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Culture andCulture and
(Happy Happy Happy)(Happy Happy Happy)
ChristChrist
That That wordword
They no longer make me...They no longer make me...happyhappy
I just want to be happyI just want to be happy
I've gotta followI've gotta followmy blissmy bliss
DNADNA
"...all men are created equal, "...all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their that they are endowed by their Creator with certain Creator with certain unalienable rights…unalienable rights…
……that among these are Life, that among these are Life, Liberty and Liberty and the pursuit the pursuit
of happiness."of happiness."
DNADNA
IndividualisticIndividualisticAnti-AuthoritarianAnti-Authoritarian
Pursuit of HappinessPursuit of Happiness
Looking for someoneLooking for someoneTo spend life with:To spend life with:
I just want someoneI just want someoneWho makes me…?Who makes me…?
For a child-For a child-I hope she grows upI hope she grows up
To be happyTo be happy
Happiness as a goalHappiness as a goalThe measure by whichThe measure by which
We decide if life is goodWe decide if life is goodAt the momentAt the moment
Drives pursuit of careerDrives pursuit of career
Part of the pointPart of the pointOf seeking moneyOf seeking money
Hobbies and VacationsHobbies and Vacations
Temporary and Temporary and FleetingFleeting
The two tragedies:The two tragedies:
Spend our lives pursuingSpend our lives pursuingwhat we believe will make us what we believe will make us happy (delayed happiness)happy (delayed happiness)
The two tragedies:The two tragedies:
Finally get it Finally get it and find it doesn'tand find it doesn't
Has invaded church cultureHas invaded church culture
God's goal: your happinessGod's goal: your happiness
BecauseBecause God loves you and God loves you andWants more for youWants more for youThan you want for yourselfThan you want for yourself
BecauseBecause God loves you and God loves you andWants more for youWants more for youThan you want for yourselfThan you want for yourself
His goal for youHis goal for youIs not happinessIs not happiness
BECAUSE…BECAUSE…I think God is for meI think God is for me
And since I want happinessAnd since I want happinessGod is judged by my happinessGod is judged by my happiness
God is for…God!God is for…God!
God is for…God!God is for…God!
Glory= doxa- the quality of GodGlory= doxa- the quality of Godthat takes your breath awaythat takes your breath away
““Father, the hour has Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you"your Son may glorify you"- John 17:1- John 17:1
“ …“ …for this purpose for this purpose I have come I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again”will glorify it again”- John 12:27-28- John 12:27-28
"...at the name of Jesus every "...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow...and every knee will bow...and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the is Lord, to the gloryglory of of
God the Father"God the Father"- Phil. 2:10-11- Phil. 2:10-11
God is for…God!God is for…God!
"I will gain glory for myself "I will gain glory for myself
- Exodus 14:4- Exodus 14:4
God's gloryGod's gloryIs in Egypt's best interestIs in Egypt's best interest
"I will gain glory for myself "I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his through Pharaoh and all his
army, army, and and the Egyptians will the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD"know that I am the LORD"
- Exodus 14:4- Exodus 14:4
God is for…God!God is for…God!
"To the praise of his glory""To the praise of his glory"- Eph. 1- Eph. 1
A religion thatA religion thatMakes it all about meMakes it all about me
Misses GodMisses God
……let your light shine before let your light shine before others, so that they may see others, so that they may see
your your good works good works and and give glory give glory to to your Fatheryour Father who is in heaven who is in heaven
- Matt. 5:16- Matt. 5:16
The Purpose of our LivesThe Purpose of our LivesIs to glorify GodIs to glorify God
Why?Why?
God doesn't need itGod doesn't need itWe can't supplyWe can't supply
We simply recognize itWe simply recognize itAnd praise him for itAnd praise him for it
Because when God is most Because when God is most Glorified in youGlorified in you
You are most at peaceYou are most at peaceHave the most joyHave the most joyMake the best decisionsMake the best decisions
The chief end of manThe chief end of man
Is to glorify God Is to glorify God bybyEnjoyingEnjoying him forever him forever
God is most glorified in usGod is most glorified in usWhen we are most When we are most satisfiedsatisfied
In himIn him
His gloryHis gloryIs our joyIs our joy
What we seek What we seek finds it's culmination in Godfinds it's culmination in God
Every good gift and every perfect Every good gift and every perfect gift gift is from above, is from above, coming coming
down from the Father…down from the Father…- James 1:17- James 1:17
- God loves to give good gifts- God loves to give good gifts- He's the source of every good gift- He's the source of every good gift- Not from him= not his best for me- Not from him= not his best for me- His desire is to bless with the best- His desire is to bless with the best
...God......God...richly provides richly provides us with us with everything for our enjoymenteverything for our enjoyment- 1 Tim. 6:17- 1 Tim. 6:17
God God wantswants you to enjoy you to enjoyTo his praise and gloryTo his praise and glory
BecauseBecause God loves you and God loves you andWants more for youWants more for youThan you want for yourselfThan you want for yourself
His goal for youHis goal for youIs not happinessIs not happiness
Fallenness leads to IdolatryFallenness leads to Idolatry
Exchange Glory of the CreatorExchange Glory of the CreatorFor created thingsFor created things
"My people have committed two "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, andthe spring of living water, andhave dug their own cisterns, have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot broken cisterns that cannot hold water"hold water"- Jeremiah 2:13- Jeremiah 2:13
IdolatryIdolatry- To trust someone or - To trust someone or something other than God to something other than God to provide what only God provide what only God can providecan provide
"I "I knowknow it's not your will…" it's not your will…"
"But it makes me happy""But it makes me happy""I just need this right now""I just need this right now""I have grace, so it's OK…""I have grace, so it's OK…"
I am the Lord; that is my name; I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my glory I give to no other, nor
my praise to carved idolsmy praise to carved idols- Isa. 42:8- Isa. 42:8
Seeking satisfaction (happiness) Seeking satisfaction (happiness) Outside the Source Outside the Source
Of satisfaction…Of satisfaction…
Causes us to doCauses us to doWhat God would call sinWhat God would call sin
And justify itAnd justify itBy our goal (happiness)By our goal (happiness)
God is not for myGod is not for myShort-sighted goalsShort-sighted goals
God is for…God!God is for…God!
BecauseBecause God loves you and God loves you andWants more for youWants more for youThan you want for yourselfThan you want for yourself
His goal for youHis goal for youIs not happinessIs not happiness
……we know that for those who we know that for those who love God all things work love God all things work together for good, for those who together for good, for those who are called according to his are called according to his purpose.purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be also predestined to be
conformed to the conformed to the image of his Son…image of his Son…
And those whom he predestined And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he those whom he justified he also also glorifiedglorified- Romans 8:28-30- Romans 8:28-30
God's goal for you is greater than God's goal for you is greater than Momentary HappinessMomentary Happiness
He wants you to be like JesusHe wants you to be like JesusSo you can one day share So you can one day share In his gloryIn his glory
The The Word…Word…
Not happy but…Not happy but…
Not happy but…Not happy but…holyholy
Rules, Dress Style, Haughty LookRules, Dress Style, Haughty Look
Practices, Places, PeoplePractices, Places, People
Holy= Holy= Hagios- Hagios- set apart for set apart for God's use God's use
Coke Bottle…Coke Bottle…
To be HolyTo be HolyIs to be set apart Is to be set apart
In character and natureIn character and natureBy virtue of death to selfBy virtue of death to self
And therefore filledAnd therefore filledWith Christ's SpiritWith Christ's Spirit
Joy, peace, purpose > happinessJoy, peace, purpose > happiness
And therefore filledAnd therefore filledWith Christ's SpiritWith Christ's Spirit
Which Which glorifiesglorifies God God
Life Life willwill involve pain/unhappiness involve pain/unhappiness
Good News: Good News: Jesus will use itJesus will use itTo help you becomeTo help you becomeWhat he created you to beWhat he created you to be
Is my "god" all about me?Is my "god" all about me?
Or is my GodOr is my GodAll about his gloryAll about his gloryTo my blessing and his praise?To my blessing and his praise?
Are my decisionsAre my decisionsAbout what makes me happy?About what makes me happy?
Or what will most glorify God- Or what will most glorify God- and bring peace and joy?and bring peace and joy?
Happiness can be delayedHappiness can be delayedJoy is yours nowJoy is yours now
Happiness is temporaryHappiness is temporaryJoy lasts…and brings peace Joy lasts…and brings peace with itwith it
This week:This week:
"What's your desire for me? "What's your desire for me? Show me and I'll follow…"Show me and I'll follow…"
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