The secret of happiness k Looking at the book of Philippians…

Rather than what makes us unhappy, what makes us happy?  Affects both our physical and mental health  Leads to more productivity  Less aggression  Optimism  Adds up to 8 years on our life!

Fleeting/momentary V’s Everlasting happiness Grow in time Based on love

A Love That Will Grow

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:1-11

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy (verse 4) Philippians 1:1-11

Fleeting/momentary V’s Everlasting happiness Grow in time Based on love If anything is to grow, it needs to be fed

Food One: God

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Verse 6) Philippians 1:1-11

The story is not over! He will see it through to complexion. Don’t let your current situation rob your of happiness. God will continue working in you – this is his promise! Happiness gauge

Rejoice in him even though you are now in great heaviness. (1 Peter 1:6)

Food Two: Knowledge of Him

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (Verse 9) Philippians 1:1-11

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the L ORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1

Real happiness is not found in the externals, but what is under you - where your roots are. God’s love will grow in us, as we grow in him.

If you’re coming to him to make you happy, you’re coming to a false God “You’re not coming to a God, you’re coming to a butler.” Tim Keller He created you and therefore he owns you; ‘forget happiness, I come to you because I owe you everything.’ Focus on God not to receive happiness, but because he is worthy.

Food Three: Discernment

so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (verse 10) Philippians 1:1-11

When we are pulled by the things of this world, our happiness is robbed. Bad unhappiness Goodhappiness

I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel(verse 11) It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart (Verse 7) Philippians 1:1-11

Flex the muscle of discernment. Are we seeking first the kingdom of God or the kingdom of happiness? If we make anything else our number one priority we will not have it because we will be killed by the anxiety. We must grow in discernment to remain pure and blameless

Food Four: Jesus

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (verse 11) Philippians 1:1-11

“Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in, aim at earth and you get neither.” C.S.Lewis

God’s promise is that he will always be with us because he is in us, and he will continue working on us. Let’s peruse God and not happiness because that is where we will find true and everlasting happiness – in him, the creator who gave us life.

Professor Martin Seligman’s for components of wellbeing: 1.Positive emotion 2.Engagement; how engaged are you with the people you love, you work, your leisure 3.Relationships 4.Meaning and purpose 5.Accomplishments