GPS to the Blessing

Verses

Psalm 1:3 NIV

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.

Introduction

This morning we are continuing our study of the first part of the 1st chapter of Psalm in our sermon series, “A Good Start.”

In the first sermon of the series we examined the first verse. In that verse the psalmist gave us guidance about what not to do. We are told ...

Psalm 1:1 NIV

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,

In the second verse we are given guidance about what to do.

Psalm 1:2 NIV

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

Now, we are looking at the 3rd verse. In the 3rd verse we are told what results we can expect if we follow the guidance offered in the 1st and 2nd verses. Verses 1 and 2 shifted us from being pointed in the wrong direction to being pointed in the right direct. God is not the author of confusion or doubt. God is not a God of misdirection. God is a god that desires relationship with us and wants nothing more than for us to experience that relationship with as much fullness and blessing as possible. This 3rd verse is about the blessings we receive when we turn from what is evil and follow what is righteous or godly. This set of verses, 1-3, guide us completely to our destination through the correct path and God’s provision.

I entitled this sermon “GPS to the Blessing” because God’s Provision Sends us to the blessing. If we following the guidance of verses 1 & 2, then we will find that we have arrived at our destination.

Let’s examine that destination.

Blessings

First, I want to talk about God’s pattern of blessings. God has a history with us. A history of offering us blessings when we walk in the way of the righteous. There is always a link between our choices and the availability of God’s blessings.

The biblical scholar John Berry wrote

An unfortunate effect of our emphasis on God’s grace is our dwindling focus on the connection between obeying God’s will and receiving His blessings. If we’re not living in the primary will God designed for us, then we will not be in the right place at the right time to do His work. And if we don’t show up in the right moments (as designed by God), we won’t be in a position to receive the glorious blessings of the good works He intended for us.

This history of blessings that we share with God is one of God’s guidance, our response, and the experience of God’s blessings. God does not hold back when we follow his guidance.

Philippians 4:19 NIV

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

James 1:17 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Luke 6:38 NIV

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Malachi 3:10 NIV

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

John 1:16 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

Clearly God desires to offer blessings. Clearly God desires for us to be blessed.

Expository

I want to look closely at the blessings outlined in verse 3.

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, ...”

The man whose God is the Lord is promised a never-failing supply of nourishment and limitless refreshment for the soul. His roots are deeply embedded in the truth of God's word, and his sustenance flows from multiple streams of God's eternal provision.

Not like one growing wild, however strong or luxuriant it may appear; but one that has been carefully cultivated, and for the proper growth of which all the advantages of soil and situation have been chosen. Alluding to the custom of irrigation in the eastern countries, where streams are conducted from a canal or river to different parts of the ground, and turned off or on at pleasure; the person having no more to do than by his foot to turn a sod from the side of one stream, to cause it to share its waters with the other parts to which he wishes to direct his course.

An uncultivated soul is like an uncultivated field, all overgrown with briers, thorns, and thistles.

“...which yields its fruit in season ...”

He is the man who rests in Christ and he is the one in whom the Lord Himself abides, for he produces the beautiful fruit of righteousness at the right time and in the best way. He is the one who works the works of God through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit... and whose words, actions, attitudes and motives are grounded on God's word and honour His holy name.

In such a case expectation is never disappointed. Fruit is expected, fruit is borne; and it comes also in the time in which it should come. He who reads, prays, and meditates, will ever see the work which God has given him to do; the power by which he is to perform it; and the times, places and opportunities for doing those things by which God can obtain most glory, his own soul most good, and his neighbor most edification.

Oh, golden and admirable word! by which is asserted the liberty of Christian righteousness. The ungodly have their stated days, stated times, certain works, and certain places; to which they stick so closely, that if their neighbours were perishing with hunger, they could not be torn from them. But this blessed man, being free at all times, in all places, for every work, and to every person, will serve you whenever an opportunity is offered him; whatsoever comes into his hands to do, he does it. He is neither a Jew, nor a Gentile, nor a Greek, nor a barbarian, nor of any other particular person. He gives his fruit in his season, so often as either God or man requires his work. Therefore his fruits have no name, and his times have no name. Martin Luther.

“...and whose leaf does not wither— “

The blessed man or woman will not wither when seasons of difficulty and drought come to test their faith. They will not be overwhelmed by the enemies wiles, for they will be covered in the armour of light. They will not be unsettled by problems and pain, for they are anchored to the Rock of our salvation, and protected under the shadow of His wings.

His profession of true religion shall always be regular and unsullied; and his faith be ever shown by his works. As the leaves and the fruit are the evidences of the vegetative perfection of the tree; so a zealous religious profession, accompanied with good works, are the evidences of the soundness of faith in the Christian man.

“...whatever they do prospers.”

It is always healthy; it is extending its roots, increasing its woody fibers, circulating its nutritive juices, putting forth fruit buds, blossoms, leaves, or fruit; and all these operations go on in a healthy tree, in their proper seasons. So the godly man; he is ever taking deeper root growing stronger in the grace he has already received, increasing in heavenly desires, and under the continual influence of the Divine Spirit, forming those purposes from which much fruit to the glory and praise of God shall be produced.

The final promise in this verse is success in all he does - "for in whatever he does, he will prosper". The prosperity in his verse is the not the compromised gospel that is taught in the emerging Churches.. nor is it the alternative 'prosperity' gospel of 'health and wealth' teachings. God is working in each of our lives from an eternal perspective and the man who prospers in everything he undertakes is the one who takes up his cross and follows Christ. He is the one who is led and guided by the indwelling Spirit; he is the one who maintains ongoing fellowship with our heavenly Father and presses on the high call of the gospel of Christ.

Conclusion

Are blessings important to you? How valuable is God’s presence in your life?

Blessings for you are extremely important to God. God began his relationship with us in blessings by placing us in the Garden of Eden. He gave us simple instructions of how to maintain that blessing, but, as we are prone to do, we were hard-headed and lost the blessing.

Ever since we walked out of the Garden of Eden, God has been working to restore us to full fellowship with him.

Psalms 1:1-2 give us the guidance of how to work our way back into the garden - back into full relationship with God. And there in the garden we grow strong, healthy, spiritually productive, and permanent.

I like how The Message translates this verse:

Psalm 1:3 The Message

You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.