Happiness

The message was brought by Rev. Eddie Foster on Dec. 17, 2023.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

True happiness is found only in Jesus Christ.  People aren’t happy because they are looking in all the wrong places.  They clutch to the wrong things. The devil slips in counterfeits. Things can be enjoyed for a while, but it’s never permanent.  Solomon tried everything only to find he was still empty. He called it vanity of vanities.  These days people have everything only to have nothing to live for.  They live with a void because they don’t know Jesus.  Happiness is not just something for the future. You can be happy with the Lord in your life.  Here are some ways to be happy as a Christian.

Assurance of salvation:  Do you know you’ve been saved?  You can.  The book of First John tells us we can know. If you doubt, there will be no fullness of joy.  IT CAN BE FULL.  We’re not saved by our feelings. Salvation comes through the Word of God. It’s not because of our works. Feelings change from day to day but we can still have assurance of salvation.

Growing as a Christian:  I love to watch a garden grow. When I plant it, I expect it to grow. A healthy church will grow, not just by numbers but also by the maturity of its people. It should be a natural thing for a Christian to grow.  First saved, a person is a baby Christian. Just as we expect babies to grow naturally, baby Christians should grow.  How?  Get in the Bible. Be faithful to church attendance. It will make you a happy Christian.

Finding a place of service:  Find your spiritual gift. Use it in your place of service for the glory of God. It’s our responsibility to share our faith. Not everyone we tell about Jesus will accept him as Savior but some will.  Finding a place, a way to serve, makes a happy Christian.

Surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord:  At some point in life everyone must decide who will rule their life.  When a person accepts Jesus as Savior, the next step is yielding his or her life to him as Lord.  When we surrender to him as Lord, we can have joy even when things in life are unhappy.  Let him save you.  Then let him be in rule of your life. 

The Bible says we can have fullness of joy. That’s the life the Lord wants us to have. If you’re not saved or haven’t fully surrendered to the Lord, today is the day.