Happiness: Where to Find It | Here and Now

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Though it was all the big picture, as believers will return to the issue here to read Maurice is what you return to the influence you think in the here and now say some good because God is more like Jesus, just forward start experiencing this joint copy this problem Christ Jesus never promises that he warned us of the office in this life, we will have tribulation. Can we live a life of joy and happiness even when surrounded by pastor Greg Laurie says yes we can calls words on not while sitting at a four star resort.

The people that know God are the happiest as rejoicing in the Lord of the book of Philippians shows us how slugs dig Philippians 1.

Read verses 1 to 6: Timothy, bond servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus Oren Phillippi with the bishops and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I think my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine, making request for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now being confident of this very thing, that he was begun a good work and you will completed on the day of Jesus Christ. There, let's start with verse one to this saints in Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi was very easy when we read epistles disorders skip over the opening statements as though they have no relevance to us, but we don't do that because really Paul gives us the door to the life of happiness. You must be one of the saints. So if you want to be happy. Do you think Holly me out.

I know Mother Teresa you know I'm an emissary. I know that were all sinners but you have to understand what the word saint means it's an interchangeable word of the word believer.

So if you're in Christ Jesus you are a saint, but notice it's a saint in Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus. Believers are not saints because they're perfect. Believers are saints because they're in Christ. The Bible says if any man be in Christ, he is an altogether different kind of person.

All things are passed away. Everything becomes fresh and so I bring this up this reason, the book of Philippians to the point.

The rest of the New Testament has nothing to say to the world does not believe in Jesus Christ. What God says to the world. Repent and believe in Jesus. That's our message to the world come to Jesus. So when people so I found the Bible is just the greatest self-help book ever written, and it tells you how to have a better marriage and how to have a happier life know that that's actually not accurate because the Bible is not given to nonbelievers to take the principles and try to live by them know the Bible is given to God's people. It's come to show us. We need God. The point of entry is your admission of your sin and your need for God and then result in you putting your faith in Christ. In second Timothy 316 tells us what the Bible for its here to teach us what is true. To make us realize what's wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.

So this is what is written to to St. so you must be a saint or another way reported. You must be a believer so who in particular this fall offering these principles of happiness to his offering to those who have believed in Jesus.

Now I want to the notice a wonderful promise that is given to the St. verse six he who has begun a good work and you will completed under the day of Jesus Christ. God always finishes what he begins, because God has unlimited resources. He has unlimited power. Listen to this. He has unlimited interest in you. He loves you and he sees that the finished work. He sees the finished painting. He sees the finished sculpture. He sees the finished shoe. He sees the ultimate you and he sees the endgame that he has for each of you is going to bring what he started in your life to completion. Hebrews 12 says we are to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, so I've good news. They're going to make it to make it to the end. The good news because when you say all this world.

Such a horrible place in the devil so powerful, just fall away while really you want to follow I will know you wanted.

Continuing as a follower of Jesus, will yes within you will because as we read it is God that works in us both to will and do of his good pleasure. God wants to do it if you want to do it then we have a game plan know if you're sabotaging what God is doing. If you're resisting what God is doing. If you're fighting with God. Even then, he will give up on you. Even then he will patiently bring you along, but if you determined to rebel against his plan will yeah get you can ended but that's not God's fault, that's your fault.

But listen. The bottom line is you going to make it if you want to make it appear willing the desiring to go forward as a Christian, then you will.

It is God that works in you know what should also notice that he's working in you to will and do of his good pleasure.

Philippians 213 good pleasure.

God's plan for you is good when my favorite passages is Jeremiah 2911, God says, I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope to go to St. I'm thinking about you and by the way my thoughts are good and I have a future and a plan and a purpose for each of you. His thoughts are good. It's a good work that he wants to do.

He who was begun a good work and you will completed under the date of Jesus Christ know some of you are are maybe young and you're wondering about your future. You're still single. You're wondering you know my everything to me that right guy that right girl you're thinking about your career. What am I going to do with my life. Are you thinking about other things are what will my health. Eli, how long will I live I will I reach goals that I've set for myself what's in my future.

You think about that a lot.

Now as you get older your wondering what how much longer will I live and how will the end of my life. The will my health still be good to be failing. I be dependent on others what's going to happen in the end, you know you have these thoughts will, God is your future all sorted out and all put together. So the best thing is you need to just trust him. I don't know about you but I like to know what's coming. You know when I'm on the road driving you know the driver that's in this layman is over and the slaying that these back in his lane always appear in it, that's me, that's me, cousin.

I looked at a row I have the next eight moons figured out, and in those moves. I'm putting into play all the stupid moves other people will make it out to you really do this a lot when you ride a motorcycle. As I write a bike and when you rent a motorcycle. You have to basically come to one conclusion.

Everyone on the road is a moron going to do the worst things possible that guys can pull right in front of you because he did notice you were there because he is on his cell phone and this guy's gonna swerve in your lane because he's eating a cheeseburger and this person over here is again this year because she's putting her makeup on right inner in her rearview mirror and in this other person is drunk in this other person whatever but so your you're like putting all these things in pleasure, going down the road. You write very defensively and I don't like being behind a tall vehicle because I don't know what's ahead ever been in the fast lane carpooling and try the veal confronted his going very slow to all the traffic is horrible and then you pull out and you realize this is the only person going slow, but you can see that because he block your view, why do people go so slow in the carpooling. Why, I mean they don't even go the speed limit. They go under the speed limit. Snails are passing them anyway. Feels good to get that all out.

It really does.

So we like to see ahead so we can plan to do this. Some of the goddess knows C ahead, but he sees ahead to you the one driving the car. He's the one in the cockpit.

You don't want that God is my copilot sticker on your car anymore, rip it off etc. copilot God is the one you in the cockpit want you to put your seatbelt on and then you know have your seat in the upright position in your carry-on stowed away that he he's in charge.

He's going to get you to your destination. So we have to trust them on these things in a moment.

Pastor Greg, it's very personal, commenting on how we trust God in the midst of tragedy. As he and his wife did when his son went to heaven so unexpectedly that's coming up. Sometimes, we can always bring in the picture here is his church is coming to you is coming due on your TV screen or on your tablet or your computer or even your phone. We do it every weekend and it's called Harvest at Home. We worship we have a message of the word of God. If you want to find out more, just go to harvest.org enjoy this this weekend for harvest at all. Will Pastor Greg continues his message now called happiness where to find it. Let's listen. It's all good. We sometimes it's all good men so good. Don't panic. It's organic. These things mean so good is not always good notes.

All good was not good right now talking you putting away that Stephen has some truth to it.

It's all good now talking to a Christian I'm talking to a saint I'm talking to a believer.

It's all good in the big picture. I didn't say there will be some bad moments. I didn't say hard things will not happen to you. I didn't even say tragedy will not befall you. I just said, it's all good in that God will work all things together for good to those that love him.

Another called according to his purpose. Last time I taught this series was in January 2008, so I keep all of my notes on my computer and I go back and review all notes and then rebuild the messages and sometimes a pull elements from the last time I gave the message and this is very interesting because I'm looking at this whole section that I wrote on all things working together for good and we don't know our future and we need to trust God in. I even wrote in my note. You know sometimes that scene like they are bad will ultimately turn out to be good that I write this, and I saw all while January 2008, and I wish I could just say to Greg of 2008.

Greg, you have no idea what's ahead of you, buddy. Because that same year is the year, our son died in an automobile accident.

So I went back over my old notes and I thought, do I still agree with the old Greg was great right when he wrote these things are these things actually theologically true in NR. They also true, practically and inviting not only sings to be true that I had look back and say no I don't disagree with anything I said in this because I said it.

It's not because I wrote it, it's because it's in the Bible and you know when you're going through a bad thing and someone here listening to me is going through a bad thing right now.

I just know it really bad thing.

You've lost a loved one you found out you have cancer, you have some big trauma that's happened in your life, your husband, your wife told you they want to divorce you the sentence happen with your kids. I just all kinds of things I know something bad is happening in the document. This is that this doesn't make sense. Some even say I'm starting to lose my faith over this was in the faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. Your faith is going to be tested and bad things are going to happen in your life that are in X political but that doesn't mean God is not good that does not mean that God still does not work all things together for good. What it does mean is, bad things happen to good people and more to the point. Bad things happen to godly people that should not shake your faith because God never promised you a pain-free life. God never promised you a trauma free life typically promise you this in this world you will have tribulation, but then he went on to say, but be of good cheer. I've overcome the world.

Here's what I'm saying yeah here's what I'm thinking is your thing. I'm getting really depressed right now me like you know you're getting your message and happiness. It does happiness on this remind you, the pulpit says happiness is little faces CLO which is a happy color in your life such a downer. I'm just trying to be truthful. Yes, you can have this happiness. But let's see what it is and what it is. It's not just the emotional high.

Some pleasure experience. It's a deep-seated faith and trust in God, knowing that yeah it's all good because one day when I get to heaven, and I look back on earth with an eternal perspective all realize that God was in control of everything that happened to me. Even the bad things that were allowed. He ultimately used for his good because after Romans 828 the oft quoted verse guns Romans 829, although Romans 828 right all things work together for good to those that love God and are the called according to his purpose. Now verse 29 continues on, by the way the original versus when they were given there were no verse breaks it just went on all things work together for good of those who love God.

Another called according to his purpose for whom God did foreknow, he also predestined to be conformed into the image of his own dear son, there's a big picture it's all good man, because ultimately God is going to make you more like Jesus. And there are things in life that are not easy at the time, but don't make you more like he's going to complete what he started. So don't worry about it just keep walking forward and start experiencing this joint happiness.

God offers because one day. Life will come to an end, and all those things that this world promised would give happiness will not but you can have a deep-seated happiness that will last for your life in this earth and right into eternity.

Because the Bible says in his presence there is fullness of joy in his right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Let me close with this.

Some of you have joined us and you don't know God in a personal way. You know about God. You been to church before.

Maybe, maybe not.

Maybe this is your first time, but you've never known what it is they have this relationship with God. Human chasing after the things this world offers and you know they're not fulfilling you. You know that there's an emptiness in it and its cause you to start searching and I'm glad you came here because guess what it came to the right place you came to the creator of the universe who created you and is a plan for you. No matter how messed up your life is, he can turn it around again if you will believe in Jesus Christ. Didn't you hear the news.

They just one of the original bullet must things from the film bullet if your car guy your you're excited about this if you want your like Gerace well there is a movie made years ago in the 60s, starring Steve McQueen call bullet and there were two cars used for the filming. One was sold and a person bought it in this way, somewhere no one knows where does the other one is for loss in the been searching for for decades. So some guy who goes and restores old 6768 Mustangs and turned them in the Eleanor cars that suffer from gone in 60 seconds.

The car was called Eleanor found the original bullet this is for a car person.

Like finding the holy Grail right so it made it the news everywhere know he's gonna restart.

Turns out this guy's a Christian and they contacted me about three weeks ago and told me get on the original bullet must think so. I knew before anybody, but I'm a good secret keeper and now it's on the news, but didn't take this old beat up Mustang. That's actually painted white looking to get back to the original color repayment they're gonna restore it to the incredible cart once was. But you know it's incredible about the Mustang is not the car. It's the guy who drove it Steve McQueen that took me the carpool in his life was transformed by Jesus Christ I told you little bit about that.

I've written a book about it. The guy with the number one movie star in the face of the earth who had everything this world has to offer. So I empty it was one of the searching MedSurg project in to hear the gospel and he committed his life to Christ that all of the sin forgiven and he's now restored in heaven is perfectly even more perfectly than that. Bullet Mustang will be using an answer. God can do for you.

God specializes in going into the junkyards of the world and taking all racks and turning them into something different. Trust me when I tell you my life was a rat before I came to Christ, but he turned it around and he can do that for you live your life's a rat's a mess. God can change it, but you must say forgive me of my sin. I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and I want to know him in a personal way, and I want him to come in the my life right now. Listen, he will come in your life and change you. And you can start experiencing this happiness were talking about, and even more, you can know the ultimate happiness when you see the Lord in heaven. But if you don't want to Christ.

You don't have to have them but did not say yes doing this to say no to them. I hope you will do that and what will get a pray in Domino extend an invitation to anyone here who is never asked Jesus to come in to their life. Anyone here who is not sure that their sin is forgiven. Anyone here that wants to know the go to heaven when they die anyone here who wants to find real happiness. It's yours by believing in Jesus lets up our heads. Father, thank you for loving this so much. You send Jesus your son to die on the cross for our sin and to pay the price for every wrong for every wicked thing we've ever done in the Lord Jesus. You rose again from the dead in your standing at the door of our heart you're knocking and you're saying if anyone would hear your voice and open the door you come in. Lord I pray for those here that don't know you. Those listening to this message that don't have a relationship with you.

Help them to come to you now and believe and be forgiven in Jesus name I pray again your great glory important closing prayer and if you like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord today. Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes what were making available a unique book called divine disruption by Dr. Tony Evans. Many people are familiar with that name, and many also know that he has four adult children who were also all involved in ministry and they co-authored this book along with him. The Evans family has suffered some terrible tragedies eight family members passed away over the course of the last two years now and we all experience some rain in our lives. Problems and worries and crises. Sometimes it's even a downpour and sometimes it's a flood and Pastor Greg. This new book, divine disruption is from a family that survived the flood and grew through it is not right. Yes it is right and you know that probably the most profound loss for Tony and his children was his wife going to be with the Lord. Lois she was sick for quite a long time and that her faith was strong throughout her suffering and her sickness, but then she was called home to heaven. There is one quote in this book, which says we have one goal in this one short life we have on planet Earth. Do not lose focus serve the purposes of God. Lois Evans did that.

The rest of the Evans family is doing that. Are you doing that that's what we all should be doing serving the purposes of God, you know, let me be honest and I think you know this already. It's not a matter of if you're going to die. It's a matter of when. Death will come but death is not the end for a Christian. It's not the end of the road. The road continues on into the presence of God.

Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life and he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.

Then he asked this question, do you believe this, I mean really, if we believe life is short and I want to live it well gonna want to live it for the glory of God. We don't want to waste our life.

We don't want to waste our months and our weeks in our days, we want to invest our life into honoring and serving God.

So here's a book now that I want to offer you called divine disruption written by Tony and his two sons and his two daughters, telling you how they dealt with losing their mother and other members of the family how they dealt with it in faith, but it's also an honest book. It's candidate did talk about the pain in the heart ache that comes with losing someone that you love so much. So this is going to be a helpful book. It's going to be a hopeful book and it's going to be an instructive book for many of you, and I want to send you a copy of divine disruption by Tony Evans and his family for your gift of any size whatever you send will be used. To help us continue to preach the gospel and teach the word of God. So if you believe in what were doing. Please respond to this offer and will rush to your copy of divine disruption. Thanks in advance. It's powerful encouragement for those times of serious challenge and heartache and we hope you let us send us your way. Thank you for your generosity as you request this thank you gift divine disruption by Dr. Tony Evans and his family and will only be mentioning this. A short time longer, so get in touch right away. You can call us right now at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 and you can make your donation and request online@harvest.org then the pressure just before we go.

Would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today in the relationship with the Lord. I'd be happy to Dave you know is you been listening to this today. Maybe you've heard another voice. By that I mean, you heard me say a few things, but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned in you. This is what I need order stated more accurately.

This is who I need I need Jesus. And I want Jesus, but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life. Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now. Would you come into my heart, my life as Savior, as God as friend.

I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and for giving me in Jesus name I pray, amen.

I know there was a relatively short prayer. Maybe you felt something as you prayed it. Maybe you felt nothing, that doesn't really matter because God's word 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.

It doesn't say so. You may think you have it or you may hope you have it of gods in a good mood.

No that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer and minute Jesus Christ, the son of God has come into your life. So congratulations, you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord and to help you would like to send some resource materials we call our new believers growth packet will answer many of the questions you might have get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord. So get in touch and ask for will send free of charge.

Call 1-800-821-3300. That's our 24 hour phone number 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click on know God Pastor Greg invites us to take a good look at ourselves and introspective look.

He asks the question, what do you look for that's next time. Join us here on a new beginning. Pastors and Bible teachers regularly and will buy harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to do, harvest partners, sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org