Happiness Newsletter #183 - January I would like to discuss the word happiness in this lectute.

There are many emotions we experience in our daily lives, but seldom do we take time to analyze these emotions. Joy is often mistaken for happiness. There is a difference between happiness and joy. Many things are capable of making us joyful for a brief period of time. For example, activities we enjoy doing make us joyful while we are doing them. Happiness on the other hand, might be thought of as our peace of mind. Happiness is what will get you through the "long haul". If you are operating on short-term joy, you may run out of gas. The Greek word meaning happy is "makarios" (mak-ar'-ee-os). More often than not, "makarios" is translated in the Bible as blessed. The Greek word may be translated into English as happiness. Many of you are familiar with the beatitudes in the Bible which are the declarations of Christ from the Sermon on the Mount which begin with "Blessed are". Peace of mind, or blessed happiness, comes from our Father. How many times have you heard someone say, "Well, here it is again, another blue Monday"? Monday is a good day of the week. It is the beginning of another week that we may serve the Lord. A Christian should be an example of true happiness to the world. That is not to say a Christian's life is a bowl of roses. We all have problems, but when you have a strong foundation in Christianity, you know the problems of this world don't amount to much. Christians have the peace of mind to find true happiness. You understand there is a flesh body and an inner spiritual man. You live for the inner man and that is where you find happiness. What does the Bible say about happiness? Prov 3:13 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. Don't ever forget this, Beloved. What type of understanding are we talking about here? Let's read on. Prov 3:14 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. How could wisdom and understanding be better than silver and gold? If you have wisdom and understanding, riches and other blessings follow anyway. However, if you had a pocket full of gold but lacked wisdom, you wouldn't have a pocket full of gold for long. Someone would be very joyful to make you a real deal and beat you out of your gold. Prov 3:15-16 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. Length of days means the power to remain healthy and survive. Are we talking about being "street wise" here. No, we are talking about the wisdom and understanding that comes from our Father's council through the letter He wrote to us.

Prov 3:17 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. This is the peace of mind I mentioned earlier in this lecture. Happy is the person that is able to think with understanding. Prov 3:18 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. Christ is the tree of life. Grab hold of wisdom from the Father's Word. Prov 3:19 19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. Listen to God's Word. It was by wisdom the Lord founded the earth and by understanding that he established the heavens. Think of the power you will have over life's little problems, if you will base your life on that wisdom and understanding by which God created the heavens and earth. Don't allow anyone to rob you of happiness. God's letter to you explains the ease by which you may attain and maintain happiness. Prov 3:20 20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. Think of the knowledge required to design a system to irrigate the entire earth. Don't let all of God's wisdom and knowledge go to waste by ignoring His written Word to you. God created your body. He sent the Bible as an instruction manual for your body. How often have you tried to put a complicated toy together for your child without first reading the instructions? And, just as you think you are finished putting the toy together you say, "Uhhh, I wonder where this last part is supposed to go?" Then apart the toy comes. Just as some of your lives come apart, when you don't follow the instruction manual that God sent to you. The Lord tells us our bodies will work very well and we will be happy, if we will just do things His way. All wisdom comes from our Father. Won't you take your share? Prov 3:21-22 21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. The neck is man's weak spot. In times when physical battles were fought with swords, the neck was the most vulnerable spot. In these end times your neck is spiritually vulnerable. Especially, those of you that serve the Lord Why? Satan would love nothing more than to see you die the spiritual death. God will protect your neck, if you will but only take His Wisdom. Let's go to Proverbs 4:1. Listen to God's Word. Prov 4:1-6 1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Get wisdom and understanding. Without them you will never be happy. At this point, I must go to the beatitudes. The word beatitude means blissful happiness. The beatitudes all begin with the English word blessed which is translated from the Greek word makar which means happy. Matt 5:1 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: Christ did not address the multitudes. He was preparing to teach His students. Matt 5:2-3 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Happy are the humble in spirit, for an eternity in the kingdom of heaven with the King is theirs. This might be the most difficult beatitude for us in the flesh to live up to. Satan loves to see us build ourselves up and begin thinking we are really something, and then he will pull the rug out from under you. Your gifts, what ever they might be, are from God. Give Him credit for them. Matt 5:4 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blissfully happy are those that mourn. Mourn for what? Watch the evening news. Gangs of youths are killing each other because they have no hope. You are able to mourn with the understanding, the knowledge and the hope of God's plan to comfort you. Matt 5:5 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Compared to God we are meek. We are nothing. This is not to say, however, that Christians should be so meek they are afraid to stand up for their rights. Don't let others run over you. Yes, we are to get along with our neighbors, if at all possible. But, Christians are not second-class citizens. Matt 5:6 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Happy are they which hunger for the truth. What is truth? God's Word and His wisdom. Matt 5:7

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Merciful might better be translated compassionate. Happy are those who are compassionate. They shall be shown compassion. Matt 5:8 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Heart may be translated mind. Blissfully happy are the pure in mind. They will see God. Matt 5:9-10 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Most Christians are persecuted today. You have probably made a Christian statement in public and heard others snicker. Don't worry about it. God will take care of the persecutors and yours is the kingdom of heaven. Do you understand the peace of mind Christ's Words offer to His students? You are a child of the King. Matt 5:11-12 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. As it is written in Mark 13:9 the Elect will stand against the evil false one for the Lord's sake to testify against the antichrist. Christ is teaching us we should be blissfully happy in this knowledge. Great is your reward in eternity. In closing, let's see what the fisherman had to say ahout beatitudes. 1 Pet 3:13-14 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; You don't have to worry, friends. In fact, to worry is to doubt every promise God made to you. It is well to be concerned and plan ahead, but He is going to take care of you as long as you are trying. There is one other verse that comes to mind. 1 Pet 4:14 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. We Christians have the opportunity to glorify God by standing up for the truth. Happy is the person that takes instructions and wisdom from the Father. Let your happiness shine to others as an example of what Christian life is. In His Service,