how to be happy?

How to be happy?

How To Be Happy - Article Previous Article Next Article How To Be HappyBy Andrew Wommack   Related Materials   •  Free MP3 download   •  Online TV broadcast   •  CD album   •  DVD album Everyone longs for happiness, but few possess it. The pursuit of it is universal and timeless. Generations ago, the writers of the United States Declaration of Independence recognized that longing. In it they wrote that every man is endued by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, one of which is the pursuit of happiness. For most people, however, happiness is elusive. To make it even more elusive, many Christians have been told that holiness and happiness just don’t go together. That’s because in the church, there has been an emphasis placed on Jesus as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” However, that is not the whole story. The same Bible that says Jesus suffered also says He was anointed with the oil of gladness above everyone else and that the joy of the Lord is our strength. “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” (Heb. 1:9). “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). No joy—no strength. This is one of the reasons we have a lot of weak Christians. So, is true happiness obtainable? And if so, how do we get it? First, let me say there are many scriptures that command us to rejoice and be glad (Ps. 32:11, 40:16, 68:3, 70:4, to list a few). Some specifically command rejoicing in the midst of trouble (Ps. 34:1, Matt. 5:12, and John 16:33). The people of Israel were even punished because they didn’t serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all the things the Lord had done. “Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee” (Deut. 28:47-48). So, if joy was a command and people were punished for not rejoicing, then happiness is something we can control. Otherwise, the Lord would have been unjust in commanding us to do it. Today people think happiness is a result, instead of a choice. They believe that if they didn’t have any problems and if they had an abundance of good things, happiness would be the inevitable result. That’s not true. Happiness isn’t a state of being; it’s a state of mind. A person can be happy when everyone and everything around them is in turmoil. They can be content no matter what the financial or physical conditions might be. True happiness and contentment isn’t dependent upon circumstances. Take Paul as an example.... read on at http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/be_happy download mp3 to listen to the teaching by Andrew Wommack: http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1019

Journey to see God: what Jesus used His power and authority for

We have read how Jesus used His power and authority to preach the gospel to the poor, heal the sick and cast out demons. We have not previously discussed how He did not use His power and authority. So here are some of the objects/actions on which He did not use His power and authority.

1. He did not use them on producing food and other material stuff for Himself.
2. He did not use them to destroy His earthly opponents.
3. He did not use them to steal, kill and destroy human.
4. He did not show off His superior position as the Son of God, by using them.
5. He did not use them to gain prestigious political, economic, social or religious position, honor, status or popularity.
6. He did not use them to avoid the tortuous, cruel and painful (body, soul and spirit) death on the cross in a human form.
7. He did not use them to reduce His mission time on earth and expedite the whole crucifixion atonement process.

Jesus corrected and reprimanded His disciples when they misunderstood the use of authority and power. He spoke very stern words to John and James such as, “What manner of spirit are you?” He even commanded Satan directly to get off when he reprimanded Peter. During all His healing and deliverance of those tormented by demons, He commanded the demons directly. They obeyed His power and authority.

One key goal to remember is Jesus came to save life and not to destroy life. He came to give abundant life. He came to heal the sick and not to give sickness. He came to relieve the suffering of mankind and not to add to the suffering. By His death on the cross, having borne all the diseases and sins on His body, He defeated the power of sin and death. He broke all the curses on human.
Jesus knew exactly what He needed to do on earth, how long and how much. He did not go beyond what He saw His Father in heaven did. He set a clear demarcation between dealing with evil spirits and the human through which those spirits manifested. He was walking by the Spirit and living by the Spirit at all times.

Jesus has thus demonstrated to us the only correct way to use His power and authority as Son of God.

“For as many are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14