“Planted or Transplanted”
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· 42 viewsHow to know when to stay planted and when to transplant yourself.
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Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
How many times have you been wondering why you are where you are? The place you are working? The house you are living in? Maybe even the church you are attending?
During those times, how often did you think about leaving and going somewhere else? Moving to another city? Changing jobs? Switching churches?
But are we following God’s direction for our life or allowing our current situation or feelings dictate what we do? In other words, are we allowing our emotions to lead us rather than the Holy Spirit and God’s Word?
Maybe you are in a situation similar to what I previously mentioned right now. Maybe you are on the brink of leaving where you are to try something new.
Before you take that leap, what does the Bible tells us about the importance of being planted and staying where God plants us?
In other words, how do we stay planted where God has placed us and how do we know when He is moving us on?
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.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
Body:
I. Who are you listening to? (V. 1)
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
psalm 1:1
A. Blessed = happy, contentment, inward joy
1. Not talking about a single blessing but walking in blessings from God (salvation Christ purchased and walking in the righteousness of Christ)
2. The Greek word means “those who follow this formula will be blessed/happy” (a classic “if then” statement)
B. Walks in the advice of the wicked
1. walks - means to the continually walk
2. Advice that encourages people to live evil lives without concern for righteousness or obedience to God
3. Do you even consider advice or counsel you receive as godly or ungodly?
4. We can also receive ungodly counsel from ourselves if we aren’t looking in God’s Word!
My father taught me, “Take my words to heart. Follow my commands, and you will live.
Prov 4:4
I do not spend time with liars or go along with hypocrites. I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
Psalm 26:4-5
C. Stand with sinners (influenced)
1. Standing is spending more time with unbelievers which results in being more influenced by them than believers
2. Path = speaks of way, a road or a direction and the righteous person should not be traveling in the same direction as a sinner!
D. Sit with mockers
1. Sitting is even more time than standing
2. Mockers can be people who believe and think they are better than everyone else or they can be someone who doesn’t believe in God as well. They love to sit and criticize the people of God and the things of God.
3. It’s easy to join in with people who are putting down other people rather than to stand up for them.
2 Cor. 6:14 tells us it’s important to be with other believers more so than unbelievers
E. Progression = walking, standing, sitting
1. It happens over time if you aren’t careful
II. What do you delight in? (V. 2)
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
A. Temporal things?
B. The law of the Lord?
C. Whichever one you choose, you are also meditating on it
D. Meditating on it not only means to think on it continually but also to speak it to yourself!
E. If a person delights in something, you don’t have to beg him to do it or like it. He will do it all by himself. You can measure your delight for the Word of God by how much you hunger for it.
III. The godly are like trees planted (v. 3)
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
A. A tree is a symbol of blessing in the OT and being planted literally means “transplanted” because a godly person is planted into God’s kingdom by God Himself just as He plants us where He wants us throughout our lifetime. We aren’t wild trees, wandering from here and there with no destination or purpose. (Satan is a wanderer as he wanders to and fro in the earth).
B. This is not any tree either but a tree that is strong and stable, sinking down deep roots. The righteous man is the same and is marked by strength and stability.
C. Along the riverbank: nourished by a constant water supply (a life-giving resource) suggests being supplied with the Word of God.
1. Roots are dug deep into the Word and that’s where the tree (believer) draws strength from.
2. Being planted by water helps the tree to become a stronger tree (over time).
Eph 5:26
to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
D. Bearing fruit each season
1. What is the fruit here?
a. The fruit of the Spirit. Some fruit may be seen more depending on the season/situation you are currently in.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
b. The fruit of a believer tree is more believers
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
E. Leaves never whither = just like an evergreen, the believer has everlasting life and is constantly growing
F. Prosper in all they do
1. God’s Word does not return void and God will use us as we make ourselves available to Him
Conclusion:
Illustration: Story of Linkin being born at 29 weeks and the complications he experienced at birth and since then.
When we try to force the process God is taking us through, we can cause more complications as we go through the process which can be temporary and/or permanent.
Questions that may help you stay planted where God wants you to be or to know when God is transplanting you somewhere else:
Who are you listening to? The wicked, sinners, scornful or other believers?
What do you delight in? Temporal things or the law of the Lord? In other words, what do you talk to yourself about the most (meditate on)?
Are you planted in the Word? Where do you look for strength: the world or the Word?