{"id":33,"date":"2013-09-14T04:38:08","date_gmt":"2013-09-14T04:38:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?page_id=33"},"modified":"2013-09-20T22:32:11","modified_gmt":"2013-09-21T05:32:11","slug":"text-documents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/?page_id=33","title":{"rendered":"Lessons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Psalms 1
\nHow the Godly got there.<\/b><\/p>\n

The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.<\/p>\n

1<\/sup>\u00a0How blessed is the man
\nwho does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
\nNor stand in the\u00a0 <\/sup>path of sinners,
\nNor sit in the seat of scoffers!
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
\nAnd in His law he meditates day and night.
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>He will be like a tree firmly<\/i> planted by streams of water,
\nWhich yields its fruit in its season
\nAnd itsleaf does not wither;
\nAndin whatever he does, he prospers.<\/b><\/p>\n

4\u00a0<\/sup>The wicked are not so,
\nBut they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
\nNor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>For the Lordknows the way of the righteous,
\nBut the way of the wicked will perish.<\/b><\/p>\n

Statistically, I hear that women are more likely to ask for directions when they sense they are lost than men are.\u00a0 In fact, I came across several sites on the internet that said it was a fact.\u00a0 It\u2019s the subject of comedians probably because we know all suspect that it\u2019s true.\u00a0 One site, appropriately titled \u201cWhy Men don\u2019t ask for Directions\u201d offers a few reasons.\u00a0 Ladies, this is for your benefit, so that you can better understand that guy in your life.\u00a0 First<\/span><\/b>, \u201cIt is important to understand that men are NEVER “lost.” Second<\/span><\/b>, \u201cthe act of stopping the car, and rolling down the window, makes him (and you) more vulnerable.\u201d\u00a0 Third<\/span><\/b>, \u201cthe moment he asks a gas station attendant or someone on the street, for directions, he has put his life and yours in the hands of a stranger.\u201d\u00a0 Point is about all this, is men are not prone to ask for directions.\u00a0 That\u2019s why men love maps.\u00a0 Well guys, today I have a map.\u00a0 It\u2019s a map to somewhere that you want to go but sometimes forget that\u2019s where you\u2019re heading.\u00a0 And ladies, you already are better equipped than we are with asking directions, so this will be easier for you than for us.\u00a0 It is a map on finding godliness.\u00a0 It\u2019s not a map with a little voice that tells you when to turn left or right, God already gave you one of those.\u00a0 He\u2019s called the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 The Holy Spirit instructs you but this map is going to give you the general rules of the road, how to get there from here \u2013 the \u201cthere\u201d is being more godly and the \u201chere\u201d is where we all walk right now, today \u2013 no matter what stage of grwth you might be at.<\/p>\n

What I want to talk about this morning is about the directions God gives us in His Word on how to avoid getting on the wrong path to getting messed up in life, how to avoid getting lost in the first place.\u00a0 Of course the Bible addresses this and some of the wisdom that speaks directly to this is in Psalm One.\u00a0 Psalm 1 is about compromise and making small, seemingly insignificant choices or decisions that lead a person to feel as though they are thirsty in a dry and weary land.\u00a0 In this case, Psalm One begins with the good example, so we will too.<\/p>\n

Did you ever stop to think how those people you consider godly got there?\u00a0 I mean, what does it take to get a person to a point in their life where others consider them godly.\u00a0 What are the things in their life that have given that person what most would call a happy and blessed life?\u00a0 Psalms One provides counsel about how the godly become godly. It is important to remember that there is no godliness for anyone who isn\u2019t in Christ.\u00a0 You might say, wait a minute, Bob.\u00a0 That sounds kind of intolerant.\u00a0 This is what the Bible teaches and I would be a false teacher if I implied that you could achieve godliness without knowing Christ.\u00a0 If a person wants to pursue godliness, they will begin by following Jesus Christ.\u00a0 There is no other place to begin.\u00a0 \u201cAnd there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved<\/b>.\u201d\u00a0 Acts 4:12<\/p>\n

But beginning the Christian life and living the Christian life are two different things.\u00a0 A person can begin well with Jesus, but fail to understand that God demands some personal involvement in our walk with Him.\u00a0 The people who are godly didn\u2019t get there by accident.\u00a0 They have purposed in their lives and hearts to make good and positive choices.\u00a0 They have decided they will refuse to compromise.\u00a0 Compromise happens when our behavior fails to reflect our priorities.\u00a0 We\u2019re going to look at some areas where the godly refuse to compromise and if you find that you have compromised, hopefully there will be a map to show you how to get back on the proper road.\u00a0 What are those compromises that the godly refuse to allow?\u00a0 The answer is found in our text today.<\/p>\n

The first things that the Psalms tells us are that the godly person has made decisions about their life that restricts them from certain things.\u00a0 They have chosen not to compromise in areas that would diminish their commitment.\u00a0 What are the things that can influence our commitment?\u00a0 Let\u2019s look at the passage.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Walking in the counsel of the wicked<\/span>.\u00a0 1<\/sup>\u00a0How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked. <\/b>The godly man has made choices about who he will walk with, but what does \u201cwalk\u201d mean?\u00a0 Have you ever had someone ask you to go for a walk and talk?\u00a0 The implication is a casual discussion as you go along a path with another person. \u00a0I think ladies you are better at this than men are.\u00a0 It seems to me that almost any time the family gets together, a few of the women are going for a walk and we know that means that they are going to discuss something in private.\u00a0 But in this case, it is not a literal walk, but a leisurely stroll in the counsel of the wicked.\u00a0 What kind of counsel does the wicked give?\u00a0 They give counsel that is devoid of any concern for God and His values and His glory.\u00a0 The wicked are ignorant of the things of God.\u00a0 To walk in the counsel of the wicked is the same thing as taking advice from those who are in rebellion to God.\u00a0 They will rarely give counsel that would offer a believer any moral direction because they don\u2019t think spiritually.\u00a0 Of course that doesn\u2019t mean that we never listen to non-believers about all things, but the moral decisions of life should not be made based upon the counsel of those who hate God.\n
      \n
    1. The problem is that we sometimes go to the ungodly because we don\u2019t want godly advice and remarkably, that is just what we get \u2013 ungodly advice.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
    2. Standing in the way of sinners<\/span> – Nor stand in thepath of sinners.\u00a0 <\/b>Now the association with those who hate God has developed to a different stage.\u00a0 Prior to this, a person was just checking with his non-believing friends to see if they would provide reinforcement for something they knew God would not approve of. \u00a0That was walking in the counsel of the wicked.\u00a0 Now, instead of following advice of the wicked, they have begun to take a stand with sinners.\u00a0 This is the case where a person has begun to be more and more frequent with those who are in rebellion to God.\u00a0 Not for the purpose of sharing the love of Christ with them, but rather with the intention of joining their ranks.\u00a0 This is a transition from asking them what to do, to joining in their folly.\u00a0 You see, in this instance, the path of sinners has an identification of the choices he makes are in direct contrast to God\u2019s instruction.\u00a0 God has instructed us how to live and the sinner believes that God is wrong.\u00a0 And now, the Psalm is telling us that we are blessed if we avoid this habit of standing with sinners in their path.\u00a0 And what is the destination of that path for sinners?\u00a0 We know where they are headed if they don\u2019t humble themselves to God, but not all will.<\/li>\n
    3. Sitting in the seat of Scoffers<\/span> – Nor sit in the seat of scoffers.<\/b>\u00a0 At this point, the person no longer is considered an outsider; he has a permanent place among those who mock God.\u00a0 A scoffer is one who continually makes light of that which is sacred.\u00a0 They have no respect for God and his commandments and don\u2019t respond to godly instruction.\u00a0 That is sad enough, but imagine the person who has become comfortable around such people.\u00a0 We talked last week about the things that God hates and at this point, I believe you can say a person who sits with the scoffers has become comfortable with the things that God hates. \u00a0The bible instructs us to love the name of God but instead the person shown here is completely at home with people who mock God.\u00a0 That is not good and is it any wonder that we are blessed when we avoid these people.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      It is important to realize that we are not talking about our efforts to reach a non-believing generation.\u00a0 We are addressing the blessing provided to a person who makes wise choices in their friendships and associates.\u00a0 God doesn\u2019t want us to be removed from the world, but He also doesn\u2019t want us to love the world and the values of the world.\u00a0 This first verse in Psalms is all about protecting our hearts from compromising because of bad influences.\u00a0 If you find that the worldly people you hang out with are pulling you more towards them than you are pulling them towards God, then you need to reconsider what you will do to find this blessing from God.<\/p>\n

      Now David moves on to the positive side.\u00a0 He has told us what he doesn\u2019t do; now he tells us what he does do. The verse begins with \u201cbut\u201d which means we are about to show a contrast. In verse one, we looks at what the godly man doesn\u2019t do, now we look at what the godly man does.\u00a0 In contrast to making poor choices, the godly person makes good choices.\u00a0 What are those good choices mentioned here?<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, – <\/b>what does it take for someone to find delight in the law?\u00a0 Think about that for just a moment, when was the last time you were driving down the road and said to yourself: \u201cI rejoice that the speed limit is only 25 mph in this area.\u00a0 I love slowing down and getting a good look at the wildlife in this area.\u201d\u00a0 As I was thinking about this, there seems to be two times that I can understand rejoicing in the law.\n
          \n
        1. When it helps me<\/span> \u2013 God\u2019s Law is guidance to you and me.\u00a0 It helps me to find blessings and offers me the ability to see things from God\u2019s perspective.\u00a0 God\u2019s Law helps us to know what is right and what is not right.\u00a0 It is a blessing to us when we walk in obedience to God\u2019s Law.\u00a0 You see, God\u2019s Law has a lot to offer.\u00a0 Just the other day my wife went into Wal-Mart and was looking at some storage solutions.\u00a0 The cost was either $30 for one or $20 for another.\u00a0 She decided not today but then as she was thinking about it, she found one that someone had picked up but decided not to purchase, and they just dropped it off somewhere other than where they picked it.\u00a0 Judi was thinking about going back anyway so she picked it and checked out.\u00a0 When the final bill was low, she looked at the ticket and noticed they only charged her $6.50 – remembering another story I told her, she decided she wouldn\u2019t feel right so she returned to point out the error.\u00a0 Wal-Mart checked and said, yeah that\u2019s not the right price but since that\u2019s what we charged you, it\u2019s yours but we\u2019ll fix the rest.\u00a0 Now, because she was making an effort to obey God, she both gets the good price and she has peace about it.\u00a0 Otherwise, she would have felt like she had cheated Wal-Mart and ultimately cheated God by dishonoring His name.<\/li>\n
        2. When it protects me<\/span> \u2013 <\/b>when I am protected by the Law.\u00a0 When we need the men in blue and they show up, we are relieved because we know that we are protected.\u00a0 Not only are there promises of blessings when we walk according to God\u2019s direction, but there is also promises of protection.\u00a0 God become our protector when we walk in obedience to His Word. Does it mean that bad things never happen to believers?\u00a0 Of course it doesn\u2019t.\u00a0 Life shows us that we live in a fallen world where difficult things happen but we know that God fights with us and for us against all things.\u00a0 BTW \u2013 the things of highest value are never in danger.\u00a0 Remember He holds your salvation in His hands.<\/li>\n
        3. However, when do people not like the Law? \u2013 <\/span>When we are being disobedient or are caught. How do you feel about our public servants with a badge when you are ticketed for doing 45 in a 25 mph zone?\u00a0 At that point in time, you have no delight in the Law; in fact you ask yourself how come those guys are not out there catching the real bad guys?\u00a0 We can\u2019t delight in the Law while we\u2019re breaking it.<\/li>\n
        4. This delight in the Law of the Lord is not normal<\/span> the normal man doesn\u2019t like the Law of the Lord.\u00a0 They find it hard and intolerant.\u00a0 It takes a special relationship with the Lord to love His law and even then it is sometimes a battle.\u00a0 We read things in the Bible and we don\u2019t always want to obey because God\u2019s instruction appears to stand in the way of something we want.\u00a0 But if God\u2019s Word instructs us about the way to walk, we should learn that it is best for belivers if we listen and follow His instruction.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n
        5. And in His law he meditates day and night. <\/b>Meditate \u2013 the basic word means to murmur or mutter.\u00a0 To talk to one\u2019s self \u2013 in this case about God\u2019s instruction.\u00a0 It is the picture of someone applying God\u2019s Word to their daily life in very practical and instructive ways, much like Judi did at Wal-Mart.\u00a0 I was outside of Denny\u2019s the other day and there was a glass bottle in the parking lot.\u00a0 I thought someone should pick that up before somebody drives over it and blows a tire out.\u00a0 Then I thought about the verse in James \u2013 to him who knows what should be done, but does it not, to him it is sin.\u00a0 So still a little concerned that someone I know might see me walking the beer bottle over to the garbage, I decided to pick it up and throw it away.\u00a0 This is letting the Word change your normal reaction to life. \u00a0\u00a0This is meditating on God\u2019s Law, letting it get to you.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          So what does the Righteous person get for his attention to God\u2019s Word?\u00a0 I\u2019m glad you asked, because God thought that was important enough to include in Psalm 1, but you can find teachings about this all over the Bible.<\/p>\n

          The results for the godly<\/span><\/b>\u00ad<\/span> \u2013 when you read this the first thing that jumps out at you is that the righteous will be something not do something.\u00a0 We become like a tree, but sometimes I think we look more like a part of the tree, commonly referred to as nuts.\u00a0 But that\u2019s just my personal observation.<\/p>\n

          Planted<\/b> \u2013 firm is the image here and planted next to some pretty valuable real estate.\u00a0 You know, the plants that are planted next to the river are the last to feel the effects a dry season.\u00a0 Often times, in times of drought, there is still water that runs beneath the river bed that waters the plants next to the river.\u00a0 Eventually, even the driest of seasons will impact the tree next the river \u2013 but let\u2019s be clear about this, the one next to the river is the last to be impacted by a drought.\u00a0 Do they feel a drought that impacts the entire land?\u00a0 Of course they do.\u00a0 Do they wither in the drought?\u00a0\u00a0 They do not according to this passage.\u00a0 They are firm.<\/p>\n

          Fruitful \u2013 <\/b>They are productive when they should be, in their season.\u00a0 Do you wonder why life isn\u2019t what you wanted it to be right now \u2013 do you think that God doesn\u2019t know your seasons as well as He knows the seasons of the fruit trees?\u00a0 Of course not.\u00a0 God knows everything about you and He knows that there are seasons we are fruitful and there are seasons when we are regrouping our strength for the next opportunity.\u00a0 Trees weren\u2019t made to be fruitful all year; they deserve rest as do humans.\u00a0 I am surprised how many times we have to tell people who are too tired to continue at their former pace to slow down and find your rest in grace. I could name names here but I won\u2019t.\u00a0 If you need a rest, don\u2019t make the elders tell you to back off. By the way, there are some who have had their rest and need to get back to being fruitful.\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, often we have a hard time evaluating ourselves.<\/p>\n

          Unwithered \u2013 <\/b>again, this doesn\u2019t mean they aren\u2019t touched by difficulty because we know they are.\u00a0 There will be no hardship that can cause God\u2019s chosen to wither, although I will admit I have felt my share of the heat and felt like I might wither\u00a0 Maybe if you were to ask me, I would have said, I\u2019m done.\u00a0 I\u2019ve withered.\u00a0 I\u2019ve dried up.\u00a0 But remember that God sees us how we really are.\u00a0 You might think your strength is all gone but God knows you better than you know yourself.\u00a0 For me, after awhile God reached into my own troubles and revealed that He still had plans for me.<\/p>\n

          Let me read you something that I recently read that was written by C.S. Lewis in The Problem with Pain<\/span>.<\/p>\n

          \u201cIf the first and lowest operation of pain shatters the illusion that all is well, the second shatters the illusion that what we have, whether good or bad in itself, is our own and enough for us. Everyone has noticed how hard it is to turn our thoughts to God when everything is going well with us. We \u2018have all we want\u2019 is a terrible saying when \u2018all\u2019 does not include God. We find God an interruption. As St Augustine says somewhere, \u2018God wants to give us something, but cannot, because our hands are full\u2014there\u2019s nowhere for Him to put it.\u2019 Or as a friend of mine said, \u2018We regard God as an airman regards his parachute; it\u2019s there for emergencies but he hopes he\u2019ll never have to use it.\u2019 Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as he leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call \u2018our own life\u2019 remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interests but make \u2018our own life\u2019 less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible source of false happiness?<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n

          Prosperous \u2013 <\/b>Now some people might like you to think that God is telling you and me that we\u2019re going to win the lottery.\u00a0 It would be nice if it was that easy but that is not what the intent of this word is.\u00a0 The idea behind this word is that we would produce the fruit and fulfill the goals that God has made us to do.\u00a0 Remember Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them<\/b>.\u00a0 God made you and me to do things that bring Him glory and pleasure, so when we are prosperous we are fulfilling the intent of God during our time on this planet.<\/p>\n

          Just noticed how long this is going, need to come to the end.\u00a0 Finally, the ungodly.\u00a0 The Results for the Ungodly<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

          Like chaff <\/b>\u2013 balance the image of chaff against the picture of the strong tree.\u00a0 The chaff lives in continual dryness.\u00a0 It is already withered.\u00a0 Withered defines the existence of chaff and withered defines the existence of someone who does not know Christ.<\/p>\n

          Will not stand in the judgment \u2013 <\/b>When a believer stands before God for judgment, they will stand based on what Jesus Christ has done for them, not because they were good or evil on this planet.\u00a0 The wicked must stand on their own which is just like saying they will not stand.\u00a0 It is not possible for a sinner to stand in the presence of God\u2019s judgment.\u00a0 They cannot stand before God and they will not.\u00a0 It is God who judges man, not other men.\u00a0 This is one of the great differences between those who know Christ as their Savior and those who do not.\u00a0 All the moral living, and doing the right thing, and even recycling your garbage will not open up heaven to a person if they don\u2019t know Christ as their Savior.<\/p>\n

          (Will not stand) in the assembly of the righteous \u2013 <\/b>finally, they will not stand in the assembly of the righteous.\u00a0 They will not be permitted to enter into the rest that God has created for those who love Him and have accepted His gift of salvation in Christ.\u00a0\u00a0 God never demanded perfection from broken sinners but He does demand that you accept His free offer of redemption in His only Son. \u00a0When I watch golfer on TV, I wonder if I can do that.\u00a0 When I watch baseball player, I wonder what it would be like to play sports at that level.\u00a0 When I watch football, I am thankful I never played too much football.\u00a0 I break too easily.\u00a0 But when I watch the godly, I want to be like them.\u00a0 I want to have that kind of peace through the storms of my life.\u00a0 Well, here\u2019s the map.\u00a0 Here\u2019s your guide and my guide.\u00a0 But don\u2019t try to live it unless you know Christ because honestly, you\u2019ll give up.\u00a0 You might even feel like giving up even if you do know Christ, but God\u2019s got you.\u00a0 He\u2019s got you all the way home.<\/p>\n

          How the godly do godly.<\/p>\n

          They don\u2019t<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

          Walk in the counsel of the wicked<\/b><\/p>\n

          Stand in the way of sinners<\/b><\/p>\n

          Sit in the seat of Scoffers<\/b><\/p>\n

          They do<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

          Delight in the Law of the Lord<\/b><\/p>\n

          Meditates in His Law day and night<\/b><\/p>\n

          The results for the godly<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

          Planted<\/b><\/p>\n

          Fruitful<\/b><\/p>\n

          Unwithered<\/b><\/p>\n

          Prosperous<\/b><\/p>\n

          The Results for the Ungodly<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

          Like chaff<\/b><\/p>\n

          Will not stand in the judgment<\/b><\/p>\n

          (Will not stand) in the assembly of the righteous<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Psalms 1 How the Godly got there. The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted. 1\u00a0How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the\u00a0 path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":420,"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/33\/revisions\/420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/hobart-community-church.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}