Bible Study: How To Be Happy In Mist Of Troubling Times

HOW TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE

Ephesians 5:1-20

We all start our day the same way. It is the blessings of God that allows us to see another day. Everybody that wakes up have been favored by God. It does not matter what health

Problems you have, what family problems you have or what financial problems you Have; you start the day with blessings. Its how you handle this day that determines A happy

outcome.

Remember that Paul is talking to the Church. The same things that affects us to day

Is what affected the Church 2000 years ago.

Ephesians 5 gives us insight to living a joyful life. Apostle Paul is talking to believers Of Jesus Christ.

Paul gives three areas that affects the Joy of Christians;

Personal Choices, personal relations we develop and personal resolve.

I. PERSONAL CHOICE    

Eph 5:1-2

5 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

A. WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL

    1. Be imitators of Christ.

    2. Out of God love, HE gave us Christ as our redeemer.

    3. Start your day with thoughts of love.

        a. Even if you can’t get along with someone, make the effort to

            say you love them because that is God’s command.

        b. God never told me to like the evil that comes out of their mouth

            or the evil that they do.

        c. God says love because the person because He loves the person

            of you.

        d. Love is the door to relationship.

     4. The role models you chose influences your lifestyle and personal

         Relationships and choices you make

B. CHRISTIAN LIVESTYLE

 Eph 5:3-7

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.a  6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

     1. Refrain from sexual immorality.

     2. Refrain from impurity of any kind.

     3. Don’t use obscene language

     4. Don’t be greedy.

     5. Don’t engage in foolish talk.

     6. Let your conversation be full of grace

     7. Stay away from evil minded folk

C. BE IN A THANKFUL MODE

    1. Being thankful eliminate complaining

    2. Being thankful eliminates envy.

    3. Being thankful eliminates sadness.

    4. Being thankful eliminate negative thoughts.

    5. Being thankful takes the focus off you and puts it on the Lord.

    6. Being thankful may cause others to consider the goodness

        of the Lord in their lives

II. PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

    

Eph 5:8-14

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

A. Recognize your position in Christ

      1. You are a child of the King.

      2. You are the light in the Lord Jesus

      3. You are a role model for others to follow.

      4. Let the Word of God be your guide to everyday

          decisions.

  B. Be selective about the people you hang with.

      1. Distance yourself from people who are evil minded.

      2. Stay away from negative people.

      3. Stay away from people who are angry

      4. Don’t try to fit in with the world.

      5. Recognize that everybody will not be your friend.

      6. Don’t entertain gossip of any kind.

III. PERSONAL RESOLVE

    

Eph 5:15-20

15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 A. Christian Attitude Of Joyfulness

1. Make up your mind that you will make this day

        that God has given you a joyful day

2. Make the most of every opportunity that God puts before you.

3. Missed opportunities may not return.

    4. Tomorrow has its own problems you may have to deal with.

         Make the most of today.

    

         Ps 118:24

      This is the day the Lord  has made;

     let us rejoice and be glad in it.

    5. Fear the Lord.

         

           Ps 111:10

       The fear of the Lord  is the beginning of wisdom;

      all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

      To him belongs eternal praise.

B. Be filled with the spirit.

1. Be filled with spirit is to be controlled by the spirit.

         2. Being controlled by the Spirit is following God’s commands

         3. The spirit will not speak on its own.

   

       John 16:13

   Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide    

   you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but

   whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will

    shew you things to come.

    

        John 14:26

   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father       

   will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, andbring

    all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto

    you.

     4. Notice being drunk with wine is to be under the influence of the wine   

         which   may lead to a false freedom from responsibility.

      5.  One under the control of the Spirit is responsible to the Spirit.

 

C.  Be the praise leader

     1. Speaking is the language of understanding.

         Music is the language of the heart.

      2. Psalms, Hymns and spiritual songs express our devotions to God.

      3. We can sing ourselves into a joyful mode.

             a. Wake up in the morning with hymn of praise.

            b. Praising God lifts your spirit.

            c. Praising God takes your focus of you and puts it on

                goodness of the Lord

        d. Praising God eliminates complaining about what God has blessed

       You with.

D. Resolve daily to be in a thankful and grateful mood.

1. Make it your business to thank God for all things.

2. Thank God for your existence.

         

         Acts 17:28

    For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain    

    also of your own poets have said, For we are also his   

    offspring.

 3. Give God credit for everything in your life; good or bad.

     Remember this fact,

         

           Rom 8:28

       And we know that all things work together for   

       good to them that love God, to them who are

       the called according to his purpose.

Rev M. Mitchell