The Key to Happiness

I'd like to begin the sermon this morning by reading from an article that came out in the May-June issue of ARP Magazine. It's found on page 56, and the title of the article is, Live Better with Less. The subtitle is, Our High-Powered Economy is Based on Growth, Growth, Growth. So why, the author Bill McKibben asks, is all our stuff making us less and less happy?

This article does make you think about things and consumerism and the materialistic approach that so many take in the world today. Let me just read some excerpts from the article itself. Attention, shopaholics and supersizers, go nowhere near an important new book called, Deep Economy, the Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future. You may never indulge the same way again.

Author Bill McKibben, the Harvard-trained economist and activist who forged a career reporting on such hot-button topics as overpopulation and global warming, wants to send a shockwave through our retail-addicted culture. The idea that more is better has been orthodoxy for the past 50 years. It no longer matches reality. McKibben tells me from the rural Vermont home he shares with his wife and their 14-year-old daughter. He says more stuff doesn't make people happier.

More stuff doesn't make people happier. In fact, once our basic needs are met, the very opposite seems to be true. In the past decade, the burgeoning field of happiness studies has overturned many of our basic assumptions about where satisfaction comes from, how long it lasts, and where we should focus our energy.

The results of our choices are not as life-changing as we think they'll be. The novelty passes, the credit card bills remain. And many of capitalism's long-standing assumptions that acquisitions improve our lives turn out to be a load of hooey. Well, skipping on down, in the United States, where the Eisenhower-era ideal of bigger cars, faster foods, and automatic everything has been nearly as devastating to our nation's psyche as rampant consumption has been to the earth. Once measured, and listen carefully to this, once measured to have the happiest citizens in the developed world, the United States is now number 23, according to research compiled at the University of Leicester. Alcoholism, suicide, and depression rates have soared with fewer than one in three Americans claiming to be very happy.

Less than one out of three Americans claim to be very happy. Even more frightening is the trickle-down effect of this malaise on our kids. Studies suggest that today's average American child reports suffering higher levels of anxiety than the average child under psychiatric care in the 1950s. All that material progress and all the billions of barrels of oil and millions of acres of trees that it took to create it seems not to have moved the satisfaction meter an inch, says McKibben. It's as if we've done an experiment in whether consumption produces happiness and determined that it doesn't. We have been involved in a grand experiment in our country in the last 50 years, maybe not knowing about it, and it's whether consumption produces happiness, and we have found out that it does not. The reasons for this paradox are complex.

In part, it's because we have more than enough in our lives. But McKibben sees a link between our isolated, overstuffed homes and a breakdown in community, the unseen emotional price of cheap goods and big lives. Our global economy comes at the cost of local economy and human connection, he says. The pursuit of mammon has turned us ever more into individuals and ever less into members of a community, isolating us in a way that runs contrary to our most basic instincts.

We scrap and save for the bigger house, only to find ourselves more cut off from friends and family. Suburban sprawl has been an undeniable culprit in our widespread alienation, with population density plummeting and houses getting bigger. The likelihood of bumping into neighbors drops enormously. An awful lot of boomers began their adult lives doing extremely idealistic things, he adds. Many of these ideals fell away as we became immersed in consuming. Now we need to find our way back. And he brings out later in this article that human beings have used more raw materials since World War II than, and that's in the lifetime of many of us here, more raw materials used since World War II than all of previous recorded history. And that's because of the consumerism that is all around us. And he ends the article by saying that we and the rich nations must change. We need to figure out a world that works for everyone. Doing so just might make us happier. Well, let's say that such a world is going to come in the future, but isn't this article eye-opening? That even though we have more now than ever before, as far as happiness, we have less. And the United States, once with the happiest citizens in the developed world, now rates number 23 in happiness, according to one study. And that fewer than one-third of Americans claim to be very happy. An insightful article, indeed. We've been proving a point, and that is that consumerism and physical things do not make us happier. So today I'd like for us to think about this more deeply from God's perspective and from the scriptural point of view. What is it that leads to real happiness and success? You know, there's a way that really works, and you can count on it working. It is guaranteed to produce happiness and success. You know, sometimes we do talk about today's world, and we talk about many evil things that are happening in the world today.

And that is so true. Many evils, and they are bound more and more. But today I'd like to talk about the benefits of living God's way of life, and that it does produce a life that is full of happiness and full of meaning, and it is successful. Back in 1958, I went out to Ambassador College. I traveled all the way across the country on a slow-moving Greyhound bus. It took three and one half days to get there, all the way from the east coast to the west coast. And Mr. Armstrong had written articles about the way to happiness and success. I was searching. That was almost 50 years ago now. And, you know, looking back at it, then God's way of life has produced much happiness and joy in my life. And there are keys that do work to happiness. It is not things. It is not consumerism. Physical goods and money and things are nice to enjoy. They will be there, and we'll read verses. God promises that. They will be there, and they have been there for me. And I feel very, very blessed. In fact, I feel like I am the most blessed man on the earth. How about some competition on that one? I believe that we have others here that would feel very blessed also. And I hope we do. I hope we have a lot of competition on who feels the most blessed. Because blessings will come.

The physical blessings will come on top of the spiritual blessings. But we have proved what Jesus brought out in Luke chapter 12 in the last 50 years in the United States. And that is that physical things do not bring more happiness. They do not make life more meaningful and fuller. In fact, it can work even the very opposite if we just set our minds on the physical side of life.

And Jesus said, let's read quite a few verses here in Luke chapter 12. Jesus talked about these very things. Luke chapter 12 and beginning in verse 15. He said to them, and certainly in our age of consumerism, this is a head-on statement toward the approach of growth, growth, growth, buy more, shopping trips, more toys in life. Jesus said, take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.

So, you know, that is something to ponder and really understand. Jesus, our Savior, said that we need to beware of consumerism. More, more, more, more things, more toys.

He said that those who end up with the most toys don't win. Not at all. Because one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. It's not how many cars we own, not how many houses, not how many TV sets, not how many computers, of any physical thing.

Our life does not consist in the abundance of the things we possess. And He spoke a parable to them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man yielded plentiful. And He thought within Himself, what shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops? So He said, I will do this. I will pull down my barns and build a grater. And there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

But God said to him, you fool, this night your soul will be required of you. Then whose will those things be which you have provided? So this person was not going to be able to enjoy all those things he had laid up. And verse 21 goes on to say, so is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. So the stress in our lives, if we really want a life that is abundant, is not going to be toward physical possessions. One's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses, but instead when we are rich toward God. Well, we need to read on down a few verses. Verse 22, he said to his disciples, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

You know, those are things we don't really need to worry about. And I hope that all of us are identifying with this ourselves, that we are not covetous toward the physical things and just head over heels in the pursuit of physical possessions. Because that's not life. Life is more than these physical things. And Jesus went on to say, God, take care of you. Consider the ravens. They neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn. And God feeds them of how much more value are you than the birds, much more. And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature.

If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? And consider the lilies, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin. And yet I say, even Solomon, in all his glory, was not a raid like one of these. If God then so clothed the grass, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith? So we really don't need to worry about all these physical things. But verse 29, do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. That is one that is worrying about these things and wondering how we're going to have the physical things provided. In verse 31, all these things, the nations of the world, seek after. People in the world do set their minds on the physical things. But we in God's church should not do that. And Jesus went on to say, your father knows that you need these things. And then verse 31, seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear little flock, for it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. So Jesus in these verses shows us that we need to set our focus on something that is spiritual. And God knows our physical needs, and He will provide them.

And we don't need to doubt and worry or be anxious about our physical needs being provided. God will provide. Life is more than food. Life does not consist of the abundance of what we possess.

Instead, the key to happiness is actually verse 31, seek the kingdom of God, and then all these things will be provided for us.

You know, God does want us to have an abundant life here and now. And we'll read verses on that in a moment, but let's first of all turn to John chapter 10 and verse 10. He does want us to have life and have it more abundantly. And He has provided in both physical and spiritual ways that we may have an abundant life. He will take care of our physical needs. He knows we have need of the physical things, food and clothing and housing. He will take care of those things. He does expect us to work. He does expect us to be frugal. He does expect us to use good judgment and wisdom. And He expects us to even prepare for the future. And it's not wrong to be blessed.

And it's not wrong even to be wealthy. Abraham was very wealthy. But it would be wrong to set our hearts and minds on physical things. God has something much greater than the here and now, the physical things for us. And that's what really gives us happiness and joy, is to see the spiritual benefits that God offers to us. With John 10 and verse 10, the thief does not come except to steal and to kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. What a wonderful verse that is. Jesus Christ came so that we may have life. His sacrifice, of course, paves the beginning of that way toward life in the forgiveness of our sins. And then His life as our high priest, where He guides us and He's the captain of our salvation. And He's leading us toward eternal life as well. Jesus Christ then spearheads the way toward real life. I've come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. Let's also read from 3 John, verse 3. But here's a verse that shows that God certainly includes in this that we would be prospering physically here and now. And blessed in many ways, our physical needs will be met. Our Father knows we have need of all these things. But the accent is not upon the physical pursuit. It's not consumerism. You know, actually, you know, just going shopping and buying and spending all the time is not happy. The happy thing is when you can be working and producing and accomplishing.

That is a lot more fulfilling than just out-consuming. Of course, we all need to get out and shop and buy things that we need. We all have to do that. But just being out buying and buying and buying is not as happy as when you are working and producing and accomplishing something. And you can see the rewards of what you have worked for. Well, 3 John, verse 3, verse 2, rather. 3 John and verse 2, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things. And this is talking more about the physical prosperity and be in health, the physical, good health. What a blessing that is if we are able to enjoy good health and not suffer pain and disease. And that's God's desire. And John's desire here, too. He said, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health just as your soul prospers your spiritual life. God wants that to prosper most of all, but certainly the other things as well. So God wants us to have plenty, but He wants us to set our affection on something that is not physical. Let's turn over to Colossians chapter 3. He wants us to really put our attention onto the spiritual side of life. Not the here and the now, so much, but on the spiritual side. And here is a real key to happiness and to success and to joy, and that is to set our minds on the spiritual things of God. Colossians chapter 3 and verse 1. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above. And to be raised with Christ, if you go back to the previous chapter, would be in baptism. If we have repented and been baptized and have received God's Holy Spirit, then we have been raised with Christ to a newness of life. Then seek those things which are above. Seek God's kingdom. Seek a spiritual relationship with God. And also, that relationship applies toward fellow humans. It is that of love.

Worship toward God and love toward Him and love toward fellow man, equal to love for self. Well, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. And verse 2. Set your mind. I believe the King James says the word affection. Set your affection or your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Because we've proven in our country for 50 years now that to set our minds on things here on the earth do not really satisfy. And Americans are not as happy now as they were in previous ages. So if we set our mind on things above, we'll be beginning to get on track toward success and happiness and joy.

You know, the mind that is set on things above will be a mind that is thinking about God's kingdom. It'll be a spiritual mind instead of a carnal mind. And the Bible does talk about that. And let's read that over in Romans chapter 8 and verse 5 through 9. And Paul writes about the carnal mind and the spiritual mind in Romans chapter 8 and beginning in verse 5. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. You know, they're just thinking about food, clothing, cars, pleasure. The things of the flesh. But those who live according to the spirit have set their minds on the things of the spirit. You know, something that we all have to ask ourselves. Is our mind set on the things of the flesh? Or are our minds set on the things of the spirit? It has to be one or the other. And there's not much of a sitting on the fence there. We either are thinking about the things of the flesh or else we're thinking about the things of the spirit. And it goes on in verse 6 to say something very powerful. To be carnally minded, just fleshly minded, is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind, the fleshly mind, is enmity against God. It is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you, and we in God's church, are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you. If anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So God's spirit then in us is the spirit of life. And verse 10 goes on to say, if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit, who dwells in you. So going back to verse 6, though, to be carnally minded, what is it to be carnally minded, and what is it to be spiritually minded? Well, the carnal mind is one that is going to be too busy for prayer and Bible study. It's not going to have an interest in necessarily being in the church service every week and coming to Holy Days or attending Bible studies. The carnal mind would be looking forward to a football game or the World Series or basketball playoffs or maybe Super Bowl, more than coming to church to hear a sermon. The carnal mind would be all wrapped up in physical pursuits, money and things and pleasure. And probably the carnal mind would be in the morning watching TV news and reading the newspaper, but probably would not get down and find time to pray to God. So the carnal mind is just going to be looking out for number one, thinking about the things of the flesh, very self-oriented, not interested in others that much, just interested in in the self. And the carnal mind is not one that is walking with God and humbles itself before God to do God's laws and to do God's will. Now the spiritual mind, it says here that to be spiritually minded is life and peace. I find that very appealing, don't you? The spiritual mind is one that is life and peace. Don't we all want life and more abundantly and exciting life? And don't we all want peace and contentment satisfaction? How much contentment is in your life? How much peace is there? How much satisfaction? You know, if there's not enough there, then maybe that shows we need more of the spiritual mind. And that means more of God's spirit. But the spiritual mind is going to dwell and think on the things of God. It's going to think about God's Kingdom, that is the purpose for human life, that we can be a part of God's family. It's going to think about praying every day, spending adequate time in prayer before God, thanking Him and making known our needs and requests. Certainly going to meditate upon the Scriptures and study the Scriptures daily. And it's going to be very interested when the Sabbath comes. It's going to be ready for it. And it's also going to look forward to coming to church and hearing more of the things of God.

So the spiritual mind just is one that is thinking about the things above. It's directed to word God. It's a mind that's walking with God and that is striving to do what is pleasing to God. It's focused and centered on the things of God. I just imagine that all of us here, who certainly do have a carnal mind that we fight against and struggle against, just as Paul did in in the previous chapter, Romans chapter 7, he said he was in this struggle, this battle. I think all of us can identify with this struggle, the carnal mind versus the spiritual mind.

And as we go about our work week, it's awfully easy just to, uh, the spiritual mind to kind of sag and think more about the physical things of life. And yet we are to keep our minds focused on the things above. So we have that struggle. I do, and I don't think I'm the only one. I think we all do, but this does sound pretty good, doesn't it? To be spiritually minded is life and peace.

And by contrast, I think we can say to be carnally minded is death and everything but peace. So to think about things, to be all involved in consumerism, in the physical aspects of life, is death and not peace. Life and peace and happiness. You know, someone asked, and the question got back to me. I'm not sure who asked it, but I know someone in this congregation that, what are the benefits of serving God? I'll tell you what, we're talking about the benefits today.

The benefits are great here and now. I mean, life and peace, to me, that's a great benefit. Happiness and the way to success and the way to joy is a great benefit. Why, if we go this way, we can even experience what the Scriptures say is perfect peace. I don't know that I've attained that yet of you. Perfect peace. Perfect contentment. I need to do what this verse says and I do have a lot of peace, but I don't know. Perfect peace, that's a lot. In Isaiah, turn over to these verses, the first three verses in this chapter. There's a way that will produce perfect peace in our minds, in our hearts, and that way is described right here. Isaiah 26 verses 1 to 3. In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah.

We have a strong city. God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. Open the gates that the righteous nation that keeps the truth may enter in. Maybe this is after Christ has returned when this will take place and all of the land of Judah will be serving God. Look at verse 3.

You will keep him in perfect peace. And what are the conditions? What do we have to do? Whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.

Brother, I hope we have a high degree of that anyway, whether it's perfect or not. But a high degree of peace and contentment in our lives. And if our minds are stayed on God, and we've set our affection, our minds on things above, and we are spiritually minded, then we're going to have a high degree of this. You will keep him. This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible and one that I strive for in my own life. You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. So God wants us to have that kind of peace, that kind of happiness and joy. He himself is a God of joy. There's no unhappiness with God.

And he wants to pass that on to us. He wants us to enjoy that way of life that he lives.

He wants us to experience it as fully as he does. I don't know that we can do that in this human lifetime, but one day when we are sons in his family, we will be able to share that same fullness of joy that God has. He has a higher level of joy than we can, I'm sure, possibly attain in this human lifetime. But he shares a lot of that, you know, we share a lot of that joy with him even today in this lifetime. Let's read of God's... that God is a God of happiness and joy in Psalm 16 and verse 11. Psalm 16 and verse 11. Psalm 16 and verse 11. You will show me the path of life. God has shown us the path of life, and it is one where we set our affection on things above. It's where we have buried the old man, repented and been baptized, and risen to newness of life, and are led by God's Spirit, and are spiritually minded, spiritually oriented. You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy.

I tell you, we... I don't know that we are tapping into it as much as we should. The benefit is there.

You want some benefits? You know, this sounds pretty good to me. In your presence is fullness of joy. It doesn't say down at, you know, Walmart or some other store shopping. You know, that's where it's at. Now, you can be happy, though, when you're out shopping. You know, there's no... I'm not saying you can't be, but that's not the kind of lasting joy that we're talking about.

We're talking about a spiritual joy that endures unto eternal life. You will show me the path of life in your fullness is... or in your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. So, I'll tell you, we have an abundant life.

A God that enjoys life, and he wants to share that with his children. Psalm 36 and verse 8.

Psalm 36 and verse 8.

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your pleasures. So, God compares his way of joy and happiness to like a river of pleasures.

Think about that. A river of pleasures. So, what a wonderful God we do serve, and he wants us to be happy, and we will be as we serve him and are spiritually minded. We keep our minds and our affection on things above. Psalm 144. Some good verses at the end of this chapter also. Psalm 144.

Verse 12.

Oh, this is because of serving and doing God's will.

Everybody's content and happy. Verse 15 sums it all up.

So, serving God, being close to him, walking with him, being led by his spirit. That is the key, then, to happiness. God is full of it, and he wants to share that with his children.

Jesus came that we can have that kind of life, an abundant life.

You know, living forever in misery would not be desirable, but that's not what God has in mind.

Living forever with abundance and joy and happiness, that's exactly what God has in mind.

Some people in the world think that being a Christian would be dull.

You know, yielding ourselves to God and praying and studying every day and walking with him, that would not be where fun is. They just have a very twisted understanding of where true happiness lies.

And this world comes at us to think well it's out here, movies, ballgames, all the thrills and things in the world. But that's just fleeting. You might be happy for a moment when you watch a movie or go to a ballgame if your team wins. But this is not lasting. These are temporary things. God has something that is eternal and permanent.

His ways are exciting and thrilling. And as the Christian life, and I've had that type of life now for not too far under 50 years, is the most exciting and thrilling life that there is.

I have done things in gone places. I never would have gone otherwise and experienced things.

And I'm talking both on the physical as well as the spiritual side. Let's go to Isaiah 55. In verse 1, For those who will serve God, the blessings will just keep coming in. The happiness and the joy will be there. It's a permanent thing.

There's no such thing as four walls on a Saturday night. That empty feeling that some people have.

But instead, there's a fullness. Seven days a week. 24-7.

24-7. 24 hours a day and seven days a week. There's a joy, a happiness in our hearts and minds. If we have set our affection on things above and if we come before God's throne and partake of His rivers of pleasure. In Isaiah 55 in verse 1, God invites us and He says, Come on and try it out. You'll find out that for yourself. Ho! Everyone who thirsts. And every human being is yearning and thirsting.

You know why I went to ambassador of college? Because I was thirsty, spiritually. Everybody is thirsty. Every human being has a yearning, a craving in his heart. And here's an invitation to take care of that yearning.

Ho! Everyone that thirsts. Come to the waters. You who have no money. Come, buy, and eat.

It doesn't take money, but there is a payment we have to make. We have to yield our lives and become God's servant. Come, buy, and eat. Yes, come. Buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me and eat what is good and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? That's what God has invited us to partake of. And our lives become full as we follow this way. We could be here and not really be spiritually minded, and we wouldn't realize the benefits. We do have to be spiritually minded for life and peace. We do have to set our minds on God's kingdom and the things above. And that is what really does delight our soul in abundance. Verse 3, incline your ear and come to me. Here and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the sure mercies have dated. And brethren, you know, at the time of baptism we did enter an everlasting covenant with God, an everlasting agreement. He will never renege on His side of that covenant. And of course, we must carry through with the terms and conditions of our side. What are the terms and conditions? Well, we're talking about it today. Set our minds on the spiritual things. Set our minds on the kingdom of God. Walk with God. Be close to Him. Be God-centered and God-oriented. He'll take care of the physical things He promises if we incline our ear. He will make that everlasting covenant with us. And you know, this really satisfies. This really hits the spot. Our lives become full and meaningful because we're in touch with the only meaning there is. There is no other meaning in life than to become a Son of God. That's what God the Creator has in mind. Jesus Christ is going to bring many sons to glory, Hebrews 2. And so God's plan is that we may enter His family, His family kingdom, and that we may have eternal life as His very sons. Now, are there sacrifices and hardships of being a Christian? Certainly there are. We know that Jesus Himself suffered persecution and difficulty.

And He said that we would suffer persecution. There will be some sacrifice that we have to make.

We have to present. In fact, we have to make the supreme sacrifice and yield our lives as a living sacrifice. Present our bodies a living sacrifice. And where that is said in Romans 12, verses 1 and 2, it's like an altar has been built. And we bring our bodies and lay our bodies there as a living sacrifice. As a part of the covenant that we make with God, we do present to Him our life.

There have been sacrifices I have made in my life. And there are continuing sacrifices that I make.

So yes, there will be sacrifices. And of course, our life is a sacrifice. And there are hardships.

But we realize as we go through the sacrifices and the hardships that it's a part of our training to be sons of God. And there's a joy that underscores it all so that it's not hard or difficult to continue to make those sacrifices that may be required. And you know, as we sacrifice and do the will of God and sometimes come up on the short end and maybe even face persecution or opposition of one type or another, God more than makes up for any difficulty or hardship.

He more than makes up for it. I can look back over the last 49 years of my life and say that that is so true. He will not renege on that promise that Jesus made. Let's go to Matthew 19.

And anyone that wants to take God up on it, go ahead and yield yourself to Him. Set your affection on things above. Seek God's kingdom with all your heart and mind. Present your life a living sacrifice. Walk with God and see if He doesn't bless you in the way that Jesus brings out here. Matthew 19, verse 27, Peter answered and said to him, to Christ, We have left all.

We've left everything. They left their fishing business. They had a successful fishing business going. They left everything. They left their boats, their nets, everything. And followed you.

Therefore, what shall we have? Jesus said, and I sometimes like to throw this in, don't feel too bad for yourself, Peter. Don't feel too bad for yourself. He said to them, verse 28, Assuredly, I say to you that in the regeneration when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

You're going to have a high position of service and responsibility. You'll be sitting on twelve thrones. And so during the millennium, the one thousand year reign of Christ on the earth, the regeneration, when Jesus is King, the twelve apostles will be ruling over one of the tribes of Israel, each of them. And so what a responsibility of service and what a joy that's going to be.

You know, the real joy, and many people in the world find this out, the real joy is not consumerism or things or the abundance of what you possess. It comes down, many people in the world discover this part of the formula, and that is that becoming a humanitarian, serving people, becoming altruistic and helping out with various causes, many wealthy people. And we could name ones that are wealthy today who give a lot of wealth away, movie stars and people that have businesses and companies that make billions and billions of dollars. Find out that the way to happiness is giving and serving. One of our former presidents is very involved in a project. In fact, sometimes hands-on. They find out that the way to happiness is the way of giving and serving.

It's not getting for the self, but giving and serving to other human beings. Now, the other part of the formula that people in the world today haven't found out is that it does require a relationship with God, a total yielding of ourself to Him. But that day will come, too, where they will be able to do that side, understand that side of the formula to happiness. But happiness comes down to really fulfilling the two great commandments of loving God with all of our heart and mind and loving fellow man. Jesus said here, you're going to serve in some very high positions of responsibility. It's going to be very thrilling and exciting to you to be able to sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Verse 29 goes on to say, "...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake, anyone that sacrificed in any of those areas, shall receive a hundredfold and inherit everlasting life." So, you know, a hundredfold. You say, well, that means that they will be in God's kingdom. And the hundredfold is talking spiritually about being in the kingdom of God, being given eternal life. Yes, it's talking about that, but not that only. Look at Mark's account of this very same situation or episode here. Mark chapter 10 and verse 28. Very same event. And here's Mark's rendition of it. He adds something that Matthew did not have. Mark chapter 10 and verse 28, "...Peter began to say to him, See, we have left all and followed you." And now, verse 29. Mark 10 and verse 29. Jesus answered and said, Assuredly I say to you, There's no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the Gospels, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time. Houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. Rather than this here and now, that God will add the hundredfold and later. It's both. What are the benefits? Someone asked the question, I don't know if it's one of our members or maybe one of our young people. What are the benefits of being in the church? The benefits are great. Here, right here and now.

The benefits will come in. For anyone that wants to take God up on it, He will add to such a person blessing after blessing here and now and then later eternal life in his family.

God promises and he will not lie. There's been much sacrifice in my 49 years in the church, but a hundredfold of benefits. I have mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters scattered all over the land and many, many friends and of course many of them right here and the congregations that I'm able to be with in this area. It's a real happiness and a real joy. A hundredfold!

Many, many benefits come from serving our great God.

What is the source of real happiness and real joy then? You know, the relationship with God.

And yielding ourselves to Him. It says, Spirit. His very Spirit is the Spirit of joy.

You know, if we're led by the Spirit of God, we will have love and we will have joy and we will have peace. We know that the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. I won't turn to that. We read it many times. Galatians 5, 22, and 23. The fruit of the Spirit, the very first three, are love and joy and peace. And if we have those three, then we'll have all the others and we'll have a life that is full and happy and abundant. In John 15, verse 11, let's do read a few verses about the God wants us to have a fullness of joy. But the only way is to be spiritually minded. We can't do it. Americans have proven for 50 years we can't do it by just seeking after things. We can't do it by just trying to have more and more and more. When will we ever have enough to where we say, well, now at last I'm happy? It would never happen. If our minds are set on the physical things, we would never, ever attain happiness and joy. And yet Americans, we Americans many, anyway, try to continue to prove that we can do it. It will never happen. And so as we acquire more, then the happiness level goes down. It seems like the two, you know, one is going up, the more we have, the other one goes down, if you want to graph it. In John chapter 15, verse 11, these things I've spoken to you that my joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full.

You know, Jesus did face opposition, persecution. He was even put to death.

But he had a joy within himself, a deep down joy and happiness, and he wanted that joy to be in us. And he wanted that joy in us to be full. So what are the, you know, the benefits are here, aren't they? And this is the only way that life is ever going to be full and happy and meaningful. In Romans chapter 15 and verse 13, Romans 15 and verse 13. I like this verse too, about God's happy and joyful way of life and the kind of God that we serve. What kind of God is he?

He's not a pessimist. He's not one that is gloomy or melancholy. He's a God that smiles and is happy, and there's an expression of joy written all over God's face. Not ever going to see God with feeling sorry for himself or, you know, just not full of joy and happiness.

In Romans 15 and verse 13, now may the God of hope, that's what kind of God we serve, the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. So, you know, Paul's writing here to the Romans, but may the God of hope fill all of us here in Raleigh with all joy and peace as we believe, as we strive to be led by God's Spirit, notice abounding that we may abound in hope ourselves. We don't need to be pessimistic about the world we live in. Many things are going bad, but we have hope. Our hope just gets stronger as the world gets worse. It makes the hope more real and more necessary and even stronger, and we can abound in hope of the power of God's Spirit. So, you know, the key then we're seeing is spiritual to happiness and abundant life. And I like this expression in 1 Peter chapter 1 also. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 8.

Well, 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 8. 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 8. Though now you do not see him yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. The King James has joy unspeakable, but the new King James has joy inexpressible. And some other translations show that joy that cannot there's no words to express. There's nothing in our language that would be able to express it.

And that's what we have in our hearts through God's Spirit. By believing, you rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible. We cannot express, then, the depth of feeling of happiness and joy that we feel in our hearts and minds.

The goal that we have, the kingdom of God, then, fills our lives with meaning. There's nothing boring. There's nothing dull. There's nothing uninteresting because everything we do fits into the overall plan that God is working out in our lives to transform us and prepare us for sonship in His kingdom. We have forsaken everything for this family that we want to be a part of, the kingdom of God. In Matthew 13, it says it very well. Matthew 13, verse 44. Matthew 13, verse 44. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. God's kingdom, what we're talking about today that can fill our lives with meaning and purpose. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid. Notice for joy over it, He goes and sells all that He has and buys that field. Brethren, you know, at one time we stumbled across the truth. Actually, God led us to it. It's like this man that found treasure hidden in a field.

There's a joy, remember, of discovering the truth of God. You want to always hang on to that joy and let it grow and increase. The joy that we discovered when we began to understand the truth of the Bible and of God's plan and purpose. This man then sold everything and bought that field with the hidden treasure.

In verse 45, again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. This man was looking for something then. Sometimes people come to God's church who were looking. They were searching. They even went from one to another to another until they found the pearl of great price. It says in verse 46, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. God has led us to the pearl of great price. We too forsake all. We sell all. What must we do? We need to realize the benefits are great. There are great benefits here in this organization, in the Church of God. They are here and now. God will add many blessings. A hundredfold! A hundredfold! Sacrifices, yes, may be persecutions, but God will add a hundredfold here and now. Plus, he will, of course, more importantly, grant us eternal life and his family. What we must do then is to set our minds on that pearl of great price.

What we must do is to seek God's kingdom and keep our minds on the spiritual purpose being worked out. What we must do is not follow the carnal mind and be carnally minded, but instead follow God's Holy Spirit and have a spiritual mind and be spiritually minded. As we grow about our daily lives, we need to ask for God's Holy Spirit. When verse says, how much more will God give his spirit than parents give their children food?

Another verse, which we heard a sermon about recently, is, stir up the Holy Spirit in us. And another verse, let's turn to John 4, which is very good. And this is what we need to have to happen even more and more in our lives, is that God's Holy Spirit will come in and just flow and provide us that living water. That will produce the fruit of love and the fruit of joy and the fruit of peace in our lives.

It will produce certainly life and peace. John 4 and verse 10. Jesus talking to the woman at the well in Samaria. And verse 10, Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, give me a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. Living water. Jesus said to her, sir, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where then do you get that living water? Are you greater than our Father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?

Jesus answered and said to her, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. That thirst will be quenched, that spiritual yearning and craving will be satisfied. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

That's pretty graphic. A bubbling, gurgling fountain of water that will spring up into our lives and lead to everlasting life and to peace. So what we should be busy doing then is asking God to give us more of his spirit, to help us to stir up that spirit as we go forward after Pentecost, and ask him that we have more of that living water, this fountain that springs up into everlasting life and grow and overcome and walk with God and be close to him.

And then one day we'll have the greatest joy of all. And that is the realization of the goal that fills us with meaning and with joy in our hearts and minds. And our vile body will be changed to be like the glorious body of Jesus Christ. No longer human, no longer weak and frail and feeble and subject to mortality, but changed to immortality.

Our mortal bodies will be changed to immortality. Many verses. And the words will be said to us, well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord. I don't think we can begin to experience the kind of joy that we will have then. And one day we really know what joy and happiness are all about, as God does. So in conclusion, don't you think there are many benefits here, right here in God's church? The way to happiness is not, as the article brings out very well in the Art Magazine, it is not consumerism, it is not more things or anything physical.

We could never have enough physical things that it would make us happy. Most of us are very blessed. Let's thank God for the physical blessings. I think many of us can say we have seen a fulfillment of what Jesus said. And we have realized a hundredfold here and now because of serving God. We have been very blessed. We are very blessed. Let's thank God for that. He has added the other things, the physical things.

But that's because our hearts and minds are set on His Kingdom and we are spiritually minded. Our affection is on things above. So one day we'll, of course, then enter right into the Kingdom of God. And what a wonderful and joyful time that is going to be. So, brethren, let's thank God and let's continue to draw water from that well.

Let God's Holy Spirit guide us and direct us in the days ahead. Those are the benefits that God has given to us. The happiness and the joy that we experience in our lives. Because we are led by God's Spirit. We are spiritually minded. And that is life and that is peace.