Finding True Happiness in Christ's Kingdom
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we gather to worship the Lord and reflect on His sacrificial work for us, especially as we partake in Communion. We began by expressing gratitude for the tireless efforts of our Bible school workers and the blessings of a fruitful week. Our focus today is on Isaiah 55:1-3, which invites everyone who thirsts to come to the waters and find satisfaction in the Lord. This passage reminds us that true fulfillment comes from God, not from worldly pursuits.
We then transitioned to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12, where Jesus outlines the keys to true happiness in His kingdom. Unlike the Declaration of Independence, which speaks of the pursuit of happiness without defining it, Jesus provides a clear path to blessedness. True happiness begins with recognizing our spiritual poverty and mourning over our sins, leading to conversion and eternal assurance. This conversion brings deep comfort, knowing our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled with God.
Furthermore, true happiness involves growing in Christ through meekness and a hunger for righteousness. Meekness is about surrendering to God's will and treating others with tender-heartedness. Hungering for righteousness means longing to do the right thing and employing the means of grace to grow in Christlikeness. This growth leads to a significant inheritance and spiritual satisfaction.
Doing right is another key to kingdom happiness. This involves being compassionate, genuine, and a peacemaker. Compassionate people recognize their own weaknesses and are patient with others. Genuine people are pure in heart, not hypocritical or manipulative. Peacemakers strive for peace with God and among people, reflecting the work of Christ.
Finally, true happiness comes from standing with Christ, even in the face of persecution. This involves clearly affirming what is right and identifying with Christ, inviting both physical and verbal assaults. However, standing with Christ places us in honorable company and promises heavenly compensation.
In conclusion, true happiness is found in being converted, growing in Christ, doing right, and standing with Christ. Let us pursue these virtues of kingdom happiness and not be swayed by worldly notions of what it takes to be happy.
### Key Takeaways
1. True Happiness Begins with Conversion: Recognizing our spiritual poverty and mourning over our sins leads to conversion. This brings eternal assurance and deep comfort, knowing our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled with God. Conversion is the foundation of true happiness in God's kingdom. [49:33]
2. Growth in Christ Involves Meekness and Righteousness: Meekness is about surrendering to God's will and treating others with tender-heartedness. Hungering for righteousness means longing to do the right thing and employing the means of grace to grow in Christlikeness. This growth leads to a significant inheritance and spiritual satisfaction. [56:24]
3. Doing Right Involves Compassion, Genuineness, and Peacemaking: Compassionate people recognize their own weaknesses and are patient with others. Genuine people are pure in heart, not hypocritical or manipulative. Peacemakers strive for peace with God and among people, reflecting the work of Christ. [01:07:29]
4. Standing with Christ Invites Persecution but Brings Blessing: Standing with Christ involves clearly affirming what is right and identifying with Him, even in the face of persecution. This places us in honorable company and promises heavenly compensation. True happiness comes from standing firm in our faith. [01:18:45]
5. Kingdom Happiness Transcends Worldly Notions of Happiness: Unlike the pursuit of happiness defined by worldly standards, kingdom happiness is a condition of settled peace, joy, and confidence that transcends all circumstances. It is rooted in our relationship with Christ and the virtues of His kingdom. [43:39]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:56] - Invitation from Isaiah 55
[18:38] - Communion Reflection
[19:55] - The Significance of the Lord's Supper
[21:05] - Prayer for the Elements
[24:45] - Singing Calvary's Anthem
[27:53] - Prayers for Healing and Missionaries
[30:24] - The Reach of the Gospel
[31:14] - Prayers for Physical Needs
[32:47] - Challenges for Young Families
[34:12] - Seeking God's Strength
[39:03] - Reading the Beatitudes
[41:06] - The Pursuit of Happiness
[43:39] - Kingdom Happiness Defined
[49:33] - True Happiness Begins with Conversion
[56:24] - Growth in Christ
[01:07:29] - Doing Right in the Kingdom
[01:18:45] - Standing with Christ
[01:27:10] - Closing Hymn and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 55:1-3
2. Matthew 5:1-12
#### Observation Questions
1. What invitation does Isaiah 55:1-3 extend to those who are spiritually thirsty? How does this passage describe the satisfaction found in the Lord?
2. In Matthew 5:1-12, what are the characteristics of those who are described as "blessed" in the Beatitudes?
3. According to the sermon, what is the first step towards true happiness in God's kingdom? ([47:38])
4. How does Jesus describe the relationship between meekness and inheriting the earth in Matthew 5:5? ([56:24])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does recognizing one's spiritual poverty and mourning over sin lead to conversion and true happiness, according to the sermon? ([49:33])
2. What does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and how does this contribute to spiritual growth and satisfaction? ([56:24])
3. How does being compassionate, genuine, and a peacemaker reflect the work of Christ and contribute to kingdom happiness? ([01:07:29])
4. What are the implications of standing with Christ in the face of persecution, and how does this bring about true happiness? ([01:18:45])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you recognized your spiritual poverty and mourned over your sins. How did this experience lead you to a deeper relationship with God? ([49:33])
2. In what ways can you practice meekness in your daily life, especially in your interactions with others? How can this help you grow in Christ? ([56:24])
3. Think of a situation where you struggled to do the right thing. How can you cultivate a hunger and thirst for righteousness to help you make better choices in the future? ([56:24])
4. Identify a person in your life who needs compassion. What specific actions can you take this week to show them mercy and reflect Christ's love? ([01:07:29])
5. Are there areas in your life where you struggle with being genuine? How can you work on being more pure in heart and sincere in your relationships? ([01:12:01])
6. Consider a conflict you are aware of, either in your personal life or within your community. How can you act as a peacemaker to help resolve this conflict and promote peace? ([01:13:43])
7. Have you ever faced persecution or criticism for your faith? How did you respond, and what can you do to stand firm in your faith and find joy in identifying with Christ? ([01:18:45])
Devotional
Day 1: Conversion as the Foundation of True Happiness
True happiness begins with recognizing our spiritual poverty and mourning over our sins, which leads to conversion. This conversion brings eternal assurance and deep comfort, knowing our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled with God. Conversion is the foundation of true happiness in God's kingdom. When we acknowledge our need for God and turn to Him, we experience a profound transformation that brings lasting peace and joy. This is not a fleeting emotion but a deep-seated assurance that we are loved and accepted by God.
Conversion is the starting point of our journey with Christ. It is the moment we realize that our own efforts are insufficient and that we need a Savior. This realization leads us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who offers us forgiveness and reconciliation with God. As we embrace this new life, we find true happiness that transcends our circumstances and is rooted in our relationship with God. [49:33]
Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV): "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Reflection: Think about a time when you felt spiritually empty. How did turning to God change your perspective and bring you comfort?
Day 2: Meekness and Righteousness in Growth
Growth in Christ involves meekness and a hunger for righteousness. Meekness is about surrendering to God's will and treating others with tender-heartedness. Hungering for righteousness means longing to do the right thing and employing the means of grace to grow in Christlikeness. This growth leads to a significant inheritance and spiritual satisfaction. As we grow in these virtues, we become more like Christ and experience the fullness of life He offers.
Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. It is the ability to submit to God's authority and to treat others with kindness and humility. Hungering for righteousness is a deep desire to live according to God's standards and to seek His will in all things. This involves regular prayer, reading of Scripture, and participation in the sacraments. As we pursue these practices, we grow in our faith and experience the joy and peace that come from living a righteous life. [56:24]
Matthew 5:6 (ESV): "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to surrender more fully to God's will? How can you cultivate a deeper hunger for righteousness?
Day 3: Compassion, Genuineness, and Peacemaking
Doing right in the kingdom involves being compassionate, genuine, and a peacemaker. Compassionate people recognize their own weaknesses and are patient with others. Genuine people are pure in heart, not hypocritical or manipulative. Peacemakers strive for peace with God and among people, reflecting the work of Christ. These qualities are essential for living a life that honors God and blesses others.
Compassion involves empathy and understanding, recognizing that we all have struggles and weaknesses. It leads us to be patient and kind, offering support and encouragement to those in need. Genuineness is about being authentic and sincere, avoiding hypocrisy and manipulation. It means living with integrity and honesty. Peacemaking is the active pursuit of reconciliation and harmony, both with God and with others. It reflects the heart of Christ, who came to bring peace to a broken world. [01:07:29]
James 3:17-18 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that needs healing. How can you take steps to be a peacemaker in that situation?
Day 4: Standing with Christ in Persecution
Standing with Christ involves clearly affirming what is right and identifying with Him, even in the face of persecution. This places us in honorable company and promises heavenly compensation. True happiness comes from standing firm in our faith, knowing that we are aligned with God's truth and His purposes. Persecution may come in various forms, but it is a mark of our commitment to Christ and His kingdom.
When we stand with Christ, we may face opposition, ridicule, or even physical harm. However, we are not alone; we are part of a long line of faithful witnesses who have endured persecution for the sake of the gospel. This solidarity with Christ and His followers brings a deep sense of honor and purpose. Moreover, Jesus promises that those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake will be blessed and rewarded in heaven. This eternal perspective helps us endure hardships with joy and confidence. [01:18:45]
2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV): "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Reflection: How can you stand firm in your faith when faced with opposition or ridicule? What practical steps can you take to remain steadfast in your commitment to Christ?
Day 5: Kingdom Happiness vs. Worldly Happiness
Kingdom happiness transcends worldly notions of happiness. Unlike the pursuit of happiness defined by worldly standards, kingdom happiness is a condition of settled peace, joy, and confidence that transcends all circumstances. It is rooted in our relationship with Christ and the virtues of His kingdom. This happiness is not dependent on external factors but is a deep, abiding sense of well-being that comes from knowing and following Jesus.
Worldly happiness is often based on temporary pleasures and achievements. It is fleeting and can be easily disrupted by changing circumstances. In contrast, kingdom happiness is stable and enduring. It is based on the unchanging character of God and the eternal promises of His Word. This happiness is characterized by a deep sense of peace, joy, and confidence, regardless of what is happening around us. It is a reflection of the inner transformation that comes from being in a right relationship with God. [43:39]
Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Reflection: Reflect on the difference between worldly happiness and kingdom happiness. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of kingdom happiness in your daily life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Father, we are a needy people. We come to you this morning, many of us tired and weary from this past week. We need your strength, we need your help. I pray that through the course of the preaching of the Word that you would encourage us and your Spirit would enable us to be attentive and focused. But we're needy in other ways as well. We struggle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. And in our struggles we have, even in this past week, not always successfully overcome." [34:12] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "True happiness comes from being converted. How am I converted? I am converted as I recognize my spiritual poverty. I mourn over my spiritual poverty. And I place my trust in the work of Christ. As we just reflected upon that work a few moments ago. And what then is the happy fruit of this true conversion? Well look at verse 3. The happy fruit. One of them. One aspect of this fruit. Is that you have eternal assurance now. You have eternal assurance now." [52:25] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Here you see two important aspects or components in growing in Christ. One is meekness. And the other is hungering and thirsting. Meekness. We mean by meekness. Sometimes a good way to think about a virtue or an idea. A term is to look at its opposite. So the opposite of this word meekness. Is that of self assertiveness. It is a. It is. It is an attitude of proud superiority." [56:24] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Blessed are the merciful. One commentator, I think it was J. C. Ryle, he put it this way, he says, now get this, those who recognize their own weakness and sinfulness are patient with the flaws of others. Now, think about that and turn it around, do you find yourself often incredibly impatient, patient with the weakness or sinfulness of others? You find yourself hypercritical over the flaws of others? Perhaps, perhaps part of the problem is you forget about your own weakness and sinfulness." [01:07:29] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Blessed are the peacemakers. That is, and again, we can apply this in a couple of different general ways. That is, I long for people to be at peace with God. I want to see people at peace with God. And that affects evangelism, doesn't it? We've had up on the screen the last few weeks, the beginning of the service, you know, we've got some new tracts out there on the tract rack, and some of these are really good. They're gospel tracts. You just put them in the hands of somebody that you're concerned about, you're burdened about, that you long to see them be at peace with God." [01:13:43] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "True happiness comes from being converted. How am I converted? I am converted as I recognize my spiritual poverty. I mourn over my spiritual poverty. And I place my trust in the work of Christ. As we just reflected upon that work a few moments ago. And what then is the happy fruit of this true conversion? Well look at verse 3. The happy fruit. One of them. One aspect of this fruit. Is that you have eternal assurance now. You have eternal assurance now. You see it right here in this verse. Jesus says, Blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven." [52:25] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted. How can you measure? How can you measure the comfort of divine forgiveness? Of knowing that my sins are cast as far away from God. As the east is. From the west. They're buried in the depths of the deepest sea. There's great comfort found in forgiveness. There's the comfort of reconciliation with your creator. From whom you've been alienated. You're now reconciled to him through Christ Jesus." [55:07] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Blessed are the meek. For they shall inherit the earth. Verse six blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. For they shall be filled. Here you see two important aspects or components. In growing in Christ. One is meekness. And the other is hungering and thirsting. Meekness. We mean by meekness. Sometimes a good way to think about a virtue or an idea. A term is to look at its opposite. So the opposite of this word meekness. Is that of self assertiveness. It is a. It is. It is an attitude of proud superiority." [56:24] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Blessed are the pure in heart. The genuine person is one who is pure in his motive. He's pure in his devotion. He's pure in his endeavor. He's pure in his presentation. In other words, again, we can look at this in the opposite direction, from the opposite way. The person who is genuine is not a hypocrite. The person who is genuine doesn't manipulate people, doesn't manipulate situations to get what he wants. He puts on one kind of a front, but he does so in order to get this over here. That's not genuineness. That's not being pure or sincere in heart." [01:12:01] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Blessed are the peacemakers. That is, and again, we can apply this in a couple of different general ways. That is, I long for people to be at peace with God. I want to see people at peace with God. And that affects evangelism, doesn't it? We've had up on the screen the last few weeks, the beginning of the service, you know, we've got some new tracts out there on the tract rack, and some of these are really good. They're gospel tracts. You just put them in the hands of somebody that you're concerned about, you're burdened about, that you long to see them be at peace with God." [01:13:43] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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