THE GIFT OF HAPPINESS
MIKE CUNNINGHAM
FATHER’S DAY 2008
I hope that most of the time I come across as
being a pretty happy guy-because I really am. I’m not suggesting it’s because
things always go the way I want them to nor that I’m never sorrowful or immune
to experiencing grief, or even that occasionally I don’t long to go home and be
with the Lord, because nothing could be further from the truth. However, over
the years He’s taught me and I’ve finally learned that as long as I humbly
acknowledge my total dependence upon Him for the strength, I can rise above
crummy circumstances and actually rejoice in them. Needless to say, this is
something I value as one of my treasured possessions. I like referring to it as
being “the gift of happiness.”
Recently I became aware of some things which
took place which that disparaged the reputation of Jesus Christ and his church which
I began to allow to eat away at this priceless gift. It started with Obama and
his relationship with his nut-case former pastor, then an equally outrageous
wacko Catholic priest who was a guest performer in Obama’s former church.
Perhaps this kind of stuff doesn’t bother most people, but anytime a man who
claims to have been called by God to shepherd some of His children makes Jesus and
His church look weird I tend to get myself a little bent out of shape. Then those
two guys were followed by a person I have every reason to believe is a sane,
kind, compassionate, humble, decent human being. But it saddened me very much that
Pope Benedict XVI deliberately chose not take advantage of the opportunity he
had to share the Gospel during his recent visit to our country. Who knows with
absolute certainty that God may not have been pleased to add His blessing to
the Pope’s words and save some poor lost sinners from the eternal torments of
hell? But it saddened me even more when I thought of the countless times I too
must squandered God given opportunities to share the Gospel. Then just as I was
beginning to work through all this I came across the following and I was off
and running again until the Lord jogged my memory and I accepted “the gift of happiness.”
Allow me to explain. I recently learned the
Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of
You have to be disconnected from reality to
think this kind of stuff isn’t a major hindrance to our evangelistic efforts to
spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Personally, it saddens me and could put a
damper on my happiness if I allowed it to. But as I said a moment ago, the Lord
jogged my memory and I couldn’t help thinking about a letter Pail wrote to
folks he referred to as being the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, (Phil.
1:1). In the 16th chapter of Acts we learned these were the people
the Holy Spirit used Paul, Silas and Timothy to start a church in that city.
Among those converts was a devout woman named Lydia and her household, and a
poor slave girl who was possessed by a demon whom Paul drove out; an act for
which he and Silas were stripped of their cloths, beaten severely and thrown
into the city’s prison where their feet were fastened in the stock. Picking up
from there we read:
Acts 16:25-34 (NIV) 25 About midnight
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners
were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the
foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open,
and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors
open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the
prisoners had escaped. 28
But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all
here!" 29 The
jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought
them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied,
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your
household." 32 Then
they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of
the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and
all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal
before them; he was filled with joy because
he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family. And that jailer
together with his household became the rest of the church in
Now, ten years later, Paul was back again in
prison, probably awaiting his execution. He loved that little church at
Philippi and didn’t want them to lose their happiness by worrying about him or
by their having to contend with the things being done and said by phony
professed believers in their church. If those genuine Christians allowed
these divinely ordained circumstances to get to them, they would rob themselves
of something only a Christian can experience, and that is the ability to be truly happy. Unhappy
Christians back then and in our own day are a contradiction of the power of the
Gospel working in a Christian’s life, and are a poor recommendation for
unbelievers to consider embracing the Christian faith. The difference between
the successes of the evangelistic efforts of a joyful, happy Christian
contrasted with those of an unhappy one is as stark as black and white. Look at
Paul.
Philippians
1:12-24 (NIV) 12 Now I want you to know,
brothers, that what has happened to me
has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear
throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for
Christ. 14 Because
of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak
the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 15 It is true that
some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so
in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach
Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up
trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in
every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
19 for I
know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus
Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect
and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so
that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by
death. 21 For
to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body,
this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between
the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more
necessary for you that I remain in the body.
When Paul factored in
the Philippians loving prayerful concern for him together with his realization
that Jesus Christ Himself was working within him and all that was going on in
his life, Paul was a very happy man. I rejoice, says Paul, Yes, and I
will continue to rejoice (vs. 18). Later in his letter Paul reiterates this fact by reminding those first
century Christians to follow his lead.
Philippians
4:4-7 (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say
it again: Rejoice!
5 Let
your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus. Don’t worry about me, says Paul. And don’t make yourselves unhappy
because of the things those professed followers of Jesus are saying and doing. The
Lord is near. In fact, He’s so close that He’s living right inside of you and He’s
coming back for you soon. Don’t worry! Instead, you must rejoice in the Lord,
and not just when things are going the way you want them to, but always!
But what does it mean
to rejoice in the Lord? Is it a feeling of happiness because of nice things that
are happening in our life? According to Paul, that isn’t so. On the contrary,
it’s something we are commanded to do regardless of our circumstances? And if
it’s something we’re commanded to do, how do we go about producing it? What do
we have to do? We must be very careful at this point. For instance, Martyn
Lloyd-Jones cautions about what we should not do. However, we must avoid “the danger of
trying to produce this state of rejoicing by making a direct attack upon the
emotions,” In other words, “we must [not] begin to do things to ourselves
emotionally in order that we may get into this happy state. And of course, we
are familiar with the variety of methods that people will persist in employing
to this end. For instance, in a public meeting, or in a public act of worship,
think how often something like this happens: the leader of the meeting, or
someone else, says, “Well now, the first thing is to get this congregation or
gathering into a good mood. Let’s put on hymns or tunes or choruses of a
certain type- we must get them happy, we must get them to rejoice. They have
come in cold and miserable; let’s get them into a good, happy state.’ So they
put on bright, cheerful hymns to get the people to rejoice.”
Lloyd-Jones
continues: “I think I can demonstrate that such a direct attack on the emotions
is, according to the New Testament, one of the most dangerous things we can do;
that it is the high road to false teaching and the various cults. There are
many ways in which people can make themselves feel happy: by taking
drugs, by manipulating circumstances, or by groping in the realm of
make-believe, fancy and fantasy, for example. There is an almost endless
variety of ways, and, from the Christian standpoint, that is the major trouble
of the world today. The world is full of troubles and unhappiness, terrible
things are threatening life today, but instead of facing these things
realistically and adopting the Christian way of surmounting them, people
deliberately turn their back upon the troubles and, in their search for joy,
happiness and peace, create an artificial sense of happiness and pleasure,”(c).
Although Lloyd-Jones
preached those words in a sermon in
2
Corinthians 4:1-2 (AMP) 1 THEREFORE, SINCE we do hold and
engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits,
opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged
(spiritless and despondent with fear) or
become faint with weariness and exhaustion. 2 We have renounced
disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the
methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily
(to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and
candidly)[unlike many of today’s churches]. And so we
commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s
conscience.
2
Corinthians 4:7-12 (AMP) 7 However, we possess this
precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of
earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be
shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every
side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed;
we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a
way out, but not driven to despair; 9 We are pursued
(persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and
destroyed; 10 Always carrying about in the body the liability and
exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection]
life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and
in our bodies. 11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being
handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus
also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death. 12 Thus death is
actively at work in us, but [it is in order that our] life [may be actively at
work] in you.
2
Corinthians 4:16-18 (AMP) 16 Therefore we do not become discouraged
(utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer
man is [progressively] decaying and
wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after
day. 17 For
our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is
ever more and more abundantly preparing and
producing and achieving for us
an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all
comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness
never to cease!],
18 Since
we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things
that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and
fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and
everlasting.
2
Corinthians 5:1-10 (AMP) 1 FOR WE know that if the tent
which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a
building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Here indeed, in
this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn
to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be
fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling, 3 So that by putting it on we may not
be found naked (without a body). 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the
burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed)—not that we
want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would
be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up
by life [after the resurrection]. 5 Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit]
for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a
guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. 6 So then, we are always full of good and
hopeful and confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the
body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us]. 7 For we walk by
faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief
respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy
fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. 8 [Yes] we have
confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from
home out of the body and be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at
home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are
constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all
appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so
that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body,
whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and
what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to
accomplishing].
2
Corinthians 6:4-10 (AMP) 4 But we commend ourselves in
every way as [true] servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and
suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and
calamities, 5 In
beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger; 6 By innocence and
purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and
patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love; 7 By [speaking] the
word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the
right hand [to attack] and for the left hand [to defend]; 8 Amid honor and
dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good
report. [We are branded] as deceivers (impostors), and [yet vindicated as]
truthful and honest. 9 [We are treated] as unknown and ignored [by the
world], and [yet we are] well-known and recognized [by God and His
people]; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and
[yet] not killed; 10 As
grieved and mourning, yet [we are] always rejoicing;
as poor [ourselves, yet] bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and
[yet in reality] possessing all things.
2
Corinthians 7:4 (AMP) 4 I have great boldness and
free and fearless confidence and cheerful courage toward you; my
pride in you is great. I am filled [brimful] with the comfort [of it]; with all
our tribulation and in spite of it, [I am filled with comfort] I am overflowing with joy.
Philippians
4:4 (AMP) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight,
gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
Have you accepted
“the gift of happiness” which will enable you to be happy and rejoice in the
Lord always? If so, then praise God
through whom all your blessings flow. However, if you are still unhappy; Lord
willing, next week….
(A)MOUNTAIN ECHO Vol. 19, No. 5, May 2008, pages I & D.
(B) A TALE of TWO BISHOPS, AlbertMohler.com, June 11, 2008.
(C) THE LIFE of PEACE, D. Martyn-Lloyd Jones, ©1990 Mrs. Bethan
Lloyd-Jones, Baker Book House,
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