recipe for happiness

In Philippians Chapter 4, in verse 4, it says:

“… Rejoice in the Lord always, again he said, rejoice. Your kindness be known to all men. The Lord is near, be anxious for nothing but make your requests known before God in all prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus..."

Here is [inaudible] put Recipe for Happiness. What do you think, nice title right? Recipe for happiness. right yes? If I put that on the internet, I'm sure a lot of people will look for it [inaudible] Recipe for happiness or Recipe to be happy, too.

For me it is one of the densest passages in the word of God, about how to maintain peace of heart and how to remain happy and joyful even in the midst of trials. This epistle, which is the epistle to the Philippians, was written to people who lived in the city of Philippi, therefore to the Philippians. This was the name given to the citizens of this city of Philippi where the Apostle Paul entered. He wrote this epistle to those people while he was in jail. He was in jail when he wrote this epistle.

As you know, Roman prisons were not like prisons in the United States, where one has air conditioning and color television and complains because what they served was rice with stewed chicken and not something more exquisite. Roman prisons were very, very difficult prisons and very dark and cold and terrible. It was torture itself. People were not treated very well.

The Apostle Paul in this case was not even sure if he was going to get out of that prison alive or not. So imagine, it would have been understandable for him to write this letter and sound a bit depressed and sad, right? After all, he was in a very difficult condition in his life. However, this letter has been called the letter of joy, the epistle of joy. Because it has a number of versions of the word joy, rejoice, expressions like my joy, rejoice. It is an epistle that overflows with joy, overflows with tranquility.

And one wonders, well, how could this man in such adverse circumstances not get depressed and write an epistle that rather calls those outside to rejoice and rejoice if he himself speaks.

[Inaudible] if you see at the very beginning of it, it's already mentioning it, the word joy. It says in the first Chapter, verse 4:

"...Always in all my prayers begging with joy for all of you..."

And further on he talks about how he rejoices because his prisons have turned out rather for the benefit of the Gospel. And in many passages where this word of joy and security is mentioned [inaudible]

Now, what was Paul's secret? Why was he so joyful? It is not [inaudible] Paul knew that he was in the hands of God and that whether he died or lived, his life, his death was under the protection, divine supervision. And that everything that happened in his life had a purpose, he had something good for which it happened.

Now, he says, even while in prison I have realized that by being here I can testify to the guards that surround me and the Gospel I see that [inaudible] Caesar's own palace. So it's good that this is happening. He says that he knows that for him to die in the [inaudible] presence of Christ. That is to say, death no longer threatened him because he knew that death was simply a door [inaudible] and that is why he said, for me I believe [inaudible] because being with Christ, because he knew that dying was equivalent to be with Christ. And that's why many people are sometimes afraid of death, because they don't know what awaits them. And still many Christians are afraid of death. But when one thinks that I am going to be with Christ.

And he said, for me being with Christ is much better. Then I said, if staying in the world results in advances for the Gospel, well, then I'll stay. That is, he resigned himself to living more than [inaudible] because for him [inaudible] living is Christ and dying is what? Revenue.

So that is how the Christian should view it. Life and death. So, Pablo had already given up all those attachments that keep us clinging to [inaudible]. Another thing that he also said, I know how to live in poverty and in wealth, in abundance and in poverty, lack. I settle for anything. It is what happens is that, I believe that the more [inaudible] eternity, the less weighs this world and its ups and downs.

The more eternity is [inaudible] to us, the less we should care about the world. There are people that if people applaud and approve and are happy with them, they are happy. And if people criticize them then they are not happy with them, they want to shoot themselves, because their happiness and their sadness depend on what happens in the world. If all [inaudible] God exists, that's good, but if you don't know where the next check is going to come from, then God doesn't love me, God doesn't exist, [inaudible].

The Christian is convinced, he knows that this world is fleeting, this world is illusory. If we're okay, glory to God, there's nothing wrong with [inaudible] 42” TV and even [inaudible]. If you have [inaudible] I receive it very well. but that is not what gives us happiness. We know that happiness depends on other spiritual things. I believe that the more the eternal becomes powerful in our lives, the less it should weigh [inaudible].

[inaudible] near the end of the epistle Paul says, "rejoice in the Lord always."

Do you know that this is a call to believers? Do you know that God calls you to rejoice? The so-called joy is something emotional, it is almost [inaudible] a commandment that would be almost like a contradiction. You have to rejoice. But it is a call that he makes us to rejoice.

You know, I believe that one of the hallmarks of the believer, healthy, healthy and [inaudible] attuned to [inaudible] is the reason to rejoice. Being able to laugh, being able to celebrate, being able to [inaudible] good music, a good conversation, a cup of coffee with cold milk, brown sugar, a little bit of cinnamon [inaudible] enjoy the simple things in life, that's good.

The Christian life is a life of joy. I don't think [inaudible] there crestfallen and depressed with a serious face, [inaudible]. No, no, we have to rejoice. We have to cultivate joy. You know that rejoicing is a decision, I would tell you. It is difficult for him to rejoice as well as to be depressed. In fact, it is a decision, getting to the point of being depressed requires as much effort as cultivating joy. We have to cultivate joy and understand that the believer's natural position should be joy and from time to time if we have to get a little depressed, well, amen, what are we going to do?

But depression must be like something [inaudible] that comes like a mangy dog, get over there right away. You don't let him get close for a long time. That ominous bird [inaudible] wants to take you in [inaudible].

What's going on? If you let them, depression comes and comes over and puts its arm around you. And you kind of go [inaudible] depressed. And when he comes to see the depression, it hugs him and you already see how he has [inaudible]. No, the quick time to cut depression is when it starts coming into your life, right away [inaudible] and remove yourself, kick it out, away from your life. Pray, cry out, worship, call a good friend on the phone to tell you a joke, or put on a worship CD or dress up or put on your [inaudible] and go outside [inaudible] to be happy.

Rejoicing is a decision, it is an effort that one has to make in life. And it's something that sometimes you don't want to rejoice, but then when you make an effort, you find that you have joy, but you have to do your part. That is very important, that is why Paul says, rejoice in the Lord always, because it is a call, it is a decision.

You can do it. Don't tell me you can't do it. You can rejoice. [Inaudible] I couldn't do it in the morning, but now I'm doing it here, excellent, excellent, that's good. Thank God I have strength to shovel in the snow. Father, send more, to do more exercises.

One must, because that's what I said to Meche now when we came here, and I told her, you know what? I'm not going to complain about the snow anymore. Sometimes when the neighbors go out we find ourselves as refugees from a war, shoveling three or four, each one in his house and we look at each other as survivors of one [inaudible].

Shovel in hand we look at each other and [inaudible] And then we say, oh, this is really bad! [Inaudible] they know that I [inaudible] do something stupid, [inaudible] we keep shoveling and [inaudible] at some point gets tired, spring is coming. In July I doubt that [inaudible] so I [inaudible] April or May, around there, I know you get tired of [inaudible] so in the meantime I'm going to enjoy myself, what am I going to do?

If I complain a lot, [inaudible] inside of me. So one has to learn to cultivate, there are ways to cultivate the [inaudible].

It says here, rejoice in the Lord. You know that's what makes the difference. It is when one is so full of the Lord, I believe that one must always be charging his battery in the Lord. When you are aware of the Lord that is when you can learn to rejoice. Because the devil wants to avoid the joy and consciousness of Christ. He's going to want you to focus on the snow, focus on the bills you have to pay, the hard work on that [inaudible] that you hate, and all these things [inaudible] on that, focus on that. and take away the [inaudible] of the Lord.

So rejoice in the Lord. I believe that the believer has to be well aware of the presence of Christ always. And we have to cultivate, that is why one has as much as possible, what you spend your time on and what things you dedicate your mind to, what things you dedicate your mind to, your thoughts. I think you have to try as much as possible to always make yourself aware of the person of Christ [inaudible].

If you are on the street, if you are driving, you are in place... I sometimes wonder if I had to preach right now, would I feel prepared? The truth is that many times no, I feel alienated, I feel like this world weighs too much on me and I would have to get myself [inaudible], sing some good ones [inaudible] so I can be in the preaching mood then. I believe that a man should be ready at any moment to preach the word, or to pray, whatever, because one is always cultivating the presence of Christ, the consciousness of the Lord, the consciousness that Jesus is eternal.

Sometimes a choir sing, or a verse to recite to keep that presence of the Lord alive in our lives. Rejoice in the Lord. There are also times that I will not want to rejoice in the flesh, and emotions, and I will have to rejoice in the spirit. That means that many times, perhaps the emotions, on the surface, I am not going to feel like I want to laugh, but many times a joy of the inner spirit, one can feel and cultivate. And that's important.

That is, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice. You have to remind him of that. Then your kindness will be known to all men…”

Why do you think Paul said that? Your kindness will be known to all men, immediately after saying rejoice. I think so, I think it's something... look, a depressed [inaudible] person is not going to be [inaudible], they're not going to seem very kind. Now, you know that a person who has a smile that is pleasant, who is happy, who is positive in his attitude, is it true that people are going to think, wow! How nice that person. One can say, your sympathy be known to all men.

Do you know what drives a lot of people away? Thus the Christian [inaudible], self-righteous, [inaudible], always with a spiritual word in his mouth, does not laugh with anyone, does not laugh at a joke, everything is bad, everything is a sin. That person is not attractive. Now when you have joy in your heart and you're glad people see that and say, wow! How nice that person. How nice. For me, one of the most attractive things about a Christian is that, and one of the things that most attracts people to the Gospel is the joy of God's people.

I like when people, [inaudible] and smiling [inaudible] and always say, wow, your church on Sunday this Jewish brother came [inaudible] and [inaudible] a city in England. And I went in to greet him, thank him for coming and all that, and he told me, look, how beautiful your church is, how happy, how nice, they treated us so well. It has a beautiful church. The praise so beautiful, and we feel at home.

I think [inaudible] that, right? Clear. And you know what? People come, we have many defects but one of the things that people always say is that we are a nice church, a hospitable church, the people and please we have to cultivate that. I wish there were 500 people here to be able to tell you, that we as a church have to cultivate that, we have to cultivate harmony, joy, happiness, laughter. I like when people laugh in the service, instead of that attitude of oh, glorious saint and [inaudible] we praise you, oh, Jehovah.

Instead of saying, Father, we love you. How good you are. God does not need a formula. God doesn't need that much [inaudible]. God is a simple God. And we have to be like that. Laughter pleases the Lord. Come to his sanctuary with joy, with joy and gladness. The Lord likes laughter.

Then he says, your kindness, that is a very profound word, [inaudible] that word is such a wonderful word that it also means your grace, your affection. It is a word that means, when you give yourself to people assuming that they are good and they have to prove to you that they are bad, then for you to believe, but you first believe that [inaudible] that is found to be bad.

It is also an attitude, like the attitude of a grandfather, who tolerates a lot, forgives a lot, assumes the best in people. That means the word kindness, treat people with grace, mercy, love, forgive them, bless, tolerate. It is a precious quality that we Christians have to cultivate, brothers, grace.

For me, I believe [inaudible] you better listen to me, that attitude of grace and sympathy must be the most precious thing for a child of God. As the years go by, I want to be more pleasant to people, more attractive to people, more cordial, because that is what reflects the character of Christ Jesus, [inaudible] sweeten me, sweeten me because it is necessary.

Many of us seem like we've been saturated with a serving of sour lemon. [inaudible] and they cultivated us for days and days and days. Lord, sweeten us. Because [inaudible] Lord, sweeten us.

[Inaudible] kindness is known to all men and you know what, brother? Look, when you have to give yourself to others that is one of the greatest antidotes for depression. Many people live depressed because they judge others, they are always criticizing others, they are always assuming the worst of others. They think that the whole world is against them, there is so much rancor in their hearts.

But when you forgive, when you tolerate, when you are gracious to others, you are going to be a more functionally healthy person. And you're going to feel joy over the [inaudible] and peace in your heart. You will sleep easier.

The person who criticizes, the person who is always seeing the bad in others cannot make [inaudible] love and affection towards others. That person, that critical attitude goes [inaudible] inward and causes depression, contaminates your internal landscape. So, one of the antidotes against depression, sadness, is that. And one of the things that makes one feel joyful is that, having grace towards others.

I'm finishing. It says here, the Lord is near. Why does he say? After that rejoice, he says, your kindness be known, and then he adds, the Lord is near. [inaudible] the Lord is near. Do you know why? The Lord is near, why? Because it is important? A person when he knows that Christ is near [inaudible].

Now, what does the Lord mean is near. That can be interpreted in two different ways. The Lord is near can mean, the Lord is coming soon, the coming of the Lord. We do not know exactly what Paul meant by this expression: the Lord is near. It could mean that the Lord is coming soon.

But it seems to me like I could understand that, but if so, that [inaudible] how can feeling that the coming of Christ is near help us have a happier life? Can someone tell me? How can that impact my joy? When [inaudible] is closer than the word of the Lord [inaudible] because I am closer [inaudible] That is, the Lord can be said to be on the surface, that's why he says, I am at the door [inaudible ] with him and he with me. [Inaudible]

As soon as you look for it, you find it. Exactly. I think when he says rejoice in the Lord always [inaudible] be near [inaudible] tomorrow [inaudible]

It's a way, it's true. The two interpretations are close. over here

I believe that Pablo is an evangelist, I believe that [inaudible] kindness is an attitude, it is an order. We see it as kindness, as a [inaudible] is a fruit [inaudible]

I believe that all of these interpretations are appropriate. [Inaudible]

When he says the Lord is near, I can feel him like he is [inaudible]

The nearness of the Lord. [inaudible] being so close, it must be from [inaudible] so many things [inaudible] to complicate the existence [inaudible] of your life because the Lord is near. We don't know when [inaudible]

So, I think that the important thing is that, there are many ways. This is an expression that is very rich in its explanations. [Inaudible] Christ is coming soon and if Christ is coming soon why do I worry? Soon he will put an end to this cruel world. No more [inaudible], no more danger, no more falling on the ice, the Lord is near. Already all this tragedy in life [inaudible] is a way.

The other way is the Lord is near me. The Lord is there glued to me. He listens to you. He is as close as your heart and then [inaudible] any time. [Inaudible] your help, he has an answer for every need. So the closeness of the Lord, he is not so far.

There is a passage, I don't remember exactly, [inaudible] as far back as [inaudible]. That is, when you know that Christ is so close to you, behold, I am with you, every day until the end of the world. [Inaudible] because you will be with me. I am at the door and I knock, if you open the door for me, I will enter and have dinner with him and he with me. There is a continuing relationship.

And then, if Christ is so close to you, you can talk to him at any time. He is your strength, he is your security. So, you don't have to feel helpless, the Lord is accessible, in other words, and is as close as your next prayer. [Inaudible]

The Lord is near. Then he says, “…do not be anxious for anything, but be recognized before God in everything by prayer and supplication for thanksgiving…”

Do not be anxious about anything, brothers, but rather [Inaudible] that prayer is an escape valve for me. When I am anxious [inaudible] I cry out to the Lord and then I [inaudible] Lord, I need [inaudible]

For me, praying is not so much giving the Lord a recipe, a shopping list, as it is letting out my anxiety, my fear, my anguish, talking with my great friend, my Father, my God. And that gives me my peace. You know that [inaudible] like a good psychiatrist for an hour [inaudible] of course you do. For me prayer is more that than anything else, it is being aware of eternity, being aware of the closeness of my God, a literally brainwashing where I submerge myself in the waters of the eternal.

Look, stop being anxious, pray, spend 15 or 20 minutes praying. If you want to cry, cry before God. You have to stay [inaudible] with God. If you are happy with God, speak to him with respect, [inaudible] but share with the Lord his annoyance. God doesn't mind if you complain. Many of the psalms are complaints before God: why have you saved me? Why have you left me?

So use that resource of prayer. Do not be anxious for anything, but be known by [inaudible]. [inaudible] why didn't i get it? Because you don't ask. Present your requests to the Lord over and over again, cry out to the Lord and that is also an antidote against depression, anxiety, [inaudible], sadness.

Cry out to God. Of a good cry before the Lord. Let him know your requests, your needs, worries, fears, and that will put peace to your spirit. The Lord will hear it.

So, notice there are many things, gentleness and grace towards others. Cultivating joy as something valuable in life. Being aware of the presence of God and cultivating the presence [inaudible] in your life and continually achieving.

I tell you one thing, brothers, when I have to pray, if I go a long time without praying, the real Roberto immediately emerges, a neurotic, anxious, and at some point depressive, a monster. It's like Frankenstein, it's coming out all over the place [inaudible] My true nature is manifesting. I have to take prayer pills every two hours to keep my true nature at bay. If I don't pray, the monster comes out. So I [inaudible] to pray continuously and how can I live, [inaudible], feel, delegate all the pressures of life and ministry if it is not always being close to their world [inaudible]

I tell you brothers that works. I am addicted to prayer, because if I don't have it I start to tremble [inaudible], get neurotic.

Be anxious for nothing, but let your requests be known before God in all prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving. And what was the result of that? The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts in Christ Jesus.

The result of all that is peace, joy, rejoicing, rest. The peace of God will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus [inaudible].

Do you want to enjoy life, stay happy in the midst of trials? Farm resources. Resources. [inaudible] of the Christian life, being a gentle, sympathetic, forgiving, gracious person, cultivating the sense of the presence of Christ in your life, and of his second coming and always praying as a hygienic practice, [inaudible] the valve [inaudible] will make peace come to your spirit and then it will keep your heart, your mind, where anxiety, fear, anguish, depression reside? In the mind.

So, if those things are maintained in Christ Jesus, you will be a healthy person, you will be a joyful person and you will be able to live in peace. So there you have a master's recipe. Recipe to be happy.