If You’re Happy and You Know It . . .

Acts 11:23 says, “Who, when he came, and had seen the Grace of God, WAS GLAD.”

Unfortunately, in too many churches today, it has to be said about so many born-again Christians, those who claim to have seen God’s grace, too often come to church either Mad, Sad, or even Bad!

But when Barnabas saw the grace of God, the Bible says he was Glad.  That word glad means “happy.”  I’m not saying here that after you’ve seen Grace you’ll be laughing and giggling all the time – but Praise God!  You ought to be happy sometimes AMEN!

I just believe that God enjoys looking down and seeing His people enjoying the fellowship of each other.  God likes to see His people smile once and awhile.

Psalms 16:11 says, “In my presence is fullness of joy and at my right hand are pleasures evermore.”  HEY CHURCH – God wants to see you smile!

One of the greatest things about being a Christian is that we can have a good time and still lay our heads down at night and get a good night’s sleep with a clear conscience and a clear heart!

There’s just too many Christians living their lives like all they have to look forward to is the destination.

And listen now, we’ve got a wonderful destination ahead of us, but Praise God we can enjoy the journey getting there!

Let me illustrate this point to you:  Now I am psychologically scarred from an early age and it all stems from taking family vacations.  Our family vacations went something like this:

1. Pick a destination;
2. Get to the destination as quickly as possible;
3. If you’ve been this place before, get there quicker the next time.

My daddy was blessed with an over-sized bladder, I’m sure of it.  On our family vacations, Dad would be driving as hard as he could, and we would beg my daddy to pull over so we could use the bathroom.  He would always say, “Hold it – it’s good for you.”

Needless to say, there was nothing enjoyable about our trip to the destination.  What I’m trying to tell you Church is that it’s OK to enjoy the trip AMEN.

And even when you don’t feel like laughing, and even when things are hard – you can still have that inner peace.  And no matter what happens on the trip, we’ve still got the destination!

I just believe when you’ve seen God’s Grace, it will make you happy!  And I think the world needs to see God’s people happy for a change!  When Barnabas had seen God’s grace, he was Happy.  “If you’re happy and you know it . . .”