Phil.4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil.4:4 To be calmly happy or well-off

 Happiness does not depend on having things  Joy is not found in what is around you  Joy is found in what is inside you

I. Trust in God 5. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Prov. 3:5-6

“He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.” Prov. 16:20 Matt. 6:31-33 = we can trust Him to meet our needs Phil. 4:6-7 ~ “...Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding...”

II. Enjoy the Bible 1. Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalms 1:1-2 pleasure

“How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalms 119:103 Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.” Do you read and study ???

Phil.4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil.4:4

III. Live Righteously 10. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. 11. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalms 32:10-11

“The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.” Psalms 64:10 “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,” Titus 2:12

IV. Worship God I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD.“ Psalms 122:1 “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” Psalms 95:1

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24  Worship is feeding our soul  Soul wellness is essential to being happy

Phil.4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Phil.4:4

V. Clean Conscience “having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,” 1 Timothy 1:19 “I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did,...” 2 Tim. 1:3a

VI. Learn Contentment “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:” Phil. 4:11 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6

VII. Stay Busy doing Good Idleness breeds evil 1 Timothy 5:13-14 “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” Rom. 12:11 Lazy

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Ephesians 4:28

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Gal. 6:10 “...always abounding in the work of the Lord,...” 1 Cor.15:58

Not in Unbelief Not in Unbelief – Voltaire: “I wish I had never been born.” Not in Pleasure Not in Pleasure - Lord Byron: “The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone.” Not in Money Not in Money - Jay Gould: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”

Not in Position and Fame: Not in Position and Fame: – Lord Beaconsfield: “Youth is a mistake; manhood, a struggle; old age, a regret.” Not in Military Glory Not in Military Glory - Alexander the Great: “There are no more worlds to conquer.”

“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” Jn.16:22 “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts4:12

Happiness is something that can come to those who follow Christ.

Happiness comes, not from what one has, but what one becomes.

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Morning April 13, 2008