Which Way?

[0:00] I just love Psalm 1, don't you? You're familiar with Psalm 1?

[0:13] and it's one that we do well to put into our hearts and minds. Let's stand shall we as we read it. 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.

[0:33] 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.

[0:49] His leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

[1:01] Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

[1:15] Amen. Please be seated. Two ways. Two kinds of people. Two destinations.

[1:28] One truly blessed in God's favour. The other a life wasted and perishing. God's favour upon the one.

[1:41] God's condemnation on the other. This psalm answers for us a critical question. Where can true happiness be found?

[1:52] The world at its best is only passing an uncertain joy. Where can true blessing be found? Psalm 1 tells us how.

[2:04] It tells us of the blessed one. The blessed man. Firstly, of the company of the blessed man. Verse 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.

[2:23] Blessed is this man, this woman. Blessed is this one. He is different. Different in the values. In the way that he travels.

[2:35] In the company that he keeps. Of his life. We see what he does do. And what he does not do. In this psalm. And there is a blessing to this one. The one who will follow this pattern.

[2:48] God blesses his people. He makes us a blessing. The truly happy man. The truly blessed man. Walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.

[2:59] The counsel of the ungodly is vain and empty. You can find no peace there. You can find no real answers there to the real questions of life.

[3:10] Of sin. Of a holy God. Of eternal truths. Worldly wisdom falls far short. It cannot measure up. The godly do not go along. With the advice.

[3:22] With the way of thinking. Of the ungodly. There is some good advice in Proverbs 1 verse 10. Three thousand years old almost. It says.

[3:33] My son. If sinners entice thee. Consent thou not. Don't listen. To the counsel of the ungodly. Secondly. Nor standeth in the way of sinners.

[3:46] Sinners have a different path. They are headed in a different direction. The way of sinners. The way of sinners. Is the pathway. Of self will. Not of God's will. In contrast.

[3:57] The godly man. Will choose wisely. He won't travel down. The pathway of temptation. He won't take. That road. But he will choose that less traveled road. The way of blessing.

[4:09] And of eternal life. Walketh not. In the counsel. Of the ungodly. Nor standeth. In the way of sinners. Thirdly. Nor sitteth. In the seat. Of the scornful.

[4:20] Scoffers miss. The true joy. Of life. In Christ. They miss it. They sit. In the seat. Of the scornful.

[4:31] They miss that path. Of true wisdom. And they follow the path. Of folly. Friends. We're filled. In a world. Of mockers. It says mockers will come. In the last time.

[4:42] Mockers. Mockers. Who make a mock. Of sin. Of righteousness. Of eternity. Of hell. Of heaven. Of the eternal God. God opposes the scornful.

[4:53] But he. Gives grace to those. Who repent. Proverbs 3. 34. He gives grace. To the humble. Notice that there is a journey here. As we see.

[5:04] In these first verses. Of Psalm 1. There is a journey. That the godless take. A journey. Into sin. That is gradual. But inevitable. It is a slippery slide.

[5:16] As one thing leads to another. We see. Firstly. They start to go along with the crowd. It's the. It's the who. They want to mix with. It's those they want to rub shoulders with.

[5:27] And link arms with. They want to hang around. That. Crowd. To go along with them. And then secondly. They take their stand with them. They will stand shoulder to shoulder.

[5:38] Alongside. Them. And before you know it. They're. Standing. Joining. In the same cause. As the ungodly. Sin. Is a slippery slope.

[5:49] It is deceitful. And deadly. And we see that. The. Slippery slope. That. The progressive slide. In this verse. In the same.

[6:00] People. First. They get comfortable. With sin. Secondly. They linger. With the casual. Influence. Of ungodly. People. And thirdly.

[6:11] They join. Their cause. The word says. Exalt one another. Daily. While it is called. Today. Lest. Any of you. Be hardened. Through the deceitfulness.

[6:22] Of sin. Is deceitful. An example. For us. Not one to follow. Is lot. Lot. Choses. How not. To be blessed. How to.

[6:33] Not. Be blessed. In genesis. 13. Verse 10. It says. That lot. Lifted up his eyes. He was given a choice. By abram. He lifted up his eyes.

[6:44] And he chose. The well watered valley. Of the jordan. It was. It was. Quite. Luxurious. Lot. Had destroyed. Sodom. And Gomorrah.

[6:55] It was like. The garden. Of the lord. It was like. The garden. Of Eden. We see. That. In genesis. 13. Verses.

[7:06] 10. Through 12. It was like. The land. Of Egypt. There was so much going for it. As the. A look of it. Would be considered. And so. Lot looked.

[7:17] And then. Secondly. He chose. To go there. And he was thoroughly. Settled there. It was a progression. Lot. Looked. Towards Sodom. He chose.

[7:28] To go. To Sodom. And he ended up. Settling down. There. And instead. Of being. A blessed man. He was a vexed man. A tormented man. As we read.

[7:39] In 2 Peter 2. 7 through 8. Lot. Is an example. To avoid. An example. We ought to take. Notice of. As was Lot's wife. Remember her. She was.

[7:50] Judged. Likewise. The godly man. Takes a different path. He's headed in another direction. He knows a separation. He wants another influence. In his life.

[8:01] That is godly. Friends. Separation. Is critical. Separation. In Psalm 1. We see. Separation. Separation. It's been said. That if you run.

[8:12] With the pigs. You're going to smell. Like the pigs. And pretty soon. You'll look. And act. And dress. Like the pigs. And when that happens. Don't be surprised.

[8:23] If others mistake you. For a pig. What seems small to you today. May lead to a total domination. By sin. Tomorrow. We see the subtle slide. Slow. Steady. Slippery. Subtle.

[8:34] The slide into sin. Be warned. Be alert. Be watchful. Don't play with fire. if you don't want to get burned. Siing. It begins by careless counsel. By hanging with the crowd. They forget God. The Word tells us in Isaiah 55.

[8:46] Verse 7. God says to us. Let the wicked. Forsake. His way. Let the wicked. Forsake. His way. Let the wicked. Forsake. His way.

[8:57] Don't go. The soul of sin. To sin. To sin. To sin. To sin. To sin. To sin. To sin. To sin. To sin.

[9:08] go the self way, go God's way. And that means thinking about your mind, guarding it, not switching it off, but critiquing everything by the word of God. Does it measure up? Does it stack up? Does it stand according to that plumb line that will not move? Guard your mind and secondly, guard your friendships. Choose to have the company of those who love the Lord, of those who love the things of God and are committed to them. So we see firstly the company of the blessed man. There's something different about the company of the blessed man. Secondly we notice the delight of the blessed man.

[9:48] Verse 2, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. The blessed man has a blessed book. It's his delight. It's his source of spiritual nourishment. He cries like the psalmist in 119 verse 97, Oh how I love thy law, it is my meditation all the day. Whatever delights us directs us. Whatever shapes our thinking shapes our life. God's word must be that source, that life source, that spiritual nourishment, that delight, that in which we relish, that which we savour, that which we long for, that which brings us the joy, the real joy of living. And the blessed man has a blessed meditation. A blessed meditation. There is a book in the mind of this man.

[10:55] There is a book in the heart of this man. In the conscience of this man. In the willingness of this man. A book in his hand and a book in his heart. The blessed man has a blessed meditation. He's committed to this book. It's not some casual interest, some carefree passing fancy. This book occupies this man. He meditates therein day and night.

[11:23] It's not casual. He takes time for the word of God. Friends, if you want to be a blessed man, women if you want to be a blessed woman, get a hold of this blessed book and let it be a blessing. The blessed man knows a blessed meditation. We commune with God through his word.

[11:43] It's as the word takes effect. It's as we are grounded and planted in the word. As we apply it to our lives, that blessing will flow. God's word is life to us. The Lord Jesus says in John 6, 63, these words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. This book brings life to the soul. It transforms us. It impacts our affections and our actions. As we take heed to this book, it manifests in our life. We learn to develop an intimacy, a fellowship with God. The truth of God's word feeds our soul so that we can grow, so that we can flourish.

[12:29] He feeds our soul with his promises, with his encouragement and with his wisdom. The blessed man, the blessed man is not just a hearer of the word but a doer of it. A doer of it. A doer of it. A doer of it. A delight in it. Right thinking leads to right living. God is in this book. God has given you this book. Will you be like those who are... The Satan has blinded the minds. It's here. Or will you be those who will search and seek him. The truth of God's word feeds the soul. It nourishes and it changes us. God is in this book. He reveals himself to us. It's his complete revelation to us. If you want to find God, go to this book. By the word of God we can feed our faith. If you're feeling like you're weak in spiritual things, maybe it's because of a lack of this book. Maybe it's because of a lack of this word. That diet that we need to grow those spiritual muscles. It comes from the book.

[13:40] It comes from communion with the Lord and his word. We build a life as we take this book and make it live as we let it transform our hearts. As we grow. As we receive the word.

[13:55] And God's spirit will draw us to love this book. To love it. To love it more than our necessary food. It's so vital to our soul. God's people will love it and live it. This book will love it. Love the word. Love the word. Let it fill your thoughts. Let it fill your affections. Let it determine your decisions. Let it be a book that preoccupies you day and night. Daily, constantly, consistently, diligently be occupied with this book. So we can see the company of the blessed man. It's different. We see the delight of the blessed man. It's different. And thirdly, we see the fruit of the blessed man. Verse 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

[15:01] The blessed man is like a strong tree. Firmly grounded, planted, sturdy, stable, steadfast. The blessed man knows a fruit. He is a tree. Compared to a tree. As it says in Isaiah 61. Verse 3. The trees of righteousness. The planting of the Lord that he may be glorified. God's people. Trees of righteousness. There's some trees here. We've got a little forest here this morning. Trees of righteousness. The planting of the Lord that he might be glorified. The fruits of the blessed man is that he is like a tree.

[15:44] A sturdy, a sturdy, stable tree. A healthy tree planted. It says planted by the rivers of water. This tree is planted by flowing streams. It is planted by a life-giving stream. It is planted where it can be nourished. Where it can grow fruitful. And likewise too as God's people. He wants you and me as his people to be grounded, planted by streams of living water. That our hearts will find his strength. That our hearts will find his strength. His supply. His nourishment. That we'll flourish. That we'll know a quality of life that the world cannot get close to.

[16:29] Healthy trees. Healthy trees. That's what he wants you to be. Healthy trees. Healthy trees add a new ring of growth each year. You know how old the tree is because you can see the rings of growth.

[16:44] God wants you to be a tree. God wants you to be a tree that is growing. Not stagnant. Not stationary. But abounding. Growing in grace. Growing closer to his will for you. Growing towards maturity and godly character.

[16:59] Because when growth stops. Because when growth stops. Decay begins. When growth stops. Decay begins. Friends. Let's take a stock take. Let's check the condition of the leaves. Let's check the shade of green.

[17:18] His leaf also shall not wither. His leaf also shall not wither. As a strong upright tree. God wants you to be growing. His leaf also shall not wither. He'll be growing. He'll be growing. He'll be growing. He'll be growing.

[17:29] His strength. To face life's tests. Whatever they be. There'll be some storms ahead. He never promised a peaceful ocean. But he'll give you his strength.

[17:46] His strength. To face those contrary winds. He'll give you that constant nourishment. As you plant it. Planted by the rivers of water. Planted where you can get refreshing. Where you can be renewed. As you go to where the word is. Where the flowing stream is.

[18:01] You'll want to be planted there. Where you can get a freshness. Where you can get a fruitfulness. Because friends. God wants you and me to be fruitful Christians. He wants us to be fruitful. The Lord Jesus says in John 15 verse 5.

[18:15] But I am the vine. And ye are the branches. He that abideth in me. And I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit.

[18:28] For without me you can do nothing. It's about being in the vine. It's about abiding in him. Remaining in him. Being in connection. In communion with him.

[18:38] Because there are no fruitless branches in the vine. Every Christian is called to bear fruit. His word brings that fruit. It's in the degree that we love the word.

[18:51] That we'll see the degree of fruit. That growing that maturity in faith. It takes a moment to be saved. It takes a lifetime to grow in holiness.

[19:01] Amen. It's a journey. We're all heading that way. I trust. How do we know if a tree is strong?

[19:14] When the storms come we'll know. When the storms come we'll know how strong your tree is. We'll know how strong your faith is. I know I saw a message from a church in Rockhampton.

[19:24] And they had a picture of this huge tree that had fallen crashing down. Now we can see that the roots seemed quite shallow. As this large tree and fawn smacked bang on the ground.

[19:37] The storm showed how strong the tree was. And the storms will show for you brother. They'll show for me sister. How strong your faith is.

[19:49] And so we want to be grounded and planted in the word. When whatever comes our way is not going to fade us. In fact the stronger trees will be where they face the wind.

[20:02] And they can delight in the word of God. Meditate in its truth. Setting definite time to feed our faith. A healthy tree will be firmly planted.

[20:14] Flourishing and fruitful. It says whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. There's a result to being a fruitful tree.

[20:26] There's a result. There's a reward. A believer's life is not lived in vain. It's not talking about tangible wealth so much. It's talking about the wealth of a life well lived.

[20:38] It's talking of a life that is lived with purpose and meaning. It's talking of God's blessing upon our lives. A blessing. A blessing. Upon our personal life.

[20:49] Our family life. Our business life. Our church life. Our spiritual life. That you can be a testimony in whatever dimension you live your life. The godly will prosper.

[21:02] In other words there'll be strength for the day. There'll be strength for your day. There'll be hope as you face the hardest difficulties. It's not necessarily saying we're all going to be driving around in BMWs.

[21:14] Or whatever it takes your fancy. You know you might like to have a nice Ford. But whatever it is. You know it's not about that. It's about that genuine prosperity.

[21:27] About your heart. About your soul. About the real you. And the godly will bear fruit. Even in the dry seasons his leaf shall not wither. We're going to be planted by that river.

[21:39] That glorious river. That unfailing source of life and strength. The word of God is spoken to us as of water. The water of the word. And as we know his spirit.

[21:49] Likewise is spoken of as a life giving river. The blessed man will be that sturdy tree. That finds its nourishment. And is firm and fruitful.

[22:01] It goes on to say. Friends. We've seen the company of the blessed man. We've seen the delight of the blessed man. We've seen the fruit of the blessed man.

[22:13] Now we're going to look at the other side of the coin. The ungodly. It says the ungodly are not so. The ungodly are not so. We see firstly the instability of the ungodly.

[22:27] What are the ungodly like? The ungodly are not like a tree. They're like chaff. Like chaff. When the wheat is threshed.

[22:37] They throw it in the air. And the wind just blows the chaff. It blows it away. As the grain falls to the ground to be kept. The chaff just gets blown by the blast of the wind.

[22:50] The ungodly are like chaff. Like chaff. Without substance. Their life is vain. Their life has no lasting value.

[23:03] Like chaff. Just like the dust of the ground. A life without God is vain. It is like chaff.

[23:17] Just to be blown around or burnt. The ungodly are not so. They're not firm. Fruitful. Faithful.

[23:27] The ungodly are fruitless. Weightless. Useless. What a shame. To live a life and miss the whole point of it all. What a tragedy.

[23:41] What a shocking waste. A tree bears fruit. But chaff is separated from the source of life.

[23:52] It doesn't know life. It's useless. Empty. A waste. If a man does not know God. He is useless chaff. What a waste.

[24:05] They face the fire of divine wrath. We see the instability of the ungodly. And secondly we see the judgment of the ungodly.

[24:15] Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment. Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. We see the instability of the ungodly.

[24:25] We see the judgment of the ungodly. The doom of the ungodly. What a bitter, bitter end. The wind driveth them away.

[24:38] Death shall strike them with a terrible blast. The chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3 verse 12. It says the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment.

[24:54] You could use that colloquialism. They're not going to have a leg to stand on. When judgment time comes. That's the sense you can picture it. They won't have a leg to stand on.

[25:05] In that time of judgment. It'll just be so clear. So plain. The sentence that awaits them. They will not be able to endure the judgment. They will have no adequate defense.

[25:17] And when they are brought before the judgment bar of the almighty God. They will face his just condemnation. Friends the word says in Psalm 130.

[25:29] If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities. O Lord who should stand? We're all. Likewise. Marked. Marked. Our iniquities.

[25:44] If thou Lord shouldst mark iniquities. O Lord who could stand? Psalm 130 verse 3. The only hope is by God's grace.

[25:57] Claimed in faith in Christ. Our righteousness. That's our only hope. As we stand. In that judgment time. When the time for judgment comes.

[26:09] The wicked will not stand. With one breath. The Lord will blow them away. With the blast of his mouth. And the wicked will be turned into hell. Matthew Henry says.

[26:19] The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment. Thenest they shall be found guilty. They shall hang their head in shame and confusion. All their pleas and excuses will be overruled as frivolous.

[26:33] There is a judgment to come. In which every man's present character and work. Though ever artfully so concealed in disguise.

[26:44] Shall be truly and perfectly discovered. And appear in their own colors. And accordingly every man's future state will be. An irreversible sentence.

[26:57] Determine. For eternity. They shall not stand in the judgment. So plain will the evidence be against them.

[27:07] So just and impartial will be the judgment upon it. Spurgeon says of the wicked. They shall stand there to be judged.

[27:19] But not to be acquitted. Fear shall lay hold of them. They shall not stand their ground. They shall flee away. They shall not stand in their own defense.

[27:30] For they shall blush. And be covered with eternal content. Friends. The ungodly. Having an instability.

[27:41] And the ungodly face. A sure judgment. And condemnation. To close. Consider your condition. Today. The Lord knows your condition.

[27:54] And mine. He knows your real state. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous. But the way of the ungodly. Shall perish. Friends.

[28:04] Consider. Which way are you on? Which way are you travelling? Will it be the way of the righteous? Or will it be the way of the ungodly? Will it be the way of life?

[28:16] Or will it be the way of death? Proverbs 14. 12 says. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man. But the end thereof is the ways of death. There's many well-meaning, sincere people who think, I'll find my own way there.

[28:33] I'll try my chances. Because I'm not as bad a person as the next guy. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man. But the end thereof are the ways of death.

[28:45] Don't mess with this. Don't trivialise this. Don't take this casually today. Which way are you on? The word says that Christianity is the way.

[28:58] The early believers were called the way. The way of the righteous. Not our righteousness. But his.

[29:09] His. His. It's found by trusting him. Who is the way. The truth. The life. He beckons us to life. He says. Matthew 7.13.

[29:20] Enter ye in. At the straight gate. The narrow gate. In other words. Enter in. The sense of it here. It's a command. It is a command from the lips of our Lord.

[29:33] He says. Enter ye in. It is a command. It's called for urgent. Immediate. Effective action. That's the sense of it. Enter ye in.

[29:44] He says to you. At the straight gate. For wide is the gate. And broad is the way that leadeth to destruction. And many there be which go in there out.

[29:56] Because straight is the gate. And narrow is the way which leadeth unto life. And few there be that find it. It says the way of the ungodly shall perish.

[30:08] That's serious stuff. I don't want to be going that way. Do you? The way of the ungodly shall perish. The way of the ungodly.

[30:18] In other words. The sum total of their life. It's ruin. And loss. And vanity. Vanity of vanities. The way of the ungodly shall perish.

[30:29] Hell is a place of everlasting torment. Amen. That's what it says. It's not about our opinions.

[30:40] Of the matter. The way of the ungodly. Shall perish. And it is appointed unto man. Once to die. But after that. The judgment.

[30:52] Friends. We must all stand. Before God. Everyone. Must stand before God. I read this quote. If you take God. And eternity. Out of the picture.

[31:02] All you are. Is an accident. The chance product. Of random chance. Your birth. Was an accident. Your death.

[31:12] Will be an accident. All you are. Is an accident. Suspended. Between two accidents. There's no happiness. In that view. That's right. The ungodly. Shall perish.

[31:24] The word of God. Says. You are not. An accident. You are not. An accident. He has created you. Made you. In his image. Designed you.

[31:36] If by his grace. You will find his mercy. In this life. You will find his forgiveness. As you trust him. Rather than following that course of rebellion. Rather than following the way of the godless.

[31:48] The ungodly. Submit to Christ today. Submit unto him. He could rightfully judge you. But if you are in Christ.

[32:00] The judgment has already been vented. In the person of his son. But we must trust him. We must turn and trust him. The way of the ungodly leads to destruction.

[32:14] And death. What a sorry end to a life. Friends. Make your life matter. In eternity. What of your life today? What way are you on? How does your life measure up?

[32:26] The only evaluation of that is God's. The only evaluation that counts. Is God's evaluation. As to what is a fruitful life. As to what is a prosperous life.

[32:37] As to what is a blessed life. It's a life that's built upon. Our God. And his word. He is the true source. Of joy and blessing. Others may have some temporary.

[32:50] Passing pleasure. Or worldly pleasure. But they miss the real joy. Of knowing. And living. In God's approval. The way of the righteous.

[33:01] Is one that he understands. It says he knows. The way of the righteous. Friends. If you are a believer today. It says he knows your way. He knows your way. He knows your life.

[33:11] He knows your heart. He knows the way of the righteous. He understands whatever it is. That might be going on for you. He watches over you. With his care. And with his love. As a father.

[33:23] Over his son. Are you like a tree. Planted by the rivers of water. Are you like a tree. Planted strongly. In the word of God. As a believer.

[33:34] Planted. Where that devotional life. Is not shallow. But it is deep. It is not casual. But it is committed. For us to bear fruit. We need to be where the water is.

[33:46] We need to be where the water. Of God's word is. So we can. Reach it. And receive it. Apart from God's word.

[33:57] We have nothing to offer. This hurting world. There is no answers. Outside. Of God. In Christ. Apart from God's word. It is chaff.

[34:09] It is vain. And useless. Friends. I urge you today. To be one of the blessed ones. By faith. To trust him. By faith. Receive his.

[34:19] Wondrous. Wondrous grace. Receive it. Today. As you trust. The work of the cross. For your sin. Trust him today. Choose wisely.

[34:30] The company that you keep. Be amongst the blessed ones. They won't want to stand around. Hang around with the sinners. And the scornful. They want to be where the people of God are.

[34:40] Where the word of God is. They want to find their delight. In the blessed book. And they want to find the joy. Of bearing fruit. For his glory. For the now.

[34:51] And for eternity. Let us pray. Let us pray. CONGRATIST Thank you.