Seven Steps to Happiness

Taken from a sermon by John Gurtler

INTRODUCTION:
 
I. Often people make their own lives miserable and other people help them find misery. 

II. Abraham Lincoln once said "most folks are about as happy as they make up 
    their minds to be." 

III. Are you laying out a plan for happiness? 

IV. I plan to use my time this morning to lay out a plan for happiness; whether you use 
     that plan or not is up to you.


BODY
I.TRUST IN GOD

    A. The great man of wisdom Solomon tells us who is to be the object of our trust.
        1. 
Proverbs 3:5,6 - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto 
thine own understanding.In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct 
thy paths.
        2. 
Proverbs 16:20 - "He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever 
trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
    B. When we trust in the Lord to guide our lives we will experience a peace, which 
        the world cannot experience.
        1. 
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the 
world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
        2. 
Philippians 4:6,7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and 
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and 
the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and 
minds through Christ Jesus.
    C.Truly trusting in God will allow us to enjoy contentment.


II. RELISH THE SCRIPTURES

    A. The child of God takes joy in God’s book.
        1. 
Psalms 119:103 - "How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey 
to my mouth!
        2. 
Psalms 119:72 - "The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of 
coins of gold and silver."
        3. 
Psalms 119:163 - "I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law.
        4. 
Jeremiah 15:16 - "Your words were found, and I ate them, And
Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am
called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.
    B. As Christians, we have reason to rejoice in the Law of God, the Word of God.
        1. It gives us comfort in time of trouble.
            a. 
Romans 15:4,5 - "For whatever things were written before were written 
for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures 
might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to 
be like? minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus."
        2. It keeps us from sinning.
   
Psalms 119:11 - "Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin 
against You!
        3. It can strengthen and build us up as His children.
            
Acts 20:32 - "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of 
His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among 
all those who are sanctified.
        4. It furnishes the Christian with everything that he/she needs.
            a. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
            b. 
2 Peter 1:3 - "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life 
and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue."
III. LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY

    A. There is a general principle that we reap what we sow.
Galatians 6:7,8 - Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man 
sows, that he will also reap.For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap 
corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
    B. Living righteously avoids the stings and sorrows that those in the world often 
        experience.
        1.
 Psalms 32:10,11 - Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in 
the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you 
righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
        2. 
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which 
some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves 
through with many sorrows.
    
    D. While there are sorrows and pains that the righteous suffers there are so 
         many problems, which the righteous will never have to undergo.
        1. The righteous will not have to worry about alcoholism, drug abuse, sexually 
            transmitted disease, etc.
        2. The righteous doesn't have to worry about waking up with hangovers, being 
            shot or beaten up at bars, etc.


IV. WORSHIP GOD WITH REGULARITY
    
    A. The regular worship of God is a source of joy and happiness for God’s saints.
        1. 
Psalms 122:1 - I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house 
of the LORD."
        2. 
Psalms 95:1,2 - Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the 
Rock of our salvation.Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let 
us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
    B. There is a great spiritual strength to regular worship.
        1. 
Hebrews 10:24,25 - And let us consider one another in order to stir up love 
and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the 
manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see 
the Day approaching.
        2. Regular worship anchors a Christian’s week and gives him/her the strength for living.


V. KEEP A CLEAN CONSCIENCE
    
    A. A guilty conscience will cause a person to be unhappy.
        1. 
Genesis 42:21 - Then they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning 
our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and 
we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us."
            a. The brothers of Joseph had a guilty conscience over the years as a result of 
                their sin against their brother.
        2. Judas had a guilty conscience over his betraying of Jesus, it drove him to 
            commit suicide.
    
    B. The Scriptures urge us to keep a clean conscience.
        1. 
1 Timothy 1:5 - Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure 
heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.
        2. 
1 Timothy 3:8, 9 - Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double? tongued, 
not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9? holding the mystery of the 
faith with a pure conscience.
   C. The value of a good conscience.
        1. 
1 Peter 3:16 - having a good conscience, that when they defame you as 
evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
        2. A good conscience for the Christian allows us to have confidence before God.
            a. 
1 John 3:21 - Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence 
toward God.
        3. 
2 Timothy 1:3 - I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my 
forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day.
        4. Can't overemphasize the value of a clear conscience.


VI. LEARN CONTENTMENT

    A. The grass is not greener on the other side.
        1. This is the lie that Satan has always sought to convince us that we need 
            only have something that we don’t already have and we would be completely 
            content.
            a. This was really the essence of Satan’s tricking of Eve.
                
Genesis 3:4,5 - Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 
"For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and 
 you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
            b. Getting THINGS we want do not bring happiness. 

    B. Paul taught us the key to contentment.
        1. 
Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with 
such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you 
nor forsake you."
        2. When we build our lives on having things we will never be satisfied.
        3. The more we have, the more we will want.
        4. 
Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in 
whatever state I am, to be content.
VII. STAY BUSY AND CONSTRUCTIVE

    A. Idleness is a recipe for displeasure, restlessness, and despondency.
        1. 
2 Thessalonians 3:10,12 - For even when we were with you, we commanded 
you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there 
are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, 
but are busybodies. Now those who are such we commandandexhort through 
our Lord Jesus Christthat they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
    B. We should stay active in the work of the Lord.
        1. 
1 Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, 
immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor 
is not in vain in the Lord.
        2. 
Ecclesiastes 9:10 - Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for 
there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you 
are going.
        3. 
Romans 12:11 - not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.

CONCLUSION:

“Fewer than 10 percent of Americans are deeply committed Christians, says pollster George Gallup, who adds that these people "are far, far happier than the rest of the population."

Committed Christians, Gallup found, are more tolerant than the average American, more involved in charitable activities, and are "absolutely committed to prayer."

While many more Americans than this 10 percent profess to be Christians, adds Gallup, most actually know little or nothing of Christian beliefs, and act no differently than non?Christians.”

While I would argue with Mr. Gallup’s definition of a Christian, I would not argue with his conclusion, that those who truly put into action the principles found in the Bible are happier.

How well are you living what you profess?

A lack of commitment is likely the reason for a lack of true happiness.