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SERMON OUTLINE |
How To Be Happy
Text: Psalm 1:1 IBCSW
July 18, 2004
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
HAPPY FACE
Photo by Jose B. Cabajar
Happiness is a soul-friendly treasure that everybody wants to possess for a
lifetime. Many people, through their money, have tried to buy happiness, but
ended up in the trap of multiple grief and sorrows. Apparently, many are looking
for happiness in the wrong place and seeking advice from wrong people.
Understanding true happiness is an amazing key to unlock every man from the
cruel cage of ignorance. Ignorance enslaves, but Truth educates and frees a man
from the worst slavery. God wants us to know the truth and that is precisely the
reason why He preserved His Word through the ages, so we may live by His Word
and experience true happiness which the world cannot afford to give.
Psalm chapter one guides us to understand the secret of a happy man. It makes us
realize that believers are the happiest people on earth and through the guidance
of the Scriptures, we are heading to a good success. Good attitude toward the
Word of God will lead every believer to real happiness. Surely, godliness,
security, fruitfulness and prosperity will make a man happy all the time.
(I) Don’t Walk In The Counsel Of The Ungodly
Psalm 1:1
-Don’t follow them
-Don’t stand on their side
-Don’t have fellowship with them
The Bible warns us about the way of the ungodly so we may not be led by their
deceitful lifestyle and philosophy of life. True believers must seek counsel
from God, not from the ungodly. Many famous and powerful men were led to their
own unexpected downfall because they belittled and rejected the counsel of godly
men and embraced the impressive and deceitful words of ungodly people.
What an assurance and encouragement to know that believers are on the winning
side, but what a shameful and foolish act also for a believer to ask counsel
from ungodly and join himself with those who are on the losing side. We must
realize the power and superiority of godly advice so we may not be deceived and
end up a loser, but boldly exhibit the marvelous working of God through our
lives.
(II) Have Pleasure In The Word Of God
Psalm 1:2
-Meditate the Word of God
-Carefully observe the Word of God
-Enjoy the Word of God
Joshua 1:8 II Chronicles 20:20
The Word of God gives excellent and continual pleasure to all those who really
love the Lord. In Psalm 119:97, it is written, O how love I thy law! It is my
meditation all the day. In verses 127-128, it is also written, Therefore I love
thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy
precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
The true success of a person depends on how he loves God and His Word. People
who extremely love gold and the world will never attain true success. In their
own understanding, it seems attainable and they work hard to pursue it, but in
reality, good success is very far from them.
(III) Trust In The Lord
Psalm 2:12 Psalm 34:8
-At all times
Psalm 62:8
Trusting God is a wonderful secret of a happy life that could be enjoyed not for
just a small span of time, but for eternity. Great and godly men, had
experienced and powerfully displayed the great advantage of trusting the Lord.
They became great men of God not because of their own wisdom and strength, but
because they trusted the Living God with a pure heart.
He who put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ is a trustworthy man. He will live
by the counsel of God. He will not walk with the ungodly, neither stand in the
way of sinners. He will avoid fellowships with questionable people. The Lord
will provide all his needs and will never be anxious because he is trusting God.
God will bless the works of his hand so he may prosper in a tremendous way.
Truly, he will be called “A Happy Man.”
Lastly, we must bear in mind that without the Lord Jesus Christ, true happiness
is not attainable. Follow the Lord and be happy.
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Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines