Overview to resist temptations Empowers Empowers in right relationships Expressed Expressed as peace and joy Experienced Experienced as agape actions Explained Explained of Christian character Essence Essence LOVE

Lesson Overview How to find joy and peace: Not 1. Not by … But 2. But by … And 3. Andby …

Introduction A recent study indicated that about 20 percent of middle-class Americans are happy. Funny Definition Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz defines happiness as, “An imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now usually attributed by adults to children and by children to adults.”

Introduction People today are obsessed with happiness. They spend their lives in pursuit of it, sacrificing their time, energy, money, health and even families in their desire to achieve happiness. We have more of everything today but we have less joy and peace than any generation in history. How much joy and peace do you have? God wants your life be full of joy and peace. Today we will discover you can receive them! This knowledge is going to save you a fortune.

IntroductionDefinitions blessed. 1.Happy is a worldly term; the biblical word is blessed. peacejoy. 2.The two essential qualities of a blessed person are peace and joy. dancingresting 3.Joy and peace are complementary fruits. Joy is peace dancing; peace is joy resting.

Introduction Key Question How do you get joy and peace? Key Answer There are three secrets to living a life full of peace and joy

Secret 1: Not by … Not by Enhancing Circumstances Misconception Happiness comes from perfect circumstances. People spend their lives trying to achieve whatever perfect circumstances they think will bring them peace and joy. Never Enough “How much is enough?” a reporter once asked Rockefeller. “Just a little more,” he replied. If you are not content with what you have, you will not be content with what you want!

Secret 1: Not by … Not by Enhancing Circumstances An Elusive Goal For Americans with household incomes under $25,000, it would take $54,000 a year to fulfill the American dream. Those who make $100,000 plus crave an average of $192,000. In other words, the American Dream usually lies nearly twice the distance away. Safety consists not in the absence of danger, but in the presence of God. The surest way to be unhappy is to seek happiness.

Secret 1: Not by … Not by Enhancing Circumstances What about you? 1. What are you doing in the belief that it will make you happy? 2. Imagine you get that “one thing” tomorrow. How long do you think your whole life will be full of joy and peace?

Secret 2: But by … But by Experiencing Christ’s Love As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It's a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians—and I am one of them."

Secret 2: But by … John 16:33 In this world trouble. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … John 16:33 in me peace. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … Joy and Peace The joy of the Lord and the peace of God come from experiencing the love of Christ in our hearts. These are inner fruits, the effect within our spirits of experiencing the perfect love of Christ. But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … Sipho is unhappy because his eyes are on his circumstances. His problem is so big that he cannot see God. UNHAPPINESS But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … Sipho is happy because he is having a good day. His focus is still on his circumstances, but since his problem is small, so he is not sad. HAPPINESS But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … Now Sipho’s eyes are on God rather than his problem. Although his problem is big, it cannot take away the peace of God and the joy of the Lord. JOY But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … Anxiety occurs when your problem seems bigger than your God. Sipho has a small view of God because he has not experienced much of Him. Therefore, he is anxious. ANXIETY But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … Peace occurs when your God seems bigger than your problem. Sipho’s relationship with God has grown to the point that he knows God will come thru for him. He now has peace. PEACE But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … presence 1. Experiencing his presence power 2. Experiencing his power provision 3. Experiencing his provision protection 4. Experiencing his protection But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 2: But by … What about your role? God is constantly expressing his love, but we are not always experiencing it. He is always transmitting, but we are not always receiving. What must you do to help you experience his love in your life? How can you turn your “receiver” on to receive his transmission? But by Experiencing Christ’s Love

Secret 3: And by … Rimland Experiment   All the people labeled happy were also la-beled unselfish.   The happiest people are those who help others. Rimland Conclusion Those whose activities are devoted to bringing them-selves happiness are far less likely to be happy than those whose activities are devoted to making others happy. … remembering the words of the Lord Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) And by Expressing Christ’s Love

Secret 3: And by … And by Expressing Christ’s Love Hoping Another Person Pleases You Jesus Others Yourself

Secret 3: And by … And by Expressing Christ’s Love This is the true joy in life: being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. George Bernard Shaw

Summary How to find peace … enhancing not by enhancing circumstances experiencing but by experiencing Christ’s love expressing and by expressing Christ’s love