The Pursuit of Happiness

Harvest podcasts featuring Pastor Greg Laurie are brought to you by harvest partners to receive Pastor Greg's free online daily devotions or to become a harvest partner, please visit us online@harvest.org. Pray Lord if we just saying we welcome you here, Lord Jesus, have your way among us and speak to assume your word because we believe it's inspired and we believe it is so relevant for this moment in this world at this time to live these principles out so help us as we adjust our worldview and help us to think and live biblically as we look at the words of Jesus from the sermon on the Mount. We ask all of this in Jesus name, amen. You can be seated lower back in our worldview series that were anchoring and Matthew 5 to 7. The sermon on the Mount, what is the worldview of the way you view life and affects your decisions. It affects your politics. It affects everything that you do and what were trying to establish is a biblical worldview. But we will begin to think and live biblically. What better place to anchor this and then the sermon on the mount of the greatest sermon ever preached you want to know in Jesus thinks about relationships with other people read the sermon on the Mount.

You want to know what kind of worldview we ought to have then read the sermon on the mount because here is effectively the worldview of Christ himself, but the beginning of the sermon on the Mount, we have what we call the beatitude eight of them in total and the theme of the Beatitudes is personal happiness.

The word blessed is used repeatedly blessed of the poor and squirt a spirit blessed are they that mourn the word blessed to be translated happy or blissful. So that is our theme and the title of this message is the pursuit of happiness, and I begin with a question.

Why are we on this earth. What is the purpose of our existence. Some would say what we are here to pursue happiness and by the way, that is not unique to our time 2000 years ago. The Greek philosopher Aristotle said, quote happiness is the meaning and purpose of life. The aim and end of human existence, and it's so important to us as Americans that it's actually in our Declaration of Independence.

As you know, it states, among other things, that as Americans were endowed with.

Certainly many inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and what the pursuit of happiness. And so it's it's something that's important to a lot of us. It's also a hot topic today.

There been a lot of studies that have been done in happiness. There are college courses taught on the topic, but people are talking about happiness like never before. Written article from psychology today. That said, the pursuit of happiness is all around us, they said, welcome to the happiness frenzy not begin at a Barnes & Noble near you. They pointed out that in the year 2050 books have been written on the subject of happiness.

It's quite a few books but in the year 2008, 4000 books were written on the topic of happiness. So are we here on this earth to be happy, while according to Eric Hopper who was a philosopher he made this statement, the search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness.

There's a lot of truth to that.

If you want to be a happy person. Don't dedicate your life to The Pursuit of Happyness because one thing is almost certain if you do that you will end up as an on happy person. We might think of. We had untold wealth or fame, then we would be happy but actor and comedian Jim Carrey recently was quoted to say I hope everyone can get rich and famous and will have everything they ever dreamed of. Then they will know that that is not the answer.

And it's true. USA Today recently did an article on happiness and how to get it. They interviewed hundreds of people and experts would study this topic and as it turns out, the study was done during the holiday season when people are supposed to be happy and they came to some interesting conclusions. Number one they discovered that families and friends provide the best antidote to on happiness. The article said that marriage mostly makes people happier in a close family and Nokia inoculates many kids against despair. Also, the happiest people all seem to have good friends so family and friends seem to help in happiness. Number two, they mentioned that things don't make you happy. Materialism is toxic for happiness is University of Illinois psychologist at diner even rich material is art as happy as those who care less about getting and spending number three. They said if you want to be happy.

You need to be grateful for what you have.

They said that gratitude has a lot to do with life satisfaction, talking and writing about what you're grateful for amplifies an adult happiness. Other researchers found that learning to save or even small risers has the same affect number four they discovered that forgiving people are happy people, forgiving people are happy people forgiveness he said is the trait most strongly linked to happiness.

In fact, it is described as the Queen of all virtues interesting, and then finally they said the happiest people under our who do you think the Americans know the Scandinavian.

I don't know what do we have any Scandinavians or are you, sir, are you happy okay so there you now we can do something about some of these things but not all of these things. Maybe we can all try to be grateful for what we have. We can try to surround yourself with friends and family and be forgiving. I don't know about the Scandinavian part. But here's the thing, is the happiness that this world offers largely depends on things happening when things are going reasonably well were reasonably happy when things are not going well were not so happy. The Bible talks about happiness but defines it in a different way altogether. When we read the word happiness in the Bible it speaks of something that is self-contained. In other words, you can have it. Regardless of your circumstances that happiness the Bible advocate does not come from what you have. It comes from who you know in the who of course I'm referring to is the Lord himself. So here in the Beatitudes are the statements of Jesus and how we can be happy there bite-size or simple if Jesus walked among us today and had a twitter account. He might squeeze the thing, because there are 49 characters or less. Each one they would work very nicely as little tweets but really what they are of the worldview of Christ and they are statements and how we can be happy people. I might point out there. It is sequences in order to them. One is in the place that it should be as is the other.

They're not given haphazardly so let's read them again. Matthew five starting in verse three Jesus says blessed or happy are blissful are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those that 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 the sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake might underline those two words righteousness sake will come back to those for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile 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 they persecuted the prophets that were before you ain't Beatitudes in total. We've already looked at the first four. Let's review them and will look at the final four number one happy are the nobody happy other nobodies.

Verse three Blessed are the poor in spirit.

This has absolutely nothing to do with how much money you have needed say Blessed are the poor. There is not a blessedness and being bored, nor is there a virtue when it is is not about your financial situation.

This is about your state before God.

Blessed are the poor in spirit. This could be better translated the bankrupt. It doesn't mean physically big brother means. Blessed is a man or woman that recognizes that they are spiritually bankrupt before a holy God.

Blessed is the person who sees himself as they really are a nobody bringing us to beatitude number two happy people are unhappy people not not perpetually but for a time. If you want to be happy. First, you have to be unhappy. What do I mean by that will as important spirit as I see myself before God for what I am a sinner separated from him. I mourn over my condition.

I'm sorry for the state that I'm in. Blessed are they that mourn happy are they that mourn.

Why, because that morning that sorrow produces something good called repentance because the Bible says godly sorrow produces repentance, so I see myself as I am.

I mourn over my condition. I'm sorry enough to change, bringing me to beatitude number three happy are the humble copy of the humble verse by Blessed are the meek.

As you recall, meekness is not weakness.

The word meekness is power under constraint as I see God for who he is because I see myself for who I am. I'm sorry for my condition produces MEI meekness. I realize that I'm not all that I realize that I am a sinner who is been forgiven by my Savior leading me to number four. Happy are the spiritually hungry copy of the spiritually hungry I happy person will dispassionately desire a righteous life because verse six says happy are those Blessed are those are blissful are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. This is speaking of a spiritual hunger. On one hand it's ascribing a person is hungry and is filled and is hungry again. Not long afterwards. Certainly The week sushi we have any sushi fans out there okay. Quite a few of you do have any Scandinavians sushi event you like to see if Kate here really paid attention. He Scandinavian. That's the only only okay but you I like sushi and the problem is alive right needed. I'm hungry. Not long afterwards as it does anyone else of that but it's so expensive. I don't want to eat more sushi as Ali eat bread or something to fill up on but you don't when you start was sushi. You start off with the entry-level stuff like the California roll.

Everyone can handle bad, you know to be a little what is it crab or fake crab. I think that they put in the mint and so it's a lot of Verizon and then he can move up and you and you try your first sushi which is a little rice a little fish raw fish on it and then you start to the next level. Then it's like joke and was sushi me take off the rice, sliced rockfish, and then of your little psycho you eat it when it's a little bit.

Life still there actually was a decision place the other day and some of the things work like parsley live. I didn't know what that meant. I guess it was like abalone the can is the move the that if you do that your weirdo can annoy but you know I'm hungry. Not long afterwards.

It but here's the idea, but a really happy person is hungry for the things of the Lord you Coni have a good meal, a Bible study word for it. You dig in and you're satisfied with your hungry afterwards and you want to do it again.

That's a good sign you see that as a sign of a happy person. A person that walking with God because you always have a long ways to go. Paul writes in Philippians 19 and this I pray that your love may abound still more and more he should be growing in love.

I should be growing in faith. We all should be growing spiritually, no matter how much you love in the love more. No matter how much you pray you want to pray more, no matter how much you will be you want to obey more Blessed are those that continually hunger and thirst for righteousness that's implied in the original language.

We will not be completely satisfied until we see his face, some 1715 says I will be satisfied when I await in his likeness, and until that day. There's going to be with John MacArthur describes as a divine discontent, a sense that there's still so much more to learn. Let me ask you a question are you satisfied with your spiritual state right now.

Let me answer for myself I'm not satisfied. I have a lot to learn. Is a lot of growing that needs to happen in my life still there's a lot of things in my life that still need to change in some of your sin. That's right a minute about the note you to all of us. It's like Paul said after years of walking with the Lord in Philippians 312 my dear friends, I'm still not all that I should be, but I'm focusing all of my energies on this one thing forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. It's been said he has the most need of righteousness least once it turned the screen.

He has the most need of righteousness least once it. In other words, if you say to me while I'm really doing well. I don't really know that I need more during greater need and you recognize a real mark of a spiritual person is not always hungry and thirsty for more and more and more, and there are certain things that spoil our appetite aren't there, you know you're told and not snack between meals. And sometimes we feed on spiritual junk food if you will diminish our appetite spiritually.

Not even bad things in and of themselves, but sometimes things that just take the edge of our appetite offer appetite mother periodically, we need to ask ourselves the question. It is this thing that I'm engaged in this relationship is pursued. This activity is it making me more or less hungry for spiritual things doesn't draw me closer or doesn't in some way. Keep me away from Jesus. Another way that they committed.

Is it a wing moral weight in the race of life as it is in a wing moral weight doesn't speed me on my way or doesn't slow me down. He was 12 says Leah sign this in our Leah said the weight and the sin that so easily beset you and run the race that is set before you looking on the Jesus and listen if you're really hungry and thirsty for righteousness. You will find don't tell me you can't find time in your schedule for Bible study. Don't tell me you're too busy to pray, don't tell me you just can't make it out.

The church I don't buy where there's a will there's a way.

If you really want something, you'll put yourself in the place we're going to get that something that you actually want. Blessed is the man of the woman that continuously is hungering and thirsting for righteousness. Now we shift gears in the Beatitudes or attitudes that should be the ones we've already looked at relate more to my relationship with God the final poor deal more with my relationships with others.

We've already seen what happy people are now we will discover what happy people do what they do. How this plays out Martin Lloyd Jones" a Christian is something before he does something. So here's what I ought to be doing.

See, as I see myself as I really am and I mourned over my condition as I walked in meekness before God and I've hundred and thirsting for righteousness and skill are producing me mercy. I will be more merciful because I recognize how much mercy has been extended to me I will come to realize that I'm just one beggar telling another beggar where to find food, bring me to beatitude number five verse seven was out of the merciful, happy people are merciful people you know this culture. Mercy was not held in high regard that the Romans did not care for mercy and all they saw it as a weakness, not as a virtue of one of the Roman philosophers of the day said, quote, mercy was a disease of the soul" to the Romans. It was a sign of weakness. They glorify justice and courage and discipline power member gladiator with it say when to another strength and honor it out. I was a Roman way. It was a way of force.

It was a way of conquest. It was a way of discipline, mercy, what good is mercy in effect during these days, there was a right that was given the parents called Patria protest this then gave the father the right to kill their child after they were born that they did not want the child they can do sonograms in those days to determine the sex of the child or to see what physical state.

The child was in so if the father wanted a son, and the other daughter to be given a thumbs up. The toggle live to be given, thumbs down, the child would be drowned immediately then that's how they live.

I was a mentality of the day so Jesus says Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. They didn't value mercy and that culture we don't value it, and ours as well, but you might as will Greg what is mercy mercy is something we do not just something we feel in Matthew 63. The word used for mercy.

There is translated. Almsgiving it means to help a person in need to rescue the miserable mercy means a sense of feeling pleasant desire to relieve the suffering. Simply saying I feel your pain is not mercy. Mercy is meeting the need, not just feeling it. Real mercy is pity was action. So if you see a person without food you give them food that submersible mercy is seen a person was lonely and bringing them comfort so I see a probably all that's so sad all the breaks my heart that might be pity, but if I say oh that's so sad, to do something about it.

That's mercy when he came in today. You saw that blue structure outside of our church. He rolled a video before the service. That is one of the structures that's being built by Samaritans purse over in Haiti right now. I'll believe it or not, that will accommodate a family of 10 people. If you walk in it you'll see there's bunkbeds built in it, and it's not a luxurious structure but for people living over there been living out in the elements with 1 million of them homeless. He it's it's quite wonderful really. And I heard of one person who said this is the nicest home I've ever been in, and you can build one of those for just under $1000 this and that the structure will last a fairly long period of time. As we saw the video. The reason we put this out.

Care was so you could just see how mercy works is that this is mercy, so another words if I walked out and I think wow this is cool that that's this issue, admiring something is I care about the people of Haiti that that's pity, but if you say make a contribution toward one of these. So this connection we help people.

That's mercy is when you actually do something about it. Blessed are the merciful Jesus as the availability mercy. We have a box back there if you want to contribute toward putting some of those structures will make sure that all of those funds get directly to those people so blessed are the merciful wife. They shall obtain mercy. Listen to this, the more righteous a man is the more merciful he will be no more sinful a man is the more harsh and critical.

He will be think about this. Sometimes it people that are quick to condemn quick to criticize Crichton come down and everyone else leaving all their they do that because their spiritual contract little friends there escargot warfarin. What I just said if you speak French is to the contrary. A snail with garlic anyway. Contrary to the for UNIX okay so here's the thing is when you really a spiritual person when you're really a godly man or woman. You will be a merciful person not condemning person is.

Here's the thing that we need to realize if we know anything of God's forgiveness and our life. We should be forgiving other people forgiven people are forgiving people. And if you're not a forgiving person. I have to question how much you know about God's forgiveness that is been extended toward you. Is it will Greg you don't understand people of hurt me all sure I understand that but let me say this to you to not forgive a person is like drinking rat poison and waiting for the rat to die that make sense. See the best thing to do with rat poison is to give it to the rat. You should not drink so the same way will we know forgive just to suffer us because that person may be oblivious to the fact that were upset with the you know they walked into the room. We see him and we were all steamed up our Lord will don't get me started to get on the person to sail the gauntlet walk and walk out just to get need not appear just to drink the rat poison you. And so the idea here is, blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy by not merciful. I have to ask, so I know anything of God's mercy extended toward me.

Thomas Adams." He that demands mercy and shows none ruins the bridge over which he himself is to pass on this next beatitude is what we would describe as a humdinger. This is a big one. Number six, a happy person will be a holy person happy person will be a holy person. Listen to this statement of Jesus, blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Read that you say what pure in heart, who could ever be pure in heart. Answer, you can I can be. How we have to understand what this statement means by pure in heart. Jesus is not saying that the you can never have an impurity in your heart or not and never have an inconsistency. Otherwise, we would all be disqualified. The Bible clearly teaches that the heart is deceitful, he would get above all things. Who could know itself you know. We know this about our company. Here's our work, I come to God poor in spirit.

I see myself as I really am.

I mourn over my condition. Like the psalmist.

I pray creating me a clean heart of God, and renew a right spirit within the Lord give me a new heart know in our culture, we often refer to the hard as the center of the motion and will refer to the mind is a center of intellect.

So will say things like, well, my mind says one thing but my heart says another. What we mean is, logically, I think there is but emotionally I feel that that is not how the hubris of the heart in Hebrew culture, the heart referred to everything. In other words, the heart was the very center of their personality. It was a center of their emotions as well as the mind and it included the thinking process in back in Proverbs 23.

Seven it says as a man thinks in his heart so is he. So the heart is the center of who you are. So this means you with all of your being. You should be pure.

But what is it mean to be pure as a mean to be flawless. No a good translation of it would be to be single maybe even another way we could translate it would be to be focused later in the sermon on the Mount will to read the words of Jesus on the same idea when he says if your eye is single, your whole body is full of light. If your eye is evil or double vision, your whole body is full of darkness, to be single or pure means they have a single-minded devotion to Jesus, not what you don't have a divided heart. That is why the psalmist said unite my heart to fear your name.

So, to be pure in heart is to seek to live a holy life because that is the secret to happiness. If you want to be happy. Seek to be homely. Don't chase after happiness chase after holiness.

Martyn Lloyd Jones said and I quote seek for happiness and you'll never find it. Seek righteousness and you will discover you are happy it will be there without your knowing it without your taking it. Beatitude number seven a happy person will be a peacemaker, blessed, says the Lord are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God lowball the Beatitudes. This one is probably the one most likely to meet with the approval of almost everyone who reads it, both Christian and non-Christian alike because we all want peace in the world, but this is not really a statement of Christ that is given to advocate just working for global peace. So that's honorable thing to do and there's a lot of people that want that and and I'm all for peace but I'm not for peace at any cost.

There are times we have to draw the line and stand up for what is right. I mean we could have let Hitler have his way in, effectively exterminate the entire Jewish population population of Europe because we wanted peace, but they came up when we said this is wrong. It has to stop and we entered into a war. There is such thing as a just war is not desirable, but sometimes it has to be done will do with this later when we get to the Christian in retaliation in the Christian in self-defense, but suffice it to say that the contents of this statement is not about working for keys in and of itself, but this is speaking more about a person that is bringing the message of the gospel because we are wanting people to enter into a relationship with Jesus was the Prince of peace. Romans 1015. Since how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace. Bring glad tidings of good things. So in a nutshell, we as people lament God. People of experiences, mercy, and have committed our lives to hungering and thirsting after him are telling others. Thus, we will be true. Peacemakers, because Romans 51 says having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, having said that, let me forewarn you, you need to know this peacemakers are often troublemakers. I know that sounds contradictory because you think is of a peacemaker and as a person with a big key symbol on their shirt, maybe some love beads a peace and peace and love than to chill you know not enough that I would peacemaker is at just a hip. No real peacemaker is a troublemaker because I recognize it as long as a man or a woman is at war with God.

I maybe have to make them sad before I make them happy. In other words, I may have to confront them with the reality of their spiritual state before the Lord and thus an have to be aggressive not passive who was a greater peacemaker than Jesus himself. The Prince of peace. So how do they treat him while they crucified him actually. So the point is that if you're a real peacemaker.

You are going to be persecuted.

Which brings us to our last beatitude number eight.

By the way, this is not the most popular of the eight happy people will be persecuted. Verse 10 to 12 blessed says the Lord 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, exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets that were before you listen, you can count on this. If you live a godly life. You will be persecuted.

It's not not a matter of if it's a matter of when and how much you know we love the claim the promises of God right a Lord who promised to provide for me, Lord, you promise to protect me, that's all true when the last time you claim this promise second Timothy 314, all the live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Lord, you promised it in your were and I lay hold of your promise today send persecution. How many of you pray for that reason, I thought I haven't either. Who likes to be persecuted. But most of us listen to what Jesus says your blessed if you are I want you to notice in this particular beatitude. He uses the word blessed twice and all the others. The word blessed is used once to emphasize the generous blessing given by God to the persecuted. He says double blessed other persecuted or happy. Happy are the persecuted, to put it in the in and out vernacular will receive a double double blessing you know the double double. And if you really want to be bless go for the double double animal style right Peter know what I mean just pulling the in and out and say that you'll find out.

I think you like the result. But the thing is is there is a double blessing promised for the person who is persecuted, but why why are we persecuted because of righteousness by its very nature is confrontational even when you're not preaching, not mincing him to get into a person's face just very effective. You believe in Jesus, Bob, some people have you noticed that disaffected you all please believe that father's them. Why is that Jesus is in John 320 everyone practicing evil hates the light does not come to the life lest his deeds shall be exposed.

That's why you know people give a lot of reasons. Whether or not Christians I'd say their excuses and I see the real reason a person does not come to Christ as they don't want their evil deeds exposed. They don't want to admit there is center mature representative of Christ. You know what it's like someone finds out your Christian, the date to start treating you differently is not because of something you necessarily Saturday just because you profess faith in Christ. They treated you in a different way. Why is that because you my friend. Other representative of God on earth.

And if you think it's strange for you. Think out is for me when they find out I'm a preacher and all the talk with someone get along.

Find the pay. So what you do for living well I'm a pastor hero. What I'm a pastor. Oh yeah I remember preacher. I mean I might as well just said I'm the next murder or worse yet, I'm a telemarketer and I have all your phone numbers you eat dinner. By the way, because that's what I like to call me you would believe the things people say to me, not in fairness, I people thanked me for what I do and far too often, but I people to just get mad at me because I'm a preacher to get angry with me, and though take out all of the things they don't like about God and about our faith on the qualify request to review preacher you know for nothing ago and I know I just happen to know so you listen you try to answer those questions of the best of your ability, but the reality is if you are going to follow Jesus you're going to face persecution to the degree that you will fulfill the last seven beatitude, you will experience the eight member repeat that to the degree that you will fulfill the last seven beatitude, you will experience EA. In other words, if you are really poor in spirit.

Sorry for your condition me hungering and thirsting after righteousness I that you're a peacemaker and support you will be persecuted. So here's my question. If you're not being persecuted. I wonder what's the problem here, because all that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But I want you to notice why we should be persecuted. Verse 10 happy other persecuted who are persecuted for righteousness say then Jesus says again. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and say all kind of evil against you falsely, for my sake, he did not say Blessed are you when you are persecuted for being self-righteous, though. Blessed are you when you're persecuted for being righteous, nor did he say Blessed are you when you're persecuted for being obnoxious or tactless or moronic or idiotic can I be honest with you.

There are some really lame Christians out there that you really odd thing you know, just because you converted doesn't mean that you'll stop being semi-obnoxious. I bet some converted obnoxious people. Maybe I'm one of them.

I'm not sure, but I've met people in the bill the way they do things and whether they do it that way.

Why one of the have to be unnecessarily up and said he see the objective but were sharing our faith is not to burn the bridge instead build it. The goal is to not win the argument gets to win the soul and sometimes you know people will be unnecessarily aggressive bill be a little bit mean dealt the misrepresent these things and I'll be persecuted of the cityfolk praise God and be persecuted right because I think no executor be persecuted because you're kind of a jerk.

Frankly, so let's not be persecuted for that. Let's try to be persecuted for the right reasons. Because a double blessing this promise for that person. Well, what does it mean to be persecuted. There were persecuted could be translated to be chase to be driven away to be pursued to be chase driven away in pursuit. Sometimes persecution is violent in their beeped and people who have been physically assaulted for their faith.

Happens all the time, not so much in America but we see it Mormor, even in our own country.

Certainly, around the world, certainly in cultures where Islam is in control. We see Christians harass jail sometimes even martyred for their faith. Also in communist regimes and happen so we can be violent.

Sometimes it's more subtle might be the loss of a job, being the brunt of people's jokes might lose some friends. But here's the thing. If you live a godly life going to be persecuted. So what should you do when you are persecuted, according to Jesus first 12 rejoice and be glad that's what you should do if you're persecuted, rejoice and be glad for another way to translated jump and skip with happy excitement. Let's all do that together right now. The gentleman from Scandinavia will leave no but you know is enough perfect jump and skip with happy excitement. Thank you Lord that I been allowed to be your representative. Look at verse 12. Great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted the prophets that were before you. You see, not only does persecution draws closer to Jesus and as a result further away from the world system that is hostile to him that guarantees a reward.

God allows persecution for his own special purposes. Maybe you're being persecuted right now might be your husband. My dear wife, I'm serious. You're married to a nonbeliever you know you come home from church, glass, and they get a laboratory given how is it that church today. What is that bald, fat do that to say this time or my come from your parents or your children. My come from your neighbor or your coworker Monday morning. Every single Monday there waiting with a bunch of crazy questions to lay on you or my come from a student in my come from your teacher in class who knows you're a believer and uses you as an example to ridicule in front of everyone else is and I gotta get out of this class. I gotta get out of this neighborhood. I gotta get out of this marriage. Maybe God put a catfish in your tank, why to keep you on your toes or of your fish to keep you on your sins, but the idea is to keep you sharp, spiritually, believe it or not. Persecution has its good points because number one at the confirmation that you're a child of God.

Jesus says great is your reward in heaven through Brazil persecuted the prophets that were before you entered confirmation. You are a man of God for the confirmation. You're a woman of God, and number two will cause you to clean closer to Jesus and be reminded that this world is not your home. Normally now I know I have not painted the most appealing portrait of the Christian faith, and be a Christian. So you can be harassed and ridiculed and maybe put to death but you know what, I'm just telling you the truth, because our fate is worth living for.

And, if necessary. It's worth dying for you.

That way, then either you don't know enough about Jesus.

Or maybe you're not even converted yet because if you really have a relationship with God.

You understand how important these things are that we been talking about today is Jesus Christ calls us to follow him and this is not for wimps. You know this sounds scary to you is and then you know you're not going to do well but let me add this to yes it's scary but all men. The payoff is huge about heaven. I forgot offer. If you're persecuted, how about a reward in heaven. And then how about the Lord walking with you through life no matter what you think. Knowing you're never alone as he unfolds his unique plan and purpose for you. Jesus offers us and no one else. No profit, no Guru, no religious leader can bring you real happiness all little moments of happiness that come and go, no material thing can give you the happiness you long for. No relationship to give it either. You're only going to find it in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And yes, it is worth living for and diverge in the fringe benefit of that is this piece in this happiness, but the ultimate thing is they have this relationship with God as the Bible says happy are the people whose God is the Lord so organized close now in prayer and I would like to extend an invitation to any of you that are listening who may not have this relationship with God you don't know what it is to hunger and thirst for spiritual things you don't know what it is to have this assurance that you will go to heaven when you die if you never asked Jesus to come in your life. Respond to this invitation and are giving out. Let's all bow our heads and pray father, thank you for your word to us today or Jesus, thank you for these words about our purpose and our focus on life and I pray for any here that do not yet know you that you will help them to see their need for you and help them to come to you this day. We pray know what I had said about your eyes are closed and were praying.

If you've never asked Jesus Christ to come in the airline. If you don't know what it is they have the forgiveness of your sin if you want to know that you will go to heaven when you die you just right now wherever you are. Pray this prayer with me just pray this prayer with me now Lord Jesus I know in the center, but she died on that cross and shed your blood for every sin I've ever committed. I'm sorry for that sin. Lord I turn from it.

I repented it and I turn to you by faith. Be my Savior, my God, my friends in my master, I commit my life to you. I believe in you. Now in Jesus name I pray