Feeling a bit disconnected in your walk with Christ?
Well, Pastor Greg Laurie has a great new book called What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know that'll help. Let's say you're feeling lethargic and tired. You know, if you have a diet of social media and you don't take time for the Word of God, this is going to have a damaging effect.
So this is just one of the things we talk about in this new book called What Every Growing Christian Needs to Know. Available at harvest.org. Jesus says, blessed are the merciful. Pastor Greg Lorry points out, having mercy towards someone in need not only encourages them, it's a pathway to our own happiness. Mercy is not just seeing a need, it's meeting the need.
It's pity plus action. It's doing something about it. We can stand around all day and say, oh, I feel so sorry for those people, but mercy says, I'm going to do something for those people. This is the day when the lost are found. This is the day for a new beginning.
Of ancient graves town. Oh, can you hear all the angels are singing? This is the day, the day when I begin. For many people, happiness is as elusive as the proverbial pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. They try this, they try that, they try nearly everything else and just find the whole pursuit quite trying.
If they'd only flipped to Matthew chapter 5, they'd discover how to find happiness written in black and white. And that's where we'll turn today on a new beginning. as Pastor Greg Laurie brings a message called How to Be Happy. Hear his additional messages on the subject at harvest.org. Happiness.
It's something we all want. But it can be so elusive, and it's not unique to our day and age, by the way. 2,000 years ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle made this statement: happiness is the meaning and purpose in life. It's the very aim and end of human existence. How can we find happiness?
Sometimes people say money will make you happy.
Well, we know that's not true. Because we all know of people that have a lot of money who are not Copy. We know where we won't find happiness, but where do we find happiness? You know, USA Today newspaper did an article on happiness, what it is and how to get it. They interviewed hundreds of experts on the topic.
And they did this study during the holiday season.
So they thought people would maybe be a little more happy than normal. And here's what they discovered. From talking to experts on the subject of happiness. Number one, they discovered that families and friends provide the best antidote to unhappiness. A marriage makes most people happier, and a close family inoculates many kids against despair.
According to long-term research, they also found the happiest people all seem to have good friends.
So, families and friends. The best antidote to unhappiness. Number two, things don't make you happy. University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diner said, quote, materialism is toxic for happiness. Even rich materialists aren't as happy as those who can care less about getting and spending.
Number three, I found this one very interesting. If you want to be happy, be grateful for what you have.
So gratefulness is a key component of happiness. Psychologists say gratitude has a lot to do with life satisfaction. Talking and writing about what they're grateful for amplifies adults' happiness. They also said it's important to learn to savor even the smallest pleasures of life. Here's another one.
I really like this. Forgiving people are happy people. University of Michigan psychologist Christopher Peterson says, quote, forgiveness is the trait most strongly linked to happiness, end quote. He adds, it's the queen of all virtues and probably the hardest to come by. One more point.
They found that Scandinavians are the happiest people.
So if you're Scandinavian, you have this wire. Otherwise, there's these other principles. But isn't it worth noting that All of these are biblical principles and premise apart from being Scandinavian. Gratefulness, forgiving, family, friends, and so forth.
So here before us now in the Sermon on the Mount, the point of entry is what we call the Beatitudes. or another way to put it, attitudes that should be. You could even call them the be happy attitudes, right? And each beatitude begins with the word blessed. And as I've pointed out to you before, the word blessed is interchangeable with the word happy.
So you could just as easily say, happy are the poor in spirit, happy are the meek, happy are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, and so forth.
So keep that in mind as we read them again. Jesus is unlocking for us this secret to happiness. Matthew chapter 5, starting in verse 2. He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Let me add a little note here. We often think that the Sermon on the Mount was delivered to thousands of people.
In reality, it was delivered to the disciples of Jesus while a crowd was gathered around them. And the reason I bring that up is because these truths are for Christians only. Only a believer can live by the Sermon on the Mount. He opened his mouth and taught them that would be the disciples, saying, Verse 3, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.
We'll stop there. Let's review what we already discovered together. First of all, happy are the humble. Happy are the humble. Blessed are the poor in spirit.
To be poor in spirit means you see yourself as you really are, spiritually destitute, a sinner in need of a Savior. Number two, happy people are unhappy people, if you will. Blessed are they that mourn, verse 4, for they shall be comforted. Contextually, what this means is: I see my sinful condition. I'm sorry.
for the way that I am. I'm sorry for the things I've said. And things that I've done, and I mourn over it. The Bible says godly sorrow produces Repentance. Then, thirdly, a happy person will be a meek person.
Verse 5: Blessed are the meek. And all that means is simply seeing myself as I am. It's power under constraint. Remember, meekness is not weakness. Power is submitting yourself to the authority of God.
Then we have the desire for a righteous life. A happy person passionately desires a righteous life. Verse 6: Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. This is speaking of spiritual hunger.
Okay. There are some kinds of food that when I eat those foods, I'm not hungry afterwards. Mexican food will be one of them. Italian food would be another, especially if it involves pasta. After I eat, I'm full.
In fact, I'm ready to go into a food coma. But then there are other kinds of food that when I eat them, I don't feel as full, like sushi. I love sushi. Right? But maybe an hour later, I'm hungry again.
I remember a bunch of us went out to sushi one night and had a great meal, and afterwards, we were hungry, and we went out and got a pizza, right?
So it's a hunger and thirst for righteousness though. a hunger and desire for God. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We really enjoy hearing when Pastor Greg's teaching and preaching touches lives. Hi, Pastor Greg.
My family wants to let you know how much we appreciate your ministry. We watch your sermons on YouTube every week. Also, my husband and I listen to your A New Beginning Radio program on our way to work. It helps us grow in our walk with the Lord. A few times I felt God speaking to me through your messages.
More power to you and Harvest Ministries. When we hear from you, it's not only a blessing. It also confirms that the program is making an impact. If you have a story to share, call Pastor Greg and let him know. Call one eight six six eight seven one one one four.
Again, eight six six eight seven one eleven forty four.
Well, we take a look now at what happy people do. These are characteristics of happy people according to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. Here's Pastor Greg once again. Happy people are merciful people. Happy people are merciful people.
Look at verse 7. Blessed are the merciful. What does that mean? To be merciful means that I understand and empathize with those that don't know Jesus yet. You know, it's very easy in our Polarized society today, to see anyone that disagrees with us as our mortal enemy.
But we should never think of someone who holds a different view than we hold, or someone who does not have our faith and non-believer as the enemy. They're not the enemy. The fact of the matter is they're under the control of the enemy. And the enemy is Satan. And the Bible says we should pray for people that are not believers yet.
2 Timothy 2:26, so they'll come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap. For they're being held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
So when I'm merciful, I see behind the mask, I see behind the facade, and I see the person. and I find myself caring about them.
Now this is a radical thing for Jesus to say. Remember, Rome was effectively In control of a good part of the world at this time, including Judea.
So, this is a Roman culture, and Romans did not value mercy. In fact, Romans looked with disdain on mercy. A Roman philosopher of the day said, quote, mercy was the disease of the soul, end quote. They saw mercy as a sign of weakness. The Romans glorified justice, courage, discipline, and power.
and they did not value human life. When a child was born, at this time in Roman culture, the father had the right of patria protestis, patria protestis, which simply meant that if he wanted the newborn child to live, he held a thumb up. If he did not want the child to live, he held his thumb down. And he had this power, a patria protestis, throughout the life of the child, which means if he didn't like the way the kid was turning out, he could have the child executed until that child became an adult.
So that means that they could kill their children at any stage of life. Is that any different? Then abortion. especially late-term abortion. Did you know that 10,000 babies' lives are lost every year to late-term abortions, the majority of which take place for elective reasons?
Former Virginia governor uh Ralph Northam admitted publicly that he believed it was permissible as both a physician and a governor to allow survivors of botched abortions to be left to die even if they were born alive.
Now, that's just a modern version of Patria protestus. That's just a modern version of saying, I don't want this child who has been born. to live. Senate Democratic leaders killed a bill that would have required medical care for babies who survive abortion. What kind of thinking is this?
And you say, Greg, why are you bringing this up? This is political. Yes, it is political. And sometimes our moral views and our spiritual views derived from Scripture spill right into the world of politics. We're getting ready to vote, people.
And I'll tell you, for me personally, I could never vote for any candidate that supports abortion.
So coming back to mercy, the Romans derided mercy. They laughed at mercy. And our culture is similar today in that regard. But Jesus says, blessed are the merciful. But what does it mean specifically?
The word that Jesus uses here in Matthew 6:3 for mercy is also used concerning the word almsgiving.
So what it means literally is helping a person in need. It's very simple. Mercy is seeing a man without food and giving him food. Mercy is seeing someone who is lonely and giving them company. Mercy is not just seeing a need, it's meeting the need.
It's pity plus action. It's doing something about it. We can stand around all day and say, oh, I feel so sorry for those people, but mercy says I'm going to do something for those people. These people who extend mercy. It's very important, but let's not misunderstand it.
He says, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Jesus is not saying, I must. Give mercy in order to receive mercy. Because if that were the case, that would mean there's something I do to receive salvation. Here's what it really means: Jesus is saying, since you have been a recipient of mercy, since God has extended His mercy to you, therefore you should be a merciful person.
person. Forgiven people should be forgiving people, willing to show that same mercy to others as well. Number two, a happy person will be a holy person. A happy person will be a holy person. Verse 8, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Now, this comes back to what's already happened to us. If we go to the first Beatitude, I've seen myself as I am, a sinner. I've mourned over my condition, producing a sense of meekness in me, and a hunger and thirst for spiritual things, and a desire to extend mercy.
Now I have this purity in heart. You know It's funny with the heart because We use it to express our emotion. We'll say something like, well, you know, my mind says one thing, but my heart says another. Or if we don't think someone is compassionate enough, we'll say, hey man, where's your heart? Or of another, we might say, oh, he wears his heart on his sleeve.
So, coming back to the question of where's your heart, maybe it's on your sleeve. Check, it might be there. Then there's countless songs about the heart. Of course, Stevie Nick sang along with Tom Petty. Stop dragging my heart around.
Billy Ray Sayas had an achy, breaky heart. And he also had a mullet. And the mullet has made a comeback. Can you believe it? Who would have ever thought of all hairstyles we would see mullets again?
But I'm seeing them everywhere. I see a guy with one right now.
Okay. So I had something worse than a mullet, and I wish I had a picture, but I don't have one for you. I had something worse than a mullet. I call it a scullet. I'm losing my hair, so I'm combing it over on the top.
You know what a comb over is, right? How many of you have comb overs?
Okay, they'll never admit it. We know what you're doing.
So you grow your hair really long, you comb it over, and then you... lay hairspray on it. I had so much hairspray on my comb over, it was bulletproof. Anyway.
So we sing about the heart, we talk about the heart, and what we are saying is: well, it's our emotion. But In the Bible, that's not what the heart means. It doesn't mean your emotion. When the Bible says, love the Lord your God with all of your mind, with all of your soul, with all of your heart, it's talking about loving God with everything. In the Hebrew thinking, And as Jesus is expressing it, when we talk about being pure in heart, it means your whole being is directed toward God, and it's purity.
I mean, how can you be pure in heart? We're so into purity these days, you know, pure water. We all carry bottled water around with us. You know, everyone has the bottled water. You have agua vita, aguafina, dasani, evion.
Arrowhead.
So we obsess over the purity of the water we drink. You know But God is interested in the purity. of our heart. But how do you have a pure heart? Let's understand what it means.
To be pure in heart. means to be single in your heart. Let me explain. Later in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, If your eye is single, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is evil or Double vision, your whole body will be full of darkness. To be single or to be pure in heart means to have a single Focus on Jesus Christ.
That clarity. It's the one thing we should all want as Christians. David wrote. One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. One thing.
Then Paul says. This one thing I do, forgetting the things that are behind and pressing forward to the things that are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. But also a happy person will be a peacemaker. Look at verse 9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Now this is not talking really about people that March for peace or work for peace, so that is a good thing if it's done right. But having said that, this verse is really talking about a person who is spreading the gospel of peace, seeking to introduce people to the Prince of Peace. The gospel is called the good news of peace through Jesus Christ in Acts 10:36. In Romans 10:15, it says, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. But I have to warn you: when you preach the gospel of peace, some people are going to revolt.
Sometimes people need to get mad at you. before you can get them happy with you. Does that make sense? Jesus summed it up this way. He said over in Matthew 10:34, Do you think that I came to bring peace on earth?
I did not come to bring peace, but a sword for a man's enemies will be those of his own. Household. You see, now I don't understand what you're talking about.
Okay, here's how it works. Let's take your family. And let's say your family, you're all non-believers. And when you get together for the holidays, you drink and you get drunk and you tell off-color jokes and you carry on like a family. And in your own dysfunctional way, You have something going there.
And then you go out and dare to become a Christian. And you show up at the family reunion, hey, everybody, and now as the meal's being served, you say, Um do you think maybe we could do a little prayer? And you even say it like that, Chris, pray. Oh, brother. Yeah, go ahead.
You do your little prayer. Everyone resents you. You're ruining all their fun. Why did you have to go and become a Christian? You think I came to bring peace?
I tell you, rather division. Everyone's mad at you now. But then One other family member comes to Christ.
Now there's two of you.
Now you're praying together for the rest of the family.
Now there's three of you.
Now there's four of you.
Now everybody in the family has come to Christ and it's a whole new world. But someone had to be the first one. To believe.
So that division ultimately brought the ultimate peace in your family. Blessed are the peacemakers, Jesus says, for they shall be called the sons of God. If you're a Christian, you are a son of God. You are a daughter of God. What a privilege that is.
No matter what you do. Maybe you're a wayward son. or a wayward daughter, but you're still a son and you're still a daughter. Behold, what manner of love the Father has given to us that we should be called the children of God. Great insights today from the Beatitudes in the Lord's Sermon on the Mount.
And Pastor Greg Laurie has more to come from this study here on A New Beginning, so don't miss it. Pastor Greg mentioned that Christians are sons and daughters of God. It's a mind-boggling privilege to be called the children of God. But if you've not made your peace with God, if you've not yet come to Jesus to have your sins forgiven, that doesn't yet apply to you. But Pastor Greg, someone can enter into that kind of relationship today, can't they?
They can, and it's so simple. And I think because it's so simple, people think, oh, it can't be that easy.
Well, look, Jesus did all the heavy lifting. He carried the cross for you. He died on that cross that he carried. This isn't about what you do. It's about what he's done.
But here's what the Bible says. Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
So let's just say that you're caught in a riptide out in the ocean and you need help, and there's a lifeguard at the stand and they see you. You've got to call out to them and let them know you need saving. And the same is true when it comes to eternal life. Jesus is ready to save you. Will you call out to him?
You say, well, okay, how do I do that? You do it through prayer.
Okay. And prayer is just talking to God.
So listen, I'd like to lead you in a simple prayer. And if you pray this prayer after me, I believe God will hear it and answer it, and Christ will come to live inside of you. Thousands of people have prayed a prayer like this over the years that we've been doing this radio broadcast and have seen their life change. There's no power or magic in a prayer, it's all about your commitment to Christ. But this is a way to call on the name of the Lord in this prayer.
So, if you want Jesus to come into your life and forgive you of your sin, if you want to know that you'll go to heaven when you die, if you want to fill that big hole in your heart, just pray this prayer. After me, you could pray it out loud if you like. Pray it in the quietness of your heart, but pray these words if you would. Lord Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner.
But I know that you're the Saviour. who died on the cross for my sin, I am sorry for my sin, and I turn from it now. and I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Be my Saviour and my Lord. Be my God and my friend.
Thanks for hearing this prayer. in answering this prayer, In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. Listen, if you just prayed that prayer. I want you to know that God has heard you and has answered it.
The Bible says, These things we write to you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, that you may know it's yours now. God has given it to you because it's the gift. of eternal life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, congratulations. And welcome to the family of God.
Yeah, that's right. And listen, we want to help you get started in this new relationship with the Lord. Would you let us send you something? It's free of charge. It's Pastor Greg's New Believers Bible.
Scores of people have read this edition of God's Word. New Believers love the study helps written just for them, and they appreciate that it's in an easy-to-understand translation. We'll send it to you today. Just ask for the New Believer's Bible when you call 1-800-821-3300. You can call anytime 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org.
Well, Pastor Gregg, we have so many people who help us. They help by praying for us, they help by investing, by being partners with us. In fact, we've got a group called Harvest Partners who help on a regular basis. When they give, let me ask you an insider question. How is that money used?
Well, that's a great question.
So the answer is It goes into our ministry, which is quite diverse. It goes into our crusade ministry. And by the way, we just wrapped up a crusade in July at Angel Stadium. And we saw the Lord work. We saw people committing their life to Christ as they have for 35 years.
It's absolutely amazing. It goes to our radio broadcast, it goes to reaching people through our television ministry and other opportunities that come our way. I have to tell you, we have some amazing opportunities. I in this coming year. And I'll tell you more about them as we get closer to it.
But what a great time to be bringing the gospel. I'm so thankful as we have just celebrated our 250th birthday as a nation that we have the freedom in the United States of America to preach the gospel and to teach the word of God. Never take that freedom for granted. It really is a privilege. That's why so many people want to come to our country.
the land of the free and the home of the brave. We truly are blessed by God. And we want to continue to take advantage of that freedom that we have in America and declare the ultimate freedom that people can have in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Freedom from the power of sin. Freedom to live a new life glorifying God.
So stand with us if you would. And invest in our ministry so you can share in the fruit of what we're doing in the months and years to come. And in advance, let me say thank you. And one way you can do that is by becoming a harvest partner. Harvest partner is someone that just stands with us on a monthly basis and gives to our ministry.
Man, that. Makes such a difference.
So, thank you if you're a harvest partner. And for those of you that have not become one yet, would you prayerfully consider it? It would really make all the difference, honestly.
So thanks again. And God bless you all. And you can get started by calling us at 1-800-821-3300. Call anytime, 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org.
Well, don't miss our next study. Pastor Greg wraps up this in-depth look at the Beatitudes and ties it all together. Join us here on A New Beginning with Pastor and Bible teacher, Greg Laurie. This is a day, a day when life begins.
