LIVING THE BLESSED LIFE
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LIVING THE BLESSED LIFE
LIVING THE BLESSED LIFE
1 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of [b]scoffers (ridiculers).
1 Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of [b]scoffers (ridiculers).
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; its leaf will not wither, and whatever he does will prosper.
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
1. says, “Blessed is the man…”
This can also refer to a woman.
The word “blessed” is a plural word…and the phrase literally reads, “Oh the blessings,” or you could say, “the happiness.”
NOTE: Contrary to the lies of Satan & what many in the world think...living for God doesn’t mean that you settle for living a bland & boring life.
In fact, David said in..., “…in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
, “…in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
NOTE: I would suggest to you that the only way you will ever know what true happiness is, and experience real blessing, is to seek to become a “” man or woman.
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2. Blessed = happy, prosperous, fortunate, enviable (Updated Amplified - favored by God)
2. Blessed = happy, prosperous, fortunate, enviable (Updated Amplified - favored by God)
3. How many of would like to be happy & prosperous?
How many of you would like to be favored by God?
How many of you want God’s best for your life?
How many of you want everything that God has for you?
NOTE: I don’t want to miss out on anything God has for me.
10 The thief does not come, except to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
We can have an abundant life, filled with the blessings of God.
3 He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; its leaf will not wither, and whatever he does will prosper.
4. This verse describes 3 blessings for the one who will follow the instructions of verses 1 & 2.
A. Stability
The Psalm says in verse 3, “He will be like a tree planted…”
Notice that he is planted...Not flopped or dropped, not slipping or sliding, but planted.
His life isn’t marked by flakiness or flightiness.
He’s not trying to find his place or his way in life...He has been planted.
His life has stability b/c God has placed him where he is, and he is securely planted in the will of God.
NOTE: Most people live more like logs carried by the river of life, rather than trees planted beside it.
The current of life turns & tosses them all over the place.
They never seem to get still and settled.
They are never able to take root, and plant themselves into something steady.
But the person described as blessed has stability.
B. Supply
Again, verse 3 says, “He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…”
He’s not just planted, but he’s planted in a place where he will never go without the things he needs.
Charles Spurgeon points out that he is planted, not just by a river, but by multiple “rivers of water.”
That means that if one river fails, he will always have another.
Spurgeon goes on to say, “The rivers of pardon and the rivers of grace, the rivers of promise and the rivers of communion with Christ, are never failing sources of supply.”
NOTE: The life of the one who is blessed is never empty.
They are never dissatisfied.
They have a constant supply.
The Lord is their Shepherd; and they shall not want.
C. Success
Notice verse 3 again.
“He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; its leaf will not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
Prosper = to succeed, to advance or make progress, to thrive
NOTE: The man/woman of will succeed in the things they pursue.
They can have success in every area of life - spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally, etc.
Whatever they do, God blesses.
He will have spiritual prosperity. His walk with the Lord will not be marked by failures, losses, and setbacks.
This person’s walk with the Lord will not be marked by failures, losses, & setbacks.
Stephen Pile is the founder of a dubious group in England known as the “Not Terribly Good Club”. In 1979, Pile wrote a book on behalf of the club called, “The Book of Heroic Failures.” Unfortunately, too many Christians in our day could belong to the “Not Terribly Good Club”. There lives are average or below, and they never live up to all God has for them.
NOTE: There is nothing average or common about the man/woman in
NOTE: This is the kind of life I want to live…This is the kind of life I want you to live.
I want us to experience the very best of God.
I want us to live lives that aren’t average or common.
5. But how do we get to this place?
You have to go back to verses 1 & 2 and follow the instructions that are given there.
6. I believe there are 2 requirements for us to follow if we are going to live the blessed life.
One is negative & one is positive.
1) SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD (V 1)
1) SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD (V 1)
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
1. The description of the man begins with a negative statement.
2. The Bible tells us what he doesn’t do.
Verse 1 says that the blessed man “…walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”
Dallas Willard says of this verse, “He is first characterized in terms of what he does not do, which is perhaps the most immediately obvious thing about him.”[ii]
3. The first thing we see about a man/woman who lives the blessed life is the things they excludes from their lives.
The first thing we see about a man is the things he excludes from his life. Notice what these things are. First of all, he
4. First of all, they...
A. Refuse the Advice of Society
Verse 1 says that a blessed man/woman, will not walk through life following the counsel of the ungodly - those who do not know and serve God.
A man/woman does not take his/her cues from the culture.
Their path is not determined by what is popular in the world.
NOTE: People of this world may have good advice, but if we’re going to succeed in life…we don’t just need good advice, we need God’s advice.
The reason many of us have had the issues & problems that we’ve had is b/c we followed the advice of the world…rather than the advice of God’s Word.
NOTE: You need to be careful who you allow to speak into your life.
B. Avoid the Activity of Sinners
Verse 1 says that a blessed man/woman does not “…stand in the way of sinners…”
The idea is that they don’t live in the same way as those who practice sin.
It’s not that they have no association with sinners...It’s that they have no participation with sinners.
He/she may live and work around sinners, but they will not live and work like sinners.
They will live differently than those who live in sin.
NOTE: God is gracious & we can’t earn His blessings…but I also believe that God expects those He blesses to live a certain way.
If we are going to live the life that I am talking about, there has to be a change in our conduct.
We can’t live like people of the world & live the abundant life.
The man excludes from his life the advice of society, the activity of sinners, and also:
C. Rejects the Attitude of Scorners
Verse 1 adds that a blessed man does not sit, “…in the seat of scoffers.”
Note that word “scornful.”
The ESV translates that word as “scoffers.”
The AMP
A scoffer is a person who mocks and ridicules the things of God.
A scoffer thinks nothing is sacred, and they fear no judgment or consequences for their actions.
The scoffer thinks Jesus is a joke, church is for children, and salvation is for sissies who need a crutch.
The scorner thinks Jesus is a joke, church is for children, the Bible is bull, and salvation is for sissies who need a crutch. But the man shutters at this kind of attitude. He despises irreverence and sacrilege. He cringes when God’s name is used in vain. You see; the man does not gorge at this world’s buffet. He’s not a sucker for the candy-coated poison of this age. There are some things he excludes from his life.
But the man/woman shutters at this kind of attitude.
They despise irreverence and sacrilege…They cringe when God’s name is used in vain.
NOTE: If we are going to live the blessed life, we have to separate ourselves from the world.
We have to be different than the world around us.
2) SATURATION OF THE WORD (V 2)
2) SATURATION OF THE WORD (V 2)
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
1. The man/woman who lives the blessed life fills their life with the word of God.
2. First of all they have...
A. Passion for the Word
Verse 2 says that this man’s “delight” is in the Word of God.
The word “delight” is translated a number of ways in the Bible.
It’s translated as “desire.”
The man/woman has a hunger and desire for the Word of God.
The word is also translated as “pleasure.”
Think about that!
This man derives pleasure from reading and studying the Bible.
The man described here is passionate about the Book! He gets excited thinking about and talking about His Bible! I wonder; what are you truly passionate about? What gets you excited? When is the last time you and your buddies talked about Philippians instead of football?
NOTE: The man/woman described here is passionate about the Book!
They gets excited thinking about and talking about Bible!
What are you truly passionate about?
What gets you excited?
When is the last time you and your friends talked about Philippians instead of football or the latest movie you watched?
Notice not only their passion for the word, but also notice their:
B. Practice With the Word
Verse 2 says not only that this man delights in the Word of God, but also that on that Word, “…he meditates…”
The word “meditate” literally means “to mutter,” or to repeat something to yourself.
The idea is that this man/woman keeps talking over and thinking over the Word of God.
(Illus. Cow chewing cud - Chew on the Word)
NOTE: You can’t read your Bible like you read the newspaper.
You may forget the headline on the front page, but you can’t afford to forget what God says.
You must keep the Word of God in the forefront of your mind as much as possible.
And the more you meditate on God’s Word, the more God will speak to you & reveal things to you.
NOTE: Some Christians say God doesn’t speak to them - here’s why: You don’t spend enough time with the Word.
It is impossible to spend time with this book & God not say something.
e Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.
97 Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me.
99 I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
Meditation involves the mind, and your practice ought to be keep the Word of God in the forefront of your mind as much as possible.
97 Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me.
99 I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged, because I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].
101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Your word [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].
102 I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.
NOTE: Some Christians say God doesn’t speak to them - here’s why: You don’t spend enough time with the Word.
97 Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For Your words are always with me.
99
I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers [because of Your word],
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
100
I understand more than the aged [who have not observed Your precepts],
Because I have observed and kept Your precepts.
101
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
102
I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.
103
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104
From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
NOTE: Some Christians say God doesn’t speak to them - here’s why: You don’t spend enough time with the Word.
It is impossible to spend time with this book & God not say something.
Notice with me one final thing…Notice their:
C. Persistence In the Word
Verse 2 says that this man meditates on the Word of God, “…day and night…”
He continues in his meditation and consideration of the Word throughout his day.
Spurgeon said, “He takes a text and carries it with him all day long…”
NOTE: Your quiet time should not be your only time in the Word of God.
You should keep the Word of God on your mind from the time you wake up until the time you go to sleep at night.
Throughout the day, quote the Word to yourself…pray the Word back to God.
A man once complained to R.A. Torrey that he was getting nothing out of the Bible. Torrey said, “Read it.”
The man said, “I do.” Torrey said, “Read it some more.”
He went on to challenge the man to read the book of 2 Peter twelve times a day for a month. The man was skeptical, but agreed to the challenge.
The man later confessed, “Soon I was talking 2 Peter to everyone I met. It seemed as though the stars of heaven were singing the story of 2 Peter.”
NOTE: You can’t have a successful life w/o saturating your life with the Word of God.
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
God gave Joshua 3 instructions if he was to be successful & prosperous.
1. The Word is to "always be on your lips."
2. You are to "meditate on it day and night"--that means continually.
3. You are to "be careful to do everything written in it."
Let me sum it up in three simple phrases.
3. You are to "observe to do according to all that is written in it."
If you want God’s best…and you want to make your way prosperous and have good success, these are the three things you must do:
Think God’s Word
Speak God’s Word
Act God’s Word
NOTE: The Word of God must so saturate your life that you think it, speak it, & live it…and when this happens, you’ll see God’s best in your life.
And If you don’t think and speak, you will never fully act. The result of doing all three is success--Gods best.
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
1. You can live the blessed life.
2. Separate yourself from the world & live differently.
3. Saturate your life with His Word & I believe that you will see the promises of His Word come to pass in your life.
Let’s pray!!!