Searching For Happiness

December 3rd, 2023
Searching For Happiness
Speaker - Owen Mason
Sermon Notes

Matthew 5:3-12 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Popular Idea of happiness:
Having right circumstances.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-17
Ecclesiastes 2:1 2 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.

Dead ends:
Accumulating Things. (Vs. 7,8)
7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man.

Experiencing Pleasures. (Vs. 3,10)
3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life.
10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.

Achieving success . (Vs. 4-6,9)
4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.
9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Ecclesiastes 2:17 17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Gods way to happiness:
Having the right attitude.
Matthew 5:3-12 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Blessed means Happy.

The first step of happiness:
Be Humble.
How Humility increases my happiness:
It reduces Stress.
It improves my relationship.
It releases God’s Power.

James 4:6 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Matthew 5:3 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
John 13:17 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.