Outline Fifteen


God’s Interest in Your Happiness
(Psalm 144:15; 146:5)

Intro:

From outward appearances many Christians are not happy—is that their fault or God’s? This is an examination of what produces happiness.

1. Wisdom – Proverbs 3:13 The verse has curse written all over it numerically (even 13 words), but like Galatians 3:13, it divulges the remedy for curse removal. Verse 18 (3x6) numerically implies the spirit of this world (anti-Christ), but with 21 words (3x7) tells you how to overcome it. See II Chronicles 9:1-7

2. Proper fear – Psalm 128:1,2 Notice this kind of fear generates obedience which results in the labor being enjoyed. People who are disobedient are short-sighted and have no vision. Proverbs 29:18; 28:14

3. Giving is better than receiving – Proverbs 14:21 Why would a person despise their neighbor anyway? Perhaps because of jealously, or feeling the neighbor hasn’t treated them with enough respect, time, energy, consideration. They have made their happiness contingent on others and how others treat them instead of how they treat others. You will get a lot more satisfaction out of doing something for the poor than you will worrying about how someone else is treating you. John 13:14-17

4. The setting aside of pride – Proverbs 16:18-20 The human spirit always demands our pride be soothed, but the indication is that does not produce happiness. Jeremiah was puzzled by this happiness issue (Jeremiah 12:1); the answer is in Malachi 3:13-15. We often mistake pride for happiness.

5. Opportunity to witness – Acts 26:1,2 Paul is a prisoner and manages to find happiness. James 5:10,11; I Peter 3:14, 4:14
6. Freedom from legalism – Romans 14:22 This is not a license to sin, but an invitation to faith (vs. 23); legalistic people are never happy.
 

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