Happiness: What It Is & How to Have It, Part 2: Enough Is Never Enough Without Jesus

Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and they shall be filled. People are hungry people when we want more of what was right more issues that should be our focus is always more to learn. As a Christian, how much you love want to love more, to pray always to pray more. I'm always wanting more of the commercial should be just one they were right when is the last time you were satisfied with one with some things. One tasted you one more lot with the psalmist wrote taste and see that the Lord is good. They have a new beginning pastor Greg Laurie helps us do just that beatitude of biblical judgment or sermon on the Mount, why are we here on this earth. What is the purpose of our existence would say well it's to be happy. Of course, and some would think this is a uniquely American mindset. I mean it's actually there in our declaration of independence right where it states we hold these Jews to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. The red dog by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and what the pursuit of happiness. It's a big deal to Americans to be happy with. This is not a uniquely American idea.

You can go back 2000 years to the writings of the Greek philosopher Aristotle said, quote happiness is the meaning and purpose of life. The aim and end of human existence is not true.

Are we here to seek happiness.

It was up philosopher Eric Hoffer who made this statement and I quote the search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness."

Right.

It appeared she seen after happiness, you might end up being a very unhappy person.

We imagine wealth and fame and fortune and all that will bring us happiness. Well, Jim Carrey knows a little bit about that is made a lot of money as an actor and a comedian. He made this statement and I quote I hope everybody could get rich and famous and have everything they ever dreamed of. So they will know that is not the answer." Interesting statement from someone like him okay so how do we find copy before there's a lot of studies that have been done on this topic and I here's what a bunch of experts came up with the identify the number of things that was being played for you to be a happy person number one, it's been found that families and friends are the best antidote to unhappiness.

Having a strong family and having friends. One expert said marriage makes people happier and a close family and inoculate as many kids against despair. According to long-term research and the happiest people seem to be people that have good friends.

Number two, they discovered through study that things don't make you happy and fake University of Illinois psychologist Ed diner made this statement, quote, materialism is toxic for happiness" for that interesting.

And he said even rich materialist artists happy as those who care less about getting and spending printable number three they found if you want to be happy. Be grateful for what you already have. If you want to be happy.

Be grateful for what you already have psychologists say gratitude has a lot to do with life satisfaction, talking and writing about what you're grateful for amplifies your happiness. They also found that learning to save or even the small pleasures has the same effect. Number four forgiving people are happy people, forgiving people are happy people. Forgiveness is a trait most strongly linked to happiness. Says University of Michigan psychologist Christopher Peterson. He adds, it's the Queen of all virtues are probably the hardest one to come by.

One last thing, if you want to be happy. Scandinavians are the happiest people. So let's put it all together having a good strong family having friends being grateful. Be forgiving not expecting things to satisfy you and being Scandinavian. How many of you are Scandinavian razor hit this blonde guy raises a set of course you are not at all.

Brother, it's all yours right there so we can all be Scandinavian now. Can't wait. But we can apply these other principles in our lives. And so here's what I'm bringing this up for these are biblical virtues, all except for being Scandinavian Bible does not address being Scandinavian but all these other things. Having a strong family being thankful for what you have been a forgiving person. Are these not virtues found in the pages of Scripture. Here's my simple point God had it right all along the so-called experts are just catching up. That's all it is.

God tells us how to be happy right here in Scripture. In fact, in the sermon on the Mount. The point of entry is what we call the beatitude. Another way to put it is that the be happy attitudes.

If you have these attitudes, you can indeed be a happy person because each beatitude starts with the word blessed, blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are they that mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are the peacemakers, and so forth.

The word blessed is an interchangeable word with happiness to you could just as easily take the word blessed out and put in the word happy happy are those that mourn over their sin. Happy are the peacemakers happy are the pure in heart, and so forth. So Jesus is really saying to us repeatedly.

This is how you can be a happy person. The sermon on the Mount is the official manifesto of the King of Kings and Lord of Lord you want to know what Jesus thinks about marriage read the sermon on the Mount. You want to find what Jesus thinks about material things. Read the sermon on the Mount. You want to know what Jesus says about forgiveness again. Read the sermon on the Mount, all of that is there and much more. And it starts off with these beautiful beatitude. So let's read them together. Matthew 530, number three blessed or happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets double before you, so title of this message is happiness what it is and how to have it so let's review what we looked at last time in the initial Beatitudes we took a look at a number one if you're taking notes.

Happy are the nobody happy other nobodies. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Everybody wants to be a somebody. So many people want to be a star.

We want to be number one.

We want to be in the front. We want all the attention that'll make us happy.

Or so we think Jesus effectively says happier than nobodies. No when he says poor in spirit that has nothing to do with how much money you have in your bank account. This is about your attitude toward God.

It's poor in spirit to another way to translate this is happier. Blessed is the person who sees the real spiritual condition and what is your real spiritual condition.

You are spiritually destitute. You are spiritually impoverished.

You are desperately in need of God. So we want to be a happy person. You gotta know that about yourself. I am a sinner in need of a Savior.

So that's the beginning. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed is the man of the woman that sees himself as they really are spiritually bankrupt. Mr. Greg Laurie will have the second half of this message just a moment, emails, letters and phone calls let us know that you're gaining benefit from Pastor Greg's teaching its valuable feedback right now I get why. Now every single night in my life. I can't wait to listen to you program every morning at 635 get to bed at 10 o'clock or 12 o'clock I'm always something better to just energize me when I hear the message new home everyday. God bless you. So Greeks Pastor Greg's messages touching's stories tell of how the studies when I call us and give us all the details. Here's the number 1866-871-1144 1-866-871-1144 were we reviewing the Beatitudes today as Pastor Greg continues his message called happiness, what it is and how to have it or to number two unhappy people are happy people. I know that sounds contradictory. We put it another way, happy people are unhappy people will work well. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. The idea of morning here is being sorry being sorry for my sins so I mourn over my sin. So I see my condition before God as a center. It is not a hopeless situation because there stands a Savior who died on the cross for me and shed his blood for every sin I've ever committed was ready to pardon and forgive what I say Lord I'm a sinner and I'm sorry for my sin, because the Bible says godly sorrow produces repentance to be really sorry for something you'll change like I could be cruising down the freeway and all of a sudden the CHP pulled up behind me and lights me up.

They pull me over.

I'm really sorry why am I sorry I sorry I was really no I'm sorry I wasn't being more careful look out for the CHP. The next time I'm in a keep my eye open to that's not sorrow for what I did that sorrow for the repercussions of what I did because in those lights go on my insurance rates are going up right with this sorrow, it's talking about in the Bible is I'm sorry enough to change my condition. I'm sorry enough to change my behavior.

I see God in his holiness. I see the life he wants me to live and I see how far I have to go. If ever there was a man who could be proud of his accomplishments. It was the apostle Paul in the finest education and incredible spiritual pedigree. If you will.

It was a brilliant orator, yet Paul wrote of himself. Oh, what a miserable person.

I am so blessed are those that sees himself as they are Blessed are those that mourn over that condition. Step number three happy are the humble copy of the humble or Blessed are the meek, seeing myself as I really am produces a vital spiritual quality meekness.

Remember we pointed out meek. This is not weakness make this thing's power under constraint so it's I'm humbled by the fact that God has forgiven me of my sin. So happy are the humble number four happy are the spiritually hungry copy of the spiritually hungry verse six. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Listen healthy people are hungry people that so I know I'm healthy right now I'm hungry I'm always hungry aren't you glad people are. I don't know how my wife doesn't. You wake up in the morning. She doesn't care about breakfast, sometimes silly to think I forgot to eat lunch today unlike who forgets to eat lunch. You forgot to eat lunch. I wake up in the morning and the first thing in my mind I would like to tell you it's Jesus it's a Bible phone and coffee very closely linked together.

I will copy up on food and you know and I'm counting down the time till lunch. Then I'm counting it down toward dinner, but if you really healthy. Your hungry Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, see the fence did you guys are in a midweek study tells me some about you tells me you have no life and so your knowledge of. In order really tells me tells me you have a strong Christian life and that's why you're here so it's a great thing it tells me that your hungry for God.

You know a lot of people show up to church on Sunday to worship the Lord hear the word of God. Some people's open church on Sunday because, well, that's what you doing Sunday words expected of them, but we are here in a midweek study. This is a decision you made your busy you a job during school. You are things that you're doing but you carve time out of your schedule to come worship the Lord and hear the word of God that says to me you are spiritually healthy people. That's a good thing.

And here's the thing we need to recognize there's always more to learn. As a Christian. There's always a lot that needs to still change in my life. Listen, no matter how much you love, you want to love more right no matter how much you pray you always to pray more. I'm always wanting more of Jesus in will know that when we are waiting for a meal. We don't want to spoil our appetite know my wife would show me Camille shall have everything cut up in the little sections and imperfect portions and I like to swipe food I like stolen food I mean in it. You know in my own house and I paid for and understand our don't need that. Another moment she says only that I would need that the other day.

She made beautiful � eggs for will know they were Angel legs we would never make deviled exit exit. They were double they swept there were great to meet them for the ladies, you can have a meeting with the ladies and give them doubly and I want know you cannot.

There's only enough for them. She walks out of the room what you think.

I did a three and then I rearranged them and she never knew until right now, but there you know there are things that will do that will spoil our appetite for these chips that I found in the market there called she could chips abusing these chips. I got my first Dragon is that these are the most amazing chips ever then enter not that expensive like $3.20 a bag so I kept buying them and the promise.

I eat one and before I know it. I beaten the entire bag of chips.

He's a big backs big bags of chips inside that this is out of control so I realize it was a problem and I said to one of my granddaughters Genovese.

I like the evil chips I cannot resist them, but then were at the market my pick to bag up through to my little basket.

She said Papa why are you buying the evil chips love them. That's why so I did a post about this on Instagram. I took a photo of a display of these Chica chips and I just said what I said to you. I love these chips are: the evil chips would actually there fantastic will that I got a letter from the company that makes these chips. First of all, they think me for doing a post about their chips they understood.

I was actually complementing them not insulting them.

It was the very opposite of insulting.

I was just saying they're addicted and they sent me all whole box of the chip and I found out there, a Christian company as a Christian family that makes them know what I like them so much to say. I just said that spiritual discernment, there's something that's so something special about the gym saving up. John 316 written right in the little cartoon character of the chip on the back so I was eating the chips the other day by whites, is your reading those chips again. I said there Christian chips so it's okay to promise you it's up to think that it spoils your appetite.

There are things that we can do that can spoil our appetite spiritually. There are certain people that when we hang around them.

They will build us up the peristyle.

There are certain things we can do that can dollar appetite like what maybe sitting in front of the television for three hours your redundant you know I'm just didn't want something on Netflix really okay for you spent all this time looking at your phone endlessly flipping through it. You know, looking looking looking and you realize you can just waste a lot of time and sometimes those things can dull your appetite for the word of God to hear something to ask yourself about relationships, about pursuits, and by the way, these are not always evil thing I'm not talking about sin necessarily. I'm just talking about things we can get sidetracked doing so, ask yourself the question in the race of life this thing that I'm doing this is a winner result awaits. By that I mean does it speed me on my way in the race of life or does it kind of slow me down. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled counsel today.

Pastor Greg Laurie from his message called happiness, what it is and how to habit part two is part of his sermon on the Mount series called salt and light. Now if you missed any part of today's insight here on a new beginning you can get a replay by going to harvest.org again is called happiness, what it is and how to habit part two. You constrain the study or download MP3 for later. Well, we're making available an excellent resource.

In fact, to resources from renowned children's author Sally Lloyd Jones and Pastor Greg, you have the eye of an artist. In fact you were a graphic artist back before you actually started preaching. So when you look at children's picture books what you noticing well I waited I would describe myself as an advanced doodle or over a graphic artist but I ask you for a while did do graphic design. I do my little cartoon booklets and I design album covers and posters and other things like that but I letter designer at your beer being humble very very first tract you designed how many of those went out into circulation a lot. It was in the middle like a millionaire was well over a million. They went all around the world and it was the simplest of illustrations.

You don't sometimes in design, less is more.

And this might surprise some people.

But when I design something first and foremost, I wanted to be cool.

I wanted to grab. I of the person who's seen it then that draws them into the message that I'm seeking to convey and what I love about Sally's work is. She's such a great writer. It's so simple, but it's not simplistic.

It's profound in its deep but it's simple. Sally understands what to say and what not to say, and she has such a gift in communicating as she speaks. She has a beautiful voice and she's a great storyteller, but also when she writes it just the right amount of words on the page with a perfect designed to supported the kind of thing that will draw a child and you can set your little child on your lap or your grandchild and read with them through it and what I often do is as after I read it all have a point things out to me. Where's the balloon where's the dog words. This was at no point and I interact with them so they really absorb it and give them I don't rush through it. I give them time to sort of take it in and then I might ask them a question, then, something to engage them in the story. I mean, this is what Jesus did when he told parables. Parables are like say Once upon a time because parables were not true stories. There were illustrations in a parable is been defined as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning so he would tell the story to make a point. The kingdom of God is like this, or a sower went out to sow seed in this happened, etc. or a father had two sons.

He knows that he would tell these amazing stories. That's what Sally does in these beautiful books that she writes from the Jesus storybook Bible to this brand-new book that were offering right now simply called near so I think you're going to love this resource even more.

I think your children and grandchildren are gonna love it as well were not only including this book called near but were also including a special addition of the Bible for little ones newborn to age 4. It's called babies carry along Bible.

It's so cute I want to carry one myself, but I'm afraid people will think I've lost my mind, but it's very thick pages with bold illustrations. Some of the great stories of the Bible like little David beats Goliath, God saves Daniel in the lion's den baby Jesus is born Jesus stop the storm. Jesus is alive and on it goes great material great resources.

Let us get you copies of all of this as quickly as possible.

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We appreciated that you tune in.

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Sermon on the Mount, be sure to tune in for a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie and everybody. Thanks for listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it. Just go to harvest.org to find out how to know God personally go to harvest.org and click on know God