Are You Happy Newsletter 318 Apr2005 If you hunger for the right things, you probably are

happy. Unfortunately, many hunger for the wrong things. If you hunger for power and wealth, you probably aren't happy at all. There is nothing wrong with wealth as a result of hard work. It is those who cheat other people to become wealthy that draw God's condemnation. To be happy is to be blessed. Someone that is blessed of God is normally a blessing to others they come in contact with. What is it that we should hunger for? Open your Bibles to the Book of Matthew. Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed" could be translated "happy". We shouldn't spiritually concentrate on riches of the world. If we seek first the kingdom of heaven, we will be happy and blessed. Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Those who mourn for the lost sinners of the world shall be comforted. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. "Meek" should be translated "humble". If we are humble before God, we are happy. If we think flesh man is all that great, we probably aren't at all happy. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. You can be around someone for just five minutes and discern what they hunger and thirst for Happy are those who hunger and thirst for the right thing, or the right way. And happy are those who try to help others find the right path in this world of darkness. Some might say, "Well, you don't understand Pastor Murray. I've got a lot of problems to worry about." Are you focusing on your worries, or are you focusing on your happiness? God tells us what will bring happiness in His Word. The choice is yours. Let's turn to the Book of John. What should someone who is hungry for the right way partake of? John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Jesus had just recently fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fishes. Many followed Him to Capernaum because they wanted another fish sandwich. They are hungering for the wrong thing to find true happiness. John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed." The meat that endureth forever is the truth of God's Word, not a fish sandwich. Happy are those who hunger for the former. John 6:28 Then said they unto Him, "What shall we do, that we

might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent." It does require work on your part in that you would have to study the Old Testament to understand a virgin would conceive and that One would come, Messiah. John 6:30 They said therefore unto Him, "What sign shewest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee? what dost Thou work? These people have a lot of gall. They had witnessed five thousand fed with five loaves and two fishes, and they are asking Him to perform a miracle so they might believe. You should take a lesson from this. Don't be so disappointed in yourself, when you encounter blind people today. John 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert: as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" 32 Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. The bread of life is standing before them, and most of them don't believe on Him. They want another miracle. John 6:33 For the bread of God is He Which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." 34 Then said they unto Hirn, "Lord, evermore give us this bread." They are thinking, "Oh boy, we were hoping He would feed us again." There is more to this than physical food. John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst, 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen Me, and believe not. Are you hungry? Then go to His Word. He will fill you. Are you thirsty? Then take His Word within. It will bring you life. It will bring you happiness. Happiness that others will see as a bright light in this world of darkness. It is light that others seek after. Show them the way. There is plenty of bread for all. Share the truth with others. John 6:37 All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him That sent Me. 39 And this is the Father's will Which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. This has reference to God's elect. They will take part in the first raising up, or resurrection, which occurs on the last day of this dispensation (Rev. 20:4-6). John 6:40 And this is the will of Him That sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." 41 The Jews then murmured at Him, because He said, "I am the bread which came down

from heaven." They don't believe Jesus is The Messiah sent of God. John 6:42 And they said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that He saith., `I came down from heaven?' " Do you see the error in their speech? Jesus isn't the Son of Joseph, He is the Son of the Living God. John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, "Murmur not among yourselves. 44 No man can come to Me. except the Father Which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. That is three times for emphasis. This is the reason I am so certain that not one of God's elect will fail Him. John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He Which is of God, He hath seen the Father. We can't see the Father as long as we are flesh and blood (1 Cor. 15:50). He is in another dimension. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. This is the bread we should hunger for. Partake of this bread and everlasting life is yours. That is something to be happy about. Let's continue our study in Isaiah. Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, "In an acceptable time have I heard Thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped Thee: and I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the People, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; This is the promise of Messiah, and you have a part in this action. He is in you, and you in Him. Isaiah 49:9 That Thou mayest say to the prisoners, 'Go forth:' to them that are in darkness, 'Shew yourselves.' They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. Jesus Christ is the Shepherd. He feeds His flock very well with the Word of God. God sent Him to us. When you partake of truth, share that truth with others. Isaiah 49:10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for He That hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall He guide them. Partake of this spiritual water, and you will never thirst again. Your life becomes complete. You will be saturated with truth and the love of Christ that you can't help sharing with others. This water brings true happiness. Isaiah 49:11 And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted. 12 Behold, these shall come from far:

and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim." Jesus Christ is the way. Make sure you stay in it. Isaiah 49: 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, 0 earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted His People, and will have mercy upon His afflicted. We have a great deal to be happy about. Isaiah 49:14 But Zion said, "The LORD hath forsaken me, and my LORD hath forgotten me." 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. This is God's promise to you. Are you happy? You should be. We are going to stay in the way all of the way to the end. The end is when He returns. In closing, turn with me to the Book of Revelation. Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; These are those who wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb. They are in heaven with God and the Lamb. Revelation 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God Which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." The "beasts" in verse eleven should be traslated "living creatures". They are servants of God. Revelation 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, "What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?" 14 And I said unto him, "Sir, thou knowest." And he said to me, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. There are so many of them you can't count them. Do you think we are doing any good? Of course, we are doing good with Christ's help. Of course, we are happy. Revelation 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His Temple: and He That sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. 16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17 For the Lamb Which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." Are you happy? You have every reason to be. You have a part in changing lives for the better. Share the bread of life and living water with others. Be happy!

In His Service, Arnold Murray