The Psalm
Two Types of People
Psalms 1
1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the
counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of
mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day
and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of
water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever
he does prospers.4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that
the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the
judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches
over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 1:1
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful."
The psalmist has something here to say about compromise. I’m talking about compromise with wrong, allowing that which is evil to work its way into our lives. It often happens so slowly, so subtly, we hardly realize it’s taking place.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful."
The psalmist has something here to say about compromise. I’m talking about compromise with wrong, allowing that which is evil to work its way into our lives. It often happens so slowly, so subtly, we hardly realize it’s taking place.
Do you see the progression there, from "walking" to
"standing" to "sitting"? You see, a person, and especially
a Christian, doesn’t usually jump right into the middle of sin. Usually it goes
in stages. He starts out by walking along with the wicked. Pretty soon, he
finds himself standing in their midst, and then it’s not long before he sitting
down with them.
It’s like Lot. Remember when he and Abraham separated (Genesis 13)? They stood on the mountain overlooking the land, and Abraham said, "Choose which side you want. If you go east, I’ll go west. If you go west, I’ll go east." So Lot looked out and he saw how green it was to the west and he chose that way. He took no thought as to what would be best for him spiritually. He was looking at it strictly from a physical point of view.
The next thing we know, Lot "dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom." (Genesis 13:12). He gets closer and closer until by the time we get to Genesis 19 we find him living in the midst of the immorality and sin of that city.
And that’s the way it happens so often. Teen-agers (or adults for that matter) start to hang out with the wrong crowd. They don’t do anything wrong, they’re just around them, they’re just walking with them. But, pretty soon, they’re not walking any longer, they’re standing, and eventually they’re sitting and they’re doing the same ungodly things. But David says, "Blessed is the man who avoids that kind of association."
Solomon gave similar advice when he said, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall." (Proverbs 4:14-16).
And Paul wrote the familiar warning, "Evil company corrupts good habits." (I Corinthians 15:33).
It’s like Lot. Remember when he and Abraham separated (Genesis 13)? They stood on the mountain overlooking the land, and Abraham said, "Choose which side you want. If you go east, I’ll go west. If you go west, I’ll go east." So Lot looked out and he saw how green it was to the west and he chose that way. He took no thought as to what would be best for him spiritually. He was looking at it strictly from a physical point of view.
The next thing we know, Lot "dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom." (Genesis 13:12). He gets closer and closer until by the time we get to Genesis 19 we find him living in the midst of the immorality and sin of that city.
And that’s the way it happens so often. Teen-agers (or adults for that matter) start to hang out with the wrong crowd. They don’t do anything wrong, they’re just around them, they’re just walking with them. But, pretty soon, they’re not walking any longer, they’re standing, and eventually they’re sitting and they’re doing the same ungodly things. But David says, "Blessed is the man who avoids that kind of association."
Solomon gave similar advice when he said, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall." (Proverbs 4:14-16).
And Paul wrote the familiar warning, "Evil company corrupts good habits." (I Corinthians 15:33).
Psalm 1:2
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."
verse 2 is the focal
point of the whole psalm. The thing that sets apart a righteous person is that
he meditates on God’s word. To meditate means to think seriously about God’s
Word even when you don’t have the text right in front of your eyes.
In Psalm 119:148, David said, "My eyes are awake through
the night watches, that I may meditate on your word." And you get this
picture of David standing out in the pasture in the middle of the night under a
moon-lit sky reflecting on God’s Word.
David says the righteous man meditates "day and night"
-- meaning at all available moments. The same thing is said in Psalm 119:97,
"Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
John wrote, "By this we know that we love the children
of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of
God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not
burdensome." (I John 5:2-3).
Psalm 1:3
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
The righteous person is compared here with a tree planted by a stream. In a country where rainclouds were few and far between, a tree didn’t stand much of a chance, unless it was located in a place where the soil was continually moist. Then it had a chance of being a strong, healthy tree.
There are four things that are true of such a tree, which are also true of the godly person who is growing spiritually. First, he is planted -- he’s got his roots put down deep, he’s fortified, stable. Second, he bears fruit -- he develops godlike qualities in his character and life such as the fruit of Spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5. Third, he doesn’t wither -- he is able to survive under all circumstances, even days of difficulty. Fourth, he’s prosperous -- God blesses him in a multitude of ways.
Jeremiah used this same image: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river. And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green. And will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
II. The Ungodly Life
But what’s true of the godly is not true of the ungodly. There’s a vast difference. The paths go in opposite directions.
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."
The righteous person is compared here with a tree planted by a stream. In a country where rainclouds were few and far between, a tree didn’t stand much of a chance, unless it was located in a place where the soil was continually moist. Then it had a chance of being a strong, healthy tree.
There are four things that are true of such a tree, which are also true of the godly person who is growing spiritually. First, he is planted -- he’s got his roots put down deep, he’s fortified, stable. Second, he bears fruit -- he develops godlike qualities in his character and life such as the fruit of Spirit that Paul lists in Galatians 5. Third, he doesn’t wither -- he is able to survive under all circumstances, even days of difficulty. Fourth, he’s prosperous -- God blesses him in a multitude of ways.
Jeremiah used this same image: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river. And will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green. And will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
II. The Ungodly Life
But what’s true of the godly is not true of the ungodly. There’s a vast difference. The paths go in opposite directions.
Psalm 1:4-5
"The ungodly are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."
The righteous person is happy many times over. Not so, the
wicked. The righteous person delights and meditates in the Word of God. Not so,
the wicked. The righteous person is like a tree. Not so, the wicked. The
righteous person is fruitful and prosperous. Not so, the wicked. In other
words, none of the previously mentioned characteristics describes the lifestyle
of the ungodly. Instead, the psalmist uses one word that sums up the life of
the ungodly -- "chaff".
What is chaff? Well, chaff is what you get when you take a piece of wheat and roll it in your hands. The chaff is the dry, useless part that blows away. It’s completely worthless. It has no substance.
This chaff stands in contrast to the tree mentioned in verse 3. If a wind comes up, the planted tree stands firm while the chaff blows away. In the same way, when God’s scrutiny comes, the righteous will stand, but the wicked will not, just like in the parable of the wise and foolish builder.
Jesus said, Now everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:26-27).
The wicked will not endure or withstand the test of judgment. The judgment here doesn’t refer only to the last day, although it certainly includes that. It means any time that a test of accounting is made. Whenever that’s done, the ungodly will fail to endure or withstand the test. The reason is given in the next verse.
Psalm 1:6
"For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly will perish."
What is chaff? Well, chaff is what you get when you take a piece of wheat and roll it in your hands. The chaff is the dry, useless part that blows away. It’s completely worthless. It has no substance.
This chaff stands in contrast to the tree mentioned in verse 3. If a wind comes up, the planted tree stands firm while the chaff blows away. In the same way, when God’s scrutiny comes, the righteous will stand, but the wicked will not, just like in the parable of the wise and foolish builder.
Jesus said, Now everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:26-27).
The wicked will not endure or withstand the test of judgment. The judgment here doesn’t refer only to the last day, although it certainly includes that. It means any time that a test of accounting is made. Whenever that’s done, the ungodly will fail to endure or withstand the test. The reason is given in the next verse.
Psalm 1:6
"For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly will perish."
To "know" means to recognize and approve. Albert Barnes has written, "Only those whom God approves, and loves, as his friends, will be able to stand in the day when the great decision shall be made....No one can be admitted into the favor of God, and to the rewards of heaven, whose character is not such that it will bear the scrutiny of the Omniscient eye."
But the way of the ungodly will perish. The reason is that the Lord doesn’t approve or recognize their ways. The Lord will say to some on the day of judgment, "I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness." (Matthew 7:23).
In Psalm 73, David is upset because he looks around and sees
the evil people prospering. He’s envious of their prosperity until in verse 17,
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their
end."
The key
is our attitude toward the Word of God. Just as a tree must continually take up
water from nearby streams into itself in order to live and grow and bear fruit,
in order for man to live spiritually, grow adequately, and bear good fruit, he
must meditate on God’s word day and night.
The Two
Builders – Two Foundations
Jesus told a story about the importance of a solid foundation
in Matthew 7.
Matthew 7:24 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does
them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 7:25 The rain fell, the
flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse
because it had been founded on rock. 7:26 Everyone who hears these words of
mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
7:27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and
it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!”
There are two people in Jesus’ closing story. Both hear his
words, but only one acts on them. A person who hears Jesus’ words and puts them
into practice is like a wise builder who builds with the right materials in the
right location at the right time. Those who choose other ways are sand
builders. And there’s all different kinds of sand.
Instead, build your life on what Jesus taught in the Sermon
on the Mount (Matt.5-7). Just a summary reading through this sermon shows us
how to build. Instead of murder and hate, build your life on forgiveness.
Instead of revenge and getting even, build your life on reconciliation. Instead
of being consumed by pornography and lust, build your life on respect and
honoring. Instead of divorcing for non-Biblical reasons and splitting up the
family, build your life on faithfulness and love. Instead of being evasive and
deceptive, be forth telling with the truth. Instead of hating your enemies,
build your life on prayer for them. Instead of just being outwardly religious,
build your life on secret acts of kindness and worship. Instead of dedicating
your entire life to the accumulation of personal wealth, build eternal values
into the hearts of your children. Instead of worrying your way through life,
build your life on a firm trust in the caring hand of God. Instead of always
judging and being suspicious of others, build your relationships on loving
acceptance. Instead of leveraging things to your favor and manipulating people
to get what you want, build your life on a bended knee of seeking the Father’s
Will when you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation or relationship.
1) Imagine
this: Two houses can be built by the same construction company and yet end up
as two very distinct houses. That said one comes to the realization that the
end product of the house is determined by how it is built.
2) Here in this passage we see two builders and in this case not referring to the building of a house but rather likening it to that of building a life.
3) Your life and its success or failure is determined in how you build it, LETS TAKE A LOOK
I. A LIFE BUILT UPON LISTENING
II. A LIFE BUILT UPON LOGIC
III. A LIFE BUILT UPON LEARNING
IV. A LIFE BUILT UPON THE LORD
Two Builders, Two ways to approach life, and two very opposite outcomes to life
2) Here in this passage we see two builders and in this case not referring to the building of a house but rather likening it to that of building a life.
3) Your life and its success or failure is determined in how you build it, LETS TAKE A LOOK
I. A LIFE BUILT UPON LISTENING
II. A LIFE BUILT UPON LOGIC
III. A LIFE BUILT UPON LEARNING
IV. A LIFE BUILT UPON THE LORD
Two Builders, Two ways to approach life, and two very opposite outcomes to life
Two
ways – Narrow and Broad Ways
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate
and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by
it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it (Matthew 7.13-14).”
It is a Narrow Way
The Bible says, “Enter ye in at the strait gate …
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life
(Matthew 7.13-14 KJV)”. The way to Christ and eternal life is a narrow one.
Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep (John 10.7 KJV).” Suggesting that if
one wants to enter into the fold of Christianity one must come through the door
way of Jesus Christ. This fact becomes clear when He says, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me (John 14.6 KJV).” In
other words, all roads do not lead to the Kingdom of God, rather only one road
leads to
God and that is the road that passes through the
person of Jesus Christ.
Friend, if you want to be a Christian you must come through Jesus Christ. If you want to have an eternal home in heaven you must come through Jesus Christ. He is the “way”. The “way” is straight and narrow. So, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7.13-14 KJV).”
Friend, if you want to be a Christian you must come through Jesus Christ. If you want to have an eternal home in heaven you must come through Jesus Christ. He is the “way”. The “way” is straight and narrow. So, Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7.13-14 KJV).”
It is a Confined Way
I believe very much that we have freedom in the
person of Jesus Christ. In fact we are freed from the Law. We are not free in
the sense that we are free to live contrary to the principles of the Law,
because Jesus said that He did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill the
Law (see Matthew 5.17). In fact, God said, “I will put my laws into their mind,
and write them in their hearts (Hebrews 8.10 KJV).” No, we are not free from
the practice of the principles of God’s Law, but in Christ Jesus we are free
from the legal condemnation of the Law as it relates to our sin. Thank God that
“there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8.1 KJV).” “Christ hath
redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us Galatians 3.10
KJV).” Therefore, as Christians we are free from the curse of the Law.
Not only are we free from the curse of the Law, but we are also free from the bondage of sin. In order to understand our freedom we must first understand our bondage. Each of us apart from Christ is in the same situation, for “the scripture hath concluded all under sin (Galatians 3.22 (KJV).” We are all lost in our sin and under the bondage of sin. God’s Word makes this very clear through the writings of the Apostle Paul who says, “we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; … For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3.9-12; 23 KJV).” Clearly all of humanity apart from the saving grace of God is lost in and under the weighty bondage of sin. The one who sins is “the servant of sin (John 8.34 KJV).”Yet, there is hope for the one who would come to Jesus Christ for salvation.
When we enter into the narrow way we are free from sin and free to
live and move within the boundary of moral law.
Paul expresses this concept well in his letter to the Romans: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6.18-23 KJV).” Let those who call themselves people of the way live like people of the way. Let us put off worldliness and flesh out righteousness. Let us live according to the calling to which we have been called by God. May we truly be those who reflect the light of Christ in this world of darkness.
Paul expresses this concept well in his letter to the Romans: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6.18-23 KJV).” Let those who call themselves people of the way live like people of the way. Let us put off worldliness and flesh out righteousness. Let us live according to the calling to which we have been called by God. May we truly be those who reflect the light of Christ in this world of darkness.
Taking the Right Path
The Broad Way - The marks of this way
The way of the crowd.
The Broad Way - The marks of this way
The way of the crowd.
Indeed, the influence of peers can be so strong
that teens often choose to go along with the crowd, even if they know their
actions will have harmful consequences. For many teens, the anxiety of being
ridiculed or losing friends far outweighs any fears they may have about
engaging in risky behavior.
The way of Deception
The way of Deception
A group of college students were asked their
opinions on the media, specifically the R-rated kinds of situations being shown
on TV and the movies. When asked why sex and violence were so prevalent, one
student answered, “Because it’s no big deal.”
The Narrow
Way - The marks of this way
The way of the Cross : There is power in the cross. It’s undeniable. Even unbelievers seem to squirm when considering its potential.
There is power in the cross. It’s undeniable.
As we come around the Lord’s Table, we consider
the potential of the cross--it’s potential to reconcile all things to Christ
who "made peace through the blood of His cross." (Colossians 1:20).
The way of commitment
The way of life is narrow, lonely, and costly. We can walk on the broad way and keep our “baggage” of sin and worldliness. But if we enter the narrow way, we must give up those things.
Here, then, is the first test: Did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything? If not, then it was not a true profession. Many people who “trust” Jesus Christ never leave the broad road with its appetites and associations. They have an easy Christianity that makes no demands on them. Yet Jesus said that the narrow way was hard. We cannot walk on two roads, in two different directions, at the same time.
The way of life is narrow, lonely, and costly. We can walk on the broad way and keep our “baggage” of sin and worldliness. But if we enter the narrow way, we must give up those things.
Here, then, is the first test: Did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything? If not, then it was not a true profession. Many people who “trust” Jesus Christ never leave the broad road with its appetites and associations. They have an easy Christianity that makes no demands on them. Yet Jesus said that the narrow way was hard. We cannot walk on two roads, in two different directions, at the same time.
The way of heaven is the Narrow Path in Christ,
with Christ where we can reach it without fail.
Too often we waste our lives with Idle Living.
We’re making good time, but we don’t know where we’re going. Listen to these
two passages of scripture:
Psalm 39:4-6 "Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely every man stands as a mere breath!"
Psalm 39:4-6 "Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely every man stands as a mere breath!"
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 "I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labour. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
There are two facts we need to take note of:
1. Life Is Short
They say when you’ve done something long enough and you’ve had enough experience you become an expert. Some of you are experts on living, and you know more than I how true this is. says, "Life’s short, play hard" The Psalmist says "Let me know how fleeting my life is!"
2. Life Can Be Wasted
"Why are you messing up your life?!" The writer says, "everything is meaningless" "nothing was gained"
"Why are you messing up your life?!" The writer says, "everything is meaningless" "nothing was gained"
Nobody wants to live a meaningless life.
Everybody wants to be of value.
The Watch-measures our day
Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days."
There is no guarantee of tomorrow. Make the most of the moment
Ephesians 5:15-17 "Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don’t be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do."
Psalm 90:12 "Teach us to number our days."
There is no guarantee of tomorrow. Make the most of the moment
Ephesians 5:15-17 "Act like people with good sense and not like fools. These are evil times, so make every minute count. Don’t be stupid. Instead, find out what the Lord wants you to do."
The Compass-gives direction; directs our steps
It is the measure by which we determine what really matters.
Prioritize
Determine what really matters most.
Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus said, "Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
Determine what really matters most.
Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus said, "Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well."
Organize
Ephesians 5:15-16 "Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as ones who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time."
Organize my schedule according to my life’s purpose
Minimize
Proverb 17:24 "A fools goals are at the ends of the earth!"
If it doesn’t work towards my life’s purpose, then I’m wasting my time.
Wasted time = Wasted life
Turn from
Evil Ways
2
Chronicles 7
14 if my people, who are called
by my name, will humble themselves
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear
from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The issue is not whether or not God can heal a
land. The issue is whether the people will swallow the prescription and the
last pill is the hardest of all. The first piece of medicine wasn’t easy:
humbling ourselves is not something we do readily. The second was no easier to
swallow: Pray and earnestly seek the face of God. But the third pill is the
hardest of all to get down: We must turn from our wicked ways, and God says
“Then, after you turn, then will I hear.”
We need to learn that God will tune in when we
turn around. That’s what he said. God wants us to understand that there is a
connection between his seeming distance between Him listening to us and our
sin.
We arrogantly assume we can turn our backs on God
and it will not affect our communication with him. And what we forget is that
when we choose sin God turns his back on us. God will not look at sin. That’s
why on the cross his own son, as the sky went dark, screamed, “My God, My God,
why have you forsaken me?” What Jesus feared most about the cross was not the
pain of the nails or the taunts and insults of the crowd. What made him tremble
was the thought that when sin was on him, God would turn his back. God will not
look at sin, even when it is on his own son
TURNING BACK TO GOD
God said in Malachi 3:7, “Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.” You cannot reverse that order. Word in the Bible for this turning around: REPENTENCE. And I want to talk to you today about what it means to turn from wicked ways back to God. And I think it would help us to understand what it means to turn around if we understood what it means to turn away.
I want to show you a verse in Deuteronomy 30:17 where God explains the people how they will be abandoned if they turn away from Him. God says, “If your heart turns away, and you are not obedient, and if your drawn away to bow down to other Gods and worship them,”
God said in Malachi 3:7, “Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord Almighty.” You cannot reverse that order. Word in the Bible for this turning around: REPENTENCE. And I want to talk to you today about what it means to turn from wicked ways back to God. And I think it would help us to understand what it means to turn around if we understood what it means to turn away.
I want to show you a verse in Deuteronomy 30:17 where God explains the people how they will be abandoned if they turn away from Him. God says, “If your heart turns away, and you are not obedient, and if your drawn away to bow down to other Gods and worship them,”
1. It
begins with a radical shift in the heart. That’s where it starts. That fire for
God that burns in your heart starts to wane, The embers start to cool. And what
always happens is when you let your heart start to drift.
2. You will start to tolerate disobedience in certain areas of your life. There are things that before when your heart was full of God you would have been disgusted by and turned away from, but now that your heart is getting cold, suddenly you are tolerating disobedience in your life.
3. You find a substitute for God. God says you will find something to substitute for me. May be an altar made out of gold or silver. May be an altar made out of leather called your wallet. It may be an altar with 27” of color in between. But God says, if you let your heart stray, you’ll start to tolerate disobedience and you’ll find something to take my place.
B. Turning Back to God. So what does it mean then to turn back?
1. First, that thing that is taking God’s place you deal with and tear down.
2. Second, it means that stuff in your life you’ve been tolerating that you know God hates you start to confess and get rid of, and most important....
3. Third, it means you get that heart back on fire for God. You start to love God again with all your heart. And that’s why God said in Joel 2:12-13, “Even now”, declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend you heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
2. You will start to tolerate disobedience in certain areas of your life. There are things that before when your heart was full of God you would have been disgusted by and turned away from, but now that your heart is getting cold, suddenly you are tolerating disobedience in your life.
3. You find a substitute for God. God says you will find something to substitute for me. May be an altar made out of gold or silver. May be an altar made out of leather called your wallet. It may be an altar with 27” of color in between. But God says, if you let your heart stray, you’ll start to tolerate disobedience and you’ll find something to take my place.
B. Turning Back to God. So what does it mean then to turn back?
1. First, that thing that is taking God’s place you deal with and tear down.
2. Second, it means that stuff in your life you’ve been tolerating that you know God hates you start to confess and get rid of, and most important....
3. Third, it means you get that heart back on fire for God. You start to love God again with all your heart. And that’s why God said in Joel 2:12-13, “Even now”, declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart with fasting and weeping and mourning. Rend you heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Revival can be painful. I think sometimes when churches pray for revival
what they really want is the fruits of revival. And the fruits of revival can
be wonderful: Closer communion with God, Deeper fellowship with brothers and
sisters Lost people getting saved The fruits of revival can be wonderful but
revival coming can be painful. Always there is remorse before there is
rejoicing. Because before revival can come God must reveal to his church the
sins they need to turn away from. And that will be hard.
And I think there’s some stuff in this church with attitudes towards each other and towards people that are lost that needs to get dealt with. And although this church has a great history of preaching the gospel there has been many years that we have been too interested in just doing church instead of being the church. If we all pray like we have talked about for God to send revival to this church, that we might again be a light in the darkness and salt in this community, then God is going to show us the business he wants done in our lives.
And I think there’s some stuff in this church with attitudes towards each other and towards people that are lost that needs to get dealt with. And although this church has a great history of preaching the gospel there has been many years that we have been too interested in just doing church instead of being the church. If we all pray like we have talked about for God to send revival to this church, that we might again be a light in the darkness and salt in this community, then God is going to show us the business he wants done in our lives.
WHAT GOD IS GOING TO SAY TO US
In two general ways what God’s going to say to us:
A. Turn Away from your “Dead Religion”
In two general ways what God’s going to say to us:
A. Turn Away from your “Dead Religion”
You need to know that no matter what you do, no matter what you perform
in the name of religion, if your heart is cold and dead toward God, God is
unimpressed with the activity. Listen, if all that mattered was external
cleanliness Jesus didn’t have to come and die. If all we needed was a religious
system to perform then Judaism was good enough. We could just keep doing that.
If all we needed was something to make us look good on the outside. But the
writer says in Hebrews 9:13-14, “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of
a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that
they are outwardly clean. How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences
(here it is again) from dead works, so that we may serve the living God.” The
blood of Jesus reveals the fact that the problem isn’t on the outside, it’s on
the inside.
And we need to
be cleansed, we need to repent, we need to turn away from church that
just goes through the motions with a heart detached from God.
Turn Away from your “Proud Rebellion”
Both those word are important. Sin is rebellion and we do it because we’re proud. Straying hearts always lead to tolerated disobedience. Now we tolerate sin because we’re able to re-classify it.
Sin as humanness; we’re all just humans
Sin as disease; you know it’s just the condition I have, I can’t help myself.
Sin as ignorance; if we would just teach people more they’ll do better.
Sin as victimization; I’m just a victim of my circumstances, I didn’t have a choice.
Sin as inability; I’m just genetically disposed to this kind of behavior, there’s nothing I can do about it.
As long as we can re-classify sin we can tolerate it. I want you to understand, God sees sin too, not as disease, not as humanness, not as inability, but as rebellion. And so he says in Isaiah 53: “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” Now that’s sin. Sin is turning to a way that you prefer more than God’s way. And that’s all sin, ultimately, whether it’s gossip, whether it’s lust, whether it’s greed, or envy or anger, all sin is ultimately rebellion against God. Because you have rejected his way.
Both those word are important. Sin is rebellion and we do it because we’re proud. Straying hearts always lead to tolerated disobedience. Now we tolerate sin because we’re able to re-classify it.
Sin as humanness; we’re all just humans
Sin as disease; you know it’s just the condition I have, I can’t help myself.
Sin as ignorance; if we would just teach people more they’ll do better.
Sin as victimization; I’m just a victim of my circumstances, I didn’t have a choice.
Sin as inability; I’m just genetically disposed to this kind of behavior, there’s nothing I can do about it.
As long as we can re-classify sin we can tolerate it. I want you to understand, God sees sin too, not as disease, not as humanness, not as inability, but as rebellion. And so he says in Isaiah 53: “We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” Now that’s sin. Sin is turning to a way that you prefer more than God’s way. And that’s all sin, ultimately, whether it’s gossip, whether it’s lust, whether it’s greed, or envy or anger, all sin is ultimately rebellion against God. Because you have rejected his way.
Look at what Jesus said about sin:
Matthew 5:29-30, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Now Jesus knows that we’re sinners. He knows that we stumble. That’s not what he means. What Jesus means is if there’s something going on in your life that is consistently against God and you’re living in rebellion, you had better deal radically with that area of your life, do whatever it takes.
It’s better to limp into heaven than leap into hell.
Revival will come when the church starts hating sin as much as Jesus did.
Matthew 5:29-30, “If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”
Now Jesus knows that we’re sinners. He knows that we stumble. That’s not what he means. What Jesus means is if there’s something going on in your life that is consistently against God and you’re living in rebellion, you had better deal radically with that area of your life, do whatever it takes.
It’s better to limp into heaven than leap into hell.
Revival will come when the church starts hating sin as much as Jesus did.
The Bible say in Isaiah 55:6-7, “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the evil man
his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to
our God for he will freely pardon.” God will tune in when we turn around
1. Ask God
to do a thorough search of your heart.
I want to show you the hardest prayer in the Bible to pray. It’s a
prayer of David in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test
me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting.” Why don’t start be giving God permission to
show you anything in your heart right now that displeases him.
2. Be sensitive to the Spirit’s prompting. Because one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is the conviction of sins. John says in 16:8, “When he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin.”
2. Be sensitive to the Spirit’s prompting. Because one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is the conviction of sins. John says in 16:8, “When he (the Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin.”
It might be through a song we sing. Or it might be through the example
of a godly man or women in Christ, or it might just be sometime the Holy Spirit
puts into your heart and mind the awareness of what it is you need to turn
from.
2.
Confess immediately anything that God reveals as
displeasing to him. If God shows you something that is displeasing to him don’t
you wait a moment in admitting it and saying, “God, I’m going to turn from it.
Right now.”
3. And
I’ll tell you what the greatest barrier is going to be. I tell you right now
it’s going to be pride. Pride is going to keep you from wanting to confess to
God and to confess to your church what your sin is. That’s why God said the
very first thing you have to do before revival can come is to humble
yourselves. If you’re not humbling yourself before God you’re never going to
deal with sin.
4. Acts
3:19, “Repent then and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, so that
times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Three Ways to
Make Your Life More Meaningful
Generally speaking, people are passive about
planning their lives. Most people tend to go with the flow and like activities
that give them instant gratification. For example, most married couples today
spent more time planning their weddings than planning their lives together.
Think about it. Do you remember going to the “perfect wedding” only to see the
couple break up a year later. Our generation is fun and exciting and we do a
lot of things. Although our career successes, world travels, and higher
education keep us active and knowledgeable, they do not make our lives meaningful.
We’ve failed at producing people that are content with their lives. Worldly
success, fame, and fortune do not translate into lives with meaning. All we
have to do is look at the sports and entertainment industries and see
incredibly talented, wealthy people self-destruct on drugs, immoral behavior,
and reckless living. My friends, there is hope. Fortunately today in St. Paul’s
letter to the Ephesians 5:8-19, he instructs us about three ways to make our
lives more meaningful.
First Way To Make Your Life More Meaningful – Know Who You Are
First Way To Make Your Life More Meaningful – Know Who You Are
Before we can have meaningful lives, we first need to know who we are. I’m not talking about knowing basic facts such as our name, rank, and serial number. Knowing who we are means knowing about the infinite world within us. Knowing who we are means knowing what we stand for, what we live for, what we hope to accomplish, and knowing what impressions we want to make - it’s knowing what floats our boat. Ancient Greeks seeking advice came to the city of Delphi to consult the famous Oracle at the Temple of Apollo. Here the inscription “Know Thyself” was carved in the temple and it was perhaps the greatest advise that one could receive. We cannot responsibly act or find meaning in our lives until we get past this first step. We must spend some time and know ourselves.
Think for a moment – if I were to ask you who are you, what would you say? There are two basic ways to answer the question. For the non-Christian, people define themselves based on their personal characteristics or accomplishments
On the other hand, Christians see themselves
quite differently. Christians define themselves by their relationship to their
Lord and Savior. The world defines itself in terms of what they do – Christians
define themselves in term of who they serve.
Christians are special people and St. Paul reminds the Christians at Ephesus about their unique identity. They are instructed to “walk as children of the light.” What does this phrase mean exactly? Throughout the New Testament, we see several references to Jesus as the Light. Light in the Bible represents both truth and holiness. As God’s children, Christians are called to act honourably, and morally for the glory of God. Children of the light call upon the true Light of Christ for strength and direction. Just as plants need light to grow, Christians also need the Light of Christ to grow in the faith. The Light of Christ brings life to His people. We receive the Light of Christ through prayer, meditation, worship, Bible study, the sacraments, and performing good works. By basking in the Light of Christ, we become more Christ-like in our motives and actions. Eventually we will be able to unite our will with Christ’s will for us. Then as true Children of the Light, we will be able to radiate Christ’s light to the world. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.” His light in us will enable us to heal creation, expose sin, and devote ourselves to serving Him. Knowing that we are Children of the Light empowers us to lead meaningful lives because through Him all needs are satisfied.
Christians are special people and St. Paul reminds the Christians at Ephesus about their unique identity. They are instructed to “walk as children of the light.” What does this phrase mean exactly? Throughout the New Testament, we see several references to Jesus as the Light. Light in the Bible represents both truth and holiness. As God’s children, Christians are called to act honourably, and morally for the glory of God. Children of the light call upon the true Light of Christ for strength and direction. Just as plants need light to grow, Christians also need the Light of Christ to grow in the faith. The Light of Christ brings life to His people. We receive the Light of Christ through prayer, meditation, worship, Bible study, the sacraments, and performing good works. By basking in the Light of Christ, we become more Christ-like in our motives and actions. Eventually we will be able to unite our will with Christ’s will for us. Then as true Children of the Light, we will be able to radiate Christ’s light to the world. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.” His light in us will enable us to heal creation, expose sin, and devote ourselves to serving Him. Knowing that we are Children of the Light empowers us to lead meaningful lives because through Him all needs are satisfied.
Second Way To
Make Your Life More Meaningful – Know What You Are To Do
It’s been said that without vision the people perish. People who live meaningful lives have a sense of purpose and conviction. They have vision and are driven people. As children of the light, we naturally want to please God. In order to please God, we are encouraged to know God. St. Paul advises us to “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” We learn how to please God when we place ourselves humbly at His feet requesting His wisdom to guide our actions. Knowing God is an ongoing activity that reaches out to God and asks Him to be involved in our lives. Knowing God is an active relationship where we know Him through what we read, hear, and experience through prayer. We know God through active service.
More important, people who know God well have a firm grip on their personal calling. They are focused on virtue and Christian service and have a hard time engaging in sin because it is against their nature. Sin is a contradiction of meaningful life. St. Paul points out that drunkenness, unfruitful works of darkness, and other sins too terrible to even mention are both foolish and evil. Children of the Light Christians are called to expose sin and transform the world around them. Christians on the other hand need to be compassionate regarding the people who are unhappy, lost, dejected, and have given up on life.
St. Paul calls on Christians to be filled with the Spirit and to live joyful, triumphant lives. Our joy can be captured through worship and singing psalms to the Lord as mentioned in today’s text. True worship praises God and worship is our highest form of Christian existence. Worshiping God is a symphony
It’s been said that without vision the people perish. People who live meaningful lives have a sense of purpose and conviction. They have vision and are driven people. As children of the light, we naturally want to please God. In order to please God, we are encouraged to know God. St. Paul advises us to “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” We learn how to please God when we place ourselves humbly at His feet requesting His wisdom to guide our actions. Knowing God is an ongoing activity that reaches out to God and asks Him to be involved in our lives. Knowing God is an active relationship where we know Him through what we read, hear, and experience through prayer. We know God through active service.
More important, people who know God well have a firm grip on their personal calling. They are focused on virtue and Christian service and have a hard time engaging in sin because it is against their nature. Sin is a contradiction of meaningful life. St. Paul points out that drunkenness, unfruitful works of darkness, and other sins too terrible to even mention are both foolish and evil. Children of the Light Christians are called to expose sin and transform the world around them. Christians on the other hand need to be compassionate regarding the people who are unhappy, lost, dejected, and have given up on life.
St. Paul calls on Christians to be filled with the Spirit and to live joyful, triumphant lives. Our joy can be captured through worship and singing psalms to the Lord as mentioned in today’s text. True worship praises God and worship is our highest form of Christian existence. Worshiping God is a symphony
Love unites and bonds the body of Christ. It
reenergizes the body into exposing the corruption in the world and enables the
light of Christ shine to dispel the world’s darkness. Worshiping God, tending
to the “least of the brethren,” and devoting ourselves to holiness are
cornerstones of a meaningful life. Yet, our Christian joy is something that is
best shared. It’s interesting that St. Paul quotes a passage from Isaiah 60:1
that reads, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord
has risen upon you.” The imagery we have in this Old Testament passage is
vivid. Think of a dark valley in the morning where a thick fog has rolled in.
This dark valley represents the world. Now, as the day breaks and the sun rises
in the sky, the fog slowly burns off and the valley is filled with sunshine and
light. This is analogous to the Light of Christ. His light burns off the sin in
our lives and brightens our day because the darkness is exposed and cannot
overcome the light. Don’t we also want to bring His light to the world? Is
there any greater calling?
Third Way To Make Your Life More Meaningful – Make The Most Of Your Time
Knowing who we are, and knowing what we are to do is important to having a meaningful life. In order to maximize our effectiveness we must make the most of our time.
Third Way To Make Your Life More Meaningful – Make The Most Of Your Time
Knowing who we are, and knowing what we are to do is important to having a meaningful life. In order to maximize our effectiveness we must make the most of our time.
How is it that the world measures progress, but
somehow productivity metrics escape the Church and the Christian faith? On a
global level we see our world is heading towards moral decay, our culture is
becoming more secular, and there is relatively little difference in behavior
between Christians and the general population. Why is our Christian faith not
effective? Aren’t Christians productive? Unfortunately, I believe that
Christians are not as productive as they can be. Many Christians do the bare
minimum in life and drift along by just going to Church on Sundays and avoiding
any major sins. I submit that this passive attitude is the greatest trap for
God’s people. Too often Christians think that they have salvation and heaven
all wrapped up and all they need to do is not “blow the game.” The bible
instructs us otherwise. Today, St. Paul encourages the faithful to act as wise
men by, “making the most of your time.”
I believe that one of the greatest sins in the
world is the sin of omission. Sins of omission happen when we pay lip service
to helping others but never seem to have the time. Deep down, I believe that
all of us here are good people with good intentions. I believe that we all love
our Lord and Savoir. On the other hand, we all fall victim to spiritual
slothfulness and do not consciously seek to maximize our service to God. Our
world convinces us to relax, eat, drink, and be merry and to enjoy our
abundance like the man in the parable of the Rich Fool. Unfortunately, using
our “free time” to indulge ourselves in worldly pleasures does nothing for us
spiritually. We let down our guard and our attention moves from serving God to
personal needs.
Spiritual idleness my friends diminishes the effectiveness of the soul and meaning we receive out of life. Think for a moment. What types of people are the happiest people that you know? Passionate people are the happiest because they love what they do. Even in this Cathedral, the hardest workers seem to be the most content because they are working passionately, effectively, and productively for the glory of God. St. Paul’s advise rings true. Make the most of your time. Serve God.
Spiritual idleness my friends diminishes the effectiveness of the soul and meaning we receive out of life. Think for a moment. What types of people are the happiest people that you know? Passionate people are the happiest because they love what they do. Even in this Cathedral, the hardest workers seem to be the most content because they are working passionately, effectively, and productively for the glory of God. St. Paul’s advise rings true. Make the most of your time. Serve God.
Read this message and be Blessed
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