Can Anyone Force You to Be Happy?

Happiness or gloom and doom? Which one do you choose? As we face a new year on the Roman calendar, the prognosticators are all-out warning of the dire future, the future that lies ahead for the sons of men. All the signs of Matthew 24 are surely prevalent on the world scene. Virtually none of those signs are not on the world scene at the present time. Of course, we haven't yet seen the heavens parted as a scroll and Jesus Christ coming in glory, which we look forward to.

In the face of all these things, can we rejoice? Can we be happy and take comfort and encouragement from the Word of God? So I ask you today, can anyone force you to be happy? In the booklet titled, Prophecies of the World Tomorrow, what it will be like, the first sentences of chapter 1 states, you don't have to believe it. It will happen regardless. It is sure the world's only sure hope. This advanced good news of tomorrow is as certain as the rising of tomorrow's sun. Humanity won't bring it about. It is going to be done to us. Enjoy peace. To see universal abundance and joy fill the earth.

It says that we're going to be forced to be happy. Sadly, the statement that humans will be forced to be happy is simply not true. I cannot force you to be happy. God doesn't force you to be happy. No one can force you to be happy. We know that those who live in the flesh in the millennium will have to contend with human nature.

Satan will be bound, but we'll still have human nature. The peoples of the world will be forced to obey. We are familiar with Isaiah 30, which says, your teachers shall no longer be in a corner. Your eyes shall see your teacher. There will be a voice behind you that says, this is the way you walk you in it. But forced obedience does not necessarily change minds and hearts. But people to some degree come to believe what they practice.

So, of course, there will be going through the practice and doing the things that are right will cause some people to believe. But the main, of course, convicting agents in the spiritual sense are the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Yet, during the millennium when Satan is bound and the knowledge of God shall fill the earth and sands fill the seashore, there will be some who will harden their hearts. And when Satan is loosed a little season at the close of the millennium goes forth, he will deceive a lot of people. Multitudes will follow him into the lake of fire. Let's notice Revelation chapter 20. Revelation chapter 20.

Revelation chapter 20 verse 7, and when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle.

The number of them is as the sand of the sea. So multitudes of people, even after the millennium, even after the government of God is established on the earth, that we talk about the wonderful world tomorrow that brings peace, prosperity, and supposedly happiness to all humankind, would give Satan just a short season. And you see what happens. They went up on the breadth of the earth, encompassed the camp of the saints about, in that beloved city Jerusalem Shalom, and indeed it will be Jerusalem Shalom at that time, and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.

And the devil that deceived them was cast in the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet had been cast and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. So even after all of that that happens in the millennium and all of the wonderful teaching and government of God and all of those things, Satan lives for a little season, and here are multitudes of people that go after Satan in his way and notice they come up against the camp of the saints.

It is amazing how some people can be deceived into hating God and those who would follow God to the extent that they do. And of course the Bible says that they will cast you out of the synagogues, kill you, thinking that they do God a service. This example here shows that you cannot make people internalize the truth of God. You cannot make people happy.

As long as there are humans in the flesh, there will be scoffers and those who sit in the seat of the scornful.

You will always have them there as long as you have people in the flesh. So let's note the dictionary definition of happiness, Miriam Webster. Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment, a pleasurable or satisfying experience. Happiness is one of those things that's very difficult to define. The people who write the dictionaries are hard-pressed to define happiness.

Any of us, I think, would be hard-pressed to define happiness. You'll notice here happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. Let's go to 1 Timothy 6 verse 6. We'll see here, it seems that happiness is connected with contentment. How can you be happy if you're not content? So notice what Paul writes here in 1 Timothy 6 verse 6.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. Godliness with contentment is great gain. I would say godliness with happiness is great gain. That is in contrast to the first five verses there of 1 Timothy 6. Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. Yes, there was servitude. Some Christians were in servitude in the early days of the New Covenant Church, and they are instructed many places in Paul's writings concerning what their outlook and attitude shall be or should be. And they that have believing masters let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit.

These things teach and exhort. So you could be in a state of servitude, you could be a slave, and yet be happy. I would dare say that even during the time of slavery in this country, that abominable practice, that some of the slaves were probably happier than the slave masters because they had internalized certain values and knew certain things about life that could lead to peace, happiness, and contentment. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, into the doctrine, the teaching, which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and stripes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmising. See, all of these things do not lead to happiness and contentment. Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw yourselves. So, of course, all of those things would be enemies of happiness and contentment. The Greek word autarkia, that is translated contentment here, autarkia in this passage means a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed. A perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed. To come to that point of contentment, where you know and you know that you know who God is, what God is, what is his purpose, you know who man is, what man is, what is his purpose, that you're just founded and anchored upon the rock and nothing can move you.

Some of the happiest people on the face of this world, face the earth, they have very little of the world's possessions.

So it's happy, it's possible to be very happy in the sense of being content without being godly on the other hand. Happy in the sense that they're carefree, they have plenty of money, they do this, that, or the other. But when it comes to the kind of happiness that we're going to talk about today and contentment and communion with God, they are void of that. I read one article that said, yes, happiness, money can buy happiness. And it talked about studies they had done with people. It seemed that money had little effect on people until they made over 75,000 a year.

And once they made over 75,000, say they make 200,000 or a million or whatever, it's like they can buy to themselves and garner to themselves those things that they think make them happy. But true happiness, true peace of mind, can only come from God in his spirit.

And so you see this statement that says, godliness with contentment.

You can be happy in the worldly sense and party all the time. I guess they call that happiness fun.

That's what the world has to offer. That's how they sell their goods.

The glamour, the glitz, the party, the fun, the so-called romance, the youth, beauty, live it up, have a good time. Some think that's happiness, but it's really not.

As an ethnic group, who would you say are the happiest people on the face of the earth? What countries? Well, a survey has been done with regard to that.

Gallup Inc. conducted a survey of 150,000 people in 148 countries and found that seven of the world's 10 countries with the most upbeat attitudes are in what continent would you guess? Would they be in Asia? Would they be in Australia? Would they be in Europe? Would they be in Africa?

Would they be in North America? Well, the happiest people on earth, according to this study, found among the Latin people in South America.

Happiness is one aspiration all people share, but Latin Americans seem to be the best at giving off good vibes. Latin Americans have been rated the happiest people in an international pool.

The research-based consulting company asked about 1,000 people in each of the 148 countries, if they were well rested, felt respected, smiled or laughed a lot, were they educated, did something interesting or felt feelings of enjoyment the day before.

Panama and Paraguay ranked the highest, with 85 percent of people reporting a positive outlook.

Can you imagine 85 percent of a nation reporting an outlook for 1,000 people out of a nation?

El Salvador, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Guatemala, the Philippines, Ecuador and Costa Rica followed closely. According to the poll, Armenia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti were also among the least likely to report feelings of positive emotions.

Of course, you can understand, to some degree, Iraq and Afghanistan, torn by a war for years.

Haiti, with the awful situation there, with the earthquake and poverty for decades. Armenia has been fought over and discussed so many different times. This is a quote, feeling unhappy is part of the national mentality here, said, Agaran, a DB Ken, something like that, a sociologist in the Armenian capital, Armenians like being mournful.

There have been so many upheavals in the nation's history. The Americans keep their smiles on and avoid sharing their problems with others, he said, and the Armenians feel ashamed about being successful. The United States ranked 33rd among the 148 nations.

The study further deepens the correlation between money and happiness. According to the poll, Latin Americans believe the real value of happiness is intangible, unmaterialistic things like relationships, friends, family, and spiritual sources.

Now, our news sources in this nation and the propaganda machines that we are tuned into on television, radio, and via the print media are geared to keep us in a perpetual state of anxiety, fear, doubt, wondering where the next shoe is going to drop, so that we're, if you're not paranoid, you're on the way to being there.

Now, I've been in some of these countries, been to Costa Rica, been to Guatemala, been to Thailand, been to the Philippines. I'd say Thailand and Philippines, to me, were the most, the peoples there were the most impressive. They had very little in material possessions, but they had a smile on their face. They had pep in the step, and they were just so friendly, so serving, couldn't do enough for you, so excited. The Filipino people who are in the church are just wonderful. It's a joy to be around them. So, you don't have to have a lot in the way of material possessions to be really happy. So, as noted in the study, the people in these countries place great value on family and family relationships. They may not have much when it comes to this world's goods, but they have one another. So, with regard to happiness, let's read some of the quotes that some of the so-called world's great thinkers have said about happiness.

Happiness is when you think what you say and what you do are in harmony. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. Mahatma Gandhi. Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values, Ayan Rand. Happiness is especially a state of going somewhere wholeheartedly, one directionally without regret or reservation. William Sheldon. Happiness is not a reward, it is a consequence. Robert Ingersoll. Robert didn't have a lot for God, but happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing. George Sheehan.

Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence. Aristotle. Happiness is not something you experience, it's something you remember.

Oscar Levant. Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling. Margaret Lee Runbeck. Happiness is a spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. Dennis Waitley.

All of these, if you take note carefully and you looked at them, you studied them, take some time. All of these require action on our part. So how would you define happiness? Just sit there for a second. Happiness is. How would you define it? What would you say happiness is? And we could all ask ourselves, am I happy today? And if I'm not happy, why aren't I happy? I don't think most people have ever thought about defining happiness. They just sort of sense it and feel it. They may say, I'm so happy or I'm really happy. And they may give a because of kind of reason.

It seems that happiness is something that's sort of sense. It's difficult to describe and define. I believe happiness is a state of mind and is a product of the way one thinks. I believe it is a state of mind and a product of the way one thinks. Our actions are based to a large degree on the way we think. So let's look at Proverbs 23, verse 7. Book of Wisdom by a man who was noted for his wisdom in Solomon. In Proverbs 23 and verse 7. Let's read verse 4. Proverbs 23. Labor not to be rich, cease from your own wisdom.

Will you set your eyes upon doubt which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings. They just fly away. They're temporary. Don't last. They'll fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Eat you, not the bread of him that has an evil eye. Neither desire you his dainty meats.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

As you think in your heart, we're familiar with the so-a-thought, reap in action, so in action, reap in habit, so a habit, reap character.

Or as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink says he to you, but his heart is not with you. He has an evil eye. His heart is not right. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Now in Philippians, if you go there, we see very clearly the instructions of what we should think and how and what we should think on. In Philippians 4 and verse 4, what is the difference in rejoicing and happiness? Well, rejoicing might come when some special event takes place or we understand the great things, the great promises of God. I would say it's very much like happiness, but rejoicing might result in more of an outward display, per se.

That you rejoice in certain events. It talks about going to the feast, the Bible does, and rejoicing there before the Eternal. Here it says, Rejoice in the Lord always.

And again I say, Rejoice!

You know the scripture of James 1-2 says, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different trials. That's when you get really mature. Verse 5, Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Eternal is at hand. We'll talk about communion with the Eternal, with God the Father and the Eternal. Be careful for nothing. Better translation is be anxious or give no anxious care or thought for anything. It's one of the great enemies of faith and happiness.

But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. I would say that thanksgiving and happiness are very closely related as well. Be very difficult to be a happy person and not be thankful.

Because if we really consider all the things that God has done for us, regardless of what our trials are at the present time, we have so much to be thankful for. We are, of all people on the face of the earth, most blessed. And the peace of God, and of course peace is closely related with happiness, as it talks about in Romans chapter 5, that first of all we make peace with God through faith in the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins that are passed.

We make peace with God, no longer counted enemies of God. Slates wipe clean. We're viewed as sinless. We make peace with God, and then some grow to the point and maturity of the peace of God, which comes over a person, overshadows them like a great pleasant cloud and feeling.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, surpasses all understanding. The peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, back to this, whatsoever a man thinketh so is he. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Once again, my definition of happiness, I believe it's a state of mind that you choose to be happy, or you can choose to be the other way. The old Roger Miller song about, you can't do this or you can't do that, you can't roller skate in a buffalo herd, but you can be happy if you're a mind to do, do, do, and so on. He has several little rounds to that. You can't do such and such, but you can be happy if you're a mind to you.

God instructs us on what to think, but sometimes we react instead of thinking before we speak or take action. Most of us have heard the phrase, his mouth was in gear before his brain, and we pop off. I pop off at times. You probably have once or twice, and you say things before you think. Apparently, the Apostle Peter was given to engaging his mouth before his brain was in gear. Let's look at Matthew 16 verse 21. Matthew 16 verse 21.

Matthew 16 is a sort of a dialogue back in 2 between Jesus Christ and the disciples, and he's asking them various questions.

In Matthew 16 verse 21, And from that time forth began Jesus to show his disciples how that he must go into Jerusalem, suffer many things to the elders and chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from you, Lord, this shall not happen unto you. But he turned and said unto Peter, Yet you behind me, Satan, you art in offense unto me, for you see not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men. Then Jesus said unto the disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Now look further here in Luke 21 verse 31 concerning Peter. Imagine to have Jesus Christ say to you, this strong rebuke, Get you behind me, Satan. He called Peter Satan at that time, because of course Satan would not want Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world so that he might be reconciled to God and be in the family of God. In Luke 21 and verse 31. This is not where I want to be, but anyhow, I'll just continue. I think we could safely say that Peter was a man of great passion and commitment. The scripture I was going to turn to there talks about, once again, Peter speaking up and Christ saying to him that Satan is desired to sift you as wheat, Peter. But I have prayed for you that your faith might be strengthened, and when you are converted, then you strengthen the brethren. Of course, Peter got the message when you read his two epistles, 1 and 2 Peter.

I've said so very often, and I believe that this was my whole being, that our strongest point is potentially our weakest point. Peter was a person who was filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and passion, but oftentimes he would react before he thought. And here is what God says about engaging our tongue before we think. In James 1.19, what does this have to do with happiness? Oftentimes, some of the things that make us most regretful and unhappy are things that we say before we think. And it causes all kinds of negative feelings in our hearts and minds, and at the same time, very often, what we say before we engage, as we should, our thoughts in the right direction we hurt other people. In James 1.19, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man works not the righteousness of God.

Wherefore, lay aside, or lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.

Yes, I love the old King James, the same one that the apostles used.

The other translations, Mr. Graham there, he specializes in textual criticism.

The other translation just did not have the beauty, the strength, the power. The old King James, though, in some ways it might make some passages clearer, but it's the old King James, the new King James, are probably the most accurate. And they are translations, of course. Wherefore, lay apart all filthiness, superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls, your life essence.

But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

But we can discern from the life of Solomon that having it all, as they say, does not bring happiness, contentment, and peace. Let's go to Ecclesiastes chapter 2. We talked a little bit about Ecclesiastes in a recent sermon with regard to experiential knowledge versus reveal knowledge.

We talked about this in a class, too, with our own line class with the ministers, fundamentals of theology, the various ways that man gains knowledge through the five senses. Sensory knowledge, experiential knowledge, putting two and two together, I guess what you would call rationalization, and, of course, revelation.

And the things that are spiritual, the things of God, must be revealed to us.

Solomon, in chapter 2, and, of course, there are other places in Ecclesiastes as well, that talks about how he tried it all. I doubt there's anything that you could think of that Solomon didn't try.

In Ecclesiastes 2.1, I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure. Behold, this is also vanity. This word vanity in Ecclesiastes basically means temporary, doesn't last very long, it is fleeting, it'll pass away. It's not necessarily vanity to think the person thinking they are better than everybody else, or more beautiful, handsome, or whatever, or having to do this or that. I said of laughter, it is mad and of mirth. What does it?

I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet, acquainting my heart with wisdom. So, wine and wisdom. And to lay hold unfolly till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under heaven all the days of their life. So, this is experience to the ultimate, experience everything under the sun, and see what it brings. Does it bring happiness?

I made me great works, I built me houses, I planted me vineyards, I made me gardens and orchards, I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits. I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that brings forth trees, irrigation. I got me servants and maidens. He doesn't bring out here that he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. I mean, if you visit one a day, it would take you almost three years. Well, I lost my place on that. Verse 7, I got me servants and maidens. Well, he does say about maidens here. I had servants born in my house. I had great possessions, and great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me. I gathered me also silver and gold and peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got me men singers, women singers, and the delights of the sense of men as musical instruments and that of all sorts. So I was great and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem. Also, my wisdom remained with me, and whatsoever mine I desired, I kept not from them. I withheld not my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor, and thus this was my portion of all my labor. Then I looked upon all the works that my hands had wrought and on the labor that I'd labored to do, and behold, all was vanity, temporary, doesn't last, doesn't really fulfill the hole in the soul that basically all the peoples of the world currently experience. The hole in the soul, there is a hole in the soul, and it's not the shoe. It is in the very heart and essence of man. So Solomon goes through all of this, all the various chapters, and of course you come to the last chapter that will go there, and he comes to the conclusion of the whole matter of really what's life all about. Very simple, verse 8, Ecclesiastes 12. Ecclesiastes 12.8.

Vanity of vanity is temporary, temporarily, lasting a long, short time, doesn't fill the hole in the soul. Vanity of vanity says the preacher, all is vanity. And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he gave good heat and sought out and said in order many proverbs, some say like 3,000 or whatever. The preacher ought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. The words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies which are given from one shepherd. Of course, the words of the wise are goads to those probably who are wise. Words for some is turns them off. They turn them off. They become your enemy instead of your friend, because they do not love knowledge and correction in the right way.

Verse 12, And further by these my son be admonished of making many books there is no end, and much steady is the weirness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, keep his commandments. For this is the whole man. That's what makes a man complete. He can never be happy apart from this. He tried it all. He tried it all.

And you've heard the various stories about the rich and famous of the world, and basically most of these people have had anywhere from three to six to seven wives. They've done all kinds of things, and yet they're not happy. For God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it be evil.

So Solomon, he experienced it all. He came to that conclusion that happiness really cannot be attained through the things of this world.

Our emotional state, to a large degree, will determine our degree of happiness and contentment, our emotional state. Now we go back to Proverbs 16.

Proverbs 16 and verse 16.

Proverbs 16 and verse 16 will begin.

Proverbs 16 and verse 16 will begin. How much better is it to get wisdom than gold and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver?

What would you rather have? A ton of gold or the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ and the truth? And the answer to the great questions of life? Which one would you rather have?

Well, many of you gave up a lot of things. To be in the church, perhaps you could have had. I doubt you'd ever have a ton of gold, but you could have had a lot of things, probably, if you'd have just went out and knocked heads with the world.

But what would you rather have? What would make you richer in the ultimate sense? The highway of the upright is to depart from evil, and he that keeps his way preserves his soul, his life essence. Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better is it to be of a humble spirit with a lowly than to divide the spoiled with a proud. Of course, a lot of people want to divide the spoiled with a proud.

In recent weeks, they've been running documentaries on ESPN about celebrities and sports figures and how they attract people and how difficult it is for these pro-athletes who are making millions of dollars. If I'm 7'2 and I can throw a ball down through a hook that's right before me and I can make millions of dollars. It takes a lot of skill to do that.

People make a lot of money. They were talking about how people are attracted. In this case, they were talking about women. So at this one nightclub, this one, I don't know if she was a waitress or what her position was, but anyhow, she put out the word, made a few phone calls, saying that Michael Jordan was going to appear, going to be there, and 1,000 women showed up.

Now, I don't know. Well, that's what they said. I didn't count. I wasn't there.

In verse 20, he that handles a matter wisely shall find good, and whoso trusts in the Lord, happy is he. Of course, that's one of the great keys if you know and know that you know and you trust in God. Happy is he. The wise in heart shall be called prudent, and the sweetness of the lips increases learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that has it, but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

So, of course, that's why we should always try to engage our minds before we speak. Slow to speak, and slow to anger. There's a way that seems right unto man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. He that labors for himself, for his mouth, craves it of him. An ungodly man digs up evil, and the lips there is a burning fire. A froward man so strife, and a whisperer separates chief friends. A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him into the way that is not good. He shuts his eyes to devise froward things. Moving his lips, he brings evil to pass.

The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. Age in and of itself is not the test. It is whether or not a person is in sync with God. Now, here's the verse about the emotions. To a large degree, the emotions. How you control your emotions will determine whether or not you can be happy. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty.

He that rules his spirit, which we could equate with emotions. He that rules his spirit, than he that takes the city. So if we really want to be strong, that's what we would do.

So one state of mind is to trust God. As the old song says, trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy than to trust and obey. Thus, we could say that disobedience is a great enemy of happiness because a conscience that is not seared will suffer the pangs of guilt when he or she sins. A conscience that is not seared will suffer the pangs of guilt.

Guilt is an enemy of happiness. There's probably no greater blessing and sense of happiness and contentment than to know, to believe, and just sense with your old being that all is well with you and God and Jesus Christ and everybody else. Look at 1 John. 1 John chapter 3 verse 20. 1 John 3.20.

In 1 John 3.20, for if our heart condemns us, in other words, if we are filled with guilt, if our heart condemns us, if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. He knows what we feel.

Beloved, if our heart condemns us not, then we have confidence toward God.

One of the meanings of that word is boldness. Boldness toward God.

See, when you sin and feel guilty, as Adam and Eve did, they ran away and hid. Then they blamed and they justified. They didn't want to face God. But if we rid ourselves of guilt, we have boldness, confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He gave us commandment. And He that keeps His commandments dwells in Him and He in Him. And hereby we know.

There are five, six, maybe seven places in 1 John that people say, well, how do I know I'm really in the faith? How do I know this? How do I know that? Well, in 1 John, just look up, hereby we know.

And it'll give you a lot of insight as to how you can know. And He that keeps His commandments dwells in Him and He in Him. And hereby we know that He abides in us by the Spirit which He has given us.

Now, let's go back to chapter 1, 1 John 1. The remedy for guilt is quite simply, confess your sins before God, repent of your sins, exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ, go and sin no more. As we sang in the hymn, the Mary Beth hymn of Suffer the Little Children, teach them of judgment, mercy, and faith. In 1 John 1, verse 4, And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full, that you can be happy, that you can rejoice.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.

But if we walk in light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Or, as it says, cleanses us from sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth of God is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. But see, we have a way, a path, that we can confess our sins, repent of our sins, and exercise faith in the sacrifice of Christ. We don't have to go around under a guilt cloud. And furthermore, verse 1 of the next chapter, My little children, these things I write unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate, paraglitos, paracletos, however you want to pronounce it. We have an advocate, an intercessor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

And He is the propituation, the go-between. He went in our stead for our sins, not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we know. Hereby we know. You want to know?

Hereby we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments.

During the time that 1995, 1996, and so on, in which the great heresy was being dealt with, whether or not the law of God has been done away in the church.

Of course, you can't do away with that which is perfect, righteous, holy, just, good, and so on. But anyhow, a lot of students would write to me, some that had departed from the faith but were very spiritual and righteous, I guess you would say, in their own eyes. And I would simply write back a few words, and I would quote the next verse.

He that says I know Him and keeps not His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not any.

Do we need to say anything else I mean about that? As long as the world stands, is this verse true? I would say that it is.

See, there are indeed two states of mind. There is a state of mind that God is unfair, life is unfair, I'm being treated unfairly, I'm no good, I might as well give up, nothing I do matters. Satan the devil would have you to believe every negative thing your mind can conjure up about God and your neighbor. The one closest to you, and maybe your wife, maybe your husband, your children, person next door, or Amadine John, I don't know.

So Satan the devil would have you to believe negative things. On the other hand, there's a state of mind that knows, believes, and has internalized Romans 8.31. If God be for you, who can be against you? One cannot overcome Satan and the world unless they believe the promises that God has given in his word. We see it, we've just read it here in 1 John. He's faithful and just to forgive us of all unrighteousness. And it is through faith in Jesus Christ.

It says in 1 John 5, 4, we're there in 1 John, we can read it in 1 John 5 and verse 4, For whosoever is Gennao, begotten of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

So we have our faith to overcome the world. We have our faith so that we can be happy, so that we can overcome every obstacle. One cannot have this kind of faith unless he or she is in close relationship with God and Christ.

Close relationship means that you are communicating with God and Christ.

A relationship in which there is communion, there is closeness, there is intimacy.

A relationship that claims the promises of God. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 10.

Paul talks about here how you can win the battle. Satan is out to get your mind, he's out to destroy your peace of mind, he's out to destroy your happiness. In verse 3, 2 Corinthians 10.3, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh, for the weapons of a warfare are not carnal, they're not fleshly, they're not of this world, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. What are the strongholds? The strongholds are those things, those negative thoughts, the emotions that come upon us that brings us down, that takes away our happiness, our peace, before God. The weapons of a warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and much of what we think are imaginations, we think this, we think that, once again, see, happiness is a product of what we think, and if we're thinking negatively, we definitely are not going to be happy. But note this, the weapons of a warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. So we see here that we can defeat any obstacle that is before us.

The unity and communion that we can have through God and Jesus Christ was uppermost in Christ's mind on the night and the day, the night he was tried and the day he was crucified, as evidenced by his prayer. Look at John 1720. Communication what? John 1720. The communication that leads to communion with God is a close, personal kind of communication that you and you share with God in Christ. Sometimes you might share it with somebody else.

The kind of communication that allows this kind of fellowship with God and Christ so that there is an awareness that God and Christ are in you and you are in them.

Remember what we read from 1 John 1. Our fellowship is with God and Christ.

And of course, we want our fellowship to be with each member of the body of Christ as well. In John 17, verse 20, this prayer that Jesus Christ was praying on that night, neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which believe on me through their word, that they all may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you gave me, I've given them that they may be one even as we are one. See, we're talking about that kind of close communication. Talks about in Ephesians, no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it.

Maybe we'll turn there in a moment. Verse 23, I in them, you in me, that they may be made perfect of one, and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world, showing the pre-existence of Jesus Christ, contrary to anyone who would teach that he was a created being and so on.

O righteous Father, the world had not known you, but I have known you, and have known that you have sent me. Now we go to Ephesians 5.29. We've got a little late start here today, so I may be a little late finishing. In Ephesians 5 and verse 29, this to me is so important to understand. In Ephesians 5 and verse 29, for no man ever yet hated his own flesh.

That's when the woman and man come together. They are counted as one flesh. No man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it even as the eternal the church. So Jesus Christ lives in the church, as we've just read. He prayed that we might be one with him and with God the Father, even as they are one. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, shall be joined unto his wife, that the two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. See, we can have this kind of communication and communion with God and Christ that can lead to this kind of happiness and peace of mind and contentment that can only come through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Now you go back a few pages to 2 Corinthians 13. 2 Corinthians 13 13. Notice how Paul closes this epistle. 2 Corinthians 13 verse 13. All the saints salute you.

2 Corinthians 13, 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit, the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Now one of the definitions of the great word that is translated communion here is joint participation.

Communion, joint participation. I in you, you in them.

Jesus Christ prayed that they may be one as we are one and that we all are joined together.

So as we noted in 1 John 2 verses 1 and 2, we have an advocate with Jesus Christ, the righteous. He pleads our case before the Father. He ever lives to make intercession for us. Notice Romans 8 26.

Sometimes if we feel like God is not hearing our prayer and that we are down in the doubt, we're not happy, we feel the pressure, the weight of the world upon us, do we realize that there is one who is pleading our case before the Father?

And he ever lives to make intercession for us, therefore he's able to save us to the uttermost. That's Hebrews 7 25. Here in Romans 8 26, Romans 8 26, likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself makes intercession for all us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

So Jesus Christ is interceding, he's praying for us, he's able to save us to the uttermost, but it's joint participation. If we want that kind of communion, if we want that kind of fellowship, there has to be joint participation. And we know that all things work together for them that love God to them that are called according to his purpose. Verse 27, And he that searches the heart knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. So, brethren, there is really no reason for us not to be happy. We are among the most blessed people on the face of the earth. In fact, there are three Greek words that are translated blessed or happy in the New Testament. Macarios, barot, yes, barot. And eulogitos, which we get eulogy, which means to pronounce a blessing.

And those words have to do with happiness. Oftentimes, macarios is translated as happy. And notice now Ephesians chapter 1.

Chapter 1 of Ephesians.

As a side note, as you're turning there to Ephesians 1, in what we call the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, those 11 verses, it says, blessed are, blessed are. That word macarios can mean happy. Happier are those who do this, happier are those who do that.

But note this. Ephesians 1 verse 1. Paul and apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God to the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus, grace be to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Brethren, if we clean the promises, if we clean to the promises, if we defeat the four enemies of faith which we can do, anxious care, fear of doubt and human reasoning apart from the word of God, we can rise above all the things that pull us down.

We can look unto Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. We can be more than overcomers through Jesus Christ who loved us and gave Himself for us. So, brethren, let us continue to press toward the high mark of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus. And we all can be happy here and forevermore.