JOY AND HAPPINESS

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Where can we find joy and happiness today?
      1. This quote well illustrates the unhappiness of some people  
         in our time: "My journey through the darkness has only
         accelerated. I have become adept at inventing counterfeit
         lights, bright colored, flashing lights, pseudo rainbows,
         artificial sunsets, celluloid stars. More recently, I       
         discovered that God is dead, anyway. I am a product of      
         organic evolution, a cosmic accident, a unique moment in a
         mysterious 30-billion-year process. It is an adventure      
         filled with suspense, cruelty, and meaninglessness. And     
         though I do not know what is ahead, never fear, I am on my  
         way! Even today, after reading the morning news and the     
         latest issue of Time Magazine, and even though I acknowledge
         countless gallons of human tears, the endless cycle of
         agonizing tragedy, I, along with the world's majority,
         maintain that Adam made the right decision. Even as I
         swallow my tranquilizers, rush to my psychiatrist, take that
         extra drink, endure my third divorce, and watch my children
         reject all the ideals I tried to pass on, I still say there 
         is hope." (Author unknown) 
   B. Indeed, there is hope for the broken-hearted and down-trodden.
      1. Let's look at where true joy and happiness are found.

I. THERE IS JOY IN KNOWING THE TRUTH.
   A. Men today diligently search for scientific truth, and when a   
      great discovery is made, they celebrate.
      1. How much more is the rejoicing when those who are
         hungering and thirsting after righteousness find it. Matt.
         13:44-46
   B. The prophets wanted to know more about the salvation that was
      to be brought through the Messiah. 1 Pet. 1:10-11
      1. We are blessed to have a knowledge of it. 1 Pet. 1:12; Matt.
         13:16-17
   C. God's truth continually brings delight to those who love it.   
      Psalm 119:111; Jer. 15:16

II. THERE IS JOY IN KNOWING JESUS CHRIST.
   A. Consider the angel's announcement to the Shepherds. Luke 2:8-
      11
   B. In a world of confusion, darkness, depression, sorrow, and
      despair, Christ is the answer.
      1. Everything is but rubbish, when compared to gaining Christ.
         Phil. 3:7-8
      2. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in
         Christ. Col. 2:1-3
      3. We are complete in Him. Col. 2:9-10
   C. Let us be rooted and grounded in Him. Col. 2:6-7
      1. Let us not be moved away from Him, but hold fast to Him.
         Col. 1:18-19
      2. When the Coalinga earthquake occurred a couple of years
         ago, a lot of things were discovered. Houses that were built
         and were bolted to their foundations withstood that 8.2-on-
         the-Richter-Scale quake. On the other hand, houses that
         were built in a period when they did not bolt them to the
         foundation--a perfectly good house--when the horizontal
         earth movement occurred, the house moved maybe six or
         seven inches off its foundation. And, that's what caused the
         house to collapse. So, a great discovery was made at
         Coalinga: houses should be bolted to their foundations. Not
         only "built on" the foundation, but if you add horizontal   
         earth movement, a house must be "bolted into" its           
         foundation--sort of a living relationship with the          
         foundation--into it, as well as, on it. (From Earl Palmer) 
      3. Likewise, let us be both "built on" as well as "bolted into"
         our foundation, Jesus Christ.
         a. To know and love the Lord, brings joy inexpressible and
            full of glory. 1 Pet. 1:8 
         b. It is a joy that no person or thing can take from us.    
            John 16:22

III. THERE IS JOY IN OBTAINING GOD'S FORGIVENESS.
   A. Under the New Testament, there is reconciliation and           
      forgiveness. Rom. 5:10-11; Heb. 8:11-12
   B. Any one who comes to the Lord can find rest. Matt. 11:28; Rev.
      22:17
      1. Those who are baptized into Christ can wash away all their
         sins. Acts 22:16
      2. The Christian who confesses his sins, can have forgiveness. 
         1 John 1:9
   C. What a glorious blessing!
      1. God said, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be
         white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall  
         be as wool." Isa. 1:18
      2. Let us rejoice in these blessings. Isa. 61:10
   D. There is great joy in having one's sins forgiven. 

IV. THERE IS JOY IN WORSHIPING GOD.
   A. May we, within our own individual hearts, never find our       
      worship services boring, but may they be to us golden          
      opportunities to praise the Lord. Psalm 122:1; 63:1-4
   B. Having God in our lives is a cause for great joy. Psalm 70:4;  
      Neh. 8:10

V. THERE IS JOY IN DOING GOOD.
   A. When a good deed is done, there is joy that comes to one's     
      heart. Gal. 6:4
   B. Ten Rules for Happier Living:
      1. Give something away (no strings attached). 
      2. Do a kindness (and forget it). 
      3. Spend time with the aged (the experience is priceless). 
      4. Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel). 
      5. Laugh often (it's life's lubricant). 
      6. Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough). 
      7. Pray (or you will lose the way). 
      8. Work (with vim and vigor). 
      9. Plan as though you will live forever (you will, in either
         heaven or hell). 
     10. Live as though you will die tomorrow (because you will die
         on some tomorrow). (From Pulpit Helps)
   C. Choices That Make us Happy:
      1. Choose to love--rather than hate.
      2. Choose to smile--rather than frown.
      3. Choose to build--rather than destroy.
      4. Choose to persevere--rather than quit.
      5. Choose to praise--rather than gossip.
      6. Choose to heal--rather than wound.
      7. Choose to give--rather than grasp.
      8. Choose to act--rather than delay.
      9. Choose to forgive--rather than curse.
     10. Choose to pray--rather than despair. (From Charles Hodge)

VI. THERE IS REJOICING IN ANTICIPATION OF THE LIFE BEYOND.
   A. Because of the "joy set before Him," Jesus endured the cross.
      Heb. 12:2
      1. We are to hold fast the "rejoicing of the hope" to the end.
         Heb. 3:6
   B. In God's presence is the fullness of joy, and pleasures
      forevermore. Psalm 16:11
      1. There will be exceeding joy for the righteous in that great
         day. Jude 24; 1 Pet. 4:13
   C. I heard about a farmer/preacher who bought a brand new pair of
      boots. However, the boots turned out to be a tad too tight. The
      bootmaker offered to stretch them so they would fit. "You'll   
      not stretch these boots an inch," insisted the man. "You see; I
      start every morning before sunrise checking on some ornery cows
      that have knocked down a fence or caused some other trouble.   
      Then, I go to the office and listen to all of the members      
      complain about this and that. Then, I come home to hear my wife
      tell me what chores I haven't gotten done around the house.    
      When I get ready for bed and I take off those tight boots,     
      well, some days that's the only pleasure I have!"  (From Alan  
      Smith)
   D. May we rejoice in the hope of eternal life, which is far better
      than taking off a pair of tight boots at the end of the day!

VII. THERE IS JOY IN SPITE OF HARDSHIPS IN THIS PRESENT WORLD.
   A. We can be happy in spite of discouragement, depression,
      hardship, and persecutions.
      1. The Christian is joyful, not because he is blinded to       
         hardship and suffering, but because he knows there is       
         something better.
      2. James instructs us to count it all joy when we fall into
         various trials. James 1:2-4
   B. The people who consistently manifest the greatest joy are those
      who refuse to be discouraged by their circumstances.
      1. The apostle Paul was happy in spite of his imprisonment.
         Phil. 1:12-13
      2. An older brother often began his public prayers with
         thanking God for such a beautiful and wonderful day.
         However, one Sunday morning, there was deep snow on the
         ground and the weather was bitter cold. Some brethren
         wondered what their brother would say about this day.
         Surely he would have no reason for thanking God for such a
         miserable day. The older brother said, "We are thankful that
         things are not any worse than they are."
      3. We can always find reasons for rejoicing and thankfulness.
         "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will
         surprise you what the Lord hath done."

Concl.
   A. Joy is a vital part of the kingdom. Rom. 14:17
      1. We are to rejoice in the Lord always. Phil. 4:4
   B. Often, in the mad rush of our hectic, rat-race society we have
      very little joy.
      1. Our lives seem to be going in all directions with very      
         little time for rest or peace.
   C. In the jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long journey.
      Workers from a tribe had been hired to carry the loads. The    
      first day they marched rapidly and went far. The traveler had  
      high hopes of a speedy journey, but on the second morning these
      jungle tribesmen refused to move. For some strange reason they
      just sat and rested. On inquiry as to the reason for this      
      strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone 
      too fast the first day, and that they were now waiting for     
      their souls to catch up with their bodies. (From Springs In The
      Valley, by Lettie Cowman, p. 196-197)
      1. Perhaps it would be good for us to slow down and let our
         souls catch up with our bodies.
   D. Perhaps we have someone here today who has not experienced
      the joy of the Lord.
      1. You can have all your sins washed away by obeying the
         gospel. Acts 2:38
   E. Perhaps we have someone here today who has lost his joy in the
      Lord.
      1. King David, due to his sins, lost his joy in the Lord, but  
         he repented and prayed that the joy of salvation might be
         restored to him. Psalm. 51:1-2,12
      2. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive 
         our sins.