God Wants Us to Be Happy is the sermon given by Marcia Plotner on Sabbath, 26 September 2020 at Cedar Creek Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church. You can listen to the message on my Sound Cloud Account:
Marcia Plotner Message 26 September 2020
God Wants Us to Be Happy, Healthy and Wealthy
Turn in your Bible to Malachi 3:10.
Malachi 3:10
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
Now look at Deuteronomy 8:18.
Deuteronomy 8:18
And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Another powerful scripture where God shows us His desire for us to live life in abundance is found in John 10:10.
John 10:10
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Now turn to 3 John 1:2.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Have you heard about the prosperity gospel? In the 1950’s, denominations across North America were having many camp meetings. Many people were healed at these meetings.
In the 1980’s, the mega church movement grew rapidly. Joel Osteen has a church that has attendance of over 53,000 people each week. In most evangelical mega churches, you will only hear about the good that is in the Bible.
Marcia’s niece Laurie has a friend named Collette. Collette was brain dead. Laurie had prayed incessantly for her friend. Laurie struggled with the loss of her good friend. We can imagine it must have been hard for Laurie to believe that God Wants Us to Be Happy when her friend died. Every human will experience loss and pain in this life.
Marcia met Captain Charles Plumb of the United States Navy. Captain Plumb was in the same Prisoner of War camp as the late Senator John McCain.
Captain Plumb flew 74 successful missions in Vietnam but was shot down on the 75th mission. He endured 8 years of torture at the hands of his captors.
Captain Plumb and the other prisoners of war worked on a secret communication system between prisoners to give each other hope during their confinement.
After Captain Plumb and the other prisoners were rescued, Charles Plumb wrote a book: “I Am No Hero” and told of all his struggles. He felt fear, loneliness and realized that Adversity is a terrible thing to waste. Turn to Hebrews 12.
Hebrews 12:1-2
The Race of Faith
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Exodus 14:5-7
Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. 7 Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them.
People of Israel were scared. In Exodus 13:11-12, the people were speaking to Moses: Moses, what have you done to us? Moses answered and told the nation of Israel to not be afraid.
In Exodus 14:14, Moses answers.
Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.
God lit up the sky at night and kept the nation of Israel safe from the Egyptians. Jesus has several ways to answer prayers. Jesus answers either yes, no or wait.
In Exodus 14:21, God said it was time to move. Turn to Exodus 14:26-27
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So, the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.
Now turn to Psalm 136:15
Psalm 136:15
But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His mercy endures forever. Now turn back to Exodus 14:31.
Exodus 14:31
Thus, Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so, the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.
Adversity has its place in our walk with God. The children of Israel were complaining and asked Moses: “What have you done?”
Adversity either draws you closer to or further away from God. Strength comes from Adversity. What God brings us is much better than what we want. God has taken all of us through Adversity.
James 1:2-4
Profiting from Trials
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Now look at 1 Peter 1:6
1 Peter 1:6
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Remember the story of Joseph. Turn to Genesis 50:20.
Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
When your struggles come, put your life on Jesus shoulders. Jesus will hold you and keep you.
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