The Equation for Real Happiness
September 6, 1992 PM
(Communion)
Psalm 1
Introduction:
Why "Equation"? Because there is a real balance in this Psalm that reflects the balance in the true life of faith. Rev. Mike Ballard said to me in conversation this morning that there are really five Gospels— and most people use the fifth Gospel the most of all. And that fifth Gospel is simply all the promises lifted out of the other four— a totally positive message.
Psalm One is both positive and negative. But let's begin at the beginning:
"Blessed" as used in Psalm 1 means "happy." Not silly- happy, or joke-happy, or good-luck-happy— but genuinely glad-to-be-alive-happy. It isn't a bad way to be.
"Blessed" comes by way of a life lived in harmony with God. It is based on a totally focused life; one that is centered in God, as Jesus demanded, and as we spoke about this morning.
"Blessed" doesn't just happen. If we have this kind of "blessed" it comes because we stay connected to grace, God's riches, undeserved, unearned, but not unwanted or unsought.
I. THE ELEMENTS OF TRUE HAPPINESS as outlined in this Doorway to the Psalms:
NEGATIVE: Blessed is the (man) that walketh NOT in the counsel of the ungodly; NOR standeth in the way of sinners; NOR sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
I don't quite know what to make of the progressive "inertia" there . . .
But I DO know that we have need of the negative grace of God: for forgiveness (or taking away our guilt) and for cleansing (or taking away our envy, bitterness, evil attitudes and all the rest)
And I do know that we have need of staying away from that which leads back into sin:
Godly separation from the world! What is it?
POSITIVE: Blessed is the (man) (1) whose DELIGHT is in the LAW of the Lord! The way God makes things work!
"In the stars His handiwork I see!"
What God demands is exactly what makes us happy!
We get the idea that God's law is like bad-tasting medicine- - maybe it is good for us— but it isn't really good! But David tells us that God's WILL IS OUR TRUE DELIGHT!
KNOWN (in touch): "The LORD knows the way of the righteous." It is the devil's work to isolate us— and to make us feel that we are alone; that no one cares, especially God! The LORD knoweth the way of the righteous!"
NOT unknown (out of touch): The ungodly are not beyond the factual knowledge of God— but they place themselves out of His relational knowledge. They are not in His friendship circle by their own choice— for that requires LEAVING sin as well as RECEIVING grace . . .
FRUITFUL, ON PURPOSE
- Planted
- Nurtured
- Fruitful
- Lasting
- Everlasting ... the greatest source of happiness (with the possible exception of grandchildren) is the inner persuasion that God has used you in some small way!
II. THE KEY TO ALL THIS HAPPINESS: "DAY AND NIGHT"
Never getting far away from the Presence of God!
Is this realistic?
Should we think about God and His way all the time? Isn't that somehow neurotic? Let's be exceedingly practical and honest: HOW TO:...
1. You cannot maintain what you don't have; so you must be born again!
2. You have to make that SUPREME COMMITMENT!
Then comes LOYALTY (the commitment maintained, through:)
- Worship
- Public
- Private
and also maintained by
- Fellowship in the Faith (the Great Commandment) - People you pray for every day, and who pray for you. People you would give your life for. People that have also made the Supreme Commitment and are being LOYAL. and by
- Witnessing to the Faith (The Great Commandment) - An attitude toward the whole wide world; expressed toward the people God makes available to you. I want to close by talking about a most intimate and personal part of this EQUATION of happiness:
III. MAINTAINING AN INTIMATE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
A practical close:
A plan for personal devotions.
I challenge you to use this way for thirty days through revival with Janine Tartaglia at the end of this month. NOW TO THE SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION:
