The Pursuit of Happiness Matthew 5:3

What would it take to make you happy?

Question: Can I be happy even if circumstances are not perfect? FACT: Happiness is a CHOICE Happiness depends on choosing the right ATTITUDE. 1st Beatitude: Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3)

Greatest sermon: Blessed: lit. “happy”. Refers to a “fortunate state” as defined by Christ

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What does it not mean to be ‘poor in spirit’? What does it mean to be ‘poor in spirit’? Means to have an attitude of humility. –not thinking less of yourself –it is thinking of yourself LESS. vs. 3

Benefits of Humility:1. It reduces STRESS When we don’t have all the answers, a great burden is lifted off our shoulders

Wise sayings about Humility Nigerian Proverb: One who asks never loses his way. A wise man never knows all, only fools know everything! Chinese Proverb: He who asks is a fool for 5 minutes. But he who does not ask remains a fool forever!

Benefit 2: Humility improves RELATIONSHIPS How many of us love to be around people who are proud?

3 keys to Right relationships: 1. I am not always RIGHT 2. I can be WRONG 3. I am SORRY To survive a marriage and a quarrel –use one of the above statements and you will live!

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 4 steps to relate with God: 1. Humble ourselves 2. Pray 3. Seek God’s face 4. Stop Sinning

Benefit 3: Humility releases God’s Grace! James 4:6 “ God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” God gives us spiritual power & strength to those who depend on Him.

God’s strength is perfected in weakness 2 Corinthians 12:7-10  Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, 

   My grace is enough; it's all you need. 
   My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

True or False? A. God helps those who can help themselves B. God helps those who realize they can’t help themselves C. God helps those who think they can do everything by themselves

Matthew 18:2-4 “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”