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 Happiness or Holiness ?

"And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." Luke 11vs27,28

It was the case then, and it is the case now, that the LORD Jesus never took to flattery. He knew how it worked ruin, not in himself, for he could not be tempted with sin, but in us who are so prone to lip-service. He saw the end of men without him.

Prov 15vs11 "Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?"

Therefore he wasted no time, but rather pointed all men to the straight gate. Is this unkind? Is this uncharitable? Or should he have engaged this woman in a tit for tat of mutual expressions, like today’s political preachers, who can say one thing, while at the very moment think totally opposite of what he says?  No !!! Gracious words are appropriate only when eternal matters are settled.

No one cares for you, who only seeks your happiness! This was the devils ploy. See Gen 3vs1.

Today men and woman are bent on happiness. They are consumed with a need of self-fulfillment, self-affirmation. The end of all their labor is immediate self gratification. This to them is success; but this is man centered, hedonistic humanism at it’s boiling point. And this secular temperament has infiltrated the churches, and forced the ministry to become a mental and psyche hospital.

The prescription drugs passed on to the sick are messages which focus on the well being of the patient, the auditor and their flesh, and so provide a false sense of security.

But happiness is not Holiness! They may be happy, but are they holy? Are they in Christ? Are they walking in Christ? Is Christ their chief joy? Is His will supreme in their life? Is the sum of their life Christ, so that they can say with the apostle “for me to live is Christ”.

If the answer is yes, then I concur, such a one is spiritually and blessedly happy!

If they have traded Christ, as so many have, for a season of sinful pleasure, they may be happy, but they cannot not be Holy. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

We are indeed in perilous times." Men are lovers of themselves, that includes women, and are lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of GOD"

But except we "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" we all will perish in our happiness "!
 
 

Pastor JesseGistand
Grace Bible Church
San Leandro, CA 94572

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