The Step's of a Good Man

Good evening. You say, well, it's kind of a small crowd tonight. I will say this for about four times the size. We were at this time last Wednesday night. I promise you that. If you would take her mom wasn't with me to Psalm 37, Psalm 37. Yeah, we were record-breaking crowns tonight.

Psalm 37 be looking specifically at verse 23. + 24.

Me speaking on this thought the steps of a man's life.

Psalm 37 verse 23, says, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He Delights in his way. Though, he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord, upholds him with his hand. Let's pray together. Our Father. We are thankful tonight and that it is true. That the steps of a man are ordered. They are established by you and we are thankful for that Lord. As we go through this new year that. Nothing that we walk through will ever take you by surprise. It's a father, I pray that you would help us tonight as we look briefly at this passage of scripture Lord to glean the truth. From it lured and apply these proves our heart and life. Lord, we pray for those who are unable to be here. Due to sickness or due to some other circumstances? Father. We lift them up to you. You know who those are. What is ask you again? To lead guide and direct us? That's all these things in Christ, name. Amen. Again. I want to read Psalm 37, verse 23, and 24. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And He Delights in his way though. He fall. He shall not utterly be cast down for the Lord. Uphold Sam with his hand. This is a tremendous verse. It is a great verse that offers really a lot of comfort. It offers a lot of encouragement and confidence to Believers, especially, as we are at the beginning of a new year, the start of a new year. And I want to look at it briefly. Just those two verses of this tremendous. Some notice the first thing, the steps, the steps. We see that verse 23 at the very beginning of that verse the word steps. Refer to the everyday course of a man's life. It refers to the everyday course of a person's life. And this can refer to anyone, not just a good man, are not just a righteous man. Not just a Godly Man. As a matter of fact, the word good does not appear in the Hebrew texts at all. It has been inserted by the translators. If you have a Bible and it's the word good is in there, most likely it is in italics because the trains translators put that in there to clarify that the psalmist is speaking of a Godly Man is speaking of a righteous, man. A God-fearing man, the actual Hebrew reading is this from the Lord the steps of a man are established from the Lord. The steps of a man are established. Now, why does the psalmist speak of steps by steps? Well, you would agree with me this evening. That staffs are important. Some steps are more important than others, right? I was thinking about how a baby's first steps are very. It's a very special occasion, right? This day and time you try to record it and then post it out on social media. For everyone to see the first steps of a baby. Their first steps are very, very important. Or how about the steps of a mountain climber, who is on the edge of a cliff? His steps are very, very important. How many of, you know, that the steps we take in the dark are very very important and maybe you have to get up in the middle of the night and it's pitch-black. You just don't walk as if there is life, correct, you walk very cautiously because if you've ever stump your toe, you've you'll know why you walking consciously. Well, the same is true, when we are walking in dark circumstances. We need. Then in those dark times, the Reliance upon the Lord. It is important that we have faith in him during those dark times. This is very important because of our steps have been influenced by distractions. Then we need to refocus our mind, our steps and set them on the Lord. If our steps have been disobedient. We need to repent less. We continue to walk farther and farther away from the Lord. And so it's very important to keep our steps in the right direction for finishing, our course, in Victory for Christ knows what Paul said, and acts 20:24. He said, but none of these things move me, none of the distractions, none of those voices out there telling me not to go to Jerusalem. None of those things. Move me. Neither count. I my life dear unto myself. So that I might finish. My course with joy and the ministry, which I have received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Now, this moment and Acts chapter, 20 of the Apostle, Paul has just told the elders at Ephesus that he was going to Jerusalem. And those pastors there in Ephesus begged him not to go. They knew that if he was to go to Jerusalem that he was going to be arrested and he would never, they would never see him again. But Paul was determined to take the gospel to Jerusalem, even knowing the dangers of that.

But we fail to realize is that our steps are not only, there is a particular interest from God of our steps, but also Satan and his crowd. Do you realize the wicked Mark are steps in order to trap us. In order to destroy us? They long to lead us astray? Listen to Psalm 57 verse 6, they have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They have dig a pit before me into the mitt where of they are falling themselves. A Psalm 56 and verse 6 says, they gather themselves together. They hide themselves. They mark my steps when they wait for my soul, as in Proverbs, 5 and verse by verse 5, speaking of the Harlot, her feet go down to death. Her steps take, hold on hell and so yes, the Lord has a particular interest in our steps. But so too does. Satan the great attacker of the Soul until we see the steps, but then then noticed secondly the stability, the stability.

We see that in verse 23. Again, the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And he Delights in his way. So we learn in this, that God is very interested in our steps. In fact, the Bible tells us that he numbers our steps. Do you know how many steps you have taken today? If I was to ask that question a few years ago. Nobody likes everybody was so I have no idea how many steps I've taken today. But now it's what we have. All these are SmartWatches. I've taken about 5,000 steps. Today. Some of you may be a little more or a little less. My God does know the number of steps that we take each day job 14. And verse 16 says for now. Number is my step. Job 31 verse 4 does not. He see my ways and count all my steps. What David said that our steps are ordered by the Lord, that it's a comfort to know that is a tremendous. It gives us tremendous confidence, not in our sales, but it gives us confidence in the Lord because he has ordered them. It wasn't mean To say that the Lord orders our steps. Well, the word ordered is from the Hebrew word. Kawann. Which means to establish to be firm to prepare, or make ready to set up or direct until the Lord directs. Our steps. He makes ready. Our steps are this Hebrew. Word shows shows up in many familiar. Versus I saw him at 40 and 210 houses. You brought me up. Also, out of a horrible pit out of the Miry clay. And he set my feet upon a rock and establish my going, Psalm 51 verse 10. Create in me. A clean heart, o God and renew a right Spirit Within Me. Psalm 57 verse 7. My heart is fixed. Oh God, my heart is fixed. I will sing and give praise. And then Proverbs 16 and verse 9, a man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directs his steps. And so God is very very concerned about our steps. He knows our path. He knows our future. That's what is talkin about here. That the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. He knows the plan. He knows our future, he leads and guides us on the path of Our Lives. Even when we do not realize it. Is, guiding God is directing things. He is orchestrating things for his wheel. For his glory, and for our good. God is already in the future. George Muller wrote in the margins of his Bible. Next to Psalm 37 verse 23. He said that the steps and stops are ordered by the Lord. And so the steps are not only known by the Lord in order by the Lord. So, to all our stops. He is the one that gives us stability. He is the one that gives us strength. God is the one who gives us direction as we live day by day. For his glory. The, how does the Lord guide us? Well, first of all, you have to have it established already that he is. Your guide is the Lord. God your guide for your life or is your guide. The currents of this world is your guide Hollywood. There are some movie actor or news, whatever. Or is your guide? The great Jehovah, the Lord God.

Lee Robertson said this Abraham did not know the way. But he did know the guy. And beloved, if we will spend time with the Lord, he will direct our way. We will recognize his leading in our lives. And so our desire ought to be in these days as we start this New Year that we would know God as our guide. Psalm 23 and verse two tails as he makes me to lie down in Green Pastures. He leads me beside the Still Waters. And how does God guide, how does he direct us? How does he lead us where he leads us by his counsel. A Psalm 73 in verse 24. Says, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel and afterward receive me into Glory. Hey, listen. The Lord gives us his counsel and his Council has always given with clarity. He wants us to know his truth. He wants us to know his will. God does not play hide and go seek with us. John. 16:13. Jesus said how be it when he the spirit of Truth is, he will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever. He shall hear that. Shall he speak? And he will show you things to come. So. Will guide us with his counsel and direction. If we will listen to him. How do we let the Lord lead in our lives with us? Three main ways that we let the Lord lead in our lives. Number one, through scripture through scripture. Make the Bible, the blueprint of your life. Make the word of God. The blueprint of your life. That's how God orders. Our steps is how he gives you counseled as how he directs us through the word of God. 2nd Timothy 2:15 says to study to show thyself approved unto God. A Workman that needs not to be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of Truth. John 17, verse 17 says, if any man will do will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself until scriptures is the great way, main way that the Lord counsels us and guide us. But also through supplications supplications that is asked the Lord for guidance in your prayers. Listen to how many times the psalmist, ask the Lord, for guidance, Psalm 143 verse 10. Teach me to do. That will, for thou art. My God. Your spirit is good. Lead me into the land of uprightness Psalm 5 and 8 Lead Me O, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies, make your way straight before my face. And then Psalm 27 verse 11, teach me. Your way. Oh Lord and Lead Me in a plain path because of my enemies. Here's another way we can receive counsel from the Lord, the Lord, obviously, obviously uses the scriptures and our supplications, but he also uses Suggestions by our parents. And all the young people said, amen. Amen. God will work through our parents counsel and advice listen to what Proverbs 13:1 says. A wise son. Here is his father's instruction, but a scorner does not here. Proverbs 1 verses 8 and 9, my son hear the instruction of a father and forsake not the law of the mother, for the owl. For they shall be an ornament of Grace upon. Thy head in Chains about the neck. And so not only parents can give Good Counsel, but also were to seek out good and godly instruction. Proverbs 4 verse 13 says, take fast. Take hold of instruction. Let her not go. Keep her for she is thy life. Speaking of wisdom. Hear counsel and receive instruction. That thou mayest be wise in my locker in. In the Bible tells us also how we're to shun evil counsel. Where does where does Sean Stay Away From Evil crowds of someone in verse 1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the way of the center's. North sits in the seat of the scornful. 1st Corinthians, 15 and verse 33 says, be not deceived evil Communications corrupt, good manners, and then Proverbs 19:27 cease. My son to hear the instruction that causes the air from the words of knowledge. Someone wrote this.

God does not lead me year by year. Nor even day-by-day. But step-by-step my past unfolds. My Lord directs my way, tomorrow's plans. I do not know. I only know this minute, but he will say, this is the way by faith. Now walk you in it and I am glad that it is so Today's enough to bear, and when tomorrow comes his grace shall far exceed, its care. What need to worry then or fret The God Who gave his son holds all my moments in his hand and give them one by one. It's always say the steps. We see the stability, the notice, finally, the support of the Lord, the support of the lord. We see, in verse 24 of Psalm 37, though. He fall, he shall not be utterly cast down for the Lord of hosts him with his hand. In this new year that we have already started, there will be times in our lives that we yes, we may fall. We may face ruin. We will have setbacks will have disappointments. It will be very painful, no doubt, but it will not be our final ruin. We will not be utterly cast down the were cast down. There means to throw down at full length to cast, Albert to throw away here. It means that he would not be the good man, that godly man would not be utterly and finally passed out it would not fall so that he could not rise again. The Calamity would only be temporary and there would be ultimate Prosperity. Think about this, how that disasters in our lives. We come we may be like Jobe. We may be stripped of everything. We may be like Joseph put in a prison. We may be like Jonah being cast down into the deep yet. We shall not be utterly, cast down. We may be brought down to our knees but not on our face. Jobe had double wealth at last Joseph reigned over Egypt and Jonah was safely, landed and none of them. It is not that the Saints are strong. It is not that we as Believers and Christians are somehow very wise that they that we will rise after every fall. But it is only cause God is our Helper, and he is our guide, the Lord orders his steps. Other man reminds me of an old hymn. Guide Me O thou great Jehovah Pilgrim in this Barren land. I am weak, but Thou Art, Mighty, hold me, was I powerful hand? Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more. So I pray that's a health in a blessing to us. If we start this year off. We will understand and have great confidence in the fact that the Lord is guiding us every step.

Of Our Lives. I don't take just a few moments to. Take some prayer requests. We have any special prayer request. This.