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Habits of Happiness | How to Be Happy No Matter What

Last week started series about Happiness

Asked this question:

ARE YOU HAPPY?

Content
Joyful
Positive about the future

Last week we tied our happiness to others

Our happiness is tied to the health of our relationships with others

Today, let’s talk about how to be happy no matter what

Your circumstance or situation

Most of us suffer from something called:

WHEN AND THEN THINKING

When ____________ happens, Then I’ll be happy

When I start dating someone new
When I get Married
When I finally get a different job
When I start making more money
When I finally move out

Way of thinking is common for all of us, but it often it’s true

Happiness/joy is far more complicated than any of these things alone
When desiring to be happy, you must watch our for HAPPINESS KILLERS…

Happiness Killers:

1: PAIN

Any kind of pain

Emotional

Physical

etc

2: DIFFICULT PEOPLE

Negative people
critical people
mean/hateful people

3: PRESSURE

internal
external

4: PROBLEMS

Money Problems
Relationship Problems
Kid Problems

Last week, we said that this series is based on the book of Philippians

Most joyful, content, happy letter in NT
Paul wrote a letter in prison

The last few years of Paul’s life hadn’t been so great…

Two years in jail on false charges
Shipwrecked as a prisoner going to Rome
Stranded on an island in the Mediterranean
Prisoned again in Rome for two years chained to a Roman Guard – no privacy

Paul has every reason to be:

Bitter
Angry
Disappointed
UNHAPPY

Philippians 1:12-30

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

This is a very personal letter Paul is writing

He is encouraging his friends and fellow believers

Encouraging them how to have JOY/HAPPINESS NO MATTER WHAT
How To Be Happy No Matter What
1: SEE YOUR PROBLEMS FROM GOD’S VIEWPOINT

Do you know the difference people happy people and unhappy people?

Perspective
Viewpoint
How they see their problems

Joyful people have problems too

If you are struggling with being unhappy all the time, you have a perspective problem

Paul is not in a good place

no one would trade with him
He knows this/he knows it sucks
But his perspective is higher

But he says this…

Philippians 1:12

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,

Paul has wanted to go to Rome for a long time to preach the message of Jesus

Rome was the cultural center of the world (The New York of its day)
But instead, he is in chains in prison

Paul wants to preach in the City

God has him preaching in the Prison

He has preached to all the guards
Wrote a good portion of the New Testament during this time

Paul could see that God had a good purpose for things happening this way (Perspective)
Back to us…

Think of a problem that is causing you a lot of stress right now…
Close your eyes and pray:

Lord, help me to see this problem from your perspective

We must do this anytime we face a problem that begins to take our joy away

Ask God to help us see from His perspective
See if at Paul Does…

New Perspective:

AS A WITNESS TO UNBELIEVERS

Philippians 1:13

13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

AS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO BELIEVERS

Philippians 1:14

14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.

To be happy no matter what, see problems from God’s point of view
How To Be Happy No Matter What

2: NEVER LET OTHERS CONTROL YOUR ATTITUDE

Last week we made the connection between our happiness and our relationships with others

That goes for both happiness and heartache
Others can bring us great joy and great frustration
This is something we all know

Paul understood this and shares some of this struggle in his letter
The first type of person that can kill our happiness is a:

A CRITIC

Philippians 1:15

15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry,

It is very common in our culture to tell ourselves to ignore the “HATERS”

Haters gonna hate
Critics can really hurt you if you let them

WE DO NOT LIVE FOR THE APPROVAL OF PEOPLE, BUT FOR THE APPROVAL OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

That second part is key
Make sure you ARE living for God’s approval, not just doing what you want

Paul had some HATERS

Jealous of his ministry
The work he had done in the lord

Not the only kind of HAPPINESS KILLER…

A COMPETITOR

Philippians 1:17

17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment.
Our world has an ego problem

Many of us have an ego problem

Ego people are happiness killers

Of themselves and others

Ego people love to see others fail

They are only happy if you are not

Ego is NOT of God

if you know someone who is an ego person, RUN
If YOU are an ego person – REPENT!

There are people who are ego-driven in all areas of life

even in the church!

Paul knew some…

They were so competitive, then made things even harder for the man of God

How did Paul handle these people?

This is what he says

Philippians 1:18-20

18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

He will not let these people rob his JOY

His happiness comes from something much more powerful – much deeper

His Joy is from doing God will for is life

That is the true source of happiness – It’s HOLINESS

Don’t let others rob you of your joy

Don’t let those with wicked purposes disrupt God’s calling on your life

How To Be Happy No Matter What

3: FOCUS ON YOUR PURPOSE, NOT YOUR PROBLEMS

This is really where unhappiness comes from

The loss of purpose

Miserable people are purposeless people

We have so many things that we pursue that ultimately don’t have any meaning

Stuff
Reputation
Influence

If you build your purpose around something that can be taken away, then you will always live in fear of losing it

At this point in his life, Paul had most things taken away

His freedom
His possessions
His friends
Future (awaiting a death sentence)

Philippians 1:21-25

He would rather go and be with the Lord
His ministry has been HARD

But he has not forgotten his purpose

Its the message of Jesus
Its the only true thing that matters
Its the only eternal thing

Paul has an UNSHAKABLE JOY

Prison cannot shake it
People cannot shake it
Problems cannot shake it

His happiness is found in loving and serving Christ

Whatever it takes

So I want to charge you the same way Paul does to the Christians in Philipi…

Philippians 1:27

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

That’s really the secret to being happy no matter what…

Living a WORTHY LIFE

Habits Of Happiness | How To Be Happy No Matter What