Characteristics Of The Successful Believer
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Psalm 1:1-6
Characteristics Of The Successful Believer
Intro:
There are many yardsticks by which men measure success.
Among them are: wealth, power, position, prestige, etc.
These are all indicators of worldly success.
However, measuring your spiritual success and your success as a Christian is a little more difficult.
Often, there is little tangible, visible evidence, which you can put your hands on to prove you are living a successful Christian life.
Generally, success for the believer is more internal then external.
What I mean by that is, the small amount of external evidence we produce is the result of much internal activity in our hearts and lives.
That is why it is difficult for God’s children, who live in a materialistic world, to gauge their success in their walk with God.
Thankfully Psalm 1 exists.
In this worthy doorkeeper to the psalms, we find insight into what makes a believer successful.
Tonight, as the plumbline of God’s Word moves alongside your life, see for yourself just how you measure up to God’s standard for successful Christian living.
As we move through this Psalm, allow me to share with you The Characteristics Of The Successful Believer.
I. His Steps are Different
I. His Steps are Different
The Successful believer is separated in his walk of life.
He doesn’t Believe like the wicked
He doesn’t Behave like the wicked
He doesn’t Belong with the wicked
1. He doesn’t Believe like the wicked
– (Ill. He doesn’t listen to their counsel and invitations to evil)
His hearing is tuned a little higher!
2. He doesn’t Behave like the wicked
– 2 Cor. 5:17 – (Ill. The old man has been put forever away!)
3. He doesn’t Belong with the wicked
– 2 Cor. 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you
· (Ill. He feels out of place when surrounded by the devil’s crowd.
· Ill. The downward progress – Walk, Stand, Sit.
(Ill. This is the path Lot took – Gen. 19. It eventually led to his total downfall!)
· The successful believer realizes that there is a vast difference between himself and the world he was saved out of, and he lives accordingly!
II. His Desires are Different
II. His Desires are Different
(Ill. The successful believer is genuinely and completely in love with the Word of God.)
A. The Word Has Captured His Full Affection
A. The Word Has Captured His Full Affection
– Delight = Pleasure!
The Word of God isn’t a Book of fables, myths and legends.
To the child of God it is the very Word of Truth.
it is God-breathed and infallible, inerrant and absolutely perfect.
He loves it and he lives it, finding in its pages all he needs to grow and prosper for Jesus.
The value of the Word:
1. It is Food
Milk for the Newborn
Meat for the Growing
Bread for All
1. It is Food – Job 23:12 ; Matthew 4:4
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
a. Milk for the baby
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
(Ill. It gives the baby Christian everything he needs to grow up strong and healthy!)
b. Meat for the growing
Hebrews 5:12–14 (KJV 1900)For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(Ill. It provides all we need to make us strong in the Lord!)
c. Bread for everyone
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
(Ill. Bread is the staple food of the world! No matter where you go, people need the Bread of life!)
2. It is Light
3. It is Truth
4. It is a Mirror
5. It is Water
a. It Cleanses
b. It Quenches
c. It Refreshes
2. It is Light
NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
3. It is Truth – John 17:17
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
4. It is a Mirror
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
5. It is Water
– Eph. 5:25-27
a. It Cleanses – Eph. 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
b. It Quenches – John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
c. It Refreshes – Psa. 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened me.
6. It is a seed
7. It is a Sword
8. It is a Hammer
a. It Builds
b. It Destroys
9. It is a Fire
6. It is a Seed – 1 Pet. 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
7. It is a Sword
– Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17
8. It is a Hammer
– Jer. 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
a. It can Build Up – Pro. 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
b. It can Tear Down – And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Rev 19:15
9. It is a Fire
– Jer. 20:9; Luke 24:32
The successful believer is in love with the Bible. He knows that in its pages, he can find all that his soul requires.
It embodies the complete revelation of God to men. It meets the need of the Christian life
Do you love it as you should?
Are you like the hart in Ps. 42:1
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God.
B. The Word Has Captured His Full Attention
B. The Word Has Captured His Full Attention
– Not only does the successful believer love the Book, but he lives out the Book daily.
The Bible is internalized and it becomes the singular standard for faith and practice.
Every thought, every move, every decision is made against the backdrop of God’s Word, and what it has to say about an issue.
However, before life can ever be lived in this fashion, the Bible must be consumed and made a vital part of who you are
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The Psalmist declares that the successful believer spends his days and his nights in the pursuit of the Book.
Does the Bible fill your thoughts?
Do you find yourself consumed with its content and mesmerized in the meditation of it?
The Bible is never better than when it is read and then lived out!
III. His Growth is Different
III. His Growth is Different
The promises of this verse are conditional.
When we live separated lives and feed our souls on God’s Word, then we can expect these things to happen.
A. His Stature
B. His Security
C. His Supply
D. His Service
E. His Stability
F. His Success
A. His Stature
A. His Stature
– Ill. A tree.
The life of the successful believer stands heads above all those around him.
It is easily seen when a man draws from the Lord.
(Ill. Men will know when you have been with Jesus – Acts. 4:13)
B. His Security
B. His Security
– Planted
– Unlike some plants, which live for a season and die out, this tree, has sunk its root deep and has a hidden source of life.
(Ill. The value of private prayer and Bible Study.) (
Ill. Planted – literally "transplanted."
A tree cannot transplant itself, neither can a man transplant himself into the Kingdom of God.
It is wholly a work of God’s grace.
And, He always plants us in good soil, near the water supply.
However, after we are planted, it is our responsibility to draw from the resources, which God has provided.)
C. His Supply
C. His Supply
– By the River!
Always close to the life giving resources.
(Ill. This was meaningful to Israel with her mostly arid conditions.)
The tree planted by the river is never dry and wilted, but is green, lush and lovely.
(Ill. The believer who lives close to God will never be dry and wilted either.
He will be vibrant, lively and productive.) (
Ill. Many never know the joy of drawing off Christ daily!
As a result, they are spiritually wilted and dead looking.)
The droughts of life and the dry seasons never seem to affect the believer who is planted near the river.
He is connected to an unfailing source of life and strength.
D. His Service
D. His Service
– "Brings forth fruit"
– The successful believer is a blessing to all those around him, because his fruit is plentiful.
(Ill. Old apple tree in the cow pasture. Man, cows, birds and insects all benefited from the fruit off this old tree.)
Ill. You may never know just who is feeding off your life!)
– "In his season"
This tree isn’t a side show.
Just as there are seasons of fruit bearing, so there are times of rest and growth.
As believers, we aren’t to worry over the fruit.
That is the Father’s business!
When everything else is as it should be, then the fruit will come in its season
– John 15:1-5.
E. His Stability
E. His Stability
– "leaf shall not fade"
– The successful believer is like an evergreen.
He is always surrounded by the green of life.
(Ill. The trees in the wintertime. The hardwoods and leafy trees are look dead, but the evergreens stand out as islands of life in a sea of deadness.
They are unaffected by winter or weather, but they are always the same.)
(Ill. our lives should be lives of consistency!
We are called on to be a stable, faithful and dependable people – 1 Cor. 15:58)
The successful believer is consistent.
The curve balls of life are unable to knock him off course.
(Ill. Thank the Lord for consistent people!)
(Ill. Life lived by this river is unchanging.)
G. His Success
G. His Success
– "Whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper"
– In other words, God will bless the believer
His personal life, his family life, his business life, his church life, his spiritual life will all be blessed of the Lord.
That isn’t to say that there won’t be stormy seas, but the successful believer will be able to sail them with Jesus until they are calm once again!
A successful believer is one that lives a life that pleases the Lord and the Lord blesses those that live for Him
There is a contrast to this in verses 4-6.
If you are not any of the above then the last three verses relate to you and it will not be pleasurable.
So which characteristics do you possess!
Conclusion
Conclusion
Do you possess the characteristics of the successful believer?
If so, the Bible, in verse 1, says you are "Blessed."
This means "Oh how very, very happy."
I hope you have seen yourself among the happy ones and are encouraged about your walk with Jesus tonight.
You see it is possible to be successful for Christ and know it with out being self-righteous!
However, if you saw yourself lacking in some of these areas, then Jesus stands ready, willing and able to make those things right once again.
Let’s take whatever steps are necessary to make our lives be the successes they can and should be.