“THE WORD”



Nine Keys To Happiness

(Matthew 5:1-12)

Introduction: The McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia says that “The ‘Sermon On The Mount’ (is) the common name of a discourse delivered by Jesus to his disciples and a multitude on a mountain near Capernaum, perhaps in May, early in the second year of his public ministry.”

In his book, “Matthew’s Majestic Gospel,” the late Ivor Powell said…

It would be helpful if we knew the duration of the Lord’s stay on the hillside. … Some theologians suggest the Savior and His followers remained on the mountain for a week or even longer, and that this resembled a retreat, arranged by Jesus for the edification of the disciples. … He led them into the mountain to instruct them in the ideals of kingdom life. … Therefore, the messages on the hillside were a course of study.

In fact, the Bible tells us…

(Matthew 5:1-2) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: {2} And he opened his mouth, and taught them…

In Matthew 5:1-12 He taught them lessons concerning their Will

In Matthew 5:13-16 He taught them lessons concerning their Witness

In Matthew 5:17-48 He taught them lessons concerning His Word

In Matthew 6:1-18 He taught them lessons concerning their Worship

In Matthew 6:19-34 He taught them lessons concerning their Wealth

In Matthew 7:1-12 He taught them lessons concerning their Walk

In Matthew 7:13-29 He taught them lessons concerning their World

The Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary says…

The Sermon on the Mount was brought on by Jesus’ growing popularity. At first, the people were attracted to Him because of His healing ministry (Matthew 4:23-25). When Jesus began to teach, the people remained to hear what He said. ... Although many people heard the Sermon on the Mount, it was primarily directed to Jesus’ followers or disciples. … Jesus began His teachings by stating the way to happiness (in what we commonly call “The Beatitudes). The word blessed is appropriately translated as “happy.”

In “The Fourfold Gospel,” J. W. McGarvey and Philip Y. Pendleton wrote…

The sayings in this subdivision are called beatitudes from the (Latin) word “beati (meaning blessed), with which they begin in the Vulgate, or Latin Bible. According to Matthew, these beatitudes are nine in number and seven in character, for the last two, which concern persecution, do not relate to traits of character, but to certain external circumstances which lead to blessings.

I love Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of this passage in “The Message”:

Matthew 5

1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3”You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4”You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5”You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

6”You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

7”You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

8”You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9”You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

10”You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

11-12”Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even! —For though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Because this word “blessed” means “happy,” what we actually have in this passage are nine keys to happiness for the follower of Christ.

In the preamble of the Declaration Of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

So if we pursue happiness, what is the key to finding it?

In a February 27, 2006 article entitled “The Keys to Happiness, and Why We Don’t Use Them,” Robin Lloyd said…

Happiness is 50 percent genetic… What you do with the other half of the challenge depends largely on determination, psychologists agree. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” … Happiness does not come via prescription drugs, although 10 percent of women 18 and older and 4 percent of men take antidepressants, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Anti-depressants benefit those with mental illness but are no happiness guarantee, researchers say.

In fact, Mark Twain said, “Sanity and happiness are an impossible combination.”

Aristotle said, “Happiness belongs to the self-sufficient.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”

Susan B. Anthony said, “Independence is happiness.”

George Burns said, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.”

Kin Hubbard said, “It's pretty hard to tell what does bring happiness. Poverty an’ wealth have both failed.”

A December 15, 2005 Associated Press story by Toby Sterling read…

(According to Dutch researchers), the mysterious ‘half-smile’ that has intrigued viewers of the Mona Lisa for centuries isn’t really that difficult to interpret. She was smiling because she was happy – 83 percent happy, to be exact, according to scientists from the University of Amsterdam. In what they viewed as a fun demonstration of technology rather than a serious experiment, the researchers scanned a reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece and subjected it to cutting-edge “emotion recognition” software, developed in collaboration with the University of Illinois. The result showed the painting’s famous subject was 83 percent happy, 9 percent disgusted, 6 percent fearful and 2 percent angry. She was less than 1 percent neutral, and not at all surprised.

I don’t need emotion recognition software to realize that many of God’s people are not experiencing the promises of blessed, happiness that Jesus talked about in this passage of scripture.

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

The series of conditional blessings promised in Matthew 5:3-12 have long been called the Beatitudes, a name derived from Latin and referring to a state of happiness or bliss. Jesus presents the possibility of people being genuinely happy, and that available happiness is the opening theme of the Sermon on the Mount. … The first and greatest sermon preached by Jesus Christ begins with the resounding and repeated theme of happiness, a fitting start for the New Testament’s “good news.”

This passage of scripture teaches us…

1. How To Be Happy In The Self Life (verses 3-5)

2. How To Be Happy In The Spiritual Life (verses 6-8)

3. How To Be Happy In The Social Life (verses 9-12)

I. We Can Experience Happiness And Blessing In The Process Of Humility (Matthew 5:3-5)

A. The Process Of Humility Involves A Spirit Of Emptiness

(Matthew 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 5:3 – The Message) You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

1. There Has To Be A Realization Of This Emptiness

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

To be poor in spirit is to recognize one’s spiritual poverty apart from God. … That is the point of the first beatitude. The poor in spirit are those who recognize their total spiritual destitution and their complete dependence on God. They perceive that there are no saving resources in themselves and that they can only beg for mercy and grace. They know they have no spiritual merit, and they know they can earn no spiritual reward. Their pride is gone, their self-assurance is gone, and they stand empty-handed before God.

Psychiatrist and best-selling author M. Scott Peck said…

The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.

We become so full of our own agendas and our own issues that it is rare for a Christian to get empty enough to be filled by God. Jesus said…

(Matthew 11:16-17) But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, {17} And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

Even in religious experience we get the flawed idea that God will be the by-product of our ministries and our methods, that if we have enough things going on that people will find God. But we have it totally backwards. We must let God fill us with Himself and let the ministries come from the overflow of His presence and power in our lives.

2. There Will Be A Result Of This Emptiness

(Matthew 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 5:3 – The Message) You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

In the New Testament the phrases “kingdom of God” … and “kingdom of heaven” are … synonymous, and signify the divine spiritual kingdom, the glorious reign of the Messiah. (From McClintock and Strong Encyclopedia)

According to the Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the phrases “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” refers to “God’s rule of grace in the world.”

B. The Process Of Humility Involves A Sorrow Over Our Evil

(Matthew 5:4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

1. There Is A Significance To This Mourning

mourn – Greek 3996. pentheo, pen-theh'-o; to grieve (the feeling or the act):-- (be-) wail.

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

The Lord is concerned about all of the legitimate sorrows of His children, and He promises to console, comfort, and strengthen us when we turn to Him for help. But those are not the kind of sorrow at issue here. Jesus is speaking of godly sorrow, godly mourning, mourning that only those who sincerely desire to belong to Him or who already belong to Him can experience. … The only sorrow that brings spiritual life and growth is godly sorrow, sorrow over sin that leads to repentance.

I mentioned this last week, but if fits here as well… In the 1870’s, Edmund Simon Lorenz wrote these words, “Are you grieving over joys departed? Tell it to Jesus alone.” Are you grieving over your sin to the point that you repent?

2. There Is A Sequel To This Mourning

(Matthew 5:4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

comforted – Greek NT:3870. parakaleo; means to console, to encourage and strengthen by consolation, to comfort. It is used of the consolation (comfort) given not in words but by the experience of a happier lot or by a happy issue, equivalent to “refresh, cheer.” (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

So the indication is that we are refreshed and cheered on after we mourn over our sin and repent.

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

The result of godly mourning is comfort: they shall be comforted. That is why they are blessed. It is not the mourning that blesses, but the comfort God gives to those who mourn in a godly way. The emphatic pronoun autos (they) indicates that only those who mourn over sin will be comforted. The blessing of God’s comfort is reserved exclusively for the contrite of heart. It is only those who mourn for sin who will have their tears wiped away by the loving hand of Jesus Christ.

C. The Process Of Humility Involves A Submission Of Our Energies

(Matthew 5:5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

1. Let’s Consider The Powerful Explanation Of Meekness

meek – Greek NT:4239. praus or praos; denotes “gentle, mild, meek.” In its use in Scripture, … (meekness) is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting; ... it is only the humble heart which is also the meek, and which, as such, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him. … It must be clearly understood … that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power. The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was ‘meek’ because he had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is (composure) of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all. (From Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

Meekness is not weakness, but strength under control.

2. Let’s Consider The Perfect Example Of Meekness

Moses was a prime example of meekness…

(Numbers 12:3) (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

But Christ was the perfect example of meekness…

(Matthew 11:29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

(Matthew 21:4-5) All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, {5} Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

II. We Can Experience Happiness And Blessing In The Pursuit Of Holiness (Matthew 5:6-8)

A. Notice How Holiness Is Desired In The Life Of A Believer

(Matthew 5:6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

1. This Desire Is Discussed In Terms Of The Appetite

hunger – Greek 3983. peinao, pi-nah'-o; from the same as G3993 (through the idea of pinching toil; “pine”); to famish (absolutely or comparatively); figuratively it means to crave:--be an hungered.

The first time this word is used in the New Testament is…

(Matthew 4:2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

thirst – Greek 1372. dipsao, dip-sah'-o; to thirst for (lit. or fig.):--(be, be a-) thirst (-y).

righteousness – Greek NT:1343. dikaiosune; in the broad sense, the state of him who is such as he ought to be, righteousness; the condition acceptable to God; “integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting. (From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

2. This Desire Is Discussed In Terms Of The Aftermath

Shall be filled – Greek chortastheesontai. A very strong and graphic word, originally applied to the feeding and fattening of animals in a stall. In Revelation 19:21, it is used of the filling of the birds with the flesh of God's enemies. Also of the multitudes fed with the loaves and fishes (Matthew 14:20; Mark 8:8; Luke 9:17). It is manifestly appropriate here as expressing the complete satisfaction of spiritual hunger and thirst.

(From Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament)

B. Notice How Holiness Is Demonstrated In The Life Of A Believer

(Matthew 5:7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

1. Let’s Notice The Terminology Here

The Dalai Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Nowhere do we imitate God more than in showing mercy. In nothing does God delight more than in the exercise of mercy

(Albert Barnes – Barnes’ Notes)

merciful – Greek 1655. eleemon, el-eh-ay'-mone; compassionate (actively).

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

For the most part, the days in which Jesus lived and taught were not characterized by mercy. The Jewish religionists themselves were not inclined to show mercy, because mercy is not characteristic of those who are proud, self-righteous, and judgmental. To many—perhaps most—of Jesus’ hearers, showing mercy was considered one of the least of virtues, if it was thought to be a virtue at all. It was in the same category as love—reserved for those who had shown the virtue to you. You loved those who loved you, and you showed mercy to those who showed mercy to you.

Pure mercy is a gift of God. It is not a natural attribute of man but is a gift that comes with the new birth. We can be merciful in its full sense and with a righteous motive only when we have experienced God’s mercy. Mercy is only for those who through grace and divine power have met the requirements of the first four beatitudes. It is only for those who by the work of the Holy Spirit bow humbly before God in poverty of spirit, who mourn over and turn from their sin, who are meek and submissive to His control, and who hunger and thirst above all else for His righteousness.

2. Let’s Notice The Trade-Off Here

(Matthew 5:7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

We are not selfishly looking for this reciprocation of compassion. That is not our motive in showing compassion. But we will find that it comes as a result. The more I show love to my wife, the more she shows love to me.

In 1874, Knowles Shaw wrote…

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping, We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

C. Notice How Holiness Is Described In The Life Of A Believer

(Matthew 5:8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

1. Let’s Think About This Attribute Of Purity

pure – Greek 2513. katharos, kath-ar-os'; clean (lit. or fig.):--clean, clear, pure.

2. Let’s Think About This Anticipation Of Purity

(Matthew 5:8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

The great blessing of those who are pure in heart is that they shall see God. The Greek is in the future indicative tense and the middle voice, and a more literal translation is, “They shall be continuously seeing God for themselves.” It is only they (the emphatic autos), the pure in heart, who shall see God. Intimate knowledge of and fellowship with God is reserved for the pure. When our hearts are purified at salvation we begin to live in the presence of God. We begin to see and to comprehend Him with our new spiritual eyes. Like Moses, who saw God’s glory and asked to see more (Ex. 33:18), the one who is purified by Jesus Christ sees again and again the glory of God. To see God was the greatest hope of Old Testament saints. Like Moses, David wanted to see more of God. “As the deer pants for the water brooks,” he said, “so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?” (Ps. 42:1). Job rejoiced when he was able to say, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee” (Job 42:5). Purity of heart cleanses the eyes of the soul so that God becomes visible. One sign of an impure heart is ignorance, because sin obscures the truth (John 3:19-20). Evil and ignorance come in a package.

III. We Can Experience Happiness And Blessing In The Problem Of Harassment (Matthew 5:9-12)

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

The world does not associate happiness with humility, mourning over sin, gentleness, righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, or peacemaking holiness. Even less does it associate happiness with persecution.

Some years ago a popular national magazine took a survey to determine the things that make people happy. According to the responses they received, happy people enjoy other people but are not self-sacrificing; they refuse to participate in any negative feelings or emotions; and they have a sense of accomplishment based on their own self-sufficiency.

The person described by those principles is completely contrary to the kind of person the Lord says will be authentically happy. Jesus says a blessed person is not one who is self-sufficient but one who recognizes his own emptiness and need, who comes to God as a beggar, knowing he has no resources in himself. He is not confident in his own ability but is very much aware of his own inability. Such a person, Jesus says, is not at all positive about himself, but mourns over his own sinfulness and isolation from a holy God. To be genuinely content, a person must not be self-serving but self-sacrificing. He must be gentle, merciful, pure in heart, yearn for righteousness, and seek to make peace on God’s terms—even if those attitudes cause him to suffer.

A. The Christian’s Recourse (Choice) In Harassment Is Righteousness

(Matthew 5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

(Matthew 5:9 – The Message) You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

John F. MacArthur, Jr. said…

The essential fact to comprehend is that the peace about which Jesus speaks is more than the absence of conflict and strife; it is the presence of righteousness.

B. The Christian’s Result In Harassment Is Reward

(Matthew 5:10) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 5:10 – The Message) You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

(1 Peter 3:13-17) And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? {14} But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; {15} But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: {16} Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. {17} For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

C. The Christian’s Response In Harassment Is Rejoicing

(Matthew 5:11-12) Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. {12} Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

1. There Is A Double Blessing In Persecution

(Matthew 5:10-11) Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

2. There Is A Double Benefit In Persecution

(Matthew 5:12) Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

We have the Glad Rejoicing and the Great Reward

Conclusion: Ira F. Stanphill was born in Belview, New Mexico, in 1914. He has written more than 550 songs, the most popular of which are “Mansion over the Hilltop,” “Room at the Cross,” and, of course, “Happiness Is the Lord.”

On any number of occasions the Lord has given a song to a songwriter when he or she least expected it. Such was the case of Ira Stanphill one afternoon in 1974 after he left the church office where he was pastor in Fort Worth, Texas.

The car radio was on, and as he rode along he listened to some commercial programs. Some were sponsored by establishments that advertised their happy hour and their alcoholic beverages. He also heard cigarettes being advertised in terms of how they bring happiness.

The word happiness was used several times in the ads. Ira related to me that he thought at the time that happiness does not come with these things, but with knowing Christ. He continued, As this thought really took over my mind I began to sing. I sang a new song, composing words and melody as I drove along. I sang it almost as it is published today.

(Lindsay Terry)

Happiness Is The lord

Happiness is to know the Savior, Living a life within His favor,

Having a change in my behavior— Happiness is the Lord,

Happiness is a new creation, “Jesus and me” in close relation,

Having a part in His salvation— Happiness is the Lord,

Happiness is to be forgiven, Living a life that’s worth the livin’,

Taking a trip that leads to heaven— Happiness is the Lord,

CHORUS: Real joy is mine, no matter if teardrops start;

I’ve found the secret- it’s Jesus in my heart!

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