Like A Tree Planted By The Rivers
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1 Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
With whom we fellowship
People we are with
Where we spend time
The habits we form
Many think that God is trying to enslave in reality God is bringing freedom
Godly
Those that serve God
Matthew Henry - Every man, if he will be faithful to himself
A blessing and not a curse
Blessed = Happy
The happy do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly
We should want to live in the blessing of the Lord
As a parent my job is to encourage my children the best places to walk, where to stand, and where to sit.
Earthly parents instruct
How much more should our Heavenly Father have the right to instruct us ?
Has the Holy Spirit directed you recently?
Have you been spoken to and prompted by the Lord
counsel of the ungodly = those that do not have the Lord or know the Lord
The lost do not know the power of God
They do not know the wisdom of God
The unconverted world should not have our ear and heart
Ungodly - those who are operationg in the counsel of the world those who are carnally minded
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, That there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, Until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; He setteth himself in a way that is not good; He abhorreth not evil.
Selfie generation
Not acting wise in their life
Abhorreth - despise
Getting counsel from phones
Social media accounts
Demonic power is behind all immorality
Behind all sexual deviance
3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
Very clever
A kings son was encouraged to be immoral with his stepsister
Listening to His friend cost him his relationship with
his sister
his brother
his father
and it cost him his life
Who has your ear
There was no fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is so important in our life
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Young children need Godly wisdom
young adults
parents
grandparents
we all need Godly wisdom
How much time do you spend in prayer compared to:
movies
news
social media
phone conversations
How much time compared to Bible study:
Are we around people who are trying to influence us into wrong?
Do they have the capability to influence us?
4 The ungodly are not so: But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Are we around people that do not even respect their own morality?
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; Yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Cast out = drive away, drive out, divorce
Consider the path of the ungodly
Anger and harshness will ruin children
Passivity will ruin children
Truth must be communicated in love
1. ACQUAINTANCE
Freedom to ask general questions: public
At what point does a sincere concern for another person becomes a judgment of him? How does judgment differ from discernment? Here are important steps of comparison.
• Most people don't realize why it is true that in order to have the right friends, we must be willing to have the right enemies. God warns whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." James 4:4
See: Il John 10
3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
DISCERNMENT I Corinthians 12:10
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
anakrino - to distinguish (I Corinthians 4:3
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
diakrino - to investigate (I Corinthians 11:31
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1. Discernment asks questions until all important factors are understood.
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: But the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
2. Discernment studies all important factors in order to discover root causes for the present problem. he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:" Isaiah 11:3
3. Discernment looks for a comparable problem in personal experience. IICorinthians 1:4
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
4. Discernment carefully reviews the steps taken to overcome a similar problem.
5. Discernment accepts the offender as he is and waits for the right opportunity to approach the problem.
6. Discernment gains the confidence of the one in
need and then shares the steps taken to overcome a similar problem.
7. Discernment assumes the responsibility for restoration. Galatians 6:1
JUDGMENT Romans 2:1-3
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
krino
- to give a verdict (with no intention of
personal involvement)
Matthew 7:1; Romans 4:13
1. Judgment accepts hearsay at face value and forms opinions of motives on a few known factors.
15 The simple believeth every word: But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
2. Judgment openly shares conclusions
with those not related to the solution of the problem.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, It is folly and shame unto him.
3. Judgment avoids personal self-evaluation by projecting hostility toward the offender and his offense.
4. Judgment has not yet overcome the same
personal problem.
5. Judgment fails to differentiate between the sin and the sinner and, therefore, reflects a rejection of both.
6. Judgment tells a person where he has been wrong without providing direction for a solution.
7. Judgment reminds God of the shortcomings of the offender.
STEPS TO APPLY TO A QUESTIONABLE CLOSE FRIENDSHIP
1. Find out if he ever has experienced a spiritual re-birth and if he has dedicated his life to the lordship of Jesus Christ.
2. Design character-building projects which will assist both of you to come closer to the
Lord. If he decides not to do these with you, it will be he that leaves you, rather than you
leaving him.
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
I John 2:19
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
BASIC COMMITMENTS FOR FRIENDSHIPS:
1. Purpose that those who reject Jesus Christ must also reject you (for close or intimate friendships), and those who love Jesus Christ should also love you.
2. Purpose to verbally explain your relationship to Jesus Christ whenever you are asked to compromise your standards.
3. Purpose to let God choose your friends on the basis of their needs and their desire for God's help through your life.
• When Paul warned that "Whosoever therefore Resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of receive God: and they that resist shall receive to Themselves damnation" (Romans 13:2
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
he was Referring to many more factors than we realize.
TO GROW IN WISDOM AND CHARACTER
The only recorded incident in the life of Christ between the ages of two and thirty was a discussion with His parents which involved authority. This occurred when He was twelve. Should He follow His spiritual calling and be about His Father's business
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
or should He become subject to His parents and leave His ministry at the temple?
He did the latter, and the following verse reports,
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
TO GAIN PROTECTION FROM DESTRUCTIVE TEMPTATIONS
The essence of submission is not
"getting under the domination of authority but rather getting under the protection of authority". Authority is like an
"umbrella of protection", and when we get out from under it, we expose ourselves to unnecessary
temptations which are too strong for us to overcome. This is why Scripture compares
rebellion and witchcraft - "Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft."
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath also rejected thee from being king.
Both terms have the same basic definition
- subjecting ourselves to the realm and power of Satan.
3. TO RECEIVE CLEAR DIRECTION FOR LIFE DECISIONS
Correct decisions are based on faith; that is, visualizing what God intends to do.
It is impossible
"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23) One of the most basic aspects of faith is to
realize how God gets His directions to us through those He has placed over us.
After the centurion asked Jesus to come and heal his servant, it occurred to him that just as
his life was structured around a "chain of responsibility," so the kingdom in which God operates must have a similar structure of authority. When Jesus realized that he understood this, Jesus" marvelled and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." (Matthew 8:10)
Our faith multiplies as we see how God speaks to us through those He has placed over us.
• Lucifer rebelled because his heart was lifted up in pride.
Adam and Eve disobeyed because they believed God was withholding something good from them. But a third cause of rebellion them. rebellion is illustrated on the following pages- A WOUNDED SPIRIT.
THE IMPORTANCE OF
CHOOSING A GOOD NAME
WHATEVER THE COST
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favour rather than silver and gold.
What does it mean to have a good name?
• A good name means that you can be depended upon to consistently do what is legally and morally right, whatever the cost.
How is a good name damaged?
• A good name is destroyed by little
compromises. Anyone who makes wealth or
fame his primary goal becomes an easy mark for Satan
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
FIVE "LITTLE" WAYS SATAN WANTS US TO COMPROMISE
Socialize with immoral people
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Other people will evaluate our name on the basis of the company we keep. There is the continual danger of damaging a good name by wrong friendships. Scripture makes this quite clear.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Not only do our friends cause others to make judgments about our character, but they also influence us to make judgments about basic decisions in life.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Do all of your close friends have good reputations as wise and Godly people?
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.