Happiness: What It Is and How to Have It, Part 2

Notes: Happiness: What It Is and How toHave It,  Part 2

Why are we on this Earth? Mankind has been seeking Happiness for a long time.

Conventional happiness seems to be beauty, money or fame.

A study shows, 1. family and friends are the best anecdote for unhappiness. 2. Things don't make you happy. 3. Gratefullness for things you have. 4. Forgiveness is the greatest trait of happiness. 5. Scandinavians are the happiest people, Americans are second.

Beatitudes: Attitudes we should have, Attitudes that should be.

Matthew 5:3-12 NIV

[3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. [5] Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. [8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. [10] Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [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.

1. Happy are the nobodies. (Blessed are the poor in spirit – verse 3.)

To be poor in spirit means to be understanding your spiritual state before God. We are sinners.

2. Unhappy people are happy people. (Blessed are they that mourn – verse 4.)

Understanding your position before God. Be sorry for the sins you have done.

3. Happy are the humble. (Blessed are the meek – verse 5.)

Recognizing I would be no where without God.

4. Happy are the spiritually hungry (verse 6).

A happy person desires a righteous life. Is hungry in pursuit of it.

You are not done as a Christian. No matter how much you love, you ought to love more.

Psalm 17:15 NIV

[15] As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Is your hunger for Christ growing or diminishing.

A Christian is something before he does something.

5. Happy people are merciful people (verse 7).

You understand where you came from and where others could be.

Matthew 6:3 NIV

[3] But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Mercy is pity plus action.

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

A forgiven person should be a forgiving person.

The queen virtue of happiness is forgiveness. Just as Christ has forgiven you.

6. A happy person will be a holy person (verse 8). Matthew 5:8 NIV

[8] Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Many songs are written about the heart.

Proverbs 23:7 NIV

[7] for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

7. A happy person will be a peacemaker (verse 9). Matthew 5:9 NIV

[9] Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Even non Christians seem to quote Matthew 5:9

Th Bible talks about personal peace with God.

Peacemakers are often trouble makers.

Matthew 10:34-36 NIV

[34] “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--- [36] a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

There seems to have to be trouble before there is peace.

James 4:1-2 NIV

[1] What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? [2] You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

8. A happy person will be persecuted! (verses 10–12) Matthew 5:10-12 NIV

[10] Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. [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.

Living a Godly life is not a matter of when you are persecuted, it is a matter of how much you will be.

2 Timothy 3:12 NIV

[12] In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

It is for righteousness you should be persecuted. For any other reason doesn't seem to be for your faith. If you are mean or hateful, that is not what the Bible is speaking of as a reason.

Persecution: to be chased, driven away or pursued.

If you can't remember the last time you were persecuted, you should be asking "what's wrong with me".

God will use your persecution for His glory.

John 3:20 NIV

[20] Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

“Blessed are you who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” (Matthew 5:10)

“Rejoice and be glad” (verse 12)

John 15:18 NIV

[18] “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

1. It is a confirmation that you are a child of God.

2. It causes you to cling to Jesus and be reminded that this world is not your home!

If something is worth living for then it should be worth dying for!

The Parable of Spiritual Growth

Notes: The Parable of Spiritual Growth

January 16, 2014 

Pastor Greg 

Luke 8

We have all lost things- God loses things to (people that want to grow spiritually) - hunger for the word is good for you.

The most famous of Jesus parables about spiritual growth.

It's up to us if we want to grow, not God's choice, he gives us that choice.

Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

You have to be filled with the Holy Spirit like a car needs to filled, meaning constant.

Luke 8:4-15 NKJV

[4] And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: [5] "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. [6] Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. [7] And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. [8] But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" [9] Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" [10] And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.' [11] "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [12] Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. [13] But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. [14] Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. [15] But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

It would appear that only one out of four of these seeds make it.

As evangelist we are to try and reach as many as we can. It's the Holy Spirits job to fill them with God, not ours.

1 John 2:19 (NKJV)

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

A prodigal will stray and then come home.

People that go and never come back, we're they ever really a Christian.

John 3:1 (NKJV)

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Judas Iscariot was a follower when Nicodemus was not.

John 19:39 (NKJV)

And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

Category 1: Highway Hearers

Luke 8:11-12 (NKJV)

"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [12] Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Like a seagull picking up your crumbs.

Notice the devil comes,

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV)

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Satan blinds them, binds them and then grinds them.

There are those that act like they don't want to hear but do want to.

Category 2: Rocky Road Hearers

Luke 8:13 (NKJV)

But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

These are the "I tried the whole Christianity thing" people.

These can be described as the impulsive people. Try it for a while and give up or move on.

1. It is possible that they built their faith on the wrong foundation.

2. Persecution comes.

Matthew 13:21 (NKJV)

yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

If you are never persecuted are you a Godly person???

3. The cost of discipleship.

John 6:66-68 (NKJV)

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. [67] Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" [68] But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

4. Just unbelief sets in.

Category 3: Choked out by Cares

Luke 8:14 (NKJV)

Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

It's not wrong to care for yourself, it's wrong if that's all you do.

Philemon 1:23-24 (NKJV)

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, [24] as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

2 Timothy 4:10 (NKJV)

for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica-Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.

Demas loved things of the world

A "thorn" or "weed" is anything that crowds Jesus out. It can be a good or bad thing.

Job 14:5 (NKJV)

Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This is not having possessions, this is possessions having you.

God created us to love people and use things, not have things use people.

Luke 18:22 (NKJV)

So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

He said that to the Rich Young Ruler because he was obsessed by his possessions.

1 Timothy 6:17-18 (NKJV)

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. [18] Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,

Do your giving while your living; then you will be owning where you are going.

Category 4: Fruitful Hearers

Luke 8:15 (NKJV)

But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

We should hope to be in this category.

Many many do not listen.

When your life depends on something you listen.

Luke 12:48 (NKJV)

But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Like coming here to church is a great thing, but it adds to your responsibility.

Meditate means to chew and take it in. We want to bring forth fruit.

John 15:16 (NKJV)

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Which of the four are you?

The Unforgivable Sin

Notes: The Unforgivable Sin
Pastor Greg Laurie
May, 25 2014
Matthew 12

Pastor Greg tells a story, he says how you do not have to teach children how to sin. We all seem to just know how to sin.

J Vernon Magee said, "If you knew me as well as I knew me, you would never let me preach to you. But, if I knew you as well as you know you then I would not want to preach to you."

God is forgiving!

Psalm 86:5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.

Exodus 34:6–7 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.”

Micah 7:18–19 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our[a] sins Into the depths of the sea.

God throws our sins into the depths of the ocean. Then post a sign that says no fishing allowed.

Israel’s history is one of God’s forgiveness. This is the essence of the Gospel.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.)

God will forgive all sin if it is confessed.

No sin can not be forgiven. He even forgave the killing of his own son. God will only not forgive an unconfessed sin.

The only unforgivable sin is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.

Read: Matthew 12:22–32 22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and[a] mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub,[b] the ruler of the demons.” 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Jesus says they will never be forgiven for the blasphemy of God.

Matthew 27:18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

Mark 12:37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” And the common people heard Him gladly.

Pastor Greg says he does not understand why some pastors will be boring, when the gospel is suppose to be inviting.

The religious leaders in Matthew 12 were jealous of Jesus and they wanted to discredit Him.

When you live a Godly life people will make things up about you!

Daniel 6:4–5 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”

Jesus had performed miracles, this was the first time there were miracles in over 400 years from the old testament prophets.

Pastor Greg talks about how people will criticize him for things that are not true. It is really hard when the people are accusing him of things and he agrees with them are bad things and he clearly does not do those things.

To critics: Be careful you do not attribute these things to Satan as these Pharisees did. Pharisees were men that were dedicated to God, they just did not believe Jesus. Their hearts had grown so hard that they were in danger of committing the unforgivable sin.

Luke 12:48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Why did you come to church today? If you have not to come grow spiritually then church can be dangerous.

Knowledge demands responsibility!

Pastor Greg talks about how church can be dangerous for some, he uses the illustration of “the same sun the softens the wax, hardens the clay”. The message goes out and a critical attitude can harden your heart. Such as “and Pharaoh hardened his heart” then eventually the story changes to “and God hardened Pharaoh’s heart” God will honor your free will, in Pharaoh’s case He strengthened Pharaoh heart against God.. 

The Pharisees didn’t want to hear about Jesus because they didn’t want to change their lives.

People don’t want to go to Christ, because it is a threat to their life style. 

Doubt is a matter of the mind.
Unbelief is a matter of the will. It is actually a choice one makes.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

The bible identifies sins that can be committed against the Holy Spirit:

1. The sin of resisting the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.)

John 16:8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

The Holy Spirit is there to help you identify your sins and to lead you from sin.

Genesis 6:3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive[a] with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

2. The sin of insulting the Holy Spirit.
(Hebrews 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?)

When we say “no” to Jesus, we are actually insulting the Holy Spirit.

3. The sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

These three things are all interconnected resist, insult and then the blasphemy.

Blasphemy is the rejection of Jesus Christ as the holy lord. 

Pastor Greg speaks of Balshazar and the writing on the wall in the book of Daniel

Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.

Matthew 12:31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.

Hebrews 12:16–17 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

Read: Matthew 12:33–36 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.” (v.34)

There are no secrets with God!

Matthew 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

When you have a heart that is getting hard, you will find yourself getting bitter! Bitter people can not keep their bitterness in and they always seem to want to tell people whats on their mind.

1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Ephesians 4:30–32 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Pastor Greg talks about how he has been spoken bad of over the years, he says he does not focus on that. He puts that in God’s hands.

Jeremiah 7:16 “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.

1. We must come to church to worship God and to learn and grow spiritually. (Show up on time and don’t leave early, take notes. That is attention with intention.)

2. Never take for granted the blessing of what God has done. (The fact that God has saved me is such a blessing, and I should not take that for granted.)

3. Instead of resisting the Holy Spirit, I need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Everyday we need to yield to God)

Pastor Greg says as his grandmother says, “Get home before dark"

Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

What side are you on?