By Pastor J.D. Link

abundantgracefellowship-blanco.com

Psa 1:1-3 says, “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. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 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.” I think it’s safe to say that everyone wants to be blessed; everyone wants to succeed. Few, if any, say, “I want 2009 to be the crummiest year of my life. I hope the whole year goes in the toilet, and I become a miserable failure.” As we dig into these three verses, we’ll discover a very clear map to success - a fool-proof plan for a blessed future. Let’s break it down.

First, let’s define blessed. Blessed means: fortunate, happy, well off, prosperous, highly favored, & to be envied. So what does a blessed man do? For starters, he doesn’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly. He doesn’t listen to or follow ungodly advice (Prov 1:10&15, 4:14-15). He seeks advice and counsel from Godly men (Prov 13:20, Ps 119:63).

Secondly, he doesn’t stand in the way of sinners (Prov 4:1, 13:15, Mt 7:13). That means he doesn’t hang out with sinners. It certainly doesn’t mean he doesn’t reach out to the lost; but that’s a lot different than fellowshipping them. Some say Jesus hung out with prostitutes and drunks. No He didn’t. He hung out with His disciples - but He witnessed to the lost. His association with sinners was always to lead them onto the righteous path (Jn 8:11). So what should we stand in? Rom 5:2, Eph 6:13, Gal 5:1, 1Cor 15:1, 2Cor 1:24, 1Thess 3:8.

Thirdly, a blessed man doesn’t sit in the seat of the scornful. That means he won’t associate himself with people that mock God or the things of God (Ps 26:4-5, Jer 15:17). It’s become politically correct these days to mock and make fun of Christians, The Bible, Jesus Christ, and Father God. However, a blessed man won’t sit in that seat. God gives grace to the humble, but He scorns the scorners (Prov 3:34).

A blessed man’s delight is in God’s Word. The word delight means: desire, pleasure, what is valuable. So a blessed man desires God’s Word; He has pleasure in God’s Word; God’s Word is valuable to him (Ps 119:97, 103, 113, 163, 165, Job 23:12). Make it a point to read through The Word of God this year! Get started now! You can do it! Did you know, that if you read the Bible at a normal pace without stopping, you would read it from cover to cover in less than 80 hours? That’s less than 2 hours of reading a week! If you just skipped “As the Stomach Turns” and the nightly news one day a week, you could read through The Bible in a year.

A blessed man meditates on God’s Word day and night. It’s interesting to note, that the word meditate means more than just thinking on. It surely does mean to ponder or study; but it also means something else. Do you want to know what it is? It means to talk, mutter, speak, or murmur! Your confession is directly tied to meditation! That’s why in Joshua 1:8, God says, “This book of the law shall not depart FROM OUT OF YOUR MOUTH! You must proclaim My Word, Joshua! You must ponder it and speak it - then do it!” In Proverbs 8:7, the word “speak” is the same word “meditate” in Psalm 1:3. Study - speak. Think on - mutter. Ponder - talk. Meditate - confess! Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. What’s in your heart? Is it God’s Word? Your mouth will let you know soon enough.

….then THOU shalt make THY way prosperous…” (Jos 1:8). Who determines what kind of future your going to have? Who determines what kind of year your going to have? According to this verse, and many others, YOU do. As we have seen, God has already laid out clearly how to walk as a blessed man. The responsibility to do so is on you - not God. So don’t blame God, your family, your friends, the government, or “bad luck”, for your problems. Choose the blessed future. Choose to be a blessed man. Refuse to lose. Choose life and blessing (Dt 30:19). We will break down Ps 1:3 thoroughly next week, Lord willing. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord! 

The Blessed Future, Part 2

By Pastor J.D. Link

abundantgracefellowship-blanco.com

Psa 1:1-3 says, “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. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 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.” Last week, we began to look at this section of God’s map to success. God does have an expected end (destiny) for us (Jer 29:11); and He has laid out a Divine route for us to get there.

We saw last week that the blessed man: 1. Does not listen to or follow ungodly advice. 2. Does not “hang out” with ungodly people, except in an evangelistic effort (this does not require the Christian to partake of evil deeds in order to witness {Eph 5:1-18}). 3. Does not mock God or the things of God, nor associates with those that do. 4. Desires and values God’s Word in His life. 5. Meditates (thinks about and speaks) on God’s Word constantly. Let’s finish up this part of God’s real “Roadmap to Success”, and dig into Ps 1:3.

What does God say happens when you follow verses 1&2? Well first, you will be like a tree. Psalm 92:12 says, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Have you ever seen a palm tree go through a hurricane? Their roots must go deep. Do you want deep roots? Do you want to survive the hurricanes of life? Do verses 1&2.

Next, you will be planted by rivers of water. You will take in constant nourishment. I grew up on the Frio River, and I remember those Cypress trees getting gigantic. It seemed like half of the tree was out in the river; always taking in water. Those trees flourished, just like you will when you do verses 1&2. Psa 92:13 says, “Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Get planted in God’s House. Feast on the Words of Life and grow.

You will bring forth YOUR fruit in YOUR season. Psa 92:14 says, “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.” As Christians, we are all in different seasons in our walk with God. Too often we compare ourselves with other Believers (2Cor 10:12), and wonder why they are bearing such good fruit. “Why are they so blessed? Why does it seem like they have such favor? Why do their prayers get answered?”. Perhaps they’re in a different season than you are. Get your heart right. Instead of being jealous of your Brother or Sister in Christ, strive to imitate them - as they imitate Christ Jesus (1Cor 11:1).

Your leaf shall not whither. Jer 17:8 says, “For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.” Notice this: God says you will prosper, EVEN IN DROUGHT! Your leaf will be green, even when the heat is turned up! You won’t be anxious, nor will you cease in bearing fruit - even in famine! The world says you can’t prosper right now. God doesn’t care what the world says. He magnifies His Word (Ps 138:2), not man’s opinion. If you want to buy into all the fear and desperation being peddled right now - then you can have it. However, you could instead choose to meditate on and follow God’s Word.

Finally, it says, “…and WHATSOEVER he does shall prosper.” If you carefully obey and follow God’s ways, whatever you do will prosper. It doesn’t matter what circumstances you are in - you will prosper. Read Genesis 39:2-3, 23. Joseph was considered a prosperous man, although he was a slave - and then a prisoner! How can a slave or inmate be prosperous? By putting their faith in Jesus Christ, and obeying His Word. You see, Joseph being prosperous had nothing to do with his temporary circumstances. Circumstances change, but God’s Word doesn’t. Joseph was prosperous, because he believed God’s Word - and honored it. It was a few years later, that his circumstances caught up to what he believed. He then became 2nd in command over the most powerful nation in the world at that time. In due season, you will reap (Gal 6:9).

I pray this has blessed you, and encouraged you to step out in faith and believe God for great things in 2009. Until next time, rejoice in the Lord! (Phip 4:4)