WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.080 The scripture today comes from Psalm 1. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:06.620 Please follow along in your bulletin or on the screen. 00:00:07.580 --> 00:00:08.080 Psalm 1. 00:00:09.120 --> 00:00:12.419 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, 00:00:12.939 --> 00:00:17.580 nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. 00:00:18.039 --> 00:00:20.839 But his delight is in the law of the Lord. 00:00:21.460 --> 00:00:24.160 And on his law he meditates day and night. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:29.900 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season. 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:32.240 And its leaf does not wither. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:35.100 In all that he does, he prospers. 00:00:35.960 --> 00:00:40.100 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 00:00:41.019 --> 00:00:43.600 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 00:00:44.299 --> 00:00:46.560 nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:49.539 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:52.460 but the way of the wicked will perish. 00:00:52.840 --> 00:00:54.179 This is God's word. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.420 We're in summer. 00:01:06.420 --> 00:01:08.579 I think you feel it probably outside. 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:13.420 And that should remind you that life has different kinds of seasons. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:20.599 Being from the UK, there is a number of different seasons which are in. 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:25.719 After Brexit, there's definitely a different season coming up for British people. 00:01:25.859 --> 00:01:28.740 But it's not just Brexit. 00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:29.700 It's also the weather. 00:01:30.060 --> 00:01:32.020 I don't know if you know about British weather. 00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:37.040 But some people live under delusions that it rains all the time in the UK. 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:38.400 That is not true. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:39.260 Okay? 00:01:39.440 --> 00:01:40.880 Let's clarify things this morning. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:42.440 That's not true. 00:01:42.840 --> 00:01:46.200 I have been through months without rain in the UK. 00:01:46.520 --> 00:01:48.680 But the problem in the UK is not the rain. 00:01:49.320 --> 00:01:50.940 The problem is the grayness. 00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:57.580 There is a myth that sometimes we actually believe that there's something called the sun in the UK. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:00.580 You can go months without ever seeing it. 00:02:00.579 --> 00:02:09.039 And there's actually even a day which some people call Blue Monday, which is supposed to be the most depressing day of the whole year. 00:02:09.359 --> 00:02:11.120 Where everyone in the UK is depressed. 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:13.360 Do you know which day it is? 00:02:16.259 --> 00:02:17.780 No, it's not the first Monday of April. 00:02:19.960 --> 00:02:22.020 It's the third Monday in January. 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:22.639 Okay? 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:23.960 The third Monday in January. 00:02:24.180 --> 00:02:24.860 The reason why? 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:26.219 There's been no sun for months. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:26.680 Okay? 00:02:26.680 --> 00:02:29.939 Everyone's broke because they've spent all their money at Christmas and New Year. 00:02:30.099 --> 00:02:32.740 It's a week before payday, so you've definitely got no money. 00:02:33.040 --> 00:02:35.939 And all your New Year's resolutions have been broken already. 00:02:36.980 --> 00:02:38.200 And so everyone's depressed. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:42.080 Because the seasons affect you. 00:02:42.620 --> 00:02:42.900 Right? 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:44.439 They affect the way you live. 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:49.600 But when it comes to summer, well, sometimes summer happens in the UK occasionally. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:52.240 But summer feels different. 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:54.560 You know, there's this kind of holiday mood. 00:02:54.640 --> 00:02:55.920 People feel a little bit more relaxed. 00:02:56.020 --> 00:02:56.960 I can see you even now. 00:02:57.100 --> 00:02:58.980 You feel a bit less tense. 00:02:59.320 --> 00:03:03.620 Even in your offices, sometimes there's a little bit less tense. 00:03:04.640 --> 00:03:05.520 More casual. 00:03:05.740 --> 00:03:06.260 More laid back. 00:03:06.340 --> 00:03:07.719 And that's a little bit what life is like. 00:03:07.760 --> 00:03:10.660 Life goes through these seasons that we have. 00:03:10.700 --> 00:03:12.980 We have winter, spring, summer, autumn. 00:03:12.980 --> 00:03:20.260 And some people spend a long time living, it feels like, in the gray of winter in their lives. 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:22.419 Life is tough. 00:03:22.539 --> 00:03:23.219 Life is difficult. 00:03:23.359 --> 00:03:24.179 Life is dark. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:27.599 Other people, it seems like they're always living in summer. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:29.000 They're always happy. 00:03:29.239 --> 00:03:32.239 Everything seems to be going well with them. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:35.420 All of us go through seasons in life. 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:39.700 And we're looking as a church over the summer at the Psalms. 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:49.420 Because the Psalms, they're a collection of five books, 150 poems from at least seven different authors, 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:55.320 including David, Moses, Solomon, who experience all the seasons of life 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:00.859 and all the rollercoaster of emotions that go along with the different seasons that we face in life. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:09.519 And someone once said, the Psalms are revelations of truth, not kind of abstract truth out there. 00:04:09.519 --> 00:04:12.719 They're actually wrought down in human experience. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:18.560 They're truth revealed, wrought into the emotions, the desires, and the sufferings of the people of God 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:22.159 by the circumstances through which they pass. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:33.360 In other words, the Psalms teach you how to interact with God when the reality of life and the seasons and God meet. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:37.860 It's a kind of prayer book of how to respond to God during life. 00:04:38.760 --> 00:04:43.660 So that's kind of where we're going over this next little while together. 00:04:43.660 --> 00:04:48.120 And how do you get to know God whatever season you're going through right now? 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:52.460 How do you get to know God whatever season you're going through right now? 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.140 That's what the Psalms are going to teach you. 00:04:55.820 --> 00:04:55.980 Okay? 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.340 And we're looking today at the very first Psalm. 00:04:59.380 --> 00:05:03.360 And this is basically an introduction to the whole book of Psalms. 00:05:03.460 --> 00:05:09.500 And the basic question that Psalm 1 comes up with is a question that drives probably most of what we do, 00:05:09.500 --> 00:05:12.720 which is how can I be happy? 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:18.060 How can I live a life that is truly happy? 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:20.160 How can I live to the full? 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:26.860 There was a Welsh preacher called Martin Lloyd-Jones who wrote a great book called Spiritual Depression. 00:05:27.040 --> 00:05:28.000 I recommend reading it. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:35.379 And he said one of the main reasons that non-Christians get put off by Christians is that they're so miserable. 00:05:35.379 --> 00:05:40.459 And he says they go around telling everybody what they shouldn't do. 00:05:41.019 --> 00:05:44.620 And then the non-Christians seem to be having so much more fun than they are. 00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:49.579 So why would anybody want to be a Christian if it's going to make you miserable? 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:58.019 And this Psalm is going to tell us, well, actually, Christians should be the most joy-filled, happiest people in Hong Kong. 00:05:59.699 --> 00:06:00.659 So are you? 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:02.159 Is the question. 00:06:03.019 --> 00:06:03.560 Are you? 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:03.600 Are you? 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:07.060 So we're going to look at this question. 00:06:08.100 --> 00:06:10.459 We're going to look at three things. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:12.259 Deep happiness is possible. 00:06:13.159 --> 00:06:14.519 Deep happiness is possible. 00:06:15.159 --> 00:06:19.680 Why we don't get happiness and how we become truly happy. 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:20.420 Okay? 00:06:20.659 --> 00:06:23.240 So if you want to know the answer, listen up. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:26.439 This Psalm starts with one word. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:27.120 It starts, 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:30.060 Blessed is the man. 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:31.199 Blessed. 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.159 I don't know what you think when you hear the word blessed, 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:38.760 but the first word in the whole of the Psalms is a word which means happy. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:40.860 It means happy. 00:06:41.260 --> 00:06:44.200 It's like, oh, the happiness of the man. 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:46.920 It doesn't just mean kind of fortunate or a little bit holy. 00:06:47.140 --> 00:06:49.680 It means truly happy. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:52.560 Now, some of you have been in church for a while. 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:55.879 You think, okay, but there's a difference between happiness and joy. 00:06:56.340 --> 00:06:56.639 Okay? 00:06:57.699 --> 00:06:58.780 Joy is deep. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:06:59.379 You know? 00:06:59.660 --> 00:07:01.220 Happiness is something else. 00:07:01.280 --> 00:07:04.019 Well, Pastor John Piper, he says this. 00:07:04.019 --> 00:07:08.519 If you have nice little categories, you know, joy is what Christians have. 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:10.759 Happiness is what the rest of the world has. 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:15.159 Then, when it comes to the Bible, you can basically scrap those ideas. 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:23.000 Because the Bible is indiscriminate in its uses of the language of happiness, joy, and contentment, and satisfaction. 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:32.720 It says, happiness is a state of well-being characterized by emotions from contentment all the way to intense joy. 00:07:33.339 --> 00:07:35.800 That's a biblical view of happiness. 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:39.939 And this psalm is all about happiness. 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:45.759 And it's saying to us, true happiness for you is possible in your life. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:48.279 Now, that may seem a little bit obvious. 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:49.759 You may think, okay, thanks, Chris. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:55.519 But there are some people who, I think there's a different kind of, a couple of different ways we think about happiness. 00:07:55.659 --> 00:08:02.019 One is some people, generally younger people, or people who've kind of sailed through life easily, they think happiness is natural. 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:02.740 Okay? 00:08:03.219 --> 00:08:05.740 They think happiness should just come to me. 00:08:06.259 --> 00:08:06.480 Okay? 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:10.800 I'm entitled to happiness in life, a happy marriage, a happy career, a happy family. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:12.439 Happiness is completely natural. 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:19.659 If anything stops me getting happy, you know, relationship, a job, I need to move on so happiness can kind of flow into my life. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:20.779 Because it's natural. 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:28.300 Other people think that happiness is just impossible. 00:08:28.539 --> 00:08:29.139 They're more cynical. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:30.060 They've been through life. 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:30.860 They've got married. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:31.599 They've had kids. 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:33.139 They've experienced some of life. 00:08:33.200 --> 00:08:37.259 And they think happiness, yeah, right. 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.840 You know, it's amazing. 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:43.100 Some incredibly brilliant, intelligent people are very cynical about happiness. 00:08:43.560 --> 00:08:44.220 Woody Allen. 00:08:44.580 --> 00:08:46.220 Do you know Woody Allen, the director? 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:51.360 He said, the only way to be happy is to tell yourself some lies or deceive yourself. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:52.200 Okay? 00:08:52.500 --> 00:08:55.600 He's not got a great hope for happiness. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:09:01.860 And so I see this as a little bit the difference between Hollywood movies and French movies. 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:04.259 I don't know if you've ever seen a difference. 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:06.960 Hollywood movies, everything's going wrong. 00:09:07.060 --> 00:09:08.220 The love interest has died. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:09.200 The bad guy's winning. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:10.560 All hope is lost. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:16.739 But then, in the end, you know the love interest really isn't dead. 00:09:17.159 --> 00:09:20.000 The hero comes back, wins at the last minute, escapes. 00:09:20.239 --> 00:09:22.679 Everybody lives happily ever after. 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:24.619 The right people get married to everybody else, right? 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:27.000 You know it's going to happen halfway through the movie. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:31.679 French movies, on the other hand, I don't know if you've seen a French movie. 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:38.620 French movies, the love interest dies, the bad guy's winning, everything's lost, 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:43.440 and you're waiting for the hero to come in and save the day, and the movie ends. 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:46.639 And you're like, it's so depressing. 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:49.279 And they call it realistic cinema. 00:09:51.220 --> 00:09:54.240 And some people think it's natural, like Hollywood. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:58.039 Some people think, no, you can never be happy, particularly in Hong Kong, 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.860 with everything that's going on here. 00:10:00.060 --> 00:10:02.940 And then in between these kind of different range of ideas, 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:06.799 is most of the rest of us, maybe, who are just so busy getting on with life, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.460 that we've never actually stopped to really think whether we can actually truly be happy or not. 00:10:11.419 --> 00:10:13.820 Because we think that, well, our misery, grumbling, complaining, 00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.120 as well as occasional outbursts of happiness, 00:10:16.580 --> 00:10:19.060 you know, that's just the normal way for Hong Kong life. 00:10:20.659 --> 00:10:22.399 But this passage says something different. 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:28.019 This passage says happiness is not just natural. 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:30.959 It's not kind of unattainable, you can't get it, 00:10:31.019 --> 00:10:35.480 but it's possible for you right now in every season. 00:10:36.379 --> 00:10:38.319 Because if you look in the passage, 00:10:38.659 --> 00:10:42.759 it gives this image of this blessed man, this happy man. 00:10:42.759 --> 00:10:52.639 And it's an image of a tree which is planted in all the seasons of life. 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:56.360 It bears fruit in its season. 00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:57.919 Now, what does that mean? 00:10:58.100 --> 00:11:01.240 It means it's not all the time blaring fruit. 00:11:01.299 --> 00:11:02.679 It goes through the pain of winter. 00:11:02.819 --> 00:11:03.840 It goes through spring. 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:05.299 It goes through the heat of summer. 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.819 It goes through the winds of autumn. 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.179 It does all of these things. 00:11:08.179 --> 00:11:12.439 It faces all the elements of life, and yet this tree is not blown over. 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:14.339 This tree is not withering in the heat. 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:15.959 It's not a grumpy tree. 00:11:16.219 --> 00:11:17.239 It's flourishing. 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:23.740 And what he's saying is, in you and me in Hong Kong, 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:26.960 with your work schedule, with your present relationships, 00:11:27.399 --> 00:11:29.759 and all the issues, and even with the Brexit, 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:34.159 happiness is not natural if it's not out of reach. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:38.440 It's possible for you right now, and for us as a church. 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.379 Do you believe it? 00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:41.740 That's the first thing. 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:43.180 Happiness is possible. 00:11:43.179 --> 00:11:48.719 Second thing, how we don't get happiness. 00:11:49.199 --> 00:11:49.339 Okay? 00:11:50.039 --> 00:11:53.599 We fall into a couple of errors when we start thinking about happiness. 00:11:54.139 --> 00:11:57.779 The first thing, the first kind of mistake we make, 00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:03.120 is we think happiness means the absence of pain and sadness. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.239 That's not biblical happiness. 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:09.240 If you read in 1 Peter 1 verse 6, it says this, 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:13.039 to a small group of Christians who are suffering at the time. 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:18.980 He says, in this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:22.960 you have been grieved by various trials. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.500 He says there are people who are rejoicing, 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:29.960 and they're grieving at the same time. 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:31.820 At the same time. 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:35.740 He's saying you can be happy and sad at the same time. 00:12:37.419 --> 00:12:38.919 Now, maybe you haven't thought about that. 00:12:38.919 --> 00:12:40.459 You know, this is not the happiness, 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:42.419 the kind of superficial happiness we're talking, 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:45.479 that I got when England beat Wales in the football the other week. 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:48.120 That's not the kind of superficial happiness we're talking about. 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:51.799 We're talking a deep, rooted happiness that can cry real tears, 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:55.120 and doesn't just say, oh, trust God and smile. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:58.579 You know, Christians, we can give people a great guilt trip, 00:12:58.719 --> 00:13:01.219 you know, that you're meant to be grinning from ear to ear all the time. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.599 That's not what he's saying. 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:05.459 He's saying there is a license for feeling down, 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:07.219 and we'll talk about that next week. 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:08.399 But don't miss this. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:13.360 He's saying Christian happiness is what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6. 00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:16.000 He says, sorrowful yet rejoicing. 00:13:16.600 --> 00:13:18.379 Sorrowful yet rejoicing. 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.500 That's the kind of happiness you can have. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.460 On the night my brother died, 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:25.980 we were in the room. 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:28.600 We went downstairs together with my parents, 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:33.360 and we wept deeply together. 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:34.240 It was painful. 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:36.379 It felt empty. 00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:38.399 It felt numbing at the time. 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:44.379 And yet I saw my parents in the midst of all the tears that we were crying, 00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:45.820 and do you know what they did? 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:50.159 They started thanking God for the life of my brother. 00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:56.799 And I saw in them this confidence in God in the midst of the pain 00:13:56.799 --> 00:14:01.819 and joy that they had in a father that they could trust. 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:07.860 You see, this isn't just the kind of glass half full kind of person who, 00:14:07.960 --> 00:14:10.000 you know, says, oh, I just move on with life. 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:13.040 You know, I just kind of go with the flow, put it down to experience. 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:16.860 Because if you're like that, you know, you actually deny the real pain 00:14:16.860 --> 00:14:20.200 and the real emotions that people experience in life. 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:23.660 When God is talking about happiness, 00:14:23.900 --> 00:14:27.800 he's not saying sweep real pains under the carpet. 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:28.920 He's not saying that. 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:31.960 He's saying in the pain, in the hurt, 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:35.160 you can experience a joy and a contentment 00:14:35.160 --> 00:14:39.180 and a strength and a happiness which will sustain you. 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.840 And do you not think that this city, 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:47.440 which is classed as the 75th state in the world in happiness, 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:53.720 needs a group of people who know not to deny feelings 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:57.960 but still have happiness in their lives because of Christ. 00:14:59.020 --> 00:15:00.180 So that's the first mistake. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.760 We think that actually it's just about the absence of sadness. 00:15:03.920 --> 00:15:04.860 Second mistake we make, 00:15:05.660 --> 00:15:09.380 we think happiness is based on external circumstances. 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:10.260 Okay? 00:15:10.900 --> 00:15:14.220 This tree in this passage here is remarkable 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:18.220 because it doesn't part, it passes through winter 00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.960 and yet it's still flourishing. 00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:20.800 Right? 00:15:20.920 --> 00:15:21.779 It passes through winter. 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:23.440 It's still flourishing. 00:15:23.820 --> 00:15:24.860 Passes through summer. 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.960 Still flourishing. 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:27.800 What the rest of the society says is 00:15:27.800 --> 00:15:30.600 happiness is basically having control over your life. 00:15:31.220 --> 00:15:33.160 So you can keep it summer all year round. 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:35.160 You know, you can put yourself in a little greenhouse. 00:15:35.899 --> 00:15:37.460 That's what society wants it to be. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.740 But there was a New York Times article 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:43.120 which said when you take the top philosophers 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.200 and academics today and people like the Dalai Lama, 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:46.299 okay, 00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:49.379 they're fundamentally sound, 00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:51.940 surefire, top five components for happiness. 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:52.340 Okay? 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:53.720 Here's how they would say, 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.659 this is how you get happy. 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:54.919 Okay? 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:55.940 Number one, 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:57.860 be in possession of the basics, 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:59.460 food, shelter, good health, safety. 00:15:59.720 --> 00:15:59.899 Okay? 00:16:00.039 --> 00:16:00.419 Pretty good. 00:16:01.180 --> 00:16:02.639 Two, get enough sleep. 00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:04.039 Anyone tracking with me? 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:04.560 Okay? 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.159 Three, 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:07.919 have relationships that matter to you. 00:16:08.220 --> 00:16:08.320 Okay? 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.159 It's not bad. 00:16:09.159 --> 00:16:10.120 Four, 00:16:10.319 --> 00:16:13.299 take compassionate care of others and of yourself. 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.319 Pretty good. 00:16:14.679 --> 00:16:15.100 Five, 00:16:15.360 --> 00:16:18.219 have work or an interest that engages you. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.799 If you have all of those five things, 00:16:21.079 --> 00:16:22.279 you can be happy. 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:25.199 That's pretty good, right? 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:26.360 I mean, you can't argue with that. 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:28.939 There's nothing even as superficial as money in there 00:16:28.939 --> 00:16:31.419 which most Hong Kong people think will make you happy. 00:16:32.620 --> 00:16:36.039 But even in this kind of rather nuanced list, 00:16:36.379 --> 00:16:38.559 Tim Keller points out that actually this is quite ridiculous. 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:42.179 Because most people in most countries in most of history 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:43.579 have never had all of those things. 00:16:44.519 --> 00:16:45.219 Don't you realize that? 00:16:46.480 --> 00:16:47.980 Engaging in interesting work. 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:48.779 Think about that. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:49.519 You know, 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:52.299 some of you on that criteria are doomed to misery 00:16:52.299 --> 00:16:53.860 for the rest of your life. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:55.919 You know, 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:56.600 you feel it. 00:16:57.060 --> 00:16:58.399 But that's what society says. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:17:00.000 You've got to have this to be happy. 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:03.120 So that's why we keep changing our jobs all the time, right? 00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:06.660 But the psalm says, 00:17:06.660 --> 00:17:11.640 if you go by society's standards of happiness, 00:17:12.080 --> 00:17:14.120 many of us will be miserable a lot of the time. 00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:18.340 But Christian happiness is not based on your job satisfaction. 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.740 It's not based on an external situation. 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:24.420 It's based on being rooted in something outside of yourself. 00:17:25.220 --> 00:17:26.820 Did you notice in the passage, 00:17:26.819 --> 00:17:28.000 this tree, 00:17:28.159 --> 00:17:29.359 and it's an image of a Christian, 00:17:29.879 --> 00:17:33.539 is planted by streams of water. 00:17:35.139 --> 00:17:36.179 It's planted, 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.039 rooted, 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.159 anchored 00:17:38.159 --> 00:17:39.559 in this source of water 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.200 that no matter when the drought comes, 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.659 no matter when the heat comes, 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:46.220 this tree is still fine. 00:17:46.220 --> 00:17:49.620 because it's got this flood of water 00:17:49.620 --> 00:17:52.019 going through its internal root system all the time. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:56.460 To be happy, 00:17:56.660 --> 00:17:58.779 you've got to be rooted in something, 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.839 an anchor for your soul, 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:02.440 which is outside of yourself 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:05.880 and your circumstances. 00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.360 So what are you rooted in? 00:18:08.700 --> 00:18:10.500 What are you rooted in today? 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:10.880 Like, 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:13.839 where are you finding your happiness today? 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.680 Just think about it. 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:19.519 Because in John, 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.660 in John 7, 00:18:20.740 --> 00:18:21.319 Jesus says, 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:23.120 whoever believes in me, 00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.579 streams of water, 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:28.759 living water, 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:30.960 will flow out of his heart. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:31.920 You say, 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.660 if you're a Christian, 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.259 if you're a Christian today, 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:35.759 God says, 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:37.420 through Jesus' death, 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.579 he's planted you 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:41.200 in a relationship within itself 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.740 with a God who is fundamentally happy. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:47.819 And there is an overflow of his happiness 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:49.759 that is meant to flow into your life 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:52.380 as you are in relationship with him. 00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:54.039 He's like a gardener. 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:55.359 I used to work in a garden center. 00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:55.839 You know, 00:18:55.880 --> 00:18:58.039 we used to take little cuttings 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:00.220 and plant them into other areas, 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.299 into new areas, 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:01.900 so you get new, 00:19:02.259 --> 00:19:02.720 fresh soil, 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:04.059 and then the plant would grow. 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.299 What he's saying is, 00:19:05.539 --> 00:19:06.880 God has taken you out of soil 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.700 which never grew, 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.240 which was going to dry up, 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:11.920 and he put you in a new plant pot. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.059 He's put you against a stream of water, 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.160 the Holy Spirit, 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:17.819 his word, 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:20.720 that will always constantly nourish your roots. 00:19:21.339 --> 00:19:22.660 Whatever storm hits, 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:24.579 no matter whether the drought comes, 00:19:25.140 --> 00:19:26.200 you can flourish. 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.779 Hebrews 12, 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:33.120 it says about Jesus, 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:37.259 for the joy that was set before him, 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:38.039 for the joy, 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:40.059 not for the kind of, 00:19:40.140 --> 00:19:40.940 oh, reluctance, 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:43.359 the joy that was set before him, 00:19:43.559 --> 00:19:45.400 he endured the cross. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.140 Have you thought about that? 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:49.960 For the joy that was set before him, 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.779 he endured the cross. 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:50.980 I mean, 00:19:51.099 --> 00:19:52.119 how does he have joy 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:53.859 when he's going in the Garden of Gethsemane 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:54.400 and he's saying, 00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:54.619 God, 00:19:54.660 --> 00:19:55.879 I don't want to go through this? 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:57.059 How does he have joy 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.460 when his disciples betray him, 00:19:58.460 --> 00:19:59.079 deny him, 00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.099 and he gets arrested? 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.299 How does he have joy 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:02.940 when he's on a cruel cross 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:04.519 and people are mocking and spitting him? 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.440 How does he be able to say, 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:07.460 Father, forgive them 00:20:07.460 --> 00:20:08.080 when he's full, 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.880 facing the winds of winter 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:11.100 that are flying at him 00:20:11.100 --> 00:20:12.779 on the face of the cross? 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:14.340 The only way he can do that 00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:16.019 is because he's sustained 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.640 in a relationship 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.940 with his Father, 00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.920 which is where his joy is found. 00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:25.600 That's where his happiness is. 00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:26.820 And he says, 00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:29.480 Jesus is this perfect, 00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:31.039 happy man in the psalm. 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.299 Because he's the one 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:34.799 who prospers in every season, 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.980 even on the cross. 00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:37.580 In the winter. 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.360 And if you're a Christian, 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:43.120 you are rooted in him 00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:45.000 and in a relationship with him. 00:20:45.660 --> 00:20:48.140 So his joy can become your joy. 00:20:49.080 --> 00:20:50.820 And his spirit is poured out 00:20:50.820 --> 00:20:52.340 for your happiness. 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.840 Because he wants to remind you 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.420 of the gospel. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:20:57.380 He wants to remind you 00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:59.400 of the depth of Christ's love for you. 00:20:59.660 --> 00:21:01.580 That he's working every situation 00:21:01.580 --> 00:21:02.340 for your good. 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:05.359 that he cares for you right now. 00:21:06.019 --> 00:21:06.659 Right now. 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:08.279 Whatever you're going through. 00:21:10.619 --> 00:21:11.679 So it's not about, 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:15.199 it's not about just an absence of sadness. 00:21:15.699 --> 00:21:16.899 It's not about your external, 00:21:17.299 --> 00:21:19.639 relying on external circumstances 00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.159 for your happiness. 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:21.220 Because here's the other thing. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:22.639 I mean, if you think about 00:21:22.639 --> 00:21:25.000 what the psalm says here. 00:21:25.059 --> 00:21:25.500 He says, 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:27.279 verse 4. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.660 If you don't have that anchor 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.039 outside of yourself, 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.579 the wicked are not so, 00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.660 but are like chaff 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:36.660 that the wind drives away. 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.500 Do you know what chaff is? 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.980 Have you seen chaff recently? 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:41.400 Chaff is what you get 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.519 if you get a load of grain, 00:21:43.319 --> 00:21:43.579 okay, 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:45.579 and you throw it up in the air, 00:21:46.299 --> 00:21:47.539 and then the wind comes 00:21:47.539 --> 00:21:48.839 and he blows it away 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:50.359 and what's left is 00:21:50.359 --> 00:21:51.220 the heavy grain, 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.039 the nutritious grain 00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.879 drops to the ground. 00:21:53.199 --> 00:21:53.399 Okay? 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:54.119 The rest of the stuff, 00:21:54.199 --> 00:21:54.659 it's useless. 00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.500 You don't want it. 00:21:56.139 --> 00:21:56.359 Okay? 00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.199 Chaff has no lasting roots. 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.220 It's got no substance to it. 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:01.720 It's useless. 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:03.000 It's like lighting a barbecue 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.859 in a typhoon. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:04.319 You know, 00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.299 it just kind of goes out. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:07.419 That's what chaff is. 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.939 And sooner or later, 00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.779 the winds of life, 00:22:09.859 --> 00:22:10.559 the storms of life 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:11.759 will blow on you. 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:13.059 And will everything 00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.980 that you have done 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:15.399 and placed your happiness in 00:22:15.400 --> 00:22:16.420 be worthless 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:18.540 because you were just chaff. 00:22:18.780 --> 00:22:20.180 That's what the psalmist is saying. 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:22.340 So I don't know 00:22:22.340 --> 00:22:23.280 if you've thought about this, 00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.019 whether you're a Christian, 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:24.800 whether you're a non-Christian, 00:22:25.040 --> 00:22:27.300 what today is determining 00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:28.400 whether you're happy or not? 00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:30.060 You know, 00:22:30.180 --> 00:22:30.759 I get my, 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:32.860 I get happy 00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:34.200 when I've done my to-do list. 00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.180 Okay? 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:37.180 If I get the to-do list 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:37.759 I've got here, 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:39.420 I feel great. 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.200 But when people start 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.320 interrupting me 00:22:42.320 --> 00:22:43.380 and stopping me 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.040 getting the point 00:22:44.040 --> 00:22:45.200 of even getting number one 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:46.319 on the list done, 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:47.400 and then the internet 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.160 breaks down 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.580 just at the last minute, 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:51.600 I feel miserable 00:22:51.600 --> 00:22:53.039 and frustrated 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.840 because my happiness 00:22:54.840 --> 00:22:59.360 is based on achieving stuff. 00:23:00.220 --> 00:23:00.539 Right? 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.480 Some of you, 00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:01.779 I think, 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:02.660 may be the same. 00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.539 And it's not wrong. 00:23:04.620 --> 00:23:05.559 I can feel joy 00:23:05.559 --> 00:23:06.240 at achieving things. 00:23:06.299 --> 00:23:07.080 That's not the problem. 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:07.620 The problem is 00:23:07.620 --> 00:23:08.680 if I'm basing 00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:10.580 all of my happiness there, 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:13.619 if it gets blown away 00:23:13.619 --> 00:23:14.079 at a moment, 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:14.759 I'll feel like, 00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:15.879 I'll be like chaff 00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.559 that I've wasted 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.339 all my time 00:23:17.339 --> 00:23:18.339 because my to-do list 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.240 hasn't got done. 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:20.619 And God may be saying, 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:22.500 have you got nothing more 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.960 that is rooted deeper 00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.359 to put your joy in 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.279 than that? 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.960 Tim Keller says, 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:30.079 no amount of money, 00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:30.960 power, 00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:31.720 planning 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:33.160 can prevent bereavement, 00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:33.900 diet illness, 00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:34.880 relationship betrayal, 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.819 financial disaster, 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:37.160 a host of other troubles 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.059 from entering your life. 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:38.340 And you say, 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.340 thanks for telling me 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:39.779 it's summer. 00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:40.620 Okay? 00:23:40.860 --> 00:23:42.059 But human life 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:43.240 is fatally fragile 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:45.019 and subject to forces 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.019 beyond our power 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.480 to manage. 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.500 And if you haven't 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.420 experienced those things 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:49.779 in life, 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.259 sometime, 00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:50.900 sooner or later, 00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.299 you will. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.400 You will. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:55.040 So if everything 00:23:55.040 --> 00:23:56.320 that's precious to you 00:23:56.320 --> 00:23:56.960 right now 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:58.580 was stripped away, 00:23:58.620 --> 00:24:00.620 even like Wendy and Stefan 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:01.519 were talking about, 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.519 even in transition, 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.300 so much is get stripped away. 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.200 You know, 00:24:06.340 --> 00:24:08.019 even if it's your kids, 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.880 your spouse, 00:24:09.060 --> 00:24:09.600 your parents, 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.400 your reputation, 00:24:10.780 --> 00:24:12.000 your EU citizenship, 00:24:12.420 --> 00:24:15.340 do you have a root system 00:24:15.340 --> 00:24:18.660 that can stand 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.800 and anchor you 00:24:19.800 --> 00:24:21.140 and sustain your happiness 00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:22.100 in all of it? 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.900 to be like that tree. 00:24:25.300 --> 00:24:26.280 If you're a Christian, 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:28.759 you know that sometimes 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:29.620 the winter seasons 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.519 are actually the time 00:24:30.519 --> 00:24:31.200 when you find 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.460 greatest joy in God 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:34.040 because it forces you 00:24:34.040 --> 00:24:35.300 to run back to Him 00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:36.759 when you're stripped down 00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:37.820 and you come to a new 00:24:37.820 --> 00:24:38.680 depth of relationship, 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.100 right? 00:24:39.560 --> 00:24:40.620 Some of you know that 00:24:40.620 --> 00:24:41.900 and have experienced that. 00:24:42.300 --> 00:24:43.420 That's what he's talking about. 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:46.019 Happiness is possible. 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:48.400 Why we don't get happiness? 00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.860 How do we become happy? 00:24:51.340 --> 00:24:52.340 That's what you've been waiting for. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:52.900 Well, 00:24:53.560 --> 00:24:55.700 research suggests 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.420 that happiness 00:24:56.420 --> 00:24:59.420 and feelings of happiness 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:00.820 are shaped 10% 00:25:00.820 --> 00:25:01.700 by circumstances, 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:03.600 50% by your temperament. 00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.420 Some of you are just 00:25:04.420 --> 00:25:05.900 kind of like more positive. 00:25:06.560 --> 00:25:08.400 40% by choice. 00:25:09.540 --> 00:25:11.519 But it's that 40% of choice 00:25:11.519 --> 00:25:12.860 which is very interesting. 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:14.839 And it's shaped by where 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:17.059 you choose to focus your life. 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:19.519 Counselor Paul Tripp says, 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.219 human beings don't live life 00:25:21.219 --> 00:25:22.139 based on the facts 00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:22.959 of their experience 00:25:22.959 --> 00:25:24.019 but their interpretation 00:25:24.019 --> 00:25:25.479 of the facts. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:28.240 We never respond objectively 00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:30.339 to the situations of our life. 00:25:30.539 --> 00:25:32.740 We respond based on the lens 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.839 through which we see 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.599 those situations. 00:25:34.899 --> 00:25:35.759 Now, you know that's true. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.079 You were getting here this morning 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.679 to the service 00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:38.740 and you're running late. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:39.740 Okay? 00:25:40.299 --> 00:25:41.319 Some of you know what it's like. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:43.440 And you're getting to the service. 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.599 One person thinks, 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:45.539 oh no! 00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:47.079 What's everyone going to think? 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.140 We're going to be late. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.500 Somebody else thinks, 00:25:50.900 --> 00:25:51.579 oh it's okay. 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.059 It doesn't matter. 00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.160 Everyone else is going to be late 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:53.799 so it's fine. 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.680 Same situation. 00:25:57.120 --> 00:25:58.079 Different perspective. 00:25:58.579 --> 00:25:58.819 Right? 00:25:58.819 --> 00:26:00.359 All depends on the lens 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.539 through which you're looking at it. 00:26:01.879 --> 00:26:02.659 And I'm not saying 00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:03.619 that either of those are right. 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:03.879 Okay? 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:05.399 So don't quote me on any of that. 00:26:09.579 --> 00:26:12.119 But what shapes your perspective 00:26:12.119 --> 00:26:13.279 is what you focus on. 00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:15.799 And what you focus on 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:17.759 becomes what you delight in. 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.779 Listen to what this psalm says. 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:24.399 Happy is the man 00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:26.139 who does not walk 00:26:26.139 --> 00:26:27.259 in the counsel of the wicked 00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:30.039 or stand in the way of sinners 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:32.539 or sit in the seat of mockers. 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:34.559 But his delight 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:36.799 is in the law of the Lord. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:39.400 And on his law 00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:42.200 he meditates day and night. 00:26:42.579 --> 00:26:44.099 There are two key things 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.539 that shape your focus. 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:47.740 What you meditate on 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:50.059 and who you hang around with. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.519 What you meditate on 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:52.519 and who you hang around with. 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:53.720 You see this happy man, 00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.940 his happiness comes out of 00:26:55.940 --> 00:26:58.000 a delight in the law of God. 00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:58.980 Now I don't know 00:26:58.980 --> 00:27:00.059 if you've thought about law. 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:02.220 C.S. Lewis once said, 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.559 he said, 00:27:03.080 --> 00:27:04.620 I just never got 00:27:04.620 --> 00:27:05.480 how anybody 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:06.440 could delight 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:07.680 in the word law 00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:09.019 because who can delight 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:09.640 in a rule book 00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.580 of do's and don'ts? 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.580 That doesn't sound 00:27:12.580 --> 00:27:13.240 like much fun. 00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:14.380 My wife studied law. 00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:16.140 I didn't get any fun 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:17.539 reading any of the law textbooks. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.920 But that's not 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.100 what he's talking about here. 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:21.660 When he's talking about law, 00:27:21.779 --> 00:27:22.320 the word law 00:27:22.320 --> 00:27:23.460 means instruction 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.940 and he's referring 00:27:24.940 --> 00:27:25.660 to everything 00:27:25.660 --> 00:27:26.860 that God reveals 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:27.900 in his word 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:29.180 both in all of the Psalms, 00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.579 in all of the Old Testament 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.920 and he's saying 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:34.680 he delights in it 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.819 because it reveals 00:27:35.819 --> 00:27:37.100 God to him. 00:27:37.799 --> 00:27:38.720 And if you delight 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.380 in God, 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.120 then you delight 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:41.579 in what he says. 00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.620 Now have a listen 00:27:44.620 --> 00:27:45.259 to this. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.200 Jonathan Edwards, 00:27:46.360 --> 00:27:47.319 he's an American preacher 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:48.860 from the 19th century. 00:27:49.059 --> 00:27:49.340 He said, 00:27:49.620 --> 00:27:50.640 18th, 19th century, 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.020 he said, 00:27:51.860 --> 00:27:53.300 when he talks about the Bible 00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:53.600 he says, 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.280 sometimes 00:27:54.280 --> 00:27:56.520 only mentioning 00:27:56.520 --> 00:27:58.020 a single word 00:27:58.020 --> 00:27:59.780 will cause my heart 00:27:59.780 --> 00:28:01.060 to burn within me. 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:02.600 Only seeing the name 00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.200 of Christ 00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:04.020 or some attribute 00:28:04.020 --> 00:28:04.560 of God 00:28:04.560 --> 00:28:05.280 will suddenly 00:28:05.280 --> 00:28:06.440 make my heart burn 00:28:06.440 --> 00:28:07.700 and God suddenly 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:09.180 appears glorious to me 00:28:09.180 --> 00:28:10.060 making me have 00:28:10.060 --> 00:28:11.500 exalting thoughts of him. 00:28:12.040 --> 00:28:12.820 When I enjoy 00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.500 this sweetness 00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:15.040 it seems to carry me 00:28:15.040 --> 00:28:16.340 above the thoughts 00:28:16.340 --> 00:28:17.420 of my own condition. 00:28:17.840 --> 00:28:18.420 It seems that 00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:19.380 at such times 00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:20.820 I'm at such a loss 00:28:20.820 --> 00:28:22.160 that I cannot bear it. 00:28:22.360 --> 00:28:23.500 I cannot bring myself 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.660 to take my eye 00:28:24.660 --> 00:28:25.760 from this glorious 00:28:25.760 --> 00:28:26.880 present object 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:28.260 to turn it to myself 00:28:28.260 --> 00:28:29.740 or to my own interests. 00:28:30.780 --> 00:28:31.300 Wow. 00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:33.980 If you're a Christian 00:28:33.980 --> 00:28:34.600 here today, 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:36.380 do you have any experience 00:28:36.380 --> 00:28:37.500 of what he's talking about? 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:41.060 Because if you've never 00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:42.800 experienced a joy 00:28:42.800 --> 00:28:44.660 in God's word, 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.200 let me suggest 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:47.580 that you may never 00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:49.680 have truly read 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:50.600 God's word. 00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:52.240 What do I mean by that? 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:52.940 You may have read it 00:28:52.940 --> 00:28:53.840 with your eyes 00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:55.000 but you may not have 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.100 read it with your heart. 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.740 You may not have 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:59.259 allowed it to read you, 00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:01.299 to examine you, 00:29:01.500 --> 00:29:02.900 to capture you 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:03.840 because that's what 00:29:03.840 --> 00:29:04.620 the Bible's meant 00:29:04.620 --> 00:29:05.279 to be doing 00:29:05.279 --> 00:29:06.019 in your life. 00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.700 And the reason 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:09.580 I know for myself 00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.779 and I know for many 00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.620 of us struggle 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.420 spiritually 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:14.220 is because deep down 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.680 we actually think 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:17.279 that following God 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.380 is not really 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.100 going to give us 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.160 true happiness. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.120 And the idea 00:29:21.120 --> 00:29:21.860 of putting like 00:29:21.860 --> 00:29:23.320 pleasure, 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:25.279 the word pleasure 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.680 and God's word together 00:29:26.680 --> 00:29:28.019 is a bit like putting 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.200 Chris Thornton 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:30.060 and ballet 00:29:30.060 --> 00:29:31.740 in the same sentence. 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:32.960 They just don't 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.580 go together. 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.320 Okay? 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.380 But you don't 00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.019 want to go there 00:29:38.019 --> 00:29:39.519 because if you want 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.539 to live as a Christian, 00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:41.940 you will only 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:44.059 escape the pleasures 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:44.899 of sin 00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:45.920 by finding pleasure 00:29:45.920 --> 00:29:46.659 in God 00:29:46.659 --> 00:29:47.460 and His word. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.159 You know, 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.460 when I got married, 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.339 I wasn't thinking 00:29:51.339 --> 00:29:52.339 about all the other women 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:52.920 who were there 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:53.639 on my wedding day 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:54.119 that day. 00:29:55.460 --> 00:29:56.339 I was thinking 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.940 about Fiona, 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.599 my wife. 00:29:59.180 --> 00:30:00.299 I wasn't consumed 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:00.980 with everyone else 00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.859 that I wasn't marrying. 00:30:03.460 --> 00:30:04.420 I was focusing 00:30:04.420 --> 00:30:04.920 on the one 00:30:04.920 --> 00:30:05.639 that I was. 00:30:07.399 --> 00:30:08.059 The psalmist 00:30:08.059 --> 00:30:08.879 is consumed 00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.720 with God 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:10.660 so His delight 00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.579 is not elsewhere 00:30:11.579 --> 00:30:13.160 and some of us 00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.000 have no idea 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.920 what that means. 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.799 Some of us 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.299 are thinking, 00:30:18.559 --> 00:30:18.759 oh, 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.220 I'd love to experience 00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:20.380 that. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:21.160 I'd love to feel like 00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:21.819 that's just not 00:30:21.819 --> 00:30:22.900 my experience 00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.880 of reading the Bible 00:30:23.880 --> 00:30:25.279 or of God 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:26.120 in any way. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:26.920 And the thing is, 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:27.779 you can't kind of 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.620 work that up. 00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:31.779 The place to start 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.920 if you want to 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:34.059 experience delight 00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.880 in God 00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:35.839 and His word 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:38.199 is simply 00:30:38.199 --> 00:30:39.000 in repentance 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:40.240 and saying, 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:40.459 God, 00:30:40.699 --> 00:30:41.199 and you know, 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:42.019 I have to do this 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.379 regularly 00:30:42.379 --> 00:30:43.980 because I've learned 00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:45.379 I need to confess 00:30:45.379 --> 00:30:46.579 sometimes I'm cold 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.139 to God. 00:30:47.740 --> 00:30:47.879 You know, 00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:48.559 other things 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:49.759 I'm more consumed 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:50.639 by than God. 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.459 And I've learned 00:30:54.459 --> 00:30:55.379 that when I come 00:30:55.379 --> 00:30:55.740 to God 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.319 and confess, 00:30:57.659 --> 00:30:59.179 God's incredibly 00:30:59.179 --> 00:31:00.159 gracious to me. 00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.839 He's not beating 00:31:00.839 --> 00:31:01.480 me up and saying, 00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:01.740 oh, 00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:02.799 you're not joyful 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.200 enough. 00:31:03.399 --> 00:31:03.859 He's saying, 00:31:03.919 --> 00:31:04.619 come to me. 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.039 And I just come 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.759 and sometimes I say, 00:31:07.819 --> 00:31:07.960 God, 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:08.720 I need your grace 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:09.079 in this. 00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:09.799 Forgive me 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:11.279 that I'm cold 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.379 even in my desire 00:31:12.379 --> 00:31:13.200 to read your word. 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.299 I know I should, 00:31:15.720 --> 00:31:16.259 but actually, 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:17.079 I don't really believe 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.960 it's going to make me happy 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.919 because I find it difficult. 00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.539 I don't understand 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.359 it all the time. 00:31:21.899 --> 00:31:23.519 But I want to experience 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:24.599 that kind of joy 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.680 in your word. 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.619 So please change my heart. 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.839 Change me 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:30.159 so that your word 00:31:30.159 --> 00:31:30.579 and you 00:31:30.579 --> 00:31:31.579 becomes a joy 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.279 to me. 00:31:33.279 --> 00:31:34.639 Because that's a prayer 00:31:34.639 --> 00:31:35.559 God delights 00:31:35.559 --> 00:31:36.319 in answering. 00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.480 So will you pray it? 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.779 Will you pray 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.579 that prayer 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.180 today? 00:31:42.980 --> 00:31:43.700 But notice 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.200 in the psalm, 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:44.899 it's not just reading 00:31:44.899 --> 00:31:45.799 the Bible once a day. 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.919 You see the happy man, 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:47.359 what does he do? 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:48.779 He meditates 00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.899 on it 00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:51.279 day and night. 00:31:52.159 --> 00:31:52.700 Now that word 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:53.119 meditate, 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:54.079 it means chew, 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.299 ponder, 00:31:55.899 --> 00:31:56.339 mutter. 00:31:57.159 --> 00:31:58.259 It's like a cow. 00:31:58.680 --> 00:31:59.859 You know what cows do? 00:32:00.319 --> 00:32:00.539 You know, 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.940 they get a bit of grass. 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:03.059 They start chewing it. 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:03.880 They have a nap. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.740 They sit down. 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:05.660 They wake up. 00:32:05.820 --> 00:32:06.740 They chew it a bit more. 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.779 They have another nap. 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.920 They then wake up again. 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.980 They chew it a bit more. 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:11.519 They chew all the goodness 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:13.200 out of that grass 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:14.940 until there's nothing left. 00:32:15.660 --> 00:32:16.900 That's what a cow does. 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:18.120 What you're supposed to do, 00:32:18.160 --> 00:32:18.900 you're supposed to read 00:32:18.900 --> 00:32:20.200 the Bible like a cow. 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.019 Okay? 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:22.080 Did you get that? 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.400 If somebody, 00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:25.539 if somebody comes to you 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.200 afterwards and says, 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:26.940 how do I read the Bible? 00:32:26.940 --> 00:32:27.340 I would just say, 00:32:27.420 --> 00:32:28.140 like a cow. 00:32:28.620 --> 00:32:28.860 Okay? 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:31.160 You see, 00:32:31.240 --> 00:32:31.820 you're meant to have 00:32:31.820 --> 00:32:32.920 the truth of the gospel 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:34.740 coming into your lives 00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:36.539 day in, 00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.299 day out. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.480 But how do you do that? 00:32:38.500 --> 00:32:39.279 How do you do that 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.360 when you're busy 00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:41.360 and life is crazy? 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:41.539 I mean, 00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:42.320 Hong Kong's crazy. 00:32:43.460 --> 00:32:44.259 My Lord joins again. 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:45.220 He said this, 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:46.279 have you realized 00:32:46.279 --> 00:32:47.480 that most of your 00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:48.640 unhappiness in life, 00:32:49.380 --> 00:32:50.400 this is so true of me, 00:32:50.860 --> 00:32:52.299 is due to the fact 00:32:52.299 --> 00:32:53.220 that you're listening 00:32:53.220 --> 00:32:54.000 to yourself 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.019 instead of talking 00:32:55.019 --> 00:32:55.639 to yourself. 00:32:56.700 --> 00:32:57.379 Let me say that again. 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:59.240 Most of your unhappiness 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.599 in life is due to the fact 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:01.339 that you're listening 00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:02.039 to yourself 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:03.139 more than talking 00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.740 to yourself. 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:04.839 You know, 00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:05.720 you and I have this, 00:33:05.720 --> 00:33:06.920 this record 00:33:06.920 --> 00:33:08.920 that plays in our minds 00:33:08.920 --> 00:33:09.740 throughout the day. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:10.400 You know, 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.460 mine sometimes goes 00:33:11.460 --> 00:33:11.960 a bit like this. 00:33:12.019 --> 00:33:13.240 When it's a bad day, 00:33:13.879 --> 00:33:14.240 I'm like, 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:15.619 oh man, 00:33:15.639 --> 00:33:16.539 I'm going to be late. 00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:17.460 Why is that guy 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.920 in front of me so slow? 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.680 I can't believe 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:20.680 that idiot just doesn't 00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.619 know how to do this. 00:33:21.900 --> 00:33:22.660 And I'm thinking, 00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:23.139 oh, 00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:24.480 why is it always me 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.200 who has to end up 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.140 doing all of these things 00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:26.819 and all of this 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.420 kind of going on? 00:33:27.620 --> 00:33:28.559 And sometimes it's like, 00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:28.860 oh, 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:30.319 I can't believe I did that. 00:33:30.380 --> 00:33:30.839 What an idiot. 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.420 You know, 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:32.360 these guys play 00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:33.140 through my mind 00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:33.960 throughout the day. 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:36.240 Other times 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.140 when it's a great day, 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:37.599 I'm like, 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:39.099 man, 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.480 I'm a pretty good, 00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.519 responsible husband. 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:41.940 Yeah. 00:33:42.460 --> 00:33:42.799 You know, 00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.980 I really deserve 00:33:43.980 --> 00:33:44.680 a bit of respect 00:33:44.680 --> 00:33:45.660 for the job. 00:33:45.740 --> 00:33:46.420 I wish somebody else 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:46.880 could see 00:33:46.880 --> 00:33:48.220 what I'm doing right now. 00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.079 Wasn't it good of me 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:53.339 to just kind of 00:33:53.339 --> 00:33:54.619 give up my time 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:55.220 to serve 00:33:55.220 --> 00:33:56.240 when I didn't have to? 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:58.259 Aren't I a good person? 00:33:59.480 --> 00:33:59.919 That's kind of 00:33:59.919 --> 00:34:00.839 what kind of plays on it. 00:34:00.919 --> 00:34:01.899 And it's not conscious, 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.659 not outside, 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.899 but actually subconsciously 00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:04.639 that's what I'm thinking. 00:34:06.039 --> 00:34:07.099 And this kind of MP3 00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:08.400 is playing in your mind 00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.259 throughout the day. 00:34:09.420 --> 00:34:10.460 And if you haven't realized 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:10.799 it is, 00:34:10.799 --> 00:34:11.659 just stop and listen 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.739 to yourself occasionally. 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:15.179 Record yourself. 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.500 Because you'll find 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.659 a very interesting track. 00:34:17.659 --> 00:34:21.039 But when I do that, 00:34:21.119 --> 00:34:21.339 you see, 00:34:21.399 --> 00:34:22.500 I'm listening to myself 00:34:22.500 --> 00:34:23.399 and what other people have said, 00:34:23.420 --> 00:34:24.359 I take it on myself 00:34:24.359 --> 00:34:24.799 and then 00:34:24.799 --> 00:34:26.940 I find it's all about me. 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.039 You notice that? 00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.539 My thoughts are all about me. 00:34:29.619 --> 00:34:30.519 It's either how good I am, 00:34:30.579 --> 00:34:31.239 how bad I am, 00:34:31.279 --> 00:34:32.440 how bad everybody else is, 00:34:32.500 --> 00:34:33.859 how good everybody else should be 00:34:33.859 --> 00:34:34.980 if they did things my way. 00:34:35.259 --> 00:34:36.019 It's all like that. 00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.319 That's the track 00:34:37.319 --> 00:34:38.399 that's going on in my mind. 00:34:38.599 --> 00:34:39.559 And the gospel says 00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.619 if you meditate on that, 00:34:40.679 --> 00:34:41.159 you're going to root 00:34:41.159 --> 00:34:41.659 your happiness 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:43.399 in your external circumstances, 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.279 in yourself. 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:46.179 And when the winter winds blow, 00:34:46.279 --> 00:34:47.139 you're going to be crushed. 00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:50.019 But if you preach 00:34:50.019 --> 00:34:51.399 the gospel to yourself, 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:53.779 man, we're going to be late. 00:34:53.940 --> 00:34:55.319 But my heavenly Father 00:34:55.319 --> 00:34:56.259 is in control of this. 00:34:56.339 --> 00:34:57.159 I can trust Him. 00:34:57.279 --> 00:34:58.359 God, help me to trust you 00:34:58.359 --> 00:34:59.819 because I'm annoyed. 00:35:01.339 --> 00:35:02.739 Aren't I great at this job? 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:04.539 Yeah, but I, 00:35:05.739 --> 00:35:06.420 Chris, remember 00:35:06.420 --> 00:35:08.339 that this is just a gift from God. 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:09.599 It's not about you. 00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.359 It's about Him. 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:12.339 I need to preach to myself 00:35:12.339 --> 00:35:13.659 because, man, 00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:15.039 I just believe so much, 00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:17.000 so much crap. 00:35:17.659 --> 00:35:18.819 And it goes on in here. 00:35:18.879 --> 00:35:19.440 Have you ever noticed 00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.059 when you actually 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:21.500 verbalize something to someone, 00:35:21.619 --> 00:35:23.239 sometimes how crazy it sounds? 00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:26.399 Well, that's why 00:35:26.399 --> 00:35:27.839 you need to preach to yourself. 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:28.819 And in summer, 00:35:30.099 --> 00:35:32.039 if it's summertime for you, 00:35:32.339 --> 00:35:33.239 build habits 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.079 where you're actually, 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:35.319 throughout the day, 00:35:35.699 --> 00:35:36.579 having something, 00:35:36.819 --> 00:35:37.920 a verse of God's Word 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:39.599 that you're speaking to yourself. 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:41.079 because when it comes to winter, 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:43.799 you'll be able to root 00:35:43.799 --> 00:35:45.579 deep down into that stream 00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:47.980 and you'll be fine. 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.460 It's not positive. 00:35:49.519 --> 00:35:50.599 This is not positive thinking. 00:35:51.159 --> 00:35:52.139 Okay, positive thinking 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:53.440 kind of just says, 00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.139 it's going to be all right. 00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:54.719 You can do it. 00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:55.000 You know, 00:35:55.559 --> 00:35:56.860 I can overcome cancer 00:35:56.860 --> 00:35:58.539 even if the cancer is killing me. 00:35:58.659 --> 00:36:00.599 It denies reality. 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:01.860 But the truth is 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.940 you can find happiness 00:36:02.940 --> 00:36:04.900 regardless of your circumstances 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:06.639 in a trustworthy God 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:08.440 whose Word is true 00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:09.360 and reliable. 00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:11.300 That's what He says. 00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:14.079 And it's not just 00:36:14.079 --> 00:36:15.579 a solitary exercise. 00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:16.480 You know, 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.539 because if it's up to me, 00:36:17.619 --> 00:36:19.240 I just keep listening to myself. 00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:20.980 But do you notice it says, 00:36:21.360 --> 00:36:22.740 those who stand 00:36:22.740 --> 00:36:23.960 in the way of sinners 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:25.440 and those who sit 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.539 in the seat of mockers, 00:36:26.599 --> 00:36:27.880 they're surrounding yourself. 00:36:28.260 --> 00:36:28.460 You know, 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:31.320 the company that you surround yourself 00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:33.300 impacts your happiness too. 00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:35.260 You know, 00:36:35.420 --> 00:36:36.940 who do you gravitate towards? 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:40.200 Who has got say in your life? 00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:40.920 Is it your parents? 00:36:41.380 --> 00:36:42.760 Is it your spouse? 00:36:43.200 --> 00:36:44.600 Is it your work colleagues? 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:45.620 Who is it? 00:36:45.900 --> 00:36:48.900 Is it Taylor Swift? 00:36:49.080 --> 00:36:49.700 I don't know. 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:52.200 Who do you follow on Twitter? 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:55.560 Who has say in your life? 00:36:56.640 --> 00:36:58.000 Because someone once said, 00:36:58.300 --> 00:36:59.660 sermons might inspire you, 00:36:59.740 --> 00:37:00.519 but it's your community 00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:01.440 that shapes you. 00:37:02.200 --> 00:37:02.480 You know, 00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:03.780 if you want to know 00:37:03.780 --> 00:37:04.880 what you're going to be like, 00:37:05.159 --> 00:37:06.019 look at the friends 00:37:06.019 --> 00:37:07.300 that you develop around you. 00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:11.900 Your friends are your future, 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:14.039 is what somebody said. 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.519 Because you know, 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:18.500 they'll shape and influence you. 00:37:19.300 --> 00:37:20.699 They'll shape and influence you. 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.699 Think about, 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:23.000 who are you listening to? 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:26.539 That's why we have community groups. 00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:27.820 That's why, 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.159 and listen, 00:37:28.260 --> 00:37:28.880 as guys, 00:37:29.000 --> 00:37:29.699 I think guys, 00:37:29.920 --> 00:37:30.039 like, 00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.679 the women in this church, 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:32.559 you do pretty well. 00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.400 You do so much better 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:34.340 than many of us guys. 00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:34.619 Like, 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:35.519 we're terrible, 00:37:35.619 --> 00:37:36.800 and I know that. 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:38.059 You know, 00:37:38.199 --> 00:37:39.199 that's why, 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:41.360 guys, 00:37:41.500 --> 00:37:42.519 if you don't have 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:44.019 any real deep relationships 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:45.780 with any Christian guys, 00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:47.500 who's going to point you 00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:48.440 to Christ, 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:49.639 rather than just pointing you 00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:50.659 to the football score, 00:37:50.659 --> 00:37:54.279 then you're going to struggle 00:37:54.279 --> 00:37:55.619 to actually really know 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.379 anything of what 00:37:56.379 --> 00:37:57.299 I've been talking about. 00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:58.480 Because you're never 00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:00.019 going to truly grasp 00:38:00.019 --> 00:38:00.699 that happiness 00:38:00.699 --> 00:38:01.859 that God wants you to have. 00:38:03.239 --> 00:38:04.019 And he's saying, 00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.000 because you know, 00:38:05.379 --> 00:38:07.839 we listen to our own lies, 00:38:08.279 --> 00:38:08.940 our own crap. 00:38:09.839 --> 00:38:10.659 And we get caught up 00:38:10.659 --> 00:38:11.500 in what everybody else 00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.319 around us is saying. 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:13.920 So if you want to get serious 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.779 about your happiness, 00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:16.440 we have a bunch of guys 00:38:16.440 --> 00:38:17.719 who meet on a Tuesday morning 00:38:17.719 --> 00:38:18.460 in Central. 00:38:18.679 --> 00:38:19.619 We have a bunch of guys 00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.000 who are going to go 00:38:20.000 --> 00:38:20.820 for a steak dinner. 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:21.559 You know, 00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:21.840 I mean, 00:38:21.860 --> 00:38:22.760 it doesn't get better than that. 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:24.420 Like in a week's time, 00:38:24.619 --> 00:38:25.320 come and see me, 00:38:25.420 --> 00:38:26.260 come and see Graham, 00:38:26.440 --> 00:38:27.739 because we want to build 00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:28.480 a community 00:38:28.480 --> 00:38:29.840 where we walk alongside 00:38:29.840 --> 00:38:30.500 each other, 00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.440 because community 00:38:31.440 --> 00:38:32.780 is about our happiness 00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:33.340 in God. 00:38:37.619 --> 00:38:38.679 The way you engage 00:38:38.679 --> 00:38:39.420 with God's Word, 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:40.199 the way you engage 00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:40.820 with community, 00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:41.860 shows whether you want 00:38:41.860 --> 00:38:42.579 to be about 00:38:42.579 --> 00:38:44.219 like that tree or not. 00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.760 So let me close. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:49.440 I can tell you 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.960 of a 92-year-old I know, 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:53.540 she's suffering terrible pain. 00:38:54.440 --> 00:38:55.700 She's really honest about it. 00:38:55.720 --> 00:38:56.200 She's not kind of 00:38:56.200 --> 00:38:57.240 grinning and bearing it. 00:38:57.320 --> 00:38:58.200 She's very real. 00:38:58.360 --> 00:38:59.140 It's very painful. 00:38:59.720 --> 00:39:01.000 But when you talk to her, 00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:03.460 she'll say to you, 00:39:04.020 --> 00:39:05.700 I want to shout about Jesus 00:39:05.700 --> 00:39:06.880 from the rooftops. 00:39:07.880 --> 00:39:09.340 I have this joy 00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:10.640 in my heart 00:39:10.640 --> 00:39:11.780 that sustains me. 00:39:11.780 --> 00:39:13.800 She's a tree 00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:15.220 who is planted 00:39:15.220 --> 00:39:17.220 by streams of water 00:39:17.220 --> 00:39:18.480 and her leaf 00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.620 has not withered 00:39:19.620 --> 00:39:22.019 at 92 years of age. 00:39:23.220 --> 00:39:24.360 Let me ask you, 00:39:24.440 --> 00:39:25.460 do you have roots 00:39:25.460 --> 00:39:26.480 in Christ, 00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:28.019 in the gospel, 00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:30.000 in His love for you 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.860 that will mean 00:39:30.860 --> 00:39:31.900 that will be true 00:39:31.900 --> 00:39:33.280 of you too? 00:39:36.160 --> 00:39:37.540 Preacher Charles Spurgeon 00:39:37.540 --> 00:39:39.280 said this to close. 00:39:39.280 --> 00:39:43.260 The half-committed Christian 00:39:43.260 --> 00:39:45.460 is the most miserable person 00:39:45.460 --> 00:39:46.080 on earth. 00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:48.440 He's just enough in the world 00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:49.100 to be miserable 00:39:49.100 --> 00:39:50.320 in the presence of God. 00:39:50.720 --> 00:39:52.180 He's just enough into God 00:39:52.180 --> 00:39:53.580 to be miserable in the world. 00:39:54.440 --> 00:39:55.519 Go all the way, 00:39:55.660 --> 00:39:57.180 one way or the other. 00:39:58.540 --> 00:40:00.340 Either drive your roots 00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:01.480 deep into God 00:40:01.480 --> 00:40:02.360 and get serious 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:04.140 about finding happiness in Him, 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.620 happiness in His Word, 00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:07.120 happiness in community 00:40:07.120 --> 00:40:08.500 of people who are pointing you 00:40:08.500 --> 00:40:09.140 back to Him. 00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:11.680 or walk away. 00:40:12.620 --> 00:40:14.320 Don't be a half-committed Christian 00:40:14.320 --> 00:40:15.660 because you'll be miserable. 00:40:16.700 --> 00:40:17.519 Let's pray. 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:30.600 Father, I just realized that 00:40:30.599 --> 00:40:36.239 you actually want us 00:40:36.239 --> 00:40:38.259 to find happiness in you. 00:40:42.799 --> 00:40:43.860 Sometimes I know 00:40:43.860 --> 00:40:44.779 that I don't actually 00:40:44.779 --> 00:40:45.719 really believe that. 00:40:47.759 --> 00:40:49.119 I think other things 00:40:49.119 --> 00:40:50.159 will make me happier. 00:40:50.579 --> 00:40:51.119 Like, really, 00:40:51.420 --> 00:40:52.819 I know what I should think. 00:40:53.619 --> 00:40:55.099 I know what I should say, 00:40:55.940 --> 00:40:57.900 but my actions often show 00:40:57.900 --> 00:40:59.019 that I'm looking elsewhere. 00:40:59.019 --> 00:41:02.739 Father, help us as we even look out 00:41:02.739 --> 00:41:04.079 and we see the beauty 00:41:04.079 --> 00:41:04.940 of your creation 00:41:04.940 --> 00:41:05.719 and the sea 00:41:05.719 --> 00:41:06.440 and the sunshine 00:41:06.440 --> 00:41:08.340 and all the amazing things 00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:09.059 you've given us. 00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:12.659 Help us to see you 00:41:12.659 --> 00:41:14.539 in whatever we're going through, 00:41:14.579 --> 00:41:15.619 whether we're going on holiday, 00:41:16.259 --> 00:41:17.219 whether we're staying here 00:41:17.219 --> 00:41:17.739 in the heat, 00:41:18.159 --> 00:41:19.800 whether we're struggling, 00:41:20.059 --> 00:41:21.119 whether we're doing well. 00:41:21.119 --> 00:41:24.039 Lord, help us to realize 00:41:24.039 --> 00:41:27.299 that you are the source 00:41:27.299 --> 00:41:28.319 of living water 00:41:28.319 --> 00:41:30.480 that desires us 00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:33.139 to find true happiness in you. 00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:35.460 Help us as a church 00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:36.420 to be a church 00:41:36.420 --> 00:41:37.420 which, Lord, 00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:40.019 sometimes we struggle, 00:41:40.179 --> 00:41:41.319 sometimes we're wintertime. 00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:42.839 Help us not to be unrealistic, 00:41:43.799 --> 00:41:45.299 but help us to find 00:41:45.299 --> 00:41:47.139 and encourage each other 00:41:47.139 --> 00:41:49.739 to see just how beautiful you are, 00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:52.339 that you are what we need. 00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:54.259 We trust you. 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:55.920 We love you. 00:41:57.179 --> 00:41:59.259 Help us to be happy in you. 00:42:00.219 --> 00:42:00.759 In your name. 00:42:01.440 --> 00:42:01.719 Amen.