1. Sermon Series dealing with present day dangers to the family…

2. “A Clear and Present Danger!” (“God Wants Me Happy – Right?!”)
2 Corinthians 7:8-11

3. “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”

5. Is it true the Creator of the universe has given everyone the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

6. to develop a more Biblical attitude toward the pursuit of happiness
Purpose:
to develop a more Biblical attitude toward the pursuit of happiness

7. I God Wants You to Be Holy
A. Consider the Evidence

8. Leviticus 11:44-45
“I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.”

9. Leviticus 20:26
“You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.”

10. 1 Corinthians 1:2
“To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours…”

11. Ephesians 1:4
“For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight…”

12. 1 Peter 1:15-16
“But just as He Who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’”

13. I God Wants You Holy
A. Consider the Evidence
B. Consider His Desires

14. Revelation 21:27
“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful…”

15. Hebrews 12:14
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

16. Song writer Don Francisco
“Love is not a Feeling”
“He’s Alive”
“Got to Tell Somebody”
“Holiness”
Song writer Don Francisco

17. I God Wants You Holy A. Consider the Evidence B. Consider His Desires
C. Consider Your Name

18. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified… that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable… For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

19. II God Wants You Sorrowful
A. God Wants You Unhappy at Times

20. Proverbs 27:5-6
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

21. II God Wants You Sorrowful
A. God Wants You Unhappy at Times
B. God Wants You Sorrowful for the Right Matters

22. Mark 10:22
“At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

23. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

24. Philippians 3:18-19
“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

25. God wants you to have “good grief” – something upon which Charles Schulz had a good handle…

26. Hebrews 12:11
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

27. III God Wants You Understanding
A. True Joy

28. Matthew 5:12
“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

29. James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”

30. Philippians 3:1
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.”

31. III God Wants You Understanding
A. True Joy
B. Stuff is Stuff

32. Psalm 37:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

33. Summary and Conclusion:
Yes, God does want you and me happy after all – but not with the phony, plastic happiness of this world…