HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to "Try Jesus!" If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining "Try Jesus."

I would also like to welcome those in Montana, Oregon, Indiana, New Mexico, Florida, California, Ohio, and Louisiana. It is a pleasure to have you with us today. The Lord continues to expand his word!

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."  (Psalm 122:1 KJV). The Lord is indescribable and uncontainable. We gather to seek him above all today. He is an amazing God!

Our Lord continues to pave the way for the righteous. Authentic born-again believers shall not be moved from his mighty guiding hand! The Lord is our rock and our salvation this morning! He is our defense against ungodliness.

How many of you did some peace seeking since last week? Are you still seeking for a piece of this already broken world? If you are, you'll be lost and broken just like it is. We are to seek a different kind of peace. (Psalm 34:14).

The peace of God is far better. It's so better, it passes all understanding. His peace surpasses all the intellectual faculty and understanding of our minds. We simply embrace it and glorify God for giving it to us. Let's pray.

"Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving of abundant life this morning. We thank you for watching over us and keeping us safe in this morally decayed environment. Thank you for blessing us with your presence.

Even as we walk through trials and disturbance from the enemy, you continue to lift our spirit because we walk by faith, not sight. As we did last week, we continue to pray for our brave service members. Lord, watch over them

As we did so last week, we thank you for the technology that brings us together across distances. Though we are not in the same room, we are united in spirit. We invite your presence into our homes and ask that you would draw hearts.

Lord, open "TRY JESUS" to those who are seeking for answers that would fulfill their empty hurting hearts. Holy Spirit, fill the pages of this online ministry this morning, drawing those who have lost all hope in life.

Lord, I thank you for drawing many today with your loving kindness. May homes and families experience newness of joy from your presence. Lord, guide us into all truth, in Jesus’ name, Amen."

Many of you own watches that keep time right where you can access it, on your person. Newer smart watches come with everything for your personal lifestyle. They are more than just timekeepers.

I've used a Fitbit before, but never went the full on buying one of those smart watches that do everything your phone does. Plus, you may charge your smart watch more often. Sounds like extra work around just keeping time.

We live in a fast-paced technological advancement on electronic devices. Some of you may remember the "Timex" slogan, "It takes a lick'in and keeps on ticking." This advisement simply meant that the watch is extremely durable.

This watch was portrayed as being rugged and capable of operating normally even after severe handling, stress, or damage to it. The Timex company promoted their watches as having high endurance and reliability.

They took pride in proclaiming their watches could withstand torture tests and continue to keep ticking on the world's timetable. I used to think how great that would be if we could live our lives like these impenetrable devices.

Many of you might remember the vintage "Timex Smily Face" watches in the 90's. Those Smily watches were definitely dependable, tough, durable, rugged, resilient, Shock-resistant, and long lasting.

You could drop the watch or some vehicle run over it and maybe break the acrylic cover, it would still keep ticking. We live in a world today where we need that durable lifestyle in the face of a quickly declining moral society.

With a nation that is pulling away from Judeo-Christian values, how do we keep that "Smily Face" demeanor in the midst of an decaying sinful nation that seems more anti-God than it was 30 or 50 years ago?

Please don't misunderstand my views this morning. I praise God for young children up to college young adults who are turning to Jesus. But the severity of persecution against the body of Christ continues to escalate.

The born-again believers share a moral, ethical, and social foundation derived from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the New Testament. True Christians heavily influence Western civilization. These core principles are solid pillars.

True believers will not vacillate or be moved on issues pertaining to the sanctity of human life, (babies in the womb also), moral truths, individual responsibility, justice, compassion, and the importance of family.

The Ten Commandments involving love for God and others covers all. It speaks out when murder, theft, and adultery erode our communities, cities, states, and our nation as a whole. (Proverbs 14:34).

You can throw all the programs, money, medication, therapy, bail reforms, and any other scientific position to a hostile heart and environment, and it will still fail the human heart. Why? Because unless you bring Jesus into it, it fails.

It might have some band-aid feel good stories, but in most cases, you continue to see the hard-hearted continue to reoffend and relapse right back into the evil that is drawing them. Adding Jesus to the hurting heart is always beneficial.

So, with all the mess that's in our nation today, how do we (Christian's), the church approach societal failing moral sinful issues? I would say it starts with a smile. Jesus said something very important to his disciples.

He told them he was sending them out as sheep among wolves. If you have God's love letter this morning, please read the following passages into your spirit, family, or study group. God's word is alive and breathing life today.

2} "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. 3} Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. (Luke 10:2-3 KJV).

Right away, when you look at the tale of this dual match up, you think, it’s over in the first round. It's an unfair battle. Wolves go for the throat. But please allow me to remind you my beloved friends about the story of David and Goliath.

He are the words David used when confronting Goliath. 43} "And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44} And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

45} Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46} This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the; Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47} And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:43-47 KJV).

Notice how David didn't have to use worldly tactics to defeat Goliath. David trusted more in God than his own abilities. His faith in God endured through his life. Yes, he failed at times, but he was a man after God's heart.

David continued to have confidence in God, no matter the circumstances. Jesus' disciples had the same confidence at the day of Pentecost and beyond. Please read these encouraging passages. (Acts 4:13-20, 31; 5:29-33).

Here's what the religious teacher of law, Gamaliel told the others. 38} "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39} But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (Acts 5:38-39 KJV).

Did you get those last few words? Gamaliel knew who had given these men such boldness to stand against the persecution that came against them. When unbelievers or even religious people attack God's people, they are fighting against God.

It's a losing battle. God is undefeated against evil. This is why Christians that stay close to Jesus can smile and continue to be joyful in the midst of persecution. They are like that vintage "Timex Smily Watch."

They continue to take a lick'in from those Satan is using and continue to stand and keep on ticking. Jesus told his disciples to let their light (His light) shine before all men. (Matthew 5:14-16). This was done even during adversity.

Many times in the book of Acts, the disciples and others rejoiced for being able to suffer for the cause of Christ and spreading the Good News. Not just any feel good news, but the news that could transform lives on the inside.

My beloved friends, please read these passages into your spirit for strength and encouragement. 40} "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41} And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42} And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:40-42 KJV).

49} "And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50} But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

51} But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52} And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.(Acts 13:49-52 KJV).

23} "And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24} Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25} And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." (Acts 16:23-25 KJV).

Please also read in your quiet devotion time, (Philippians 1:15-18; Colossians 1:23-29; 2 Corinthians 6:4-10). You see beloved, the disciples and Paul viewed persecution as a privilege and an opportunity to share the gospel.

They would fit right in with the lyrics to that popular secular song entitled, "Don't Worry, Be Happy!" Just like the Timex Smily Watch," they were happy to suffer for the sake of the gospel. They experienced profound joy over despair.

They found joy and peace remaining close to Jesus. These moments indicate that the disciples' and Paul's confidence was not self-derived but a direct result of their reliance on the Holy Spirit. This joy was infectious.

Some much that others wanted to know how to have what they had. (Acts 16:27-34). So, you want happiness in your life? Your tired of being sad and miserable. Your life is always filled with depression, anxiety, anger, and loneliness.

How do you acquire all this happiness regardless of your circumstances? You can find only in one person, but three. That just means God is your source of finding true happiness in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

If you try to find happiness in God and reject Jesus, your fulfillment of happiness will be incomplete and you will be like Pharisees. If you reject the Holy Spirit, you'll be like a beautiful flower in the desert without water.

Water symbolizes the cleansing, refreshing, and bringing spiritual life to those wandering through life in a dry barren land. If your unhappy today, turn to Jesus. Please read these verses into your thirsting soul.

☆ (John 3:3-8). Others to read. (John  4:14; 7:37–39; Isaiah 44:1-6; Ezekiel 36:25-28; Joel 2:28-32; Proverbs 1:23-33). God's "living water" represents a flowing, abundant spiritual life. It provides fruit Galatians 5:22- 26).

The word joy in the New Testament