Sharing the happiness of God, part 19, Definition; John 15:11.

Title: Sharing the happiness of God, part 19, Definition; John 15:11.

 

John 15:9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.

 

John 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

 

John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

 

 

The Doctrine of the Happiness of God.

 

1. Definition: Happiness is the enjoyment of and pleasure in one’s status, circumstances, and relationships in life, which are not altered by outside changes.

 

a. Happiness is the contentment of knowing that all things are fulfilled in one’s life and that there is no need to search out more.

 

For this entire doctrine, when I refer to happiness, I will be referring to the happiness of God. False forms of this, as in the temporary happiness of mankind that depends on circumstances, will be referred to as pseudo-happiness.

 

Yet for this to be true it has to be real. I can try and convince myself that I need nothing else. Many have gone out into the wilderness and lived off the land with bare minimum survival in an attempt to cleanse themselves from desire. And in some respects they are successful to an extent, but it is a constant struggle. If you truly need nothing else then it wouldn’t matter if you were living in the jungle or in Manhattan. If I’m truly contented with status, circumstances, and relationships in life would it matter if I was surrounded by different forms of these things, or more of them?

The same becomes true of your relationship with God.

 

b. Happiness is being convinced that your communion with God is enough. This is what the scripture calls “contentment.”

 

And it’s silly to even make that point, though for us as fallen creatures, it must be made. God is infinite. How could He therefore not be enough? To say that I need more than God is to say that He does not fill all, when He definitely does by nature of His own essence.

 

Eph 4:6

one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

 

1 Tim 6:6 But godliness[doing what is pleasing to God, in agreement with God, walking in the light or living the spiritual life]actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment [noun – autarkeia].

 

1 Tim 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

 

1 Tim 6:8 And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

 

 “content” – avrke,w [arkeo; future passive indicative] = to be sufficient, to be possessed of sufficient strength, to be strong, to be enough. [apply all]

 

God is enough and will provide logistical grace.

 

The same verb is used in:

Heb 13:5

Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

 

Arkeo is also used in 2Co 12:9:

 

2 Cor 12:8 Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

 

2 Cor 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

 

 “My grace is [arkeo = sufficient, strong enough, all you need] for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

 

This indicates that God’s work is enough, so I don’t need anything else.

 

2 Cor 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

In verse 10, “content” is not the same word.

 

 2Cor 12:10; “content” – euvdoke,w[eudokeo] = to be well pleased, to think it good, or to take pleasure in.

 

Phil 4:11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

 

 “content” – auvta,rkhj[autarkes] = self-sufficient, adequate, needing no assistance, independent of external circumstances.

 

By saying that he “learned” to be content means that BD has given him to the key to contentment, and in verse 12 it is specifically the mystery doctrine of the NT that has done this.

 

Phil 4:12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

 

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

 

Therefore, from these verses we find that contentment results from:

 

The spiritual life (1Ti 6:6), logistical grace support (1Ti 6:8), the indwelling of God (Heb 13:5), God’s grace work (2Cor 12:9), and mystery doctrine (Phil 4:11).

 

Where in all this is the money, houses, cars, promotions, fame, reputation, relationships, physical stimulation, etc. It’s not there. Notice what is there. These are supernatural things made specifically for the immaterial part of man (soul and spirit) that emanates directly from God.   

 

c. Therefore, contentment becomes a technical word for capacity for life.

 

As we define happiness we must understand that happiness comes in gradient fashion, and it begins at spiritual adulthood.

 

Initial happiness at SSE becomes intense happiness at SA and supreme happiness at SM. As we know more about the source of happiness (TLJC) we experience more of it.

 

Happiness depends entirely on your capacity for it. If God decided to overcome  your volition, He would pour the full extent of it directly into you, but this is not possible in such a conflict as we have, requiring our free will.

 

With our free will, though the desire is constant in God's heart to give us His happiness He cannot initially since no capacity exists. Just like we may have a desire to execute the plan of God for our lives at the beginning, but we don't know enough to really accomplish it, so God desires to fill us with His happiness, but is limited by our own capacity to really enjoy it.