Avoiding the Downward Spiral

Introduction

When I was in grade school, I had a teacher, Mrs. Tower. She was tough as nails, but for some reason she liked me. She was an eccentric older woman, with a no nonsense way of running her classroom. She was direct and to the point. She had a big thing for penmanship, and guess what? I have always had very bad handwriting. She used to bemoan the fact that penmanship was not being given the attention she thought it deserved, and not only that, she was unhappy that the fountain pen had been replaced by the ball point pen. It was her belief that a fountain pen helped improve your handwriting in two ways. First of all, it caused you to slow down and focus on your pen strokes, because the ink went on wet and if you were too hasty with your writing, you could smudge the ink. The second reason is that over time, the nib begins to adjust to your style of writing and thereby improve your handwriting. To that end, she encouraged us to use fountain pens, and even offered to get us pens. We simply gave her the $5 and she got us a Schrieffer “Cartridge Pen” and any color ink we desired, as long as it wasn’t turquoise because that’s the color she used to grade our papers. You could tell who her students were by the constant presence of ink on the inside of our middle finger. In fact, since then I have preferred fountain pens, and for a great portion of my life I’ve owned or more, and like Mrs. Tower, I have adopted my own signature color of ink - usually some very dark green.

What difference does any of this make in today’s world where penmanship is no longer taught and keyboarding skills reign supreme, and what does any of this have to do with today’s sermon? Well, a funny thing happened to me, In my job, I find myself increasingly dependent on hand written notes to keep track of the different cases I’m working on with my engineers, and well there have been a few times where I’ve been unable to read my own chicken scratch. Well, I still have the ink-stained finger, but some old habits die hard, and I never got over the chicken scratch. So I’ve been practicing my penmanship. Slowing down, taking the time to write out the alphabet in an effort to improve my penmanship. The problem is, that gets boring. So instead, I’ve taken to writing out scripture verses, and earlier this week I was writing out Psalms. Psalm 1 to be exact.

Today I want to share with you what I noticed about this Psalm, because if you look at it closely it maps out the disintegration of a person in three basic steps. It’s exciting because it shows us how a person self-destructs first spiritually and then emotionally before finally blowing up physically. Why am I excited about seeing someone blow up? Well, I’m not particularly, but if we can take something out of this cautionary tale, we can heed its admonition against keeping bad company, which is the core issue.

To be sure, this first Psalm could yield quite a few sermons from just the first verse alone. In fact, I had originally planned to do this in three parts, but I think God has a new series on our horizon, so instead, I’ll try to keep it as succinct as possible because the wisdom gleaned from this particular Psalm is strong medicine against the very thing that so easily besets us.

So let’s look together:

Psalm 1:1 TLV

Happy is the one who has not walked in the advice of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of scoffers.

The Company You Keep

When I was growing up, I could always tell what friends my sister had been hanging out with because of how she acted and talked. If she’d been around Becka she was a bit on the moody side, when she was around Jackie she was more laid-back and sweet.

George Washington said, “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.”

The old saying “Bad company corrupts good character,” is more than just a catchy saying, it’s biblical truth.

And in truth, this is the admonition of this passage.

The Apostle Paul warned the believers against forging any type of relationship with unsaved people.

2 Corinthians 6:14 TLV

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

But we believers, know this and we avoid these situations, don’t we? I mean none of us has ever been led astray by someone from our past. Or worse yet another believer who isn’t acting very Christ-like. We have never been wrongly influenced have we? Well we can laugh and joke, but if we are honest with ourselves, we have all been taken in from time to time.

We’ve all been caught, and I can prove it to you right from Psalm 1. But as we look at it, I want us not to focus on the tragedy that befalls the man, I want us to look at all the warning signs, and avoid those. Now, rather than paint the picture of a person coming undone, the psalmist is instead choosing to focus on what it’s like for someone to be avoiding these pitfalls.

You may have noticed that this Bible translation uses the word “happy”. You may see the word Blessed in your bibles, and while blessed is not a bad translation at all, it has a very religious connotation to it. It gives the understanding of some special religious favor or something, like when Jacob blessed his 10 sons and the two sons of Joseph, but in this case the Hebrew word is ashrei which is better translated as “happy”, but not a giddy or silly happy, rather a calm and serene contentment. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how to achieve this contentment or happiness.

What is the first thing we need to be looking for?

Watch Where You Walk

Psalm 1:1 (TLV)

Happy is the one

who has not walked in

the advice of the wicked,

The man who walks in the counsel of the ungodly has done two things. First, he has purposefully set himself in motion (walking) in a set direction and he has accepted the counsel of the ungodly.

He has made a conscious decision to walk on a path and accept the values and opinions of the ungodly.

What does this look like, why do people do it, and how does it happen?

This usually comes about from a desire to fit in or be included. It usually takes the form of listening to gossip, or it can look like the business man who has had trouble succeeding in business and takes advice from the top sales person and accepts his methods as just being “the way it’s done.” It can take the form of a husband asking for the advice of non-Christian friends when they have trouble in their marriage.

Whatever form it takes, two things have happened.

You have purposefully set yourself on a path.

You have accepted their values, opinions and beliefs.

The problem is that we walk around in the World, thinking we have to play by their rules, but we know that the Earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, why then do we allow ourselves to be led around by the nose? It’s because we don’t know what exactly God has given us. We don’t know where to walk. So if you’re really interested in getting the most out of the life God has called you to, I’m about to share with you one of the most amazing keys to the kingdom. Are you ready?

Genesis 13:14–17 TLV

After Lot separated himself from him, Adonai had said to Abram, “lift up your eyes, now, and look from the place where you are, to the north, south, east and west. For all the land that you are looking at, I will give to you and to your seed forever. I will make your seed like the dust of the earth so that if one could count the dust of the earth, then your seed could also be counted. Get up! Walk about the land through its length and width—for I will give it to you.”

But pastor, wait! That is not my promise, that’s Abraham’s promise, and what’s more is I’m not even Jewish. Well I’m glad you brought up that point.

Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about that promise – that inheritance, shall we?

Galatians 3:26–29 TLV

For you are all sons of God through trusting in Messiah Yeshua. For all of you who were immersed in Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed—heirs according to the promise.

See? It says right there, that you are heirs according to what promise? The promise to Abraham! So then where should we be walking? In our inheritance! Do you see it? We shouldn’t be walking any place other than the place God has given us to walk. It’s not a bad place actually. In fact truth be known it is more than just a place.

Psalm 16:5–11 TLV

Adonai is my portion and my cup. You cast my lot. My boundary lines fall in pleasant places —surely my heritage is beautiful. I will bless Adonai, who counsels me. Even at night my heart instructs me. I have set Adonai always before me. Since He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. So my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. My body also rests secure. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol nor let Your faithful one see the Pit. You make known to me the path of life. Abundance of joys are in Your presence, eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

So the what is our inheritance?

The inheritance he has given us is God Himself. Look at verse 7. It says I will bless the Lord who has given me what? COUNSEL!

Verse 8 says the psalmist has set the Lord before him. Basically he has locked on to God like a laser, and refuses to look to the left or the right- he has looked to God and not to his circumstances.

Remember what happens when we take our eyes off of Jesus?

Matthew 14:25–30 TLV

Now in the fourth watch of the night, Yeshua came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It’s a ghost!” And they cried out with fear. But immediately, Yeshua spoke to them, saying, “Take courage! I am. Don’t be afraid.” Answering, Peter said to Him, “Master, if it’s You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Yeshua. But seeing the wind, he became terrified. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Master, save me!”

When we keep our gaze upon Jesus, we are able to do the miraculous. When we take our eyes off of Him, we inevitably start to sink.

Go back to verse 7 of Psalm 16. It is during the night season specifically that we are instructed by God. So we are without excuse. We are to always seek after the Lord. Always seek after the counsel of God before doing anything. Notice that Peter did not just jump out of the boat and run to Jesus. He first required a word from Jesus telling him to walk on the water!

Verse 11 says that He shows us the path of life. If He shows us life, what do you thing the ungodly shows us? Where does that path lead? Where should we then, be walking?

Finally He offers us pleasures forever more. The ungodly can offer us instant gratification, instant pleasure, but it will not last. Only God can give us pleasure that lasts forever.

Where We Stand

Psalm 1:1 (TLV)

… nor stood in the way of sinners,

The next caution is against standing in the path of sinners. Here we could have a couple more things happen. The danger is in moving from merely seeking the counsel of the ungodly, to taking a stand with sinners. Why is that significant?

Let’s look at the definitions.

Stand- to remain stationary or inactive; to take up or maintain a specified position or posture.

Path- a way of life, conduct, or thought

After taking the unwise counsel of the ungodly, the next slope in the downward spiral is to stand in the path of sinners. Or the dictionary definition: to take up or maintain a specified position or posture and to adopt the way or life, conduct or thought of the sinner.

What exactly is that path?

John 8:44 TLV

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks lies he is just being himself—for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Where then should we be standing?

Romans 5:2–4 TLV

Through Him we also have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of God’s glory. And not only that, but we also boast in suffering—knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Where We Sit

Psalm 1:1 (TLV)

...nor sat in the seat of scoffers.

The final destination in the downward spiral is taking a seat with the scornful.

When one sits, one has established oneself as not only comfortable with one’s stand, but as a judge based on that world view. It is easy to point fingers at the “evil” liberal politicians and even Hollywood pontificate about their point of view? They don’t leave room for any other viewpoint.

More insidious that this though is that this whole downward spiral can happen very easily to the most mature of Christians. You can avoid being seen walking with the ungodly, you can avoid being seen standing with the sinners, but the second you sit on your judgment throne you put yourself out there for the whole world to see. Those who sit in judgment are easy to spot. They’re always complaining about the pastor. You can hear them complaining about their church, their job. They complain about all sorts of things- complaining is nothing but a coward’s way of passing judgment.

The next time you want to turn your nose up at sister so-and-so who did this and that you are sitting in the seat of the scornful.

The second you look down on someone because they aren’t as “spiritual” as you are- and let’s be honest, some of you may deny that you do it, but there is that comparison that goes on- when you do that you are sitting in the seat of the scornful.

You start complaining about the job that GOD HIMSELF GAVE YOU- the one He is using to supply your needs according to HIS glorious riches- you do that and guess what? You’re sitting in the seat of the scornful!

Why can’t we remember that the only right we have as Christians is the right to give up all our rights.

Taking a look at Revelations we see the 4 and 20 elders. What are they doing? What are they saying? What is their motivation what is their purpose in life? It is the very contrary to what the scornful, sinful, ungodly man stands for.

Revelation 4:6–11 TLV

And before the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around it were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature was like an ox, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes all around and within. They do not rest day or night, chanting, “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, asher haya v’hoveh v’yavo! Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts, who was and who is and who is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. And they throw their crowns down before the throne, chanting, “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, For You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created!”

When we refuse to sit anywhere, we then acknowledge that it is only GOD who is worthy to SIT on his throne and on every other throne in our lives.

It is when we understand that the crowns we have gained by our faithful service are good only for casting at His feet and declaring HIS worthiness. It is when we acknowledge our own worthiness that we can even think of having heaven on earth. It is at this point that we are able to avoid the pitfalls to our faith.

Conclusion

So then, let us all strive to walk in the inheritance that God has given us. The inheritance of Christ, and let us refuse to stand except for the stand we take for righteousness. And finally, let us refuse to sit anywhere where it is God’s domain alone to sit, and that is, of course, anywhere we sit as judges.

Instead let us take our rightful place in the presence of God and fall upon our face before Him – that way we cannot sit in any kind of Judgment to begin with.

Let us pray.