of happiness that God can
offer.

Since happiness is a result of fearing and following God, then one of
the first thing that we have to do is to avoid things that are
counter-productive to happiness, which is things that will lead us to
disobey God.

What are the things that are counter-productive to happiness?  Psalm 1:1
has the answer:
* Do not walk in the counsel of the wicked.  "Walk in" means "order his
life according to", "counsel" means "deliberations and advice", "wicked"
means "godlessness."
* Do not stand in the way of sinners.  "stand" means "station oneself",
"sinners" means "those for whom sin is habitual, for whom godlessness is
a way of life."
* Do not sit in the seat of mockers.  "sit" means "settle oneself",
"mockers" means "those who ridicule God and defiantly reject His law."

B. Second,  DO THINGS THAT ARE PRODUCTIVE TO HAPPINESS
What are the things that are productive to happiness?  The answer is on
the next verse (Psalm 1:2):
* DELIGHT in the law of the Lord.  "delight" means "to have appetite".
It is like having an appetite to eat.  Christians shall have an appetite
to the law of the Lord.
* MEDITATES the law day and night.  Joshua 1:8 says, "Do not let this
Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so
that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will
be prosperous and successful.
One secret of happiness is to follow the law.  Law abiding people do
have a much peaceful, simpler and easier life.  Law-breakers are people
that always get into trouble and runs away from the truth.

Do we avoid things that are counter-productive to happiness?  Do we have
an appetite to the law of the Lord?  Do we meditate on the law?  We are
called to be law-abiding citizens, citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Day 4:
C. Third, see the PRODUCTIVITY of HAPPINESS (vs 3)
True happiness produces the following:
* Consistency (vs 3, "yields its fruit in season")
* Stability (vs 3, "whose leaf does not wither")
* Productivity (vs 3, "whatever he does prospers")

We can check if we have true happiness from our consistency in life.  Do
we produce fruit consistently, just like a tree that consistently
produces fruit in ITS SEASON?  A true happiness produces fruit.

The second way to check if we have true happiness is from the stability
in life.  Do we have a roller coaster life or do we have a stable life?
Is our ministry marked with stability?  Psalm 1:3 says that a stable
life is like a tree whose leaf does not wither, a tree that is always
full of leaves.

Finally, people that pursues righteousness will not only be happy but
also whatever he does prospers.

The unhappiest people have the following characteristics:
* Restlessness, always wanting more, always do not get enough, always
not satisfied
* Do not know what they want, yet tries to run ANYWHERE just to get
somewhere
* Finally, quits on everything including quitting on being happy and
pursuing what is true and right.

On the other hand, the happiest people have the following
characteristics:
* Have time to be spent with the family and savor (enjoy) every moment
of it
* Flexible and not rigid
* Have the capacity to receive love and to give love
* His life is marked with productivity and maturity

God called us to be FAITHFUL and FRUITFUL.  He called us to BLOOM
wherever we have been PLANTED.  This is the secret of happiness: 
(a)happiness is a choice - we choose to be happy or to be miserable 
(b)happiness is a result or consequence of pursuing what is right
(rightouesness).

~~END~~

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Disclaimer
This material is a summary of the message that was preached by Pastor
Jack Graham at Prestonwood Baptist Church.  The writer of this EBS
(Electronic Bible Study) made some changes and added some personal notes
that is necessary to customize this material into an electronic media, a
daily reading material and to better fit the audience.
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