The search for happiness

by David Long

Have you found happiness in life? Many people search for it but don't find it. Why? Because like the old country song "looking for love in all the wrong places", they are looking for happiness in all the wrong situations and things.
"I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me. I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun" (Eccl. 2:1-11).
True happiness is not found in things!

Walk as children of light

by David Long

"For this Ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. Be not Ye therefore partakers with them; For Ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light" (Eph. 5:5-8). So much being said in these four verses. The part I want to notice is what is said of Christians. Christians are not to be partakers with the sons of disobedience. Christians were once in darkness but now they are light in the Lord and are to walk as children of light.

Bow the knee

by David Long

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).
If we don't bow here, we will on Judgment Day but it will be too late then to be saved. Submission to God will happen one way or another.
"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:11-12).

I believe God

by David Long

"And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island" (Acts 27:20-26).
The apostle Paul said he believed God. We may believe in God but do we believe God? Today God speaks to us through His word, the Bible. Do you believe it? Many people today will say they believe in God but they reject the Bible or at least some parts of it that they don't like. Just believing in God won't get one to heaven, we must believe God.

ignorance that is in them

by David Long

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that Ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But Ye did not so learn Christ; if so be that Ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: that Ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; and that Ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth" (Eph. 4:17-24). Here's the message: stop living like the world. Notice the phrase, "alienated from the life of God." How? Through ignorance and a hard heart. Notice the lifestyle that produces: lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Fear Him

by David Long

"And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him" (Lk. 12:4-5). We have been forewarned. If we don't heed the warning we will suffer the consequences. Don't die lost. Don't die in sin. Get your life right with God. Obey the gospel (Lk. 13:3; Rom. 6:3-4). We have been warned!

Access to God

by David Long

Do you have access to God? Most people probably think they do but unless you are in Christ, you don't have access.
"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph. 2:18).
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1-2).
John 14:6
 "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
Get the picture?

dwelling place

by David Long

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19-22). God has a dwelling place, it's the church of Christ. You want to be a member of the household or family of God? Then become a member of the church of Christ (1 Tim. 3:15).

Pain relief

by David Long

As far as I know no one likes pain. I know I don't. When we do have pain we seek pain relief. When it comes to physical pain we get pain relief through medicine or also called "pain killers." Depending on the kind of pain sometimes physical therapy brings pain relief. Regardless of the kind of pain one thing is for sure, we desire pain relief. You know one of the reasons why I don't want to die lost? Because there will be no pain relief. "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence" (Lk. 16:22-26).

Peace

by David Long

"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph. 2:16-18). True peace is found in the one body of Christ, which is the church of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). This is the the cure for the divisions in our society. Reconciliation happens in the one body of Christ. There is no reconciliation outside the body of Christ. Blessed are the peacemakers (Matt. 5:9). What kind of peace? The kind peace talked about in Eph. 2. That's the only peace that matters. 

One

by David Long

"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Eph. 4:3-6). Unity of the Spirit involves the one's listed here: one body or church (Eph. 1:22-23); one Holy Spirit; one hope (Titus 1:2; 3:7; Col. 1:5); one Lord Jesus Christ; one faith (Jude 3); one baptism (water baptism, immersion in water Acts 8:36-39; 10:47); one God and Father. These are ones that true unity is bases on.

One new man

by David Long

God has a plan for unity among people. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph. 2:13-19). God didn't just combine two groups, He created a new group (2 Cor. 5:17).

Covenant relationship

by David Long

Israel of the Old Testament had a covenant relationship with God (Dt. 5:1-3). What did that mean? It meant that they were God's people and being God's people had responsibilities and privileges. The Gentiles did not share in the covenant (Eph. 2:12). Today God has new covenant and when one becomes a Christian (Jew or Gentile) they are in covenant relationship with God (Eph. 2:13-16). Jesus shed His blood to establish the new covenant (Matt. 26:28). Read Hebrews chapters 8-12 for an in depth study of the old covenant vs the new covenant. If we want to go to heaven we must be in covenant relationship with God. If we want our prayers to be heard we must be in covenant relationship with God. To be in covenant relationship with God one must be in Christ. How does one get into Christ? Read Gal. 3:27 and Rom. 6:3-4.

In Christ

by David Long

Here's a list of some of the things that are in Christ.

1. All spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).
2. Redemption (Eph. 1:7).
3. An inheritance (Eph. 11).
4. Grace (2 Tim. 2:1).
5. Salvation (2 Tim. 2:10).
6. Promise of life (2 Tim .1:1).
7. Hope (1 Cor. 15:19).
8. Accepted (Eph. 1:6).

If we want to have these things we must be in Christ. How does one get into Christ? "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27).

Lawlessness

by David Long

"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matt. 7:23).
"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4).
"You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness" (Heb. 1:9).
Get the point?