How to Be Happy, Part 1 (#3 of 3)

Greg Laurie: Blessed are those who are continually hungering and thirsting after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Dave Whitehead: Coming up today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that the road to real happiness and fulfillment is the one where there's real growth and maturity in the Lord.
Greg Laurie: But I think every Christian should look at themselves and say, "I'm not content with where I'm at spiritually. There's more to change in my life. I need to become more like Jesus."
Dave Whitehead: Visitors to the Holy Land are often able to visit the hillside where it's thought Jesus indeed delivered the Sermon on the Mount. It's right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. It's inspiring to imagine Jesus talking with His disciples and the others gathered there. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie digs into Jesus' words that lay out the prescription for a truly rewarding life. It cuts through all the cultural fog about where happiness can be found.
Greg Laurie: Now, the Sermon on the Mount begins with what we often call the Beatitudes. They've been described as the beautiful attitudes or attitudes that should be. Another way you could sum them up is the "be happy" attitudes. All right, so let's read them together. We're going to read Matthew chapter 5, verse 2 down to verse 9. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, that would be the disciples, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." So there are the first Beatitudes. Now, this has been wrongly understood to be saying, "Blessed are the poor." This is not what Jesus said. He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit." What does this mean? Happy people are humble people. Happy is the person who sees themselves as they really are: lost, hopeless, destitute, and desperately in need of God. That's what it means to be poor in spirit. So you have to see yourself for who you are. You have to see yourself as a sinner who really needs a Savior. Beatitude number two: Happy people are, I'll put in quotes, "unhappy people." Happy people are unhappy people. Point number one: happy people are humble people. Number two: happy people are unhappy people. Verse 4: "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." You could also translate this, "Happy are the unhappy." What? That doesn't make any sense to us. So to be happy, I need to be sad? Yes, in this way. You have to see yourself as you really are: "I'm a sinner who needs a Savior," and I'm sorry for what I've done, and I want to change, so I mourn over my condition. Listen, better to mourn now and laugh later than to laugh now and mourn later. Some people all they want to do is laugh. All they want to do is get drunk and party and laugh and laugh and laugh. They don't even know what they're laughing at. Everything's funny to a drunk. But really, what is that all about? Solomon went on a sin binge basically, trying everything the world has to offer. He said in Ecclesiastes 2:1, "I said, 'Come on, let's give pleasure a try. Let's look for the good things in life,' but I found it was meaningless." Solomon says it's silly to be laughing all the time. What good does it do to only seek pleasure? Some people suppress tears they should be crying, and instead, they're laughing. The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 7:10, "The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow, but worldly sorrow which lacks repentance results in spiritual death." In other words, "I'm sorry, and I'm sorry enough to stop." Beatitude number three: A happy person will be a meek person. A happy person will be a meek person. Blessed are the meek. Now, meekness is not celebrated in our culture, maybe because we don't understand what it is. For starters, meekness is not weakness. The best definition of meekness is power under constraint. It describes the breaking of a powerful stallion. So when you climb on a beautiful horse, the horse is submitting its will. It's not that it's lost its will. It's not that it's not stronger than you, but it has surrendered its will to the rider. So when the Bible talks of meekness, it doesn't mean I'm weak. It means I know who's in charge. So let's summarize all of this. How different the Bible is than popular culture. How different the definition of happiness is in scripture than the culture's definition. The Bible says last is first, giving is receiving, dying is living, losing is finding, least is greatest, weakness is strength. Number four: A happy person passionately desires a righteous life. Verse 6: "Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." Now, this is talking about a spiritual hunger. So let's put it all together. First, I see myself as I really am: poor in spirit, spiritually destitute. A sinner in need of a Savior. I'm sorry for my condition. I mourn over my condition. I repent over my condition. And then a true meekness enters into my life, a humility as I've seen myself as I really am because I've seen God for who He is. And now I have a new hunger and thirst for righteousness. There's nothing like a good meal when you're really hungry. I'm not a good hungry person, are you? I become "hangry." Do you know what hangry is? It just I get irritable. My wife can tell. She'll throw a sandwich at me. It's just like, "I'm just sort of uptight, you just need to eat something," right? And so when you go out to eat with someone and everyone orders their food, and there's always one person that puts in the complex order, right? All the substitutes and changes. And so everybody's food comes except that person's food. And because we're polite, we wait. And sometimes wait and wait a little. Now I'm getting hangry. I'm hungry. I'm salivating. My food's in front of me. I'm like a dog with food in the dish. It's time to eat the food, but we're waiting for you with your special order, right? But finally, your order comes and then we pray, hopefully we'll remember to do that. And then we all dig in and enjoy that meal. We should be hungry for God. Hungry for righteousness. Hungry for the Word of God. Hungry to hear what the Bible has to say. Are you hungry and thirsty for righteousness? When you go to see a doctor, one of the first things he will ask you is, "How's your appetite?" Because your appetite is an indication of your overall health. When you're hungry, that's a good sign. When you have no hunger, that's not a good sign, right? Same could be said spiritually. How's your appetite? Are you hungry for the things of God? Let me put it another way. Do you look forward to going to church, or is it something you do out of mere duty? How about this? Do you take time for, look forward to opening the Word of God each and every day? See, blessed, happy is the person who's hungry and thirsty for righteousness. In Psalm 42, the psalmist says, "As the deer thirsts for the waterbrook, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for the living God." It comes down to this. As a Christian, there's always more to know. There's always more to learn, always more to discover. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:9, "This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more." Listen, you're never done as a Christian. No matter how much you love, you can love more. No matter how much you pray, you can pray more. No matter how much you obey, you can obey more. Blessed are those who are continually hungering and thirsting after righteousness, for they shall be filled. So I don't know about you, but I think every Christian should look at themselves and say, "I'm not content with where I'm at spiritually. There's more to change in my life. I need to become more like Jesus."
Dave Whitehead: Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. It's such an encouragement to us here at A New Beginning when listeners tell us how this broadcast has impacted their life. In fact, some people even call us and leave a recording of how the program has affected them. That's really the way that impacts us most because we get to hear that in their actual voice, isn't that true?
Greg Laurie: Oh yes, I can't tell you, Dave, how many times I've met people just out and about and they'll tell me of how they came to Christ hearing our radio broadcast. That's such a blessing to me. And I want other people to hear those stories. So here's my question to you: Have you made a commitment to Jesus Christ listening to A New Beginning? And maybe you came to Christ at one of our Harvest Crusades or watching something we did online or whatever it is, but if you came to Christ through our media ministry, I'd love to hear your story. And I want to hear it in your voice. I want you to tell me what happened to you and we just might use it and put it on air and a lot of people will be blessed to hear what God has done in your life. So there's a number you can call. It's a designated number, so only call this number to share your story. And Dave, what is that number?
Dave Whitehead: Yes, it's 866-871-1144. You can call anytime. Again, 866-871-1144. Tell us how the Lord has used this ministry to bring you to the Lord. Well, you've tuned in for a revealing new study series on the Sermon on the Mount. We're investigating what the Bible says about where happiness can be found. Pastor Greg continues.
Greg Laurie: I remember when as a brand-new believer, I would talk with Pastor Chuck Smith, who was quite a bit older than I was, and I asked him, "Chuck, how long have you been a Christian?" And I don't remember what he said. It might have been something like 50 years. Fifty years! Fifty years! You're like an apostle or something. Do you walk on water now? Fifty years. And yet there is maturity that comes with time, but I've been a Christian now longer than 50 years, and I think, "Yeah, I've learned some things, I've grown, I've changed, but oh my, I have so far to go." And some of you are saying, "Yeah, you do, Greg." And you do too. We all do. And I think when we don't think that, something's wrong. Paul says, "It's not that I've already attained, but I press on. I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." This is the apostle Paul. This is a man who prayed for someone to be raised from the dead. This is a man who prayed for people to be healed. This is a man who literally went to heaven and returned to earth. This is a man who wrote epistles or letters that we call the Bible today. And this man said, "I have so far to go. I'm not there yet." And the moment you fold your arms and you say, "I pretty much know this, I've heard this," you're not in a good state. When the Bible says we should become like a child, it doesn't mean that we should be childish; it means we should be childlike. And it means we should always be growing, always learning, and sometimes it's relearning things that we forgot. And it's a constant life of hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and God promises if we do this, we will be filled. You know, there are things that spoil our appetite. It's really hard for me when it's dinner time. I eat very early, by the way. I eat at 5:00. Isn't that early? Some of you are just waking up at 5:00, I don't know. And I'm hungry, I am hungry at 3:00. I am hungry for dinner at 3:00. I'm counting the time off. It's almost time to eat. I can hardly wait. I look forward to it, right? So this is something that some people eat earlier than others, but then you're tempted to eat something to hold you over. And the something you eat to hold you over spoils your appetite. You know dinner's at 5:00, but then there's Taco Bell. And dare I go in and order a burrito supreme? Oh, maybe I'll get a taco and maybe just a couple just to hold me over. And now you have no appetite. Or even worse, you eat junk food. You eat something that is actually not good for you. That too spoils your appetite. That can happen spiritually. There are things that we can do, places we can go, people we can hang around with that actually dull us spiritually. There are certain relationships that when you're around these people, it makes you want to do less, not more spiritually. And then there are others who inspire you, not because they condemn you or criticize you or say, "Why aren't you more like me?" but by their sheer example and their godliness, you say, "I want to be more like that." They actually stimulate your hunger for Jesus. Have you ever noticed when you go out for a meal, maybe after church, "Let's get something to eat," and maybe you're dieting, so everyone orders burgers and fries? You say, "I'll just drink water. I brought a little rice cake with me as well. Here it is, a little rice cake." Okay, then they get their food and they're eating, and you look at those glistening fries and you say, "Can I trade you this rice cake for a fry?" "You don't have to trade me, just have a fry." "Thank you." You take the fry. Greatest fry you've ever eaten. Why is stolen food always better? You know what I mean by stolen food? Like it's you really shouldn't eat it. My wife when she's preparing a meal cuts everything up into little portions. Here's the carrots, here's the onions, here's the and then when she's not looking, I take things. "Don't take that!" Now I take it even more. I don't know why. There's something exciting: I got it and she didn't see it. I'm eating the forbidden carrot right now, right? But there's something about somebody else's food that's so enjoyable. And the same is true when we're walking with God and experiencing this. Others should see us and say, "I want that. I want their relationship with God. In effect, I want to be like them." You're such a great follower of the Lord. So stay away from relationships that would dull your spiritual appetite. Pursue relationships that will stimulate your spiritual appetite. This is what the Bible tells us to do. And so do you have this attitude in your life right now? Are you a happy person? The only way you can be a happy person is to be a person who knows God. Not by chasing after happiness, but by knowing God. Let's summarize in close. You must be poor in spirit. Number one: see yourself as you really are. You must mourn for your sin. Number three: you must have a change in attitude and have a hunger and thirst for God who will satisfy you. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord. It's hard to be happy when your conscience is racked with guilt because the Bible also says, "Happy is the person whose sin is forgiven." When your sin is forgiven, it changes everything. Maybe I'm talking to somebody right now who is racked with guilt because of something you've said, something you've done. You're saying, "How do I get rid of this guilt?" Well, get to the source of it. What is the source of your guilt? The source of your guilt is sin. So if your sin is forgiven, your guilt is removed. Guilt has its place. I know sometimes people say guilt is bad. Well, guilt can be bad if it's the wrong kind of guilt, but guilt can also be an indication that your conscience is working. And you say, "I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have said that," and I have guilt. But when your sin is forgiven, now the guilt will be removed. And the way that can happen is when you just come to God and take step one of the Beatitudes: blessed is the poor in spirit. Lord, I see myself as I am. Forgive me of all of my sin. Do you need to do that? As we close today, I want to extend an invitation for anyone here who has never asked Jesus Christ to come into their life. You can experience a real and lasting happiness. Jesus, again the meekest man who ever lived, laid His life down for us at the cross and died for our sin so we could be forgiven and come into a relationship with Him. He rose again from the dead three days later, and now He stands at the door of our lives and He knocks. And says if we'll hear His voice and open the door, He will come in. Jesus can come into your life right now and forgive you of your sin. If you need Him to do that, I'm going to give you an opportunity to pray and ask Christ into your life. And also, if you're a prodigal son, a prodigal daughter, you've been running away from what you know is true and right, if you need to come back to the Lord, I'll give you an opportunity to do that as well. Let's all pray. Now Father, I pray for everyone here, everyone watching, listening, wherever they are. If they don't know You yet, let this be the moment they believe. Let this be the moment that their sin is forgiven. Help them to come to You now, we pray. Now while our heads are bowed and our eyes are closed and we're praying, maybe there's somebody here that would say, "I'm not a happy person. I'm a pretty sad person. I'm a miserable person. I need my sin forgiven. I'm tired of this guilt. I'm tired of this emptiness. I'm ready to say yes to Jesus Christ." Pray this prayer after me. You could even pray it out loud. Just pray these words: Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner, but I know that You're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin. I'm sorry for my sin. I turn from my sin and I choose to follow You from this moment forward as my Savior and my Lord, as my God and as my friend. Thank You for hearing this prayer and answering this prayer. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Dave Whitehead: Pastor Greg Laurie with an important prayer with those coming to the Lord to have their sins forgiven. It's the start of a brand-new life for many people listening today here on A New Beginning. If you've just prayed that prayer with Pastor Greg and meant those words sincerely, let us help you get started in this new walk with the Lord. We'd like to send you Pastor Greg's New Believer's Bible. It's in an easy-to-understand translation and Pastor Greg has provided hundreds of special helps for those who are new to the faith. Just ask for the New Believer's Bible. We'll send it free of charge. Just call us at 1-800-821-3300. Again, that's 1-800-821-3300. Or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, California 92514. Or go online to harvest.org and click "Know God." You know, Pastor Greg, I've read so many listener letters over the years where folks have said that they pray for you. Many say they pray for you on a regular basis. And I know that means a lot to you. That's one of the most encouraging and actually helpful things they can do, isn't that right?
Greg Laurie: Absolutely. You know, when people come up to me and say, "I pray for you all the time," some have even said, "We pray for you every day." Wow. I'm humbled. I'm blessed. I'm thankful. And I need your prayers more than you know. So if you do pray for me and our family and our ministry, thank you so much for that. And as you pray, I would ask you to pray about one other thing if you would, please. Would you pray about giving to our ministry? You know, giving of our finances is a very spiritual thing. You know, Jesus said where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. If you want to see where a person's priorities are, look at where they spend their money. And when we invest in the work of the kingdom of God, we're laying up for ourselves treasure in heaven. So we have this really cool program we've put together called Harvest Partners. And what it means is these are folks that simply not only give to our ministry, but they give on a monthly basis. So we can depend on their gifts. And that helps us to respond to new opportunities to bring the Word of God and to preach the life-changing message of the gospel. So pray about that, if you would. Keep praying for us. And if the Lord directs you, become a Harvest Partner as well. And in advance, let me say: thank you so much.
Dave Whitehead: Yeah, that's right. And as the Lord leads, we hope you'll call us so we can explain more and help with the details. Our number is 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300. Or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, California 92514. Or go online to harvest.org. Well, there's a great deal more insight to be gleaned about happiness from Matthew chapter 5. Pastor Greg comes back next time to uncover more insight. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie.