## Happiness from the Word

## Psalms 119:17-24

The Constitution of the United States guarantees its citizens the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But Americans aren't happy! We represent six percent of the world's population and take ninety percent of the world's tranquilizers. Why? We are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. The result is frustration. One lady said, "The only thing holding me together in my hair spray".

The search for happiness itself winds up being the chief cause of unhappiness. The more knowledge we acquire, the less wisdom we seem to have. The more economic security we attain, the more disenchanted we become with ourselves, our spouses, our children, our lives.

Some folks turn to Christianity (not necessarily to Christ), and then wait passively by for something stupendous to happen that would change their circumstances. There is no great secret to finding happiness! We simply must be obedient to the Word of God.

(2 Pet 1:3-5) "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: {4} Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. {5} And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;"

(2 Pet 1:8-9) "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."

We have been looking at the 119th Psalm one section at a time. There are 22 sections of eight verses each. This is the longest chapter division in the Bible and it deals primarily with the Word of God and its relationship to the believer. Tonight we will see how we can find true happiness through God's Word.

I. Receiving the Blessings of the Word. v17-19

(Psa 119:17) "GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word."

A. We Must Be A Servant v17

(Phil 1:1) "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:"

1. Basically the word means minister.

2. An attendant; to attend; a waiter.

3. What happens when we sit down at a restaurant?

4. Someone comes and says, "Hi, my name is....and I will be your server this evening."

(Mat 20:28) "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

5. Ministering is living for other people.

6. That is why Jesus gave us life…not for us to be selfish, but for us to serve others.

(2 Cor 5:15) "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

7. Ministry takes place when Divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God.

8. It takes compassion.

B. We Must Be A Seer of Wondrous Things. v18

(Psa 119:18) "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."

1. Elisha's servant needed insight to see the mighty power and provision of God.

2. We need to open our eyes to what wondrous things God has in store for us.

3. Note: v130

4. God's Word provides the light necessary to see and understand. cf Eph 1:17-19

C. We Must Be A Stranger to this World.

(Psa 119:19) "I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me."

1. Being a stranger simply means that we are not at home here.

2. This world is not my home…I'm just a passing through…

3. Let's not allow ourselves to grow comfortable here.

4. Jesus has prepared a place for us to spend an eternity…we need to travel light and not drive the tent stakes too deeply!

II. Having a Right Attitude toward the Word v20-24

(Psa 119:20) "My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times."

(Job 23:12) "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food."

(Psa 107:8-9) "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! {9} For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."

A. An Attitude That Affects the Soul.

1. Have you ever longed for something or someone so much that you hurt?

2. Is that our attitude toward God's Word?

3. As a boy I used to love to play with my dad's tools.

a. One thing that always amazed me was a magnetized screwdriver.

b. I would use it to move screws around.

c. As I would move the screwdriver near, it would draw the metal screw after it.

d. I learned later how that screwdriver became magnetized.

e. It was from being near a magnet.

4. A right attitude toward God's Word comes from being around it more and more.

5. The closer we get, the more we are drawn to It, and the greater the effect upon us.

(Psa 51:16-17) "For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. {17} The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

B. An Attitude That Affects The Actions

1. It seems that when everyone around us are coming out and taking a stand for what they believe, our tendency is to withdraw.

2. The psalmist determined that no matter what his circumstances might be, he was going to be faithful and dependable.

C. Obstacles to a Right Attitude. v21-23

1. Pride and error:

a. Pride makes people think they know better than God.

b. It is a characteristic of those who are lost; it shouldn't be present in the life of a believer…but too often it is!

c. It will lead us to accept a substitute for the truth…our own thoughts or feelings.

2. Reproach and Contempt:

a. These are the result of an attitude of pride.

b. Shamefulness and scornfulness

c. Pride brought down the most beautiful of all God's creation…it will bring us nothing but heartache and shame.

3. Intimidation by others:

a. There will always be those who oppose the truth and the followers of truth.

b. Often they may be people of position or influence in our lives...Princes.

c. The psalmist speaks of these things as being obstacles that stand in the path of having a right attitude toward God and His Word.

d. They all can be swept away by the determination to not stray from the Word.

D. Overcoming the Obstacles:

1. Keeping the Word…

2. Meditating on the Word…

3. Delight in the Word…

4. Leaning on the Word…

We began tonight talking about the search for true happiness. It will only come as we come into a right relationship with God through His Word. We can receive the blessings of His Word when our attitude toward It is right.