Searching For Happiness

Matthew 5:1-12
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
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 filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain 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 they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
“God wants me to be happy?” “You only live once, so be happy”, We often hear that phrase in our day, usually as an excuse for some kind of behavior that the individual knows is wrong.  As long as, I’m happy, I’ll continue to do what makes me happy. But is that true? Is that really all that we need focus on, being happy, finding happiness? Is that what God wants you and I to be happy? 
 
Where can we find happiness? Some find it in hobbies, entertainment, material things, in relationships, falling in love and so on. Let say, that we already have all of these things, everything that I had just mentioned, should it be enough to be happy? To live a happy life?
 
Another form of happiness that creeps inside the household, even in churches today. Is wealth (money) that will fix everything, if I have a lot of that I’ll be happy. That pursuit of wealth and security has even found its way into theology in our day - this “happiness theology” is often called the Prosperity Gospel, Prosperity Church.
 
This theology (if we can call it that) this stitched together, homegrown theology is not clearly defined but is centered on the insistence that God’s top priority is to shower blessings on Christians in this lifetime. As you can see, it is the total opposite of what Jesus was trying to teach.
 
 
 
Chapter five of Matthew’s gospel begins what is known as “The Sermon on the Mount” and it will run through the end of chapter seven. I believe that all of this was one sermon delivered by the Lord at one time. The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best known part of the teaching of Jesus, although it may be argued that it is the least understood and certainly the least applied, and least believed. I mean, just look at them. Would you believe these things to be true? Go down the list… “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”.
 
Who would believe that these things are true? I’m blessed, if im poor? I’m blessed, if I mourn?
I’m blessed, if im meek?  Who would believe such a thing? I’m searching for happiness, and this is God’s answer?
 
The Sermon on the Mount in our English bibles can be read in about ten minutes, it can hardly be assumed that the crowd that Matthew talks about have walked all the way into this secluded wilderness only to hear a ten-minute message from Jesus and leave.
 
It is more likely that this is a sample of the message that Jesus often delivered to his listeners.
The first seven verses of chapter five constitute what is known as “The Beatitudes.” These do not describe different types of people, but an abiding and progressive condition in one person in different experiences. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out three important points when studying the Beatitudes…
1) They are a description of what every Christian is meant to be.
2) All Christians are meant to manifest all of these characteristics. It is not a list you get to
    choose from, every Christian is meant to be all of them.
3) None of these come naturally.
 
Each one of them is produced by grace alone as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. The first four Beatitudes deal with one’s relationship with God and the second set deals with one’s relationship with others.
 
Now, let us break down these verses, so we can have a clearer understanding, of what our Lord Jesus was teaching on that day.
 
Matthew 5:1-6
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
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 filled.
Picture this if you, just imagine that you were there. It should be noted that Matthew identifies three groups of people who surround Jesus, the disciples, the religious leaders, and the multitudes (or crowds). The “disciples” were those who have made a personal commitment to Jesus. The “religious leaders” (Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes) were generally opposed to Jesus and his message. The “crowd” was those who were casually interested by what He had to say, but who had not made a personal commitment to Him. So, if you were there, which group would you belong to?
 
Now… if you think about it, that crowd, is no different than churches today. In a present church, even in ours we have three groups, and God knows which one is which. We have “disciples, children of God, who has made a personal commitment to God.” Sure… we may not have any Pharisee, Sadducees, or Scribes. But what we do have are those who are well versed in scripture, but only in knowledge, no outer appearance to prove that they belong to God. And of course, We have the “crowd’, these are the ones who just comes to church, don’t really have a real relationship with Jesus, just wants to see if Jesus is right for them.
 
First: What is the meaning of the word, “Blessed”?
 
Webster Dictionary:
enjoying happiness; specifically, Christianity: enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person, bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune, a blessed event.
 
As we have already noted the first seven verses of chapter five are known as “The Beatitudes” and they are called that because the word means “blessing” and because the first word of each verse beginning with verse three and ending in verse ten is “blessed.”
 
“Blessed”, translated in Greek (Makarios) has the same translation, it is translated as “happy”
Ok… so now I’m confused. I’m “Searching For Happiness”, and this is what Jesus is teaching me.
Let’s translate the Beatitudes, using the word “happy”. (Just A few)
“Happy are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”
“Happy are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth”
 
The word, “Blessed”, in its real sense refers to one’s relationship to God and refers to a condition of inner satisfaction.  Being, “Happy”, is circumstantial, it’s a state of being, therefore uncertain and temporary. Being “Blessed”, is a gift from God, which is eternal. While being “Happy”, is a state that we can do, for as long as what we are doing makes us happy.
 
 
 
If we follow the our natural inclinations the Beatitudes would read, happy are the rich, for they believe they have it all, happy are the carefree, for they do not worry about nothing; happy are the arrogant, for people defer to them; happy are the hardhearted, for they pity no one; happy are they, that care nothing about justice, for they care only about themselves; happy are the wicked, for they care nothing about God; happy are the violent, for they do not care about belonging to God; happy are those who persecute others, for the only kingdom they think about is their own. But through grace the Holy of Spirit creates within us the ability to strive for greater possibilities.
 
So…while being “Blessed”, is having a relationship with God, which also is a blessing that comes from Him. Which will last for all eternity. While being “Happy”, is conditional, and temporary.
I believe that most Bible believing Christians would agree, that the believer is not free to do whatever they please to make themselves happy. God does not want his children to be happy if requires SINNING! So…While “Searching For Happiness”, requires breaking Gods commands, should we do it? Keep in mind, being “Blessed by God is eternal. While trying to keep yourself “Happy”, by sinning will only be temporary, and eventually you’ll get tired of that, and the happiness is gone. On to the next sin.
 
While it is always true, that God understands your situation, that is not the same as God approving of what you are thinking about doing, or what you are doing, or what you have already done that His word says is wrong. Don’t compromise Gods words in order to remain happy.
 
Often within cults we hear of how these false teachers pervert and twist the clear teaching of the Word of God to allow them, to allow themselves special privileges. There is within each of us, the desire to carry out those things that we think would make us happier. When we hear individuals say that the word of God does not apply to them then we can know for sure that they are in an area of great moral danger. If what you desire forces you to consider twisting or ignore the clear teaching of God’s word, beware! Our actions may make someone stumble.
 
Matthew 18:6
6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
 
The Lord will warns His followers, It is a serious consideration to understand the influence that our actions have on others. Our behavior concerning right and wrong may convince others to follow our example. To lead someone into a sinful action is a serious matter to God. Consider if you will, your household. Your spouse, your children, are you being a stumbling block to them? Look at Gods warning (Powerpoint) friends, family, coworkers.
 
 
For example:
 
The prophet Nathan in confronting King David of his adultery with Bathsheba said…
 
2 Samuel 12-14
14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
 
In the New Testament Paul reminded the Jews in the book of Romans, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through (or because) of you.”
 
Romans 2:24
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
 
If you are carrying the name “Christian”, it is not your name that is being dragged in the dirt, it is Christ. Whether we realize it or not many are watching us and our conduct. God intends for what they see to attract them into His kingdom, but when we disobey, because we want to be happy, the opposite tends to happen.
 
You will notice the first Beatitude and the last Beatitude promise the same reward, ‘for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. What does that mean? Our Lord starts and ends with it because it is His way of saying that the first thing you have to realize about yourself is that you belong to a different kingdom, His kingdom.
 
To such a world and to all unhappy Christians, the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount gives hope. The Beatitudes or “blessings” are meant to inspire us as to what we are to be.
 
Recognize that we will never achieve lasting happiness on our own. We will never find true and lasting happiness the state of being “blessed” until we give up on our own efforts and allow the Holy Spirit’s transforming power into our lives. Realize that the blessing of God in an individual life begins with forgiveness of sin.
 
A life of blessing begins with the greatest blessing of all, the blessing of being forgiven of your sins!
 
Psalms 32:1-2
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
 
We have now learned the first half of the Beatitudes, is being blessed, by having a relationship with our Lord. Now let us look at the other half…being blessed with our relationship with others.
 
Matthew 5:7-11
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain 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 they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
 
God’s mercy is not a reward earned by our showing mercy to others. Rather, those who recognize the magnitude of the mercy Jesus has shown them, will treat others as their Heavenly Father has treated them.
 
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God”. Because God is spirit, His divine essence is invisible. Because He is infinitely Holy, sinful humans would be destroyed if they were to behold His glory directly. Nevertheless, believers “see” God through the insight of faith, and Jesus assures Hid disciples that in seeing Him, they have seen the Father. For you and I, this will be a future event. But for now, “we live by faith, and not by sight”.
 
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God”. Conflicts among individuals, races, nations, amongst each other. Comes from our alienation from God, because of the fall. Jesus is the great peacemaker through His wall destroying death. Jesus calls the children of God to make peace, by displaying the Spirits fruits.
 
“10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake”. 
 
Remember the words of Jesus when He said.. “you will be hated by all, for My names sake”…. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first”. All of the insults, the hatred, the persecution that comes to you, simply because you belong to Christ, comes with a blessing.
 
In Conclusion:
 
 From the lesson taught by Jesus. What will make you happy? After all of these, will you still be “Searching For Happiness”? Or do you want to be blessed? Keep in mind, happiness is temporary. True joy, pure joy comes by being blessed with the gift of Holy Spirit. And that is eternal!
 
Again… from the beginning of the Beatitudes to the end. There is a promise of heaven.
 
Matthew 5:3
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:12
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
Don’t settle for temporary happiness that world offers. Trust in the blessings that only Christ can give, which are eternal!
 
Revelation 22:12-14
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.