HAPPINESS - Science and Mathematics

Today we began our series on HAPPINESS by looking at the Science of Happiness and the Mathematics of Happiness. I also introduced a new in-class polling system that we will be using to gauge the class on certain lesson-related concepts. If you want to participate in upcoming polls (which I hope you will) be sure to bring your cell phone to class. The polls are free and anonymous. Here are the results of the questions I asked today:

What is your interest in this new series on "HAPPINESS"?
A. Extremely excited - 48%
B. Very interested - 36%
C. Somewhat interested, but not yet "over the moon" about it - 16%

Are you basically a happier person now than you were one year ago?
A. Yes - 84%
B. No - 12%
C. Depends - 4%

Being honest (no one will know): At this present time in your life, what makes you feel the happiest?
A. When I do something that I enjoy doing or look forward to doing? - 64%
B. When I see that something I have done has made a positive difference in someone's life - 36%

Since my wedding day, I am (which is most correct):
A. Considerably happier married than I was single - 95%
B. No happier now than I was before I married - 5%
C. Less happy now than I was when I was single - 0%

The Science of Happiness tells us that happy people have higher levels of intelligence, creativity, and an increased ability to solve problems. When we get happier our bodies get healthier, our relationships improve, our marriages become more fulfilling, we make more money, we live longer, and our overall sense of well-being improves.

The Mathematics of Happiness tells us that our external (uncontrollable) circumstances determine 10% of our happiness, 50% of our happiness is determined by our genetic makeup, and the remaining 40% of our happiness is determined by our actions and thoughts. Sadly, most humans focus most of their energy on trying to control the 10% - the uncontrollable instead of the 40% they can control. Also, studies have proven that there are simple things you can do to rewire your brain and change negative genetics. We will talk more about that next week when we look at the Habits of Happiness.

God is happy. He has created, wired, and designed us to be happy. And He has given us the guidelines, principles, truths, and the instructions to attain satisfying happiness. Matter-of-fact, He wants us to seek to intensify our longing for happiness and nourish it with whatever will provide the deepest and most enduring satisfaction possible. And wouldn't you know it; that deep, enduring happiness is found only in Him.

As David wrote in Psalm 16:11: "In your presence there is fullness of joy (happiness); at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." In Psalm 37:4 he wrote, "Delight (make happy) yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." God is glorified by our joy (happiness) in Him.

Next week we will be looking at the Habits of Happiness.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 6:18-24 (Part 2)

In Sunday's lesson we completed the Book of Ephesians and introduced our new series - HAPPINESS.

The war we fight is not of this world. It is a war against the "principalities, ...powers, ...rulers of the darkness of this world, ...spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places." (v. 12)

As the angel Gabriel told Daniel, "God has heard your prayers... I have come in answer to your prayers. The [evil] angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me..." (Daniel 10:12-13)

As Daniel fasted and prayed for forgiveness for himself and Israel, Gabriel was at war with, what was most likely, an evil spiritual entity that wielded authority over the ancient kingdom of Persia. The resistance was so great that Gabriel had to call on the powerful archangel Michael for help. This is the same archangel Michael that, in the New Testament, leads God's armies against Satan's forces in the Book of Revelation, where during the war in heaven he defeats Satan.

There is an invisible, on-going war between good and evil. Countless numbers of angels fight for God's honor and glory. When we petition God with our prayers, He orders His angels into battle, just as we read in the Book of Daniel, Gabriel said: "God has heard your prayers... I [Gabriel] have come in answer to your prayers." The fight is "not against flesh and blood [but] against wickedness in high places." 

To be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, we must "Put on..." and "take up... the whole armor of God." (v. 11, 13). We must put on truth [knowing the content of God's truth], righteousness [take sin seriously], and peace [be at peace with God and confident of His love for us] and take up faith [faith in God as One who never fails us], salvation [in the coming glorification], and the Holy Spirit (Word of God) [the rhema - uttered, spoken, and used Word of God].

During His three temptations in the desert, Jesus resisted Satan with the rhema--spoken Word of God. Three times He rebuked Satan by saying, "It is written..." We must do the same when temptation comes.

"All men naturally hunger and thirst after happiness." (J.C. Ryle)

During this series, we will explore many practical and Biblical applications that will pull back the curtain on happiness. It is a hot topic that has been aggressively researched and written about during the last 10 years. Interestingly, the science of happiness was well documented in the Bible long before secular psychologists began to "discover" the wonderful results of positive psychology.

In our introduction to Happiness, we looked at the 5 Laws of Happiness and the 4 Relational Habits of Happiness. I pointed out that happiness is found by being, not by doing, and happiness starts with relationships.

This series promises to be very satisfying and encouraging! Next week I will show you how, in only 2 minutes per day for 21 days, you can "rewire" your brain (and your children) for happiness.

BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Ephesians 6:10-20 (Part I)

There are lines all around us. In sporting events lines are there to keep the game in play (side lines and scrimmage lines in football; court boundary lines, half court line, and foul line in basketball; lane lines in swimming; baselines and batters box lines in softball and baseball). Although some lines we want to cross (goal line, finish line, outfield fence line, etc.), most are there to keep us safe (edge lines and center lines on a street, double yellow or solid lines on a highway; pedestrian crosswalk lines, etc.).

In the aviation world, pilots hold the highest respect for the many lines separating taxiways from runways. At a busy airport such as Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), dozens, if not hundreds, of airplanes might be taxiing for takeoff at one of the airport's seven runways, while at the same time, airplanes are landing on multiple runways every minute. Crossing the wrong line at the wrong time could be disastrous.

ORD Airport Diagram

For the Christian, God has put in place spiritual lines designed to keep us safe from emotional, mental, and physical attacks from the enemy (Satan). When we cross the lines that lead us into the wilderness of sin, we become separated from God's purpose for our lives; we lose our way; we damage our soul; our spirit grows cold toward spiritual things. If we remain on the wrong side of God's protective line, we risk the chance of being swept away into regret so deeply that we might never find our way back. Although God is always ready to lead us back into His purpose, prolonged time spent on the wrong side of God's line becomes Satan's greatest opportunity to inflict his greatest blows: discouragement and doubt.

In today's lesson we looked at the six pieces of spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:14-17) that will keep us safe when we nudge up against God's lines of protection. I also gave you some practical applications of how God's powerful pieces of armament are used in our lives to avoid Satan's flaming arrows of immorality, idolatry, hatred, anger, covetousness, pride, doubt, fear, despair, distrust, and other temptations.

Paul reminded his readers that the Christian's struggle is against not only Satan himself, but also the host of his demon subordinates--a vast army of adversaries, who, like the devil, are not made of flesh and blood. Our greatest enemy is not the world we see, corrupt and wicked as it is, but the world we cannot see.

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)

One of Satan's most effective strategies--and one of a believer's greatest dangers--is the delusion that there is no seriously threatening conflict raging between good and evil in the invisible and supernatural realm. This thinking is not only naive but will lead the Christian to lethargy, indifference, and spiritual stagnation.

The battle we fight is one that only God can win, and victory is ours when we "take up" and "put on" the full armor of God. However, His strength is appropriated only through obedience.

In the great spiritual warfare in which we do battle, we are called only to resist and stand firm. James said, "Resit the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). Peter counseled us to "be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith" (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Take seriously God's spiritual lines of protection just as you would the double yellow line on the highway approaching a curve or hill. The consequences of being on the wrong side of the line should provide you all the motivation you need.