EMOJI: What is true Happiness?

EMOJI: What is Happiness? Part 3

Introduction:  In our series on Emoji’s, specifically the Happy Emoji I have addressed “Where to Find Happiness” also we looked at “Happiness is Our Choice!”

Today I would like to help us choose happiness when we are suffering, mourning and in pain.  See life isn’t always the Happy Emoji…sometimes we are experiencing so many of the other Emojis, so how do I navigate that.

Prov 16:20 20 Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed, and whoever trusts the Lord will be happy. NCV

Joel 2:21 says, “Be happy and full of joy, because the Lord has done a wonderful thing.”  (NCV)

  1. We Know Happiness When WE See It and Experience It
    1. Webster Dictionary defines happiness as…”the state of being happy.”
    2. Synonyms include: pleasure, contentment, satisfaction, cheerfulness, merriment, joy, joyfulness, delight, good spirited, lightheartedness, and well-being.
    3. The biblical Dictionary gives a more biblical definition of Happiness: The state of pleasure or joy experienced both by People and God
    4. I read a study this week that said: Some of the happiest people on earth are people who pray and attend church…
    5. In another study, contrary to what you read or see on the news or on google…”Gen Z and Millennials are returning to Faith and Church faster than any other generation…” Attributing the sudden change in direction to the Crisis of Covid…and seeing others who live their faith with Joy.”

Matt 5:1-12

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2 And 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 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. ESV

Transition:  Everywhere you read the word “Blessed” you could interject the word “Happy.”  Matter of fact, the New Century Translation does precisely that…because Blessed and Happy are synonymous with one another.

  1. Sermon on the Mount
    1. Now we have all heard that this portion of scripture is called the “Sermon on the Mount” which is okay…
    2. I’ve called it “The Manifesto of the Kingdom…” because it is how God’s kingdom operates…
    3. But honestly, it is Jesus revealing to us a Christian’s Biblical worldview…
      1. See everyone in here has a way in which you view the world…
      2. A biblical worldview is based on the infallible Word of God. When you believe the Bible is entirely true, then you allow it to be the foundation of everything you say and do.
  • Do you have a biblical worldview? Answer the following questions, based on claims found in the Bible and which George Barna used in his survey:
    1. Do absolute moral truths exist?
    2. Is absolute truth defined by the Bible?
    3. Did Jesus Christ live a sinless life?
    4. Is God the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe, and does He still rule it today?
    5. Is salvation a gift from God that cannot be earned?
    6. Is Satan real?
    7. Does a Christian have a responsibility to share his or her faith in Christ with other people?
    8. Is the Bible accurate in all of its teachings?

Transition:  Did you answer yes to these? Only 9 percent of “born- again” believers did. But what’s more important than your yes to these questions is whether your life shows it. Granted, we are all sinners and fall short, but most of our gut reactions will reflect what we deep-down, honest-to-goodness believe to be real and true.

  1. Weight of Jesus’ Statement
    1. Matthew 5:1 says
      1. Jesus sat…which means to take a position…
      2. Opened his mouth and taught…in the Greek this statement it means…Carries or sets significant weight upon those being spoken too…
        1. As a Child of the 70’s and 80’s we’d say…”Man that is heavy…” meaning what was said carries more weight…
  • Beatitudes
    1. So Jesus’ weighty words…start off with being Blessed or Happy…
    2. Beatitudes which are Attitudes Believers should have and live by…
    3. Now 4 of these Attitudes are Toward God…the other 4 toward others…
    4. These Beatitudes are Announcements…not a New Testament version of the 10 Commandments…
  1. Mourning

             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. NKJV

“Blessed are the depressed, the ones who mourn, grieve and have suffered loss, for they create space to encounter comfort from another.” DGV

  1. Compassion
    1. Compassion is shared Pain…
    2. Compassion is seeing someone’s pain and identifying with it and then move to see change…
    3. Pity sees someone in pain but isn’t moved with Passion to make a difference…
    4. We feel uncomfortable to talk about Mourning because we want everyone to be happy…but the bible has a lot to say about Mourning and comforting those who mourn…
    5. God’s word promises He is taking us from Glory to Glory…but the shortest way to get to that next level of glory is through the Valley…
      1. Job 5:7 declares “As sure as the sparks fly upward; man is born to trouble.”
        1. In this life we are going to have times we find ourselves mourning…
        2. Mourning is natural…
          1. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, but weep with those who weep.”
          2. We in Pentecostal, charismatic circles struggle with that weeping with those who weep…because it makes us feel uncomfortable.
        3. God has called us to bear one another burdens…it is biblical to weep with those who weep…for us to realize it’s not all about us…
      2. We have a book of Lamentation…
        1. Psalms are filled with Laments…
        2. There is praise, worship, rejoicing…but there are times to Lament.
        3. There are things we should mourn and grieve for.
  • The book of Lamentation was written by Jeremiah but in Chronological placement…it should be placed…between Isaiah 39 and 40.
    1. The theme of Lamentation is: “There is no one to comfort”
    2. Isaiah 39 tells us about the Babylonian invasion who comes and takes the possession of Israel and destroys Solomon’s temple…
    3. It is at this time Jeremiah writes his Lamentation…
    4. Isaiah 40 begins with: “Comfort, yes, comfort My People…says Your God.”
    5. See Mourning prepared our hearts and lives for the Comfort of the Lord…

Transition:  When you are in the middle of your valley and it seems your dreams have died, your hopes have been crushed, you might have lost a loved one…”Lift up your eyes, expect Comfort to come…You have a promise…those who are depressed, have suffered loss and are mourning…you WILL  be comforted.” You Will BE Happy Again…

  1. Comfort
    1. The word Comfort comes from the Greek word: Parakaleo…which we get the word Paraclete which is what the Holy Spirit is called…
    2. Now I may shock you with this one…Comfort has several meanings…
      1. One is to simply “to call near”
      2. Secondly is to: “Prod to rise back up…”
  • Thirdly: “Entreat to move forward”
  1. Ps 34:18 NIV
  1. If you find yourself in a place of loss or mourning…the Lord is close…He will Comfort you…
  2. This is the good news announcement the Lord Jesus is bringing these followers to the Mountain side for…
    1. They are a people full of destroyed and dashed hopes…
      1. Occupied by an enemy nation…
      2. Been expecting the Messiah…but He hadn’t come through for them like they thought he should
        1. Have you ever noticed God rarely comes through the way you want Him to…but if we don’t faint He will come through…
  • Getting Back Up

Ps 30:5

5 For His anger is but for a moment,

His favor is for life;

Weeping may endure for a night,

But joy comes in the morning.NKJV

  • You may feel like you are in the midst of your valley…
  • You may have experienced loss
    • Loved one…
    • A marriage
    • A child
    • A dream
    • Hopes
    • A job…
  • I bring you good news…it is okay to Mourn…but rest assured the comforter is coming…
  • Joy comes in the Morning…
    • Morning is not AM on the clock…
    • Morning is when you decide to shake yourself and walk out of that pain…
    • Morning is when you are in the midst of the Valley but you still look up to those mountains on either side and know…I’m going to reach my destination because God is moving me from Glory to Glory…
    • Morning is when you wake yourself and
      • Love again
      • Dream again
      • Hope again
      • Walk in the doors of His presence knowing God is close to me…because I am the brokenhearted.
    • 5 Steps of Happiness
      1. Own Your Own Happiness
        1. I mentioned last week…Happiness is an inside job…
      2. Challenge your own story
        1. You can change the narrative of your life’s story…you’ve been telling yourself the same story…so you can rewrite your story.
      3. Enjoy the Journey
        1. Celebrate and laugh along the way…
        2. We are too destination driven
      4. Make Relationships Count
        1. Your relationship with God
        2. Your relationship with yourself
        3. Your relationship with others
      5. Balance work & play.

Email my notes