11-27-2016
"The Happiness Trap"
1 John 2.15-3.1

THE HAPPINESS TRAP 1 John 2. 15 – 3.1 I.  WE ALL LONG FOR A FAIRY TALE ENDING- “________ EVER AFTER.” II.  THREE HAPPINESS TRAPS ARE MENTIONED HERE: A.  1st Happiness Trap is: The _____ of the flesh- ___________ B.  2nd Happiness Trap is: The lust of the ______-  Possessions C.  3rd Happiness Trap: The ______ of life- ­­­­­­­­­­­__________ III.  MESSAGE TODAY HAS 2 GOALS: A.  A ________-  beware of the deadly traps.  B.   A word of _____________ IV.  SO HOW DOES A PERSON PURSUE ETERNAL “HAPPY EVER AFTER A.   (V. 24) - “See that what you have heard from the beginning _______ in you…”   * Q- What is  heard from the beginning?  *  A- The truth about Jesus Christ, and the gift of eternal life He offers  B.  (v. 27) - “The anointing you received from him remains in you…remain in him.” *  Q- What is the anointing?  *  A- The Holy Spirit, The Comforter…the One who lives in us continually. *  Q- How does one “remain in him? *  A- Stay ______– continue to worship and pray and trust. C.  (V. 28) - And now, dear children, _________ in him… *  We must hold strongly to the truth we know…even when the voices of pleasure, and possessions, and prestige call very loudly. *  We must continue to put Jesus first. He must be Lord over everything V.  JOHN REMINDS OF GOD’S PROMISES:  A.  “This is what he promised us- even __________ life.”  (v.25) B.  “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called _________ of God! And that is what we are!  (I John 3.1) C.  Walking with the Lord, and remaining in Him has marvelous benefits *  A genuine happiness *  Peace *  A powerful amazing realization of the Father’s love