Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:22 — 6.3MB)
Sermon Notes June 5, 2011
Psalm 128
Intro: Are You Happy?
A tension in Christian Life when it comes to Happiness
a) We are not Home…Residual Dissatisfaction…Longing
ILL – My Camp experience (Mornings & Nights)
b) We are a People in Christ who Rejoice…Happy & Blessed!
Psalm 128 uses two words, “Happy & Blessed”
Blessed = God’s work of Grace toward us…Gifts
Happy = Our Response to our Blessed Condition
Psalm 128 – READ
I Love the Simplicity of this Psalm (God’s people singing Ascent)
Note: The movement form center, Outward
- Generational from parents to children to grandchildren
- Social, individual, to marriage, to family, to city, to nation
Focus Vs. 1-2, The Center and Circumference of Happiness
Vs. 1 & 2 == Same word, “Happy”…. Asher… Leah, “I am Happy!”
Define “Happy” (vs. 2) =Content and Good (Well)
Smile of Satisfaction
Vs. 1 – Center & Circumference of Happiness/Life
ILL – T-Ball…. Drawing circle for picher…. Stake & String
Center = Happy is everyone who Fears the LORD
- Fear = Living in a Right Relationship with the LORD
- Humility and Respect… Who I am and Who He Is!
Circumference = Happy is everyone Who Walk in His Ways
- Obedience in daily Life, behavior…
- Boundaries of godly way of Life.
Center without circumference is a surface, syrupy, spiritualism
Circumference without center is cold, empty legalism
Center & circumference is biblical religion…. Happy is everyone!
Happiness starts with Personal Spiritual & Moral Integrity.
Integrity = Sound, Whole, …..
Rotten Apple, shinny on Outside….lacks integrity
Impressive Ship with Hull rotting below surface
Mighty Oak Tree…. Without any rot or decay…Solid
Person of Integrity has both Center and Circumference.
Happiness starts with Personal Spiritual & Moral Integrity.
Wake Up! Do You Hear Me…. Nonesense to Most!
ILL – “How to be Happy” Psychology Today article by an
Evolutionary Psychologist,
From my perspective as an evolutionary psychologist, the Best thing for people to do to become happier is … wait for it …to get in Touch with their animal nature, if not necessarily their inner Fish then at least their inner ape. Recognize that we are Animals. We are designed by evolution to be a certain way, And no amount of denial or fighting will change our
Evolutionary legacy.
Do what you Feel Like Doing.
You have a Decision to Make (Be clear minded…No stumbling)
1. Happiness starts with Personal Spiritual & Moral Integrity.
2. Happiness comes when I get in touch with my Instincts. (Inner fish)
Almost everything you watch on TV, read in magazines, hear at work is telling you that the way to be
Happy is #2.
God’s Word says the Opposite….. Which do you believe?
ILL – Remember Adam & Eve in God’s Garden
- Life with Center & Circumference
- Happiness, Fulfillment, Outside God’s Boundaries..
- Shame, frustration, emptiness….
- Warning…. You have the “Instincts” of Adam & Eve
ILL – Remember Esau, so hungry, he sold his birthright
For a pot of stew…. “Following His Animal Urges”
Happiness starts with Personal Spiritual & Moral Integrity.
Vs. 1
t/s – Wait. I thought you were preaching about Family…
The Big Lie that Fractures Families:
If I had a New Family, then, I could be Happy!
- My Husband is a slob, lazy, no leadership
- My Wife is a Nag…. Never Satisfied..
- Our House is too small, cars are clunkers….
If I could just step away, start over, new circumstances…
If Psalm 128 is True,
I will never find Happiness in prideful rebellion to God.
I will never find Happiness Outside His Boundaries of Blessing
Happiness starts with Personal Spiritual & Moral Integrity.
Conclusion: OH, Unhappy friend, before you consider any other cause for your dissatisfied state,….
- Your Circumference…. Walking in His Ways? (World)
- Your Center… Living in Right Relationship with LORD?
If you try to grab Happiness without Center & circumference, you will sell your birthright for a bowl of stew!
