The Believer's Pathway to Happiness

Psalm 1:1–6 NLT

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. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

INTRODUCTION:

I- REJECT THE WORLD’S WAY. (Psalm 1:1)

Psalm 1:1 NLT

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.

A- Don’t follow the counsel of worldly people.

1- They will counsel you to compromise with the world.

a. Like Jezebel in Thyatira. (Revelation 2:18-29)

B- Don’t copy the behaviors and of the world.

1- Believers are not to live like the unsaved people around them.

(Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

(2 Corinthians 6:17)

2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

C- Don’t adopt the attitudes of the world.

1- Following the ways of the unsaved around you will lead to the development of ungodly attitudes toward the things of God.

a. Doubt

b. Denial of God’s direction and power

c. Debauched attitudes that is critical toward the things of God and those who live for him.

(1 Corinthians 15:33)

1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT

33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

My relative who began well, but wound up in this condition.

II- PURSUE GOD’S WAY (Psalm 1:2)

Psalm 1:2 NLT

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

A- Choose the pathway of obedience to God.

1- Delight in the study of God’s word.

a- Take seriously the pursuit of God’s truth.

Like the Bereans (Acts 17:11)

Acts 17:11 NLT

11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

b- Take seriously the application of scripture in life.

The Apostle Paul admonishes us to do so.

(1 Corinthians 11:1)

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT

1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

c- Delight in obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Like Phillip did. (Acts 8:26-40)

B- Learn to focus on Godly principles of living.

1- Meditate on the principles found in your study of God’s word.

Ask yourself these questions (and journal the answers):

What general principle can be drawn from this passage of scripture?

What specific direction for my life can be drawn from this principle?

What specific action can I take to put this principle and direction into practice in my life?

III- ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF FOLLOWING GOD’S PATHWAY. (Psalm 1:3-6)

Psalm 1:3–6 NLT

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

A- The benefits of faithfulness (Psalm 1:3)

Psalm 1:3 NLT

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

1- Growth

a- Resulting from the continual supply of nourishment from God.

(1) The tap-root of your spirit anchored deep in the life-giving soil of God’s word, invigorated with the constant flow of the Holy Spirit.

(1 Peter 2:2)

1 Peter 2:2 NLT

2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

(2 Peter 3:18)

2 Peter 3:18 NLT

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

A person like this can’t be defeated!

2- Fruitfulness

a. Bearing fruit in the time given to him.

(John 15:4-7)

John 15:4–7 NLT

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

b. Bearing fruit after his time is gone.

(Revelation 14:13)

Revelation 14:13 NLT

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

3- Endurance

a. Adversity will not destroy him.

(Romans 5:3-5)

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

4- Prosperity

a. The work for Jesus he does is not in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

B- The escape from the curses of unfaithfulness.

(Psalm 1:4-6)

Psalm 1:4–6 NLT

4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

1- Instability (Psalm 1:4)

Psalm 1:4 NLT

4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

a. Purposelessness

b. adversity

c. circumstances dictate happiness.

2- Condemnation (Psalm 1:5)

Psalm 1:5 NLT

5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

(John 3:18-19)

John 3:18–19 NLT

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

(Revelation 20:11-15)

Revelation 20:11–15 NLT

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

3- Ruin (Psalm 1:6)

Psalm 1:6 NLT

6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

a. Ruin for life

b. Ruin for eternity

CONCLUSION: