The Beatitudes - Planted for a Purpose

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Introduction: The Moment of Graduation

Good morning/afternoon, church family! — and especially congratulations to all our graduates! 🎉 Today is a day full of joy, reflection, perhaps a little nervousness, and many questions:

• What’s next?

• Where do I go from here?

• Will I make it?

INTRODUCTION (MODERN ILLUSTRATION)

[START SCENARIO]

Imagine two college friends: John and Peter. Both are intelligent, full of dreams, but they choose different paths:

John lives in “automatic mode”: he follows the crowd, lives to have fun, makes decisions based on pressure from friends and social media.

Peter seems “less popular”: he has convictions, feeds his mind with wisdom, makes choices aligned with God, even when it’s difficult.

QUESTION: Which of them is truly living a full life? (Transition)

I want to talk to you today about "The Beatitudes – The Path to True Happiness." Title of our message today is: Planted for a Purpose

It's a path for any of us, it's a blueprint for blessing for whoever you are, wherever you go from here, and whatever you do.

We're going to find that blueprint in the heart of the Bible, in the book of Psalms, and you find it in the main psalm, Psalm 1. Most of us learned this psalm as children, memorized it. It's a blessed psalm, a wonderful psalm. It's really an explanation of all the psalms. And it begins with the word "blessed."

Last week I talked about

The meaning of the word "Blessed" - GK: makarios

It's an almost difficult word to translate.

It can be translated as

Happy

"to be filled with joy

"to be congratulated"

Happy, so happy that you're envied - Geriel.

makarios - means:

“to be self-sufficient, to have what you need within yourself.”

That’s why I’m calling this series of messages, The Beatitudes – The Path to Authentic Happiness.”

In this psalm, as you’ll see, it’s about a man being planted—strategically, purposefully, by a God who sees the whole forest, even when all you see is just a seed.

I want you to listen and pay attention because here’s what God says—and He’s saying it not just to this young graduate; He’s saying it to all of us:

Psalm 1 NIV

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Now, there are three things that come to mind about the “blessed man”, the person of God, the person that God wants to bless.

Three things come to mind as I look at these verses.

Of course, there are many other things here, but these are the three things I want us to see about the person that God is going to bless.

I. Companies to Avoid - vs.1

Psalm 1:1 NIV

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

And here God is making a division between the righteous and the wicked (sinners and mockers).

And God always divides men. He always separates men.

But He doesn't do it like we do.

We separate men according to the rich and the poor, according to the strong and the weak, the learned and the unlearned.

But God doesn't divide them like that; God separates them as saved and lost, saints and sinners.

We have our way of separating people. (a horizontal level)

We separate the upper class, the middle class, and the lower class.

(Documented and Undocumented)

But God doesn't seem to separate men on a horizontal level; God separates men on a vertical level: some on His right, some on His left.

On one side are the sheep, and on the other side are the goats.

Again, on one side are the saints, and on the other side are the wicked.

God doesn't divide men like we do. God does not see as man sees. “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

We have a way of classifying men according to society’s standard, or a person’s bank balance, or even the church’s standard of religion; but God divides people according to His book, God’s Holy Word.

And so here we see a contrast in verse 1 between the child of God and the child of the devil.

Here you see that the person who is going to be blessed needs to avoid some things.

Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers”

There are three things you must avoid if you want to be “blessed” With the Authentic Happiness.…

A. Avoid Worldly Philosophy

Psalm 1:1 NIV

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

Ungodly Philosophies Will Poison Your Mind.

I praise God for teachers who believe in the validity, infallibility, and inerrancy of God’s Word.

Because the devil has been giving our youth and children ungodly advice through liberal schools and even seminaries.

“Blessed is he who does not walk= “listen” to the advice of the ungodly” …

“do not walk= “follow” the advice of the ungodly”

Friends, most of the advices we receive come through men, but it must begin in heaven. It cannot be advices that ignore God.

Second thing you must do…

B. Avoid Sinful Lifestyle

Psalm 1:1 NIV

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

It is interesting to note that God first warns us to “do not walk in the steps of the wicked,” and then immediately says, “do not stand in the way that sinners take.”

Ungodly counsel always leads us to a sinful lifestyle.

Why is the devil always bombarding us, at school, university, seminaries, social media, etc… Is he constantly giving us “ungodly advice”? Why?

Because when you start thinking about opinions contrary to God’s, you start acting in a contrary way.

Every action begins in the thought. Your thought is the father of your actions.

And if the devil can get you to accept ungodly advice in your thoughts, he will have little difficulty in making you live in a sinful way, because “as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)

Your thought is the father of your actions.

Now, notice the third thing you must avoid…

C. Avoid Despicable Words

Psalm 1:1 NIV

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

Here we have ​​a progression of influence.

First comes listening, second comes lifestyle, and third comes sitting in the company of the mockers!

Now when He is talking about “the seat of the mockers,” He is talking about the person who actively participates in what ridicules the faith.

He is proud of his sin; he “posts his wickedness on social media,” he is proud of his wickedness.

He/she actively participates in what ridicules the faith.

He/she despises the faith, he/she despises God and His ways.

This person becomes an evangelist of evil.

This person is “in the seat of the mockers.”

So, What we have here is the evolution of sin.

“Walking” in the counsel of the ungodly (listening to opinions that ignore God).

“Standing” in the way of sinners (sinful lifestyle).

“Sitting” in the seat of the mocker’s (actively participating in what ridicules the faith).

You see, the last stage is when he/she becomes a mocker.

That is the worst stage; that is the stage end.

ILLUSTRATION:

Like an Instagram filter:

First you watch (walk), then you like (stop), and finally you share (sit). Little by little, your heart is conformed to the pattern of this world. (Rom.12:2)

APPLICATION:

Question: What "wicked advice" have you been following? (Ex.: career at any cost, relationships without limits, "follow your feelings" mentality).

Right here at the beginning of the book of Psalms you see that the person who is going to be blessed needs to avoid some things.

He/she needs to stay away from these things, whether they are teachers, friends, or whatever.

The Bible says: Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,"

On the other hand, the person who is going to be blessed needs to Seek some things.

II. The Companions to Seek - vs.2

Psalm 1:2 NIV

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

I want you to look at this instruction from a positive point of view, The Companions to Seek.

Notice the word “But”: vs.2

his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:2)

There are three things that should mark a blessed person… when it comes to finding “True Happiness.”

First, a person will not seek advice from the world, he will seek it from the Word of God.

And according to this verse, as I see it, there are three things about that person and the Word of God.

A. Love for the Word of God

“His delight is in the law of the Lord”…

He simply loves the Word of God.

From the moment I was saved, I have loved the Word of God.

I am not claiming to have loved it as I could have loved it, or as I should have loved it; but the Bible is precious to me.

If there has been any secret to my poor ministry, it has been the Word of God which is is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,” Hebrews 4:12

Many people claim to be Christians, but they do not love the Word of God. (they like to do game of trivia with the Word of God, They like to argue about the Word of God) but they do not love with reverence and admiration.

And I cannot understand this. To love God is to love His Word. To be a man/woman/young person of God is to love the Bible.

It is not about obligation, but pleasure—satisfaction in knowing God.

the second thing about that person and the Word of God is that they…

B. Assimilate the Word of God

Now, the person who is going to be blessed loves the Word of God, but he/she does not just love the Word of God; he/she assimilates the Word of God—for it says, “and in this law he/she meditates day and night.”

“Pastor, why do you read the Bible during the night?” Because it says to meditating on it day and night = lifestyle, not religious ritual.

You don’t have to do it, you CAN do it if you want to be too blessed to be stressed.

Day and night, the Word of God has meaning and relevance to his/her life.

It’s not a burden to him; it’s a blessing.

Again, It’s not something he has to do; it’s something he can do—because he’s discovered that God’s words are a breath of fresh air in an polluted world, so he appropriates God’s Word day after day.

And let me tell you this: not only you must learn it; you must live it. And you’ve never really learned anything from it until you live it.

ILLUSTRATION:

Like a phone app:

The more you use it, the more it shapes your habits (e.g., TikTok vs. the Bible—which has more screen time?).

APPLICATION:

Challenge: Swap 10 minutes of social media for Bible reading this week.

III. The Result (vs. 3)

Psalm 1:3 NIV

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Well,…here God uses a figure of speech in the form of comparison - contrast to describe the result of choosing the righteous way, and the wicked way.

first of all …

A. It Will Show Vitality

The emphasis here is that the tree is a living being, in contrast to the chaff, which is dead. Notice here that he says in verse 4

Psalm 1:4 NIV

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Now, the difference between a tree and chaff is obvious, one is has life the other is dead.

That is, you will have life.

And when you have life, you will give life!

Dead deeds come from dead people.

Boring sermons come from bored preachers.

Living sermons come from living preachers.

The man of God who has sunk his roots deep into the river of revival and the refreshing streams of God’s Word is “like a tree planted by streams of water…”

He will have vitality. Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Second…

B. Will Show Stability

The righteous will not only show vitality; he will also show stability:

“He is like a tree planted.”

And again, God is contrasting the tree with the chaff:

“Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

You see, you will experience storms in ministry.

In life you will go through storms. We all do.

And the winds of adversity and difficulty will blow.

But the reason the tree remains there is because the tree is planted; it is rooted; it is grounded.

That is why the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 1:23, “If you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and have not moved away from the hope of the gospel, …” We will not be uprooted in any way.

And so you see, the image here is not just vitality, but stability.

You see, this is a tree that God planted.

It is like a tree planted by streams of water (tree = figure of speech is a comparison, it is like a PLANTED tree.

1. You were planted, not thrown.

“It is like a tree planted by streams of water…”

The psalm does not say “grew by accident” or “was blown away by the wind.”

It says planted. That implies intention, care, and planning.

This is not just any tree. Look at it. It did not come out of nowhere.

It says, “And he will be like a tree planted.”

The very fact that this tree is there is no accident. God planted this tree.

Do you know what Jesus said? He may have had this psalm in mind. Jesus said in

Matthew 15:13 “13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” (Matthew 15:13)

The righteous have this vitality, and they have stability.

C. Will Show Fertility

But there is moreover, anyone who follows the path that God is proposing will not only have Vitality, Stability, but will also have Fertility.

Also notice here that the Word of God says:

Psalm 1:3 NIV

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

He will be like a very fruitful tree. John 15:16

Jesus said: 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

No child of God will have a fruitful life if he does not avoid bad company, seek godly fellowship, and deepen his roots in the river of God’s Word.

The Bible says in the book of Galatians chapter 5, verse 22: Galatians 5:22–23 “22 But The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water…”

Steadfastness (not shaken by crises).

Fruitfulness (life with purpose).

Prosperity (not material, but integral).

ILLUSTRATION:

Difference between a potted plant and a tree in the forest:

The pot depends on external care; the tree has deep roots that sustain it.

“The wicked are not like that, but are like chaff that the wind blows away…”

They appear successful, but in judgment, they are empty.

Illusion of freedom:

following the crowd seems easy, but it leads to destruction (Proverbs 14:12).

CURRENT ILLUSTRATION:

Social media trends:

Go viral today, are forgotten tomorrow. Those who live only for this wake up one day asking: “What left?"

APPLICATION:

Reflection: Are your current choices leading you to chaff or trees?

I close with this:

THE FINAL CALLING (v.6)

Psalm 1:6 NIV

6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

God is not indifferent: He is attentive to your path.

Two destinations: A life with meaning vs. a superficial existence.

FINAL ILLUSTRATION:

Two GPS:

One leads to a dead end (the popular path).

The other to a safe destination (God's path). You choose which one to follow.

CONCLUSION (PRACTICAL APPEAL)

For young adults who want more than "likes" and "filters":

LEARN about your influences: Is what you consume (series, friends, social media) taking you closer to or further from God?

INVEST in your roots: Read the Bible not out of obligation, but to get to know God.

CHOOSE the less popular path: Authentic happiness requires courage to swim against the current.

CLOSING:

"You may seem 'out of place' today, but you will reap eternal fruits. The world offers shortcuts; God offers a life that is worth living."

Prayer for Graduates

Let’s Pray:

“Lord, thank you for each graduate here today. You have seen their long nights, their anxious thoughts, their breakthroughs and their breakdowns. And You have brought them to this moment—not to end, but to begin.

Plant them, Lord. Plant them with purpose. Water them with wisdom. Surround them with godly mentors. May they bear fruit that will last and glorify You.

May they be like trees planted by rivers of living water—steadfast, fruitful, and without a shadow of fear. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”