Happy in an Unhappy World

John 14:1-23
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Introduction: Why are so many people unhappy? Are you unhappy? Fill in the blank. If I could just___ __? Get another job. Meet the right person. Lose some weight. Be pain free. Get out of debt. Have a nicer car. If I just had some more money. Or…the list goes on. Since Jesus knows all about us, then He knows what will make us HAPPY. Consider (3) choices you can make now that will make you HAPPY!

1. Find something to do with MEANING and PURPOSE! (John 14:10-14)
” He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father.”
• Do nothing – waste of time
• Find something to make a difference

2. Find someone to LOVE that brings AFFIRMATION and security! (John 14:15-27)
” If ye love me, keep my commandments…he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself to him.”
• The LOVE of the FATHER
• The LOVE of the Son

3. Find something to look forward to with HOPE and ASSURANCE! (John 14:1-3)
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me….In my Father’s house are many mansions:…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”
• Heaven’s for real
• Jesus will come again

Conclusion: “Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord” (Psa 144:15). According to Jesus, a person can find MEANING and PURPOSE, LOVE and AFFIRMATION, HOPE and SECURITY in a relationship with the Father. That brings HAPPINESS! Are you HAPPY yet?

Be HAPPY in the Lord!!
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese