Happy New Year
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
Good morning River Church Family. Glad to see everyone. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
Can you believe 2019 is almost over? Better yet, can you believe it’s going to be 2020? Aren’t we supposed to be flying around like the Jetsons?
With the end of the year approaching, we all know what time it is: It’s time for New Year Resolutions.
Now, I’m not the type who’s gonna hate on New Years Resolutions. Yes, I know, statistically, we usually give up; but hey, at least we tried! I like the fact that we have a season built into our calendar that gives us a chance to start fresh. I think there’s something biblical - something gospel - about it. So, with that in mind, I want to end the year letting God’s Word influence our New Year’s Resolutions.
I like the fact that we have a season built into our calendar that allows us to think about starting over fresh. I think there’s something biblical - something gospel - about it. So, with that in mind, I wanted to end the year letting God’s Word influence our New Year’s Resolutions.
If you have your Bible/app, open up to . This is a very short, but powerful psalm. It’s a very popular psalm. And it’s a psalm that can help us make some spiritual resolutions for 2020.
Let’s first read it together and then talk about what we’ve read...
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Before I begin, I want to make this
This Psalm is based off of an assumption that you want to have a “blessed” life. Anyone want a “blessed” life?
And just in case you don’t know what “blessed” means, in simple terms, it means to be HAPPY. You can almost say, “If you want a Happy New Year, you want a Blessed New Year.” And this psalm gives instructions on how to do that.
Before I begin, I want to make something clear: I am NOT an expert on how to have a blessed life! I need this as much as everyone else. When I was studying for this, I felt like a failure. I felt like I needed to make a bunch of changes. I need to learn everything we’re talking about today. So, as I stand up here this morning, just realize: We’re in this together!
So, this psalm gives instructions on how to have a blessed life. Now, being blessed is much more than simply being happy (and we’ll talk about that more later)
Now... being blessed is much more than being happy, so let me start by adding this: In this psalm, being BLESSED ultimately means having a right relationship with God. On the other hand, the opposite of blessed is “wickedness.” And for this psalm, WICKEDNESS means NOT having a right relationship with God (and everything that follows from that).
You may have noticed the psalm makes comparisons between the blessed and the wicked; again, with the assumption that you want to be blessed. And so the writer is going to teach some basic steps on how to achieve that. And he’s going to use three comparisons...
The first comparison is found in verses 1 & 2...
Blessed - Happy (You want to have a Happy New Year?)
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Body:
Body:
Comparative Description: Blessed vs. Wicked (vv. 1-2).
Comparative Description: Blessed vs. Wicked (vv. 1-2).
It starts off, “If you want to be blessed, here’s what NOT to do!” Actually, I like the way the NLT puts it...
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
There are three things that keep us from being “blessed”:
We see three things listed that keep us from being “blessed”:
We see three things listed that keep us from being “blessed”:
Following the advice of the wicked (again, people who don’t have a right relationship with God).
Standing around with sinners. Kids - when we usually stand with people at school, we are usually standing with our friends. It’s people we identify with. It’s the group we belong to! This is referring to belonging to a group of people who are rebellious against God.
Joining in with mockers. Put another way, willing tearing down people, instead of loving them like God tells us to. Being unkind because everyone else is. Maybe picking on kids at school because that’s what all the cool kids do.
And the implication is, you do these things because you believe it’s going to make you happy in life. At least that’s what peer-pressure tells you! But strangely, the psalmist says, “This will not make you happy. Actually, you won’t be blessed if you do this.”
But strangely, the psalmist says, “This will not make you happy. You won’t be blessed if you do this.”
And then he makes this comparison: If you want to be blessed, you’ll...
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
If you want to be blessed (or happy), you’ll love God’s Word. A lot of times in the OT, “the law of the LORD” was just another way to refer to the Bible - and that’s what’s happening here. And so, blessed people love to read God’s word and think about it all day long!
Somebody say, “Well that sounds boring!”
Here at The River Church, we keep it real. We’re not what some called, “over-saved.” You know what that is? Let me show you:
If you only eat pizza that’s been “delivered...”, you over-saved.
If you only have sheets on your bed, because Jesus is your comforter, you over-saved.
I didn’t come up with those jokes - Michael Jr did - but we ain’t like that. Let me be clear, we saved! We believe Jesus is the way, truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. We believe the Bible is God’s eternal, inerrant, infallible Word. So, we biblical, but we ain’t over-saved.
So, we get it if you hear, “Blessed people are people who love God’s Word and think about it all day long, “ and think, “That sounds boring!” Because for real, it kinda does. It isn’t! But it SOUNDS boring, but mostly cause we’re broken. Our heart and minds are off, so our natural desires are broken!
But maybe this clarification will help: Loving God’s Word isn’t so much about filling our brains up with theological knowledge and then thinking about those facts all day long. It’s not about memorizing God’s rules and instructions. That’s not for everybody. What we’re talking about is so much more. So much more beautiful.
Here’s the key: God’s Word is an extension of Himself. It’s an expression of who He is! Follow me with this...
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Check this out: Jesus, is the image of the invisible the God. The very expression of God. And Jesus is also the Word of God. Therefore, the Word of God is the expression of God.
So, when we’re talking about loving God’s word and thinking about it all day long, what we’re really talking about is loving God and spending all day with Him. It’s making Him the most important Person in our life. Yes, it’s still referring to God’s written Word, but it’s ultimately pointing falling in love with God.
And let me tell you, “God’s not boring!” Say that!
And so it’s starting to make sense, right? Do you want to be blessed? Well blessed people spend time with God. People who aren’t don’t.
So, which category do you fall under? Which lifestyle describes you? Because it’s an important question!
There’s a saying in the church world, “You are perfectly designed for the results you are getting.” Meaning, most of the time, the results you get, are exactly what you should be getting, based on how you operate.
If you are not blessed, it’s probably because you’re not seeking God.
If you are blessed, it’s because you are seeking God.
And it’s that kind of comparison the psalmist makes next. In the second comparison, he challenges us to consider the RESULTS of our lives...
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Comparative Results (vv. 3-4)
Comparative Results (vv. 3-4)
To make this comparison, the writer uses an example that would’ve been familiar to his original readers. It’d be like me saying, “Man it was crowded! It was as crowded the Ken’s Corner parking lot during breakfast!” If you live in Glastonbury, you get that.
Or, if you’re a runner (many of us are in this town), it’d be like saying, “The line was super long. It was like the porta-potty line before a 10,000 person race.” If you’re a runner, you hear that and instantly understand, “That’s a long line!”
The psalmist makes a comparison between the blessed and the wicked using familiar pictures:
For the blessed, they are like a tree that is STRONG. It gets everything it needs to grow. It is fruitful in its season. And it’s healthy all the time! When an Israelite heard this example, they would’ve understood it based on their farming culture.
Likewise, when he says the wicked “blow away like chaff,” they would’ve got that too. You see chaff was the outer covering of the grain. The valuable part was inside the covering - the actual grain! And in biblical times, the process for separating the two involved gathering the grain and letting the wind blow away the chaff. In this context, chaff was seen as worthless and temporary.
Likewise, when he says the wicked blow away like chaff, they would’ve got that too. You see chaff was the outer covering of the grain. The valuable part was inside the covering - the actual grain! And in biblical times, they would have a process to separate the two, which involved gathering the grain but letting the wind blow away the chaff. In this context, chaff was seen as worthless and temporary.
Therefore, when people heard this example, they would understand that the lifestyle of the wicked (as cool as it may seem) is ultimately worthless, unfulfilling, and temporary. None of it lasts! It’s here today and gone tomorrow!
And so the point of the comparison is this: What kind of results do you want from life? Do you want to be a strong healthy tree with deep roots (Do you want to be blessed), or a temporary useless outer-shell, that is here today and gone tomorrow (Do you want to be wicked - not blessed)?
I think the answer is obvious! But here’s an application for us: Which one best fits the results we experience right now? Maybe the answer indicates who we are letting influence our lives? Does God run our lives (like blessed people) or does the world influences our decisions (like the wicked)? Remember, the results we’re getting are directly connected to the choices we make in life.
So, here’s where the “rubber meets the road.”
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Comparing What Really Matters: What do you really desire for your life? (vv. 5-6)
Comparing What Really Matters: What do you really desire for your life? (vv. 5-6)
This is a little bit of a confusing passage (at least to me). It seems a little bit choppy. But I believe that has to do with a literary style used. I think the writer is using a technique called chaism. Without going into too much detail, it’s basically a writing out points and then repeating them in reverse. So, for this passage, the two outside lines belong together, and the two inside lines belong together.
It’s weird to us, because we don’t write that way, but it was much more common back then. And if that’s what’s happening here, then it’s saying the lifestyle of the wicked won’t last and isn’t accomplishing anything that matters. In fact, one day they will have to answer to God for their rebellious lifestyle. On the other hand, the righteous (the blessed) will ultimately come out on top because they are in a right relationship with God - God knows them.
And here’s the idea of our FINAL comparison: When you look at your life, where do you stand? Are you with the blessed or wicked? Is your life healthy and strong in the Lord, or are you blowing chaotically in the wind, never finding lasting satisfaction.
“blessed,” that is, he is right with God and enjoys the spiritual peace and joy that results from that relationship.
Are you doing anything that really matters? Something that makes a difference in eternity?
Symrna - faithful unto death! - fulfill the great Commandment!!
1:3 - Uses familiar examples to the people.
When we fulfill the Great Commandment, all other things will work out - rather, God will work them out as we put our faith in Him.
It was crowded! It was as crowded as Daybreak on a Saturday morning. Or as crowded as the parking lot at Ken’s corner for breakfast. If you live in Glastonbury, you’d get that. Or for runners, it was a long line. As long as the porta-potty lines before a HMF race. “Oh yea… it must’ve been crowded. Or, it must’ve been a long line.”It’d be familiar to you. You’d say, “Oh yea!”
The people would know what a tree described like this would be like.
We don’t realize who we are. We can do it! We are kids of the King. We got good genes!
Wicked - People not in relationship with God and live according to their own passions.
Question that I began asking myself a few years ago. How often am I entertained by the wicked things? Again, I’m not always good at making the best entertainment choices. Sometimes I choose to watch the wrong things, and I pay for it. Sometimes my choices indicate that my heart is not in the right place. I’m broken. But like Paul said, “Think God for Jesus Christ who saved me!” And I’m also thankful for 1 Jn - if we confess our sins… I believe this is a helpful process: Examine, Repent, Learn how to better honor God with our choices. This is not a license to sin. Nor is it legalism, because that doesn’t work either! This is teaching our heart to love God.
1:2 - Thinking about the Word. It’s not just following God’s instructions or rules or believing things He says. God’s word is an extension of Himself. In the same way that it says Jesus is the image of God. Jesus is also called the Word. There’s a reason. Because The Word is a reflection /expression of who He is. We need to be thinking about God. When we do. Good things happen!
Response:
Response:
You know, these are the same type of questions we ask around this time of the year. Did we accomplish anything meaningful this year? What changes do we need to make in our lives to accomplish the results we desire? What goals do we have for next year?
And for those in this room or listening online, let me encourage you: Make one of your 2020 goals to be BLESSED. And remember, what that really means is being in a right relationship with God.
Read His Word. Think about it day and night. And let that process cause you to fall more in love with Him personally.
When you do that, you will be blessed. You will be spiritually strong. You will have a fruitful life. You will prosper in all that you do, according to God’s will.
And since it’s God’s will, it’ll really matter. You’ll be living with divine purpose, living on-mission (making a difference in the world), and truly living a blessed life!
So, as we close, let me give us two steps towards a blessed life in 2020:
Meditate on God’s word! Think on God’s word over and over. And I want to suggest 3 tools for you:
YouVersion Bible app. Download that onto your phone. It’s free and it’s awesome. Not only is it a Bible (with tons of translations), but there are also devotional plans that’ll help you think about God daily. And if you need help getting started, see me or any person with a green lanyard on.
Speaking of devotionals (that’s just a Christian word for spending time with God), at the back I have devotional book for anyone interested. Now, I only have a few copies (I can get more), but let me tell you what’s cool about this devotional - it’s written by New England pastors. It’s written by people who get what it’s like to live in a place like this. Remember how we were talking about using examples that are familiar? Sometimes the Christian-world doesn’t get New England. This devo was written by New England pastors, including myself. Pick one up. It’ll be a blessing. And if for some reason, we run out, I can get more.
Now, for those looking for a challenge. I also have an amazing book called Experiencing God. If you’re looking for a way to reignite your passion for God - to live a blessed life - pick that book up. It’s awesome.
And real quick before I move to the next step, think about the word MEDITATE. You can’t meditate quickly. It takes time. That means if we want to add that to our lives in 2020, we need to be intentional about it. We need to be willing to sacrifice, work hard, not give up, so we can spend time with God. And like any discipline, it’s going to take practice. But let me assure you, it’ll be worth it. And you will be blessed.
Are you doing what matters? (v5). New Years are fresh starts. Limit times of waste (slack?). How much time do we spend on things that add no value to our lives. They are truly wasted. Did you know you will NEVER waste time thinking about God. It will always benefit you. Any believer who truly prays or spends time in God’s word will never walk away saying, “Well that was a waste of time.” It’s impossible!!!!
Examine your life. Ask yourself: I am doing anything that really matters? And if you don’t like the answer you find, guess what? Happy New Year!!! New Years offers us fresh starts. You can make a change towards blessing today! So, where do we start?
Let me suggest this: Examine your life to see if there is any “slack.” What I mean by slack is: Are we doing anything that is a complete waste of time (slack)? Now, all of us need time to decompress - I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about habitually spending time on things that add no value to our lives. Identify that slack, then radically eliminate them!
But don’t just eliminate, exchange it with a “blessed” activity. Like spending time with God. Because you know what? You will NEVER waste time thinking about God. It will always benefit you. You’ll never pray or read the Bible and walk away saying, “Well that was a waste of time.” It’s impossible!!!!
Examine. Eliminate. Exchange.
Finally, let me encourage you with this: You can do it. You can make he change! If you are a Christian, if you have chosen to place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are a child of the King. Guess what? You have good genes.
I’ve been seeing videos of Lebron James’ son dominating on the basketball court. No surprise! He’s got good genes!
Guess what. You’re a child of the King. You can dominate in this life over spiritual darkness. You can have victory! You can live a blessed life in 2020. You got good genes!
Faith Goals:
Steps (from Rev):
Repent
Listen to Spirit and Word
Faith - believe God by action.
And to remember who we belong to, we are going to end service by taking Communion for the last time in 2019. So, in a moment, I’m going to invite you forward to receive the elements. Then, you can head back to your seats, and we will take the bread and juice together.
But before we do, I want to mention one final thing (and the worship team can make its way up). Maybe you’re sitting here and after you’ve done some self-examination, you realize you’re in the wicked group. And it makes sense why your life hasn’t been happy (or blessed). And you’re also realizing that you don’t belong to the King. You have no relationship with Him.
Well, before we take communion, I want to give you a chance to do that. And it’s the perfect time. New Years is a time to start over. You can start over with God today. The Bible says if you will repent (or turn away from your life of rebelling against God) and put your faith in Jesus (trust Him as Lord and Savior), that God will make you new! God will forgive you for your sin. And He will give you a new life - a blessed life.
You don’t need to do anything special or embarrassing. This is between you and God. Call out to Him today. Tell Jesus your sorry and you want Him to change your heart. That you’re ready to follow Him today! And the God promises that He will bring you into His family.
Let’s begin to make our way to the front for Communion.
....
Pray