HAPPINESS BEGET SUCCESS NOT OTHERWISE

EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 2, No. 36 – Monday, 4th September, 2017

(Isaiah 12:1-6, Nehemiah 8:10)
HAPPINESS BEGET SUCCESS NOT OTHERWISE

The footballing world stood in utter amazement last week Thursday. Not because the transfer window for sales, transfers or loans of players from one football club to another finally came to a close, but because Alex Oxley Chamberlain shocked the footballing world with his applaudable personal philosophy.
This outstanding player, Alex Oxley Chamberlain was until Thursday, August 31, an Arsenal FC central midfield player. Facts have it that all efforts made by Arsenal FC to retain him as their player for the ongoing season proved abortive.
Indeed, a pay-rise of E180,000 (one hundred and eighty thousand Pounds) was offered to Chamberlain. But to everyone’s utter-shock, this pay-rise was turned down. Instead, the player opted to move to another football club, Liverpool FC for a pay-cut of E60,000 (sixty thousand Pounds ) less.
Unbelievable you will say! Accepting E120,000 (one hundred and twenty thousand Pounds) in the stead of E180,000 (one hundred and eighty thousand pounds). What could really have informed this somewhat bizarre decision by the calculation of many?
When Alex Oxley Chamberlain was questioned for his reason to turn in the direction of a lesser pay, his response was attention-sustaining for the thoughtful. Chamberlain noted: ‘it is happiness that breeds success; success does not bring happiness. I took the decision because of peace’.

Truly, a happy mind is a mind able to think straight. A bitter or troubled mind is visionless: a visionless mind is certainly clueless about the next direction in life to pursue. Truly, there is no ailment so destructive as innate sorrow.
There is no contest against the astute maxim that: a bitter or troubled mind beget an ugly face. The mind is the man. Isn’t it? The mind is the seat of beauty. No matter how ugly one’s face may be, if there is inner beauty combined with happiness, all who see such ugly face will soon be carried away by the inner beauty.
Undoubtedly, happiness expresses the beauty of the human soul and face. Dearly beloved, are you aware that no lady in her right senses will give her hand in marriage to the most handsome man but who is ever wearing an unhappy look?
Do you know your appearance and state of your face is often considered by intelligent bank managers before giving out any loans? Are you aware that your happiness determines even the move of the Spirit of God on your situation?
Bitterness or sorrow of the heart is sometimes the companion of unbelief and fear. No wonder, the Scriptures informs in Isaiah 12:3 that: ‘with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation’.
Ever wonder why the Holy Scripture enjoins in Nehemiah 8:10 that ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength’?

The simple reason and interpretation is like reading that same Scripture as though stating: ‘it is your joyful heart that strengthens or triggers the delight of the Lord in equally strengthening you’.
Strength in this verse of the Scripture is a reference to blessing. In another sense then, Nehemiah 8:10 means that when you make the Lord happy, He blesses you in return. God is the water of salvation.
This is the reason it states in Isaiah 12:3 that when you come to the Lord with joy, in praise and with a state of heart ready to receive, you cannot but be blessed of Him. The question however is, how can you make the Lord happy when in actual fact you are not happy yourself?
Is it not happiness which triggers happiness? Be rest assured dearly beloved, you cannot serve God or please Him without a happy state of heart. So then, happiness is the key to unlocking the greatest treasury of both man and God.
It is a well-established statement of fact that success produces happiness or state of joy. But such happiness is an aftermath. Something by the name of happiness is the precondition for success.
A gun is used for shooting through the use of bullet but not without a trigger and the target is successfully gained.

If there is a gun and indeed available bullets; what if there is no trigger button? Will the target be attained? Will there be any effect despite the presence of the gun and the bullets?
Happiness like the trigger button of a gun is the key. You cannot run a car from one city to another without its tires affix. So also success cannot be attained without the preconditioning fuel of happiness.
Unfortunately, happiness never follows a natural cause. It will often require a conscious choice. Unfortunately still, the reverse side of happiness is a natural phenomenon especially as soon as disasters or as soon as unhappy situations begins.

In the end therefore, my brother my sister, I caution and at the same time prophesy: stop being unhappy; you will soon be joyfully married.

Stop being unhappy, you will deliver that child safely and the package will come with prosperity.

Stop being unhappy, your children will not fail.

Stop being unhappy, your children will succeed and successfully be married in the perfect will of God.

Stop being unhappy, your ministry and career will not fail.

Stop being unhappy, you will not eat the bread of sorrow any more.

Stop being unhappy, your delay in child-bearing is because a special one will be born through you. Don’t you know that you will be compensated for every loss and delay?

Stop being unhappy, what the enemy intended for you and your ministry will be in the end their lot and the lot of their children. Forget about those wearing black clothes and going to meetings at nights all because of your calling and ministry’s programme. The face of the Lord is set against them already, not only them but their children and their children’s future.

Stop being unhappy, you are not going to die as that dream has informed. You will arrive at your destination safely; not your own blood will the enemy drink. Christ is closely watching and praying for you.

Stay happy always for there are no better drugs available to man other than good food and cheerful laughter from a cheerful heart.

HAPPINESS MIXED WITH HOLINESS COMBINED WITH A PRAYER WRENCHED HEART ARE THE FUELS THAT FIRE THE EVER EFFECTIVE HAND OF GOD INTO UNSTOPPABLE ACTION. UNHAPPINESS IS THE CONTRARY. IT WILL RATHER PRODUCE THE EVIL PROGRAMMED BY THE ENEMY.

Altar call: Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Psalm 54 in closing and pray more).

Hymn: Blessed Assurance

Pray now:
1. Repent for being unhappy, blaming the Lord and for being discouraged.

2. Read Psalm 6 and ask the Lord to heal your heart of every sorrow.

3. O God, give me grace for a joyful heart.

4. Father, do for me those things that will cause me to rejoice sweetly.

5. Pray for the forthcoming Conference; that the agenda of evil gatherers and dark powers be frustrated.

6. I am led to tell the man or the lady/woman called by the name: Toyin, to give more praise to the Almighty God.

Shalom and remain blessed.

Pastor Mike