01/09/11 - The Pursuit of Happiness - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore teaches on "The Pursuit of Happiness" in this Sunday service.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, January 9, 2011

www.mylifegatechurch.com


Sermon Notes:

What do you want out of life?  I just want to be happy.  Are you happy?
One study showed that, all over the world, when asked what they want most from life — and what they most want for their children – people answered that they want happiness. 
We live in a country with “pursuit of happiness” as one of our founding principles. 

-  If we don’t watch out we will begin worshipping the false god of Happiness. Everything we do will be based on our happiness:

*   I’m not going to church anymore because it doesn’t make me happy.
*   I’m leaving my marriage because I’m not happy.
*   I’m quitting my job because I’m just not happy there.
*   I’m moving because I might be happier somewhere else.
*   This is not making me happy so I will abandon it and try something else.
*   I’m happy so everything must be OK.
*   I know I’m single, but if I have sex with him that will make him happy.  Then he will love me and that will make me happy.
*   I am not happy with the way I feel.  I will take this pill, smoke this joint, drink enough drinks and it will make me feel happier.  (This one is not really a pursuit of happiness as much as it is fleeing from unhappiness.  Interviews with Prozac patients revealed they weren’t happy as a result of their medications but they were grateful they didn’t feel like dying anymore.)
*   "But it makes me happy.”  If something makes me happy that must be what God wants me to do.
*   I’m not happy with what I have so what I don’t have must be what will make me happy.


-  Our whole life becomes focused on serving the god of happiness.

Alan Hirsch, in his book “Untamed”, says this:
“What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea they could “be like god”…be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God.  And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of men trying to find something other than God which will make them happy.”

But doesn’t God want me happy? Doesn’t the rich and satisfying life in John 10:10 include happiness?  If we believe God’s ultimate goal for me is my happiness, then our belief turns God into our servant.  He exists to make us happy.  Everything I do “for Him” is done with the belief that the result will be my happiness.  I give so I can get blessed.  I serve others to achieve a sense of well-being and self-satisfaction.  I come to church to feel better about myself.  If I do right, then God must make me happy.  “I don’t understand why all this is happening to me.  I go to church, I give, I pray, I help other people.”  That’s a set up that ends in “I tried God’s way and it didn’t make me happy.”

God’s goal for us is not our happiness.  He wants us blessed instead of happy.
(Romans 14:17 “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.)  He wants us fulfilled.  Happiness is based on circumstances.  Blessed is a way of life, a worldview, a way of thinking.  (Philippians 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”)  Like the fish out of water, when we seek happiness outside of what we created for, we will find life frustrating.  In fact, like the fish out of water, if we keep pursuing happiness in the wrong element we find death instead of life.  Keep that fish out of water long enough while trying to make him happy and he will die.

We were created for fellowship with God.  We will only find fulfillment, which includes happiness that is not based on circumstance, when we are living in that element.  We were created with a God-given destiny.  (Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.)  In that element, we find the blessed life.

Throughout the Bible, when the attention was shifted from pursuing God and His destiny to pursuing happiness, the results are disastrous:
*   David and Bathsheba
*   Eve
*   Samson
*   Ahab and Jezebel
*   Aaron and the Israelites—the golden calf
*   Achan—a little treasure swapped for national tragedy and personal death
*   Judas: no matter the reason for the betrayal, personal gain or to push Jesus to reveal Himself as an earthly king sent to overthrow Rome, it was what would make Judas happy that ended in the cross and Judas’ suicide

Story after story of contemporary leaders whose pursuit of happiness stole their destiny and resulted in disaster:  What will Bill Clinton be remembered most for? Bernie Madoff.  Ted Haggard and other Christian leaders who turned from destiny to pursue happiness and lost destiny and happiness.  Listen to the disillusioned preacher from Ecclesiastes. 

Ecclesiastes 8 “14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless!
 15 So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.”
This is Solomon, the king who, when told by God he could have anything, didn’t ask for something to make him happy, but asked for wisdom so he could lead the people well for their good.  (2 Chronicles 1 Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” 11 God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—12 I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”)


So What?

1.   Discover your destiny in God and pursue it instead of happiness. (Psalm 119:35 Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.)
2.   Learn the secret of enjoying the journey.  Most happy people find happiness just by enjoying doing life. Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness. (Romans 4:5-7 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it: 7 “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight.)
3.   Practice the Presence of God.  Learn to love His presence.  Find ways to celebrate His presence.
Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
Psalm 89:15 “Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
Acts 2:28 “You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.”
1 Peter 7:8-9 “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”