The Foundation for Happiness

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4

^{Text: Philippians 4:4 and Romans 5:1-11
God wants you to be happy!
If we are to understand this statement, we must dismiss the cultural definition of happiness and see what Scripture says.
Culture tells us that happiness is that feeling we get when we get our way—when things go in our favor—when we win. It is a bubbly, superficial, and circumstantial feeling that comes and goes. But this is not the Bible's definition of happiness (or Webster's dictionary for that matter). In Scripture, joy and happiness are identical and interchangeable. Whenever you see "joy" and "rejoice", this is about being happy. Allow Scripture to inform you about joy/happiness. As I mentioned in the sermon, the word "joy" is one of the fruits of the Spirit is the exact word is used 57 times in the New Testament. Dig in and study the Scriptures yourself! Allow Scripture to train you in godliness and understanding.
I love what author Randy Alcorn has to say about happiness. He writes, "Rest assured, [happiness] is not about pasting on a false smile in the midst of heartache. It’s about discovering a reasonable, attainable, and delightful happiness in Christ that transcends difficult circumstances. This vision is realistic because it’s built on God’s all-encompassing sovereignty, love, goodness, grace, gladness, and redemptive purposes in our lives."
So don't feel discouraged because you're not an upbeat, perky, or bubbly person. The joy of the Lord,  built upon the gospel, has a way of lifting the soul and moving the lips. The Apostle Paul writes, "As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died" (Galatians 6:14 NLT).As we embrace the gospel more and more, God will enable us to see our hardships and circumstances through a much larger, gospel lens! This lens, "You have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1) changes us! God spoke the world and your very life into existence—He is now for you and not against you because of the cross of Jesus Christ! God is not punishing you in bad circumstances. Jesus took the punishment you and I deserved. So today—}

• ^{Boast in the cross!}
• ^{Brag on Jesus!}
• ^{Don't allow circumstances to hinder your boasting. Boast in Jesus for Who He is and what He has done!}
• ^{Sing songs of praise—you've been rescued from eternal death and damnation (read Acts 16:25)!}

^{If you find yourself today have little or no delight in God or lacking in motivation to boast in Jesus, ask yourself:}

• ^{Am I truly a believer? Is Jesus my real love? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and let's set up a time to talk if you're not sure.}
• ^{Am I depressed? Is there a medical reason I'm struggling with feelings of hopelessness and unhappiness? Here is a good resource.}
• ^{Do I want to want to love Jesus more? You know you are a true believer but you find yourself struggling with joylessness in your relationship with God. Here is a free resource for you.}

^{YESTERDAY'S APPLICATION:}