Be Sour or be Happy? Philippians 1: 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[a] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[b] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Most people don't enjoy life; they just endure
it.
• They think that life must be perfect for them to be happy.
• So they are always looking for a change for the better. If I could just change my situation life would be great. If I could just get rid of all my problems, life would be fine.
• But there's no such thing as a problem free life.
If you're going to learn to be happy, joyful, you must learn to be joyful in the situation, in the problems, in the very experiences of life.
• "Happiness" comes from the root word that we get “happening”, from the circumstances.
• Joy is internal. Happiness is external. You have a happy time at Disneyland, you leave and you lose your happiness. Joy can be constant.
• How do you have joy in spite of what is going on in your life?
• They think that life must be perfect for them to be happy.
• So they are always looking for a change for the better. If I could just change my situation life would be great. If I could just get rid of all my problems, life would be fine.
• But there's no such thing as a problem free life.
If you're going to learn to be happy, joyful, you must learn to be joyful in the situation, in the problems, in the very experiences of life.
• "Happiness" comes from the root word that we get “happening”, from the circumstances.
• Joy is internal. Happiness is external. You have a happy time at Disneyland, you leave and you lose your happiness. Joy can be constant.
• How do you have joy in spite of what is going on in your life?
We can be joyful in all circumstances, by adopting a right perspective, set the right priority, lean on the power of
God, and focus on the purpose of life.
14 And because of my chains, most
of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the
more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Amazing, everything that is considered bad (from the human perspective)
and turned out to be good (in God’s perspective)!
• This is the attitude we must adopt. This is the perspective you need to live from, if you are going to have joy in your life.
• Roman 8:28 sums up this principle: “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him...”
• This is the attitude we must adopt. This is the perspective you need to live from, if you are going to have joy in your life.
• Roman 8:28 sums up this principle: “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him...”
When things get tough, I need to be clear what is really important and
what is not.
I want to distinguish the trivial from the significant.
I decided to be Happy! Happiness is a decision not a situation
• You can live your life bored down by trivial matters (usually the problems), or be driven by the significant things of life (the matters of great priority).
• Either you decide what's important in your life or you let other people decide what's important.
• If you don't choose your priorities, you'll go around putting out one fire after another, living your life simply from problem to problem, to problem and not choosing what's important.
18 But what does it matters? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[c] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
I want to distinguish the trivial from the significant.
I decided to be Happy! Happiness is a decision not a situation
• You can live your life bored down by trivial matters (usually the problems), or be driven by the significant things of life (the matters of great priority).
• Either you decide what's important in your life or you let other people decide what's important.
• If you don't choose your priorities, you'll go around putting out one fire after another, living your life simply from problem to problem, to problem and not choosing what's important.
18 But what does it matters? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[c] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
• LESSON: God has a purpose behind every
one of my problems. Get this and let joy fills your heart.
