Bible Basic: Think Yourself Into Happiness

THINK YOURSELF INTO HAPPINESS

Phil 4:4-9

OH HAPPY DAY IN THE LORD

V:4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

A. You have to make a choice to be happy.

    1. You start by being glad in the Lord.

    2. The Lord is the source of all our being.

         3.   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.

    4. The key to our emotional well being is our trust in the

        Lord.

B. We have to strive to be even tempered

    1. Thinking before you speak is a good start

        to controlling your temper.

     2. Thinking before you react to others is a good way

          to control conflict.

     3. Thinking allows time for the Lord to speak through you.

C. The spirit of the Lord indwells us.

     1. Being submissive to the will of the Lord promotes 

         calmness in your spirit.

     2. Letting the Lord direct your speech promotes

         love and compassion.

  

DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY

TRUST THE LORD WITH THANKS

V:6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

A. Prayer is an important part of the life of a believer.

    1. We should be specific in our prayers.

    2. God knows what we want, but He wants to hear from  

             us.

    3. We should also be in prayer for the needs others

B. Our prayers ought to be the time of devotion.

    1. We should express out thanks and gratitude for

        what God is doing in our lives.

    2. We should express our reverence for God because He is

        God.

C. Worry is a sign of weakness in our faith.

    1. Worry brings us down and stresses us out.

    2. There are two concepts that Christians must grasp.

         a. Perspiration is the answer for things we can change.

         b. Prayer is the answer for things we cannot change.

   3. If we put our complete trust in God, there is nothing to

       worry about.

            

BRING PEACE NOT CONFLICT

V:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A. Peace  can only be had when we summit ourselves to

    The Care and protection of God.

   1. The peace of God begins with obedience to His

        commands.

   2. There cannot be faith without obedience.

   3. A knowledge of God Words is a requirement for the

      development of faith:

        Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of

        God.

   4. Faith means trusting God for all our needs and desires.

   5. Faith means relying on God in all situations and

        circumstances, good and bad.

   6. Faith requires us to communicate with God before we   

       do something.

B. The peace we have with God does not originate with us,

        

         1.  Rom 5:1-2

       Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wea    

       have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2   

       through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace    

       in which we now stand.

    2. God has bestowed His peace on each of us.

     3. We must develop and attitude of peace with God

        and walk with Him.

C. Since God is beyond our understanding, His peace will

    Beyond our understanding.

   

      1. Philippians 4:4-7

    We can enjoy the peace of God, a peace that

*    guards our hearts, protecting us from wrong feelings;

*    guards our minds, protecting us from wrong thinking.

(from Willmington's Bible Handbook by Harold Willmington Copyright © 1997 by Harold L. Willmington.

THINK GOOD THOUGHTS

V:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

A. The Word is the only truth.

    1. Our conversation should be filled with grace and kindness

    2. We should meditate on the Word day and night.

    3. Stay away from gossip and never tell lies

B.  Do what is dignified and worthy of respect.

C.  Always focus on doing the right thing.

D. Do what is wholesome and what is not mixed with moral impurity

E. Do what is right, that which conforms to god standard

F. Do what is lovely: that which promotes peace and not conflict.

BE THE ROLE MODEL FOR PRAISE

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

We have to change what we think about.

 A. The world is full negative and vile activities.

     1. We see the devils work in the news, an the radio and

         on the internet.

     2. There is more good in the world than bad.

     3. We have a habit of focusing on the bad, because the  headlines in

         news is focused on the bad.

  B. We have to learn to focus on the things that are good.

     1. There is some good in the worst of us and some bad in the best

         of us.

    2. Do you know that there is something praise worthy in every criminal.

       a. They have desires and zeal

       b. They plan

       c. They put their plan to motion.

       d. They risk their lives every time they go out to steal or kill.

       e. They have blind courage.

   3. Just think if we could change their focus to the good of others

      what kind of Christians they could become.

C. The apostle Paul is the greatest role model for a criminal.

    1. Apostle Paul is the greatest role model for change in lifestyle.

    2. He went from a persecutor of the Church to the biggest supporter

       of the Church.

   3. We have to learn to see the best in people and promote their

       good potential.

   4. If we start our days expecting the goodness of God we will find it.

Rev. M. Mitchell