But we must remember that this rejoicing is centered not in a passing circumstance but in a constant realityChrist. I will proclaim your might to the next generation (verse 18). Are People in Heaven Aware of Events on Earth? So coming to eat and believing are parallel. He is author of. Id be married in December of 1968. Great pain certainly dullsand at times even overshadowshappiness, but it cant destroy happiness thats grounded in our ever-faithful God. Since God repeatedly commands His people to be happy, our happiness is a measure of our obedience. For my own sake, for my own sake, I will act; For how can my name be profaned? Some of you might be sick right now and dont even know it. Now, if your normal temperament lands you on a happiness scale of 2-3 out of 10, maybe the work of Gods Spirit wont take you to a 10 but to a 6-7. I know where maximum joy is to be found because it was just read by that young woman a few minutes ago. Ultimate self-denial is blasphemy, because it is saying, Ive come finally to God, and I want none of him. . We are depraved and we are commanded to feel tender-heartedness: Be kind to one another, tender-hearted. You cant just say that forgiveness means saying, Im sorry. Youve got to feel it. Toward an Ethic of Christian Hedonism Article by John Piper Founder & Teacher, desiringGod.org The basic tenet of Christian hedonism is that the desire to be happy is a proper motive for every good deed. In a world under the curse of evil and suffering, something would be very wrong if we were! What do they treasure? GOD, IN THE MIDST OF HIS TERRIBLE THINGS, IS NOT THE LESS THE GOD OF SALVATION. I had fallen in love with C. S. Lewis in college, but I had never read this book, and I had never read this page that changed everything. First, it does so with commandments. When I am grieving over what God grieves over, I am not sinning. I said I would begin and end with the argument that if you pursue your fullest pleasure in God, you glorify God. Listen to this word from Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Sometimes sorrow and joy do battle; sometimes they coexist, but when our hearts and minds are on Christ, joy is never far away: You changed my sorrow into dancing. Five Ways to Rejoice and Be Happy This Christmas! So objection number one fell. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. Glut that self on God. Dont you dare make me happy. Seek Truth in Scripture. I believe in denying myself everything that would stand in the way of me being satisfied fully in God, and thats how I understand what the Bible means by self-denial. We have so intellectualized faith. Its not an option. This is the very essence of sin. Coming to the one who is precisely with the deep conviction that he is going to reward me for coming. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. But Scripture supports it. Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. (Psalm 37:4) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Now, put it together. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. They come together hand in hand. 7 Bible Truths That Bring Great Happiness. The reason it is not unloving for God to exalt himself in this way is because knowing God and being swept up into the praises of God is what satisfies the human soul. We were going to be married December 21, 1968. I used to think that God called me to glorify God. For our regulars, giving to EPM is significantly down this year, over 39% compared to previous years, which means more has been going out of our account than coming in. My people have committed two evils: And today, I think exactly the opposite. Wife gone. (Since Im not naturally chipper or bouncy, but more melancholic, this isnt my personality speaking!) Thats what Philippians 1:1921 is saying. 7) I will count all my pain and troubles as a gift from God and a path to glory. God is so very patient and He has forgiven us of all things, yet still, if we will not enter into His joy by keeping His commands, eventually our lives will become quite terrible . Tomorrow I will argue that the way not to waste your life is love, and Im going to argue that love is the capstone of the experience of joy in God that spills over onto others and meets their needs. So it was devastating. God himself offers himself as the source of full and lasting pleasure. The moment after death, all who know Jesus will experience a flood of happiness greater than weve ever known. Complaining puts out the light of our Christian witness (Philippians 2:1415). But he cannot feel gratitude for those socks by willpower. I read the book. Christ is most magnified in you when you are most satisfied in him. God wants something better for me. Why would God ever say such a thing, except to entice you out of the slums of sin and into the holiday at sea in his presence? Instead, if we focus on the Lord and His abundant grace, wewillbe happy. Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. There is none besides God. This is not icing on the cake. Alcorn has written numerous articles for magazines such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Leadership, New Man, and The Christian Reader. Doesnt this just put me and not God at the center of things? www.epm.org/blogwww.facebook.com/randyalcornwww.twitter.com/randyalcornRead more: www.epm.org/about/staff-board/randy-alcorn/, [ivory-search id="86" title="Default Search Form"]. How does God feel when you do that? What kind of argument is that? [1] Jeremy Taylor, as quoted in C. S. Lewis,George MacDonald: An Anthology(New York: HarperCollins, 2001), xxxv. I read it in the book. What about self-denial? Instead, if we focus on the Lord and His abundant grace, we will be happy. Some of you could very well die this year. A miracle has to happen for that to come true. You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness (Psalm 30:11, NCV). Rejoicing in a friend, a parent, a child, a spouse, a job well done, or a glorious walk in the forest can in fact be choosing to find happiness in Christ. Jesus. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. No one in Scripture spoke of hell more than Jesus did. Its really there. declares the Lord. Jeremy Taylor said, "God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy." Robert Louis Stevenson said, "There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy." If we listen to Jesus and Paul, and follow their example we will find happiness and contentment by knowing God as our heavenly Father, and by being committed to that which . You magnify Christ. Youve got to weep; youve got to feel weeping with those who weep. God-centered grace is biblical grace. C.S. He doesnt. International Standard Version These are the words that Moses spoke to the assembly of Israel east of the Jordan River, in the Arabah desert, opposite Suph between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters and have hewed out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. He counted everything as refuse and rubbish that he might gain Christ. Get it done. Thats my point this morning. I believe in the self-denial that the rich young ruler couldnt understand but that Jesus taught in that moment: Go sell everything youve got young man and come follow me, and youll have treasure in heaven (Mark 10:21). And the change between those two ways of viewing life and the world came between the ages of 22 and 25, the years 1968 and 1971 in Pasadena, California. Thats the way it works, which is why I say Christ is most magnified in me in my dying when in my dying I am more satisfied in Christ than I am with everything on the planet, even what is most dear to me. Youve got to find a way to worship, type papers, listen to lectures, drive a car, change a diaper, preach a sermon in such a way that you are always the receiver. At least two times in [the book] Desiring God the statement is made, "God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy" (pages 9, 289). What is Jesus saying? You obey God. Of course, we have no way to know if hell is real, or if God sends people there, unless God reveals that to us. 17 Atheism Foolishness Creation No man can hinder our private addresses to God; every man can build a chapel in his breast, himself the priest, his heart the sacrifice, and the earth he treads on, the altar. Paul called himself the servant of the Lord in every letter almost. Does the Bible really teach that you should pursue your joy with all your heart and mind and soul and strength. Topics: Happiness: A pure mind in a chaste body is the mother of wisdom and deliberation; sober counsels and ingenuous actions; open deportment and sweet carriage; sincere principles and unprejudiced understanding; love of God and self-denial; peace and confidence; holy prayers and . Save your life! Got some life on life. Happiness, as the four Pevensie children learn, lies in surrendering oneself to the good and thus to Aslan. Fullness and forever are important words. Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, Be glad in the Lord always! He has ministered in many countries, including China, and is a popular teacher and conference speaker. Our God of happiness has made the way for us to come before Him freely and draw deeply from His mercy, grace, and help at any and all times, including when were feeling drained of joy. 1) I will remember with wonder and thanks the thousands of times I have leaned on God since my youth. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. So we can confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help (Hebrews 4:16, NET). In 1968 I started seeing some of these things with the help of Dan Fuller, C.S. It may take fifteen years, objection after objection. But we must remember that this rejoicing is centered not in a passing circumstance but in a constant realityChrist. Isnt it a desperate thing to be told by Almighty God that you must do what you cannot do? What is evil? "O God from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds" (verse 17). Since God repeatedly commands His people to be happy, our happiness is a measure of our obedience. God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in him. Ponder it. Weve turned faith into such decisionistic, mechanistic stuff. In a world under the curse of evil and suffering, something would be very wrong if we were! My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. I didnt think in those categories of being happy and God. Jesus says, I am the bread of life. Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, Be glad in the Lord always! Ponder it. Im going to tell it again for the hundreds who havent, because the testimony I get everywhere I talk about this is that this little story makes lights go on. So lets rewind the tape and ring the doorbell and get it right this time. See what happens. Scripture doesnt command us to rejoice in: Were to rejoice in the midst of these things, but of course they wont be the source of our gladness. The opposite of joyful is silly or trivial, at least the way I see joy. Watch out! Rejoicing always in the Lord seems unrealistic at times. be shocked, be utterly desolate, Remember, Gods commands are not to burden us, but to free usthe truth, including the truth about Him wanting us to be happy in Himshould set us free (John 8:32). (Since Im not naturally chipper or bouncy, but more melancholic, this isnt my personality speaking!) Theres nothing spiritual about not wanting pain, and theres everything spiritual about being satisfied with God. We arent worried, as God has faithfully provided for our ministry for 33 years. Its over. We are commanded to feel peace: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts (Colossians 3:15). And hewed out cisterns for themselves, In other words, you had to somehow divest yourself of what felt like an indomitable desire for happiness. Watch out! You cannot sacrifice anything that will not be repaid to you a thousand-fold. What is the good service? Indeed, God sometimes disciplines His people who fail to find happiness in Him by sending unfavorable circumstances. Note from Randy Alcorn: If youre new to our website, please ignore this. So Ive been married 43 years now as of ten days ago, and I cant hold 43 roses in my hand anymore. He is a spring waiting for your thirst. Im not always happy, any more than Im always holy. And how does he lose all that stuff? Liberating and devastating because I think hes saying that the holiday at the sea is God. My delight is in God being the center of the universe, forever, and drawing me up into his fellowship, to see him, know him, enjoy him, treasure him, be satisfied in him, for all the days of eternity. Put in the time today. Deny yourself tin to have gold. The problem with the world is not hedonism; its the failure of hedonism to go for what is truly satisfying. We should join David in praying, Restore to me the joy of your salvation (Psalm 51:12). 5 Questions About Heaven: Asked and Answered! Heres my answer: Ive been married for 28 years, as of the 21st of December. Desiring God is a paradigm-shattering work that dramatically alters common perspectives on relating to God. Be an ultimate loser of joy in God. Hes not saying that. Jeremy Taylor once said, God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy. I thought it was clever when I first heard it. No, they are still obligations. And it was devastating. In fact, for the follower of Jesus, delight is the duty as Christ is most magnified in His people when they are most satisfied in Him. If we refuse to serve the Creator and Redeemer of our souls in happiness, we will surely end up serving the enemy of our souls in unhappiness. It is shocking. 17:13). The moment after death, all who know Jesus will experience a flood of happiness greater than weve ever known. You are offered pleasures forever. I want Christ to be magnified in my body, even if I die, for to die is gain. Its our joy to share freely what God has so graciously entrusted to us. What does that mean about faith? How does that relate to that? Work it out for yourself. That place is His Word. Paragraphs change people. God magnifies God. Ponder it. Passion 1997, as I understand it, is about Gods passion for God. Consider this statement: God threatens terrible things if we will not be happy. Ill bet that got your attention. You just want to be happy all the time. Why wouldnt she say that? O God from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds (verse 17). If you feel led by God to support us, we would greatly appreciate any gifts to our general fund. Evil is tasting the fountain of life called God, turning to the desert sands, and spending your life digging and sucking on the dirt in the confidence that its going to taste good someday that its going to satisfy. God threatens terrible things to those who grumble (Psalm 106:2526). The kid can do that by willpower. This is not a suggestion. That may sound harsh, but Im convinced its true, and actually hope-giving. Life on life. So Ive said to people all over the country and around the world, if you can come up to me and show me where I can find joy fuller than full, longer than forever, then I will cease to be a Christian instantly and go with you there. Philippians 1:23 gives the missing premise: I am hard pressed between the two. We have settled for such small, short-lived, inadequate, non-satisfying pleasures that our capacities for joy have so shriveled up to the point that we have made joyless duty the essence of virtue so as to conceal our untransformed hearts that cannot be moved by God. So lets give some answers to these objections. This is partly due to my personality type and emotional makeup (and perhaps genetics), while some is triggered by my long-term physical illness (insulin-dependent diabetes), and some is the result of adverse circumstances. But if I am always grieving and always unhappy, if that is the normal state of my life over the long haul, then something is wrong. We might ask ourselves in Heaven, if we are called upon to evaluate our lives here, Given Christs finished work on my behalf, with the indwelling Son and Holy Spirit, why didnt I experience more of this happiness in God before I died? The permanence of the Holy Spirits indwelling in our lives allows us to continually access a supernatural happiness even now. You heard some in the previous answer to the question over there. This is not optional, this is not icing. You had to divest yourself of that, get rid of it, in order to worship as you ought or be virtuous and care about people. Were on a mission to change that. [1] Jeremy Taylor, as quoted in C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald: An Anthology (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), xxxv. Why did you? And I say, Cant help myself. Thou hast shown me the path of life. Gods Word Translation rendersDeuteronomy 28:47, You didnt serve the Lord your God with a joyful and happy heart when you had so much. Whether we find joy and happiness in God and His abundant gifts dramatically affects how He views our service for Him. Now, this is perhaps the most counterintuitive of all. Come, Holy Spirit. You honor a fountain by drinking and saying, Ah, not by hauling the buckets of your labor up the mountain and dumping them in. Now, thats the wrong answer, and you know why its the wrong answer? And so the thought of going along a road toward joy, going along a road toward happiness, just felt like somethings wrong here, even if I couldnt put my finger on it, which meant that all worship and all virtue seemed to be selfless. Deny yourself sand to stand on a rock. Its death of the self. What is faith? But if I am always grieving and always unhappy, if that is the normal state of my life over the long haul, then something is wrong. Sells his car, sells his computer, sells everything. . For example, Hebrews 11:6: Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who would draw near to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. If you would please God, you must have faith. (, Delight yourselves in God, yes, find your joy in him at all times. It cant really be a command. Wrong! This is partly due to my personality type and emotional makeup (and perhaps genetics), while some is triggered by my long-term physical illness (insulin-dependent diabetes), and some is the result of adverse circumstances. In your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Gods severe mercy in bringing adversity when we dont serve Him with joyfulness and gladness of heart may turn us to God, where well find in Him the only heartfelt and lasting happiness available to us. And a critical, anxious spirit dries up joy and peace (Philippians 4:67). 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.