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[0:00] Praise God. We're going to go to the Psalms. Psalm 1. Someone asked me, they said, what am I preaching on tonight? And I said, someone, someone.

[0:16] We're going to talk about someone, the blessed man. That's the someone. And he's in Psalm 1. Psalm number 1. So we're going to go there together. And talking about blessed living. Blessed living. Let's get that. There we go.

[0:32] Blessed living. The blessed life. The blessed is the man. And we think how we can have a blessing in our lives. People are searching for happiness. We know everyone's searching and not always finding.

[0:49] And really, it's true. You could say that never has the world had so much, but been so miserable. There's depression, unhappiness. There's confusion, frustration, unfulfilled hopes and dreams, dissatisfaction, emptiness, hopeless misery. Describes humanity, the world over, doesn't it?

[1:11] And like I was talking this morning, had a very alarming call from someone who wanted to take their life. And what a sad situation. Friends, the Bible gives us reason for hope. Reason to live. To have a blessed life. Amen? Amen.

[1:27] And Psalm 1 we see about the blessed man. So we're going to go there in a minute. And to be blessed, it means to enjoy God's favour. That's the blessedness, isn't it? For the men and the women who know that true blessing.

[1:42] Because God's the source of really true happiness. Lots of people are looking for happiness in all the wrong places and they're not finding it. Someone goes searching and thinking, making money will make me happy or getting things.

[1:57] More and more things, more and more toys. Or think that maybe happiness comes from being famous. Or that it's from outward beauty or popularity. As if all of that can bring some happiness. That they can be made happy by such things. But we know that's all in vain.

[2:14] None of these things can make us truly happy. So where do we find true happiness? And this Psalm shows us exactly how. How to live a fruitful life, a fulfilled life.

[2:26] A blessed life. And here we find in Psalm 1, many answers to that question. For that key of true blessing. So do you want to be blessed by God? Do you? Then here's how. We're going to find out. So fasten your seatbelts.

[2:43] This Psalm shows how and what makes a blessed man. Firstly we see the blessed man has a way. It's a way. The blessed man has found a new direction. Really he's done a U-turn.

[2:57] And we see Psalm 1 verse 1 it reads, Blessed is the blessed man. 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.

[3:11] So we see there he doesn't go in the way of sinners. It's a new way. It's a new path. A blessed change happens really. It's that U-turn. And we go God's way.

[3:22] The Bible tells how we can find joy. Joy. Deep down within. And friends the Bible says that joy is found in believing. Faith is the answer. It's by faith.

[3:33] There's blessing by believing. In believing. And we can know a different walk. God gives us a whole new way. A whole new direction. A new destiny. There's a new way. We're headed in a different way.

[3:45] We've got a different direction. We're going somewhere different. And it's not the way of sinners. There's a difference. So there's a difference in the company that are with us on this way.

[3:58] The sinners are going the other way. But the blessed men and women are going God's way. So there's a difference in the direction. A difference in the company that we keep. And God makes a difference.

[4:09] There's a difference when we get saved. There's a difference. He gives us a new life. A godly life. And then we see also. It says here that he walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.

[4:19] Friends, the counsel of the ungodly doesn't set the direction for my life. Some people go to worldly counsel, worldly direction, the counsel of the ungodly.

[4:30] And to give and find direction. But friends, the Bible tells us that our counsel comes from God. The godly. God makes a difference. He gives us that godly counsel.

[4:41] We've got a different source for the wisdom that we seek and want. The direction we need. We go to a different counselor, don't we? The comforter. The Holy Spirit. I'm listening to someone different from the ungodly counsel.

[4:55] And we read here that the godly man doesn't go along with the crowd. He's going a different path. Not the way the crowd goes. He's found a new way. A new and living way the Bible talks about.

[5:08] A new way of living. And we can know a new way of thinking too. When you get saved, when you know the Savior, there's a transformation from the inside out. A new way of thinking gives you a new mind.

[5:20] A new heart. A new soul. Of sorts. There's a whole new impetus, isn't there? A whole new way of living. And as we walk with our Savior, we know real joy because of that new direction.

[5:33] We don't chase any longer after the emptiness that is this passing world. And as we walk on this journey with our Savior, we're not alone. We aren't listening to the doubters, the scoffers, the sinners.

[5:46] We're not sitting with them or walking with them or standing with them. We're not listening to the doubters, the knockers, but we're with the people of faith who are builders up. And we can build up one another on this pathway.

[5:58] We're not with the ones who are the knockers. We're with the building crew. Those who will edify and build up one another in our holy faith. So we aren't fellow travelers with the sinners. We've left them going the wrong direction.

[6:10] We're walking with the saints of the Most High. And it might be a small fellowship, but we're with the godly. And that's a good thing. It's good to know that we have fellow travelers. We're not alone on this journey of faith.

[6:20] As we walk this way, we've got brothers and sisters around us. That walk of faith is not walking alone, but in fellowship with the godly, with God's forever family. And we don't sit around with those who scorn what is right and godly, as some would do.

[6:35] But rather, we find what's good and truthful. And we share that and encourage that and speak the word one to another. In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, admonishing one another, encouraging one another.

[6:48] We've got that sharing, that brotherly bond. That's why church is important, the assembly. Because we're with those of like faith, our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible often uses terms like brother.

[7:00] Paul used the term 31 times. Brother, it's a good word to think about. But there's brothers here, there's sisters here. The word sister, four times. Brethren, brothers, a hundred times.

[7:13] It's mentioned, much reference to brethren. So the blessed man honors the Lord and the things of God. And we're together with one another. Brethren.

[7:24] He can know real happiness, the blessed man. Life with fulfillment and God's blessing. It's a new way of walking, a new way of living, a new way of life. The Bible shows us how to live.

[7:35] He's the creator of life. He's breathed the breath of life into Adam. And he shows us the way to truly live. Life with a capital L. Life more abundant. Amen. And the Lord calls us to, in Titus 2 verse 12, to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

[7:51] Soberly, righteously and godly. The grace teaches us how to live that way. So what does a godly life look like? As God's people, we'll want to, most of all, live to please our God, our Master.

[8:05] To find God's best. Not to settle for the world's best. But to live with love and grace. To want God's will. To be our way.

[8:17] The world has lost its power over us. We've got a different walk. A different way. Not the way of sinners, but the way of the saved. The world has lost that power.

[8:28] And the Lord calls us to this better life. We were once counted as a sinner. A stray from God. We used to sit with the mockers, the scorners. But we don't sit there anymore. We've a new family.

[8:39] A new joy. And the Lord has saved us and made us his very own special people. He's given us a special closeness to himself. As Psalm 4 verse 3 says. But know that the Lord has set apart him that is godly for himself.

[8:56] The Lord will hear when I call unto him. So whenever we pray, we know that his ears are open to the saved. He set you apart for himself.

[9:09] And you can know God. You can seek his counsel and help. Not the counsel of the ungodly, but the counsel of your God. The maker of life. The master. And we can become partakers of his holiness.

[9:23] That's an astonishing concept, isn't it? Partakers of his holiness. Think of that. It seems that for some, their lives are filled with different pursuits. They pursue things that are not really the best.

[9:36] I know, looking back, one of my former work colleagues told me about how they had a room filled with Port Adelaide Football Club merchandise. So they had this room dedicated in their home.

[9:49] And it was a room for the glory of Port Adelaide Football Club. Now I'm not sure if you're one of the worshippers of the Port Adelaide Football Club. But for this person, it was like a shrine. A place of worship.

[10:00] People can have all kinds of pursuits and hobbies and interests. Not saying necessarily that's anything bad.

[10:12] But when we get saved, there's a pursuit that we have. To pursue after God, isn't there? There's a radical shift that there's something to chase after. And God calls us to take an interest in his exceeding great and precious promises.

[10:26] The Bible says God's grace teaches us. We who are at one time an object of the wrath of God have now been made the object of his everlasting love. Think of that.

[10:37] The transforming that happens. That the great love of God has bridged that gap between the infinitely holy God and sinful man through the death of our Lord Jesus. And not only are we saved, but we make partakers of the divine nature.

[10:53] Just can't... Can you wrap your head around that one? It's astonishing really, isn't it? And that's what makes a blessed man. That we found a new direction. Really, the Lord's found us.

[11:03] And he's given us a new way. And he's found... And he gives to us also not only a new direction, but a new delight. We see there's the word of God that really can be the source of direction.

[11:19] And it reads in Psalm 1 verse 2 of the blessed man. But his delight is in the law of the Lord. And in his law doth he meditate day and night.

[11:31] So this man has found, this blessed man has found not only a different direction, a different way, but he's found the word. He's found the word of God. A new purpose and meaning for now and eternity.

[11:42] And he's got something useful to do. It says meditate. When I think of this word meditate, it strikes me as spending time. And to meditate doesn't mean a quick scan and speed reading.

[11:57] Meditating is kind of thinking. It's mulling it over, isn't it? It's dwelling upon it. It's chewing it over. It's taking time with the word. And we have a useful occupation to be engaged in, to meditate in it day and night.

[12:13] The blessed man has found a different road map. That's what it is, isn't it? For life. It's a different counsel. It's a different direction. God's direction and instruction. And the blessed man, it says, he meditates on it.

[12:25] His mind dwells upon God's word. His pleasure comes from God's guidebook for life. And he learns of its truths. He delights in its teachings. He thinks about it day and night.

[12:36] His delight is in it. So we need to get in the word and get the word in us through hearing, reading, studying, memorising, meditating.

[12:48] In 2003, Barna Research Group surveyed Americans on what they believed and asked the question, is there absolute truth? 66% of adults said there is no such thing as absolute truth.

[13:02] Different people can define truth in conflicting ways and still be correct. And 72% of those aged 18 to 25 express this belief. So there's a lot of disbelief in absolute truth.

[13:14] But I put to you that what we believe matters. And that there is absolute truth. There is final authority. It's a fact that really there's only one book banned from government schools in America.

[13:27] It's the Bible. They're banning the very book that is the one that people need to read. And our Lord says, thy word is truth. This book is true from cover to cover.

[13:38] It's entirely true. Thy word is truth. That's it. Period. We can know the sure truth. And the word of God brings a real thrill to the soul, to our lives.

[13:50] If we can but apply it for our life. If we can be like the blessed man. His delight is in it. He's going to delight in it. He's going to meditate in it. And find that source, that resource.

[14:01] The source of our true joy is in God's word. His truth applied. And it becomes a part of our heart and our thinking. Invest in a Bible. Invest in a Bible.

[14:12] Get a Bible and invest your time in it. Meditate in it. The blessed man, this happy Christian, he delights in searching the scriptures. He desires the Bible. He wants it more than his daily food.

[14:24] The word of God. And the Bible is a window through which we look into eternity. The Bible should inform us. But more so, transform us. Think of the Bible today.

[14:34] I know there's an old poem someone put together. I'm not sure it's the TV guide now. It's probably the internet more so. But there's a contrast between how people spend time watching TV, modern entertainment, and how much time they spend with the Bible.

[14:54] And this is how they put it. They lie on the table side by side. The Holy Bible and the TV guide. One is well worn and cherished with pride. Not the Bible, but the TV guide.

[15:05] One is used daily to help folks decide. No, not the Bible, but the TV guide. As the pages are turned, what shall they see? Oh, what does it matter? Turn on the TV. So they open the book in which they confide.

[15:17] No, not the Bible, but the TV guide. The Word of God is seldom read. Maybe a verse before they fall into bed. Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be. Not from reading the Bible, but from watching TV.

[15:30] So then back to the table side by side lies the Holy Bible and the TV guide. No time for prayer. No time for prayer. No time for the Word. The plan of salvation is seldom heard.

[15:41] But forgiveness of sins so full and free is found in the Bible, not on TV. We can be distracted, can't we? Such that we don't meditate in the Word, but we're distracted.

[15:52] And look, modern media, social media, you know, internet can occupy our minds such that we don't have the meditating of the time to meditate in the Word of God.

[16:05] And we miss out when we do that, don't we? Friends, there's blessings in the book. It's interesting how it reads of the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ. We're talking about the blessed man.

[16:17] The Gospel is full of blessings. The Gospel, message, a home in heaven, forgiveness, eternal life. We can know a blessing by the book. And the blessed man, so we see, has a new direction, the way of life.

[16:30] The blessed man has a new delight, the Word of life. And thirdly, the blessed man has a new dimension, the water of life. We see pictured here that the blessed man is stationed by a river.

[16:46] What makes a blessed man? The way, the Word, and the water. In the sense that the water speaks of that water of life. It speaks of freshness, of life, of living.

[16:59] And verse 3 reads about that. So there's no dryness here for the blessed man.

[17:22] The blessed man has got a location at the river of life, at the rivers of water. There's a free-flowing river here. There's supply here. What does this speak of?

[17:32] Symbolically, it's speaking of the Holy Spirit. The blessed man has entered into a whole new dimension. The Spirit-filled life. The Christian's heart is the Holy Spirit's home.

[17:43] And there's a true source of spiritual refreshment that the blessed man has. He's planted, it says, by the rivers of water. It speaks of that source of spiritual refreshment.

[17:56] When you're saved, you have the Holy Spirit. And you have his empowerment to draw on, his strength. And we can know the genuine work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

[18:08] And God gives the godly his divine empowerment. He enables us to be blessed. He enables us to live the blessed life, that life in that new dimension. And God's divine power.

[18:19] We read elsewhere it speaks how his divine power gives us everything that we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of him. God's divine power equips us and empowers us, mobilizes us for works of service.

[18:35] So we must have the divine power to give us strength for life. So the blessed man has a resource way beyond his own strength. The power to live godly is God's power.

[18:47] And we are, as a tree, drawing from that source who is our Lord, who is our spiritual life. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live godly.

[18:58] The power of God is the power to enable us to overcome. It's the power to keep your leaf from fading, to keep your fruit bearing.

[19:09] And the blessed man is likened to a healthy tree. Now I know I've got some trees in my backyard and they sometimes don't make it. They've got more dead leaves than green ones and eventually no green leaves.

[19:24] But the blessed man is pictured as having leaves that do not wither. They do not fade. This tree is not dying or dead. It's alive. It's living. It's flourishing.

[19:35] And why? Because it's planted by the supply of water and it can grow strong. So we need that strength. And God gives it to us. That's one of the reasons why we're blessed.

[19:46] We've got strength for the fight that we're in. Peter describes the fight that we're in. That's going on even on the inside of us as we battle with worldly lusts. Dearly beloved, 1 Peter 2.11, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

[20:02] There's a fight going on for your loyalty, for the mastery of you. And we need to be intent to resolve by God's power and strength to fight the good fight.

[20:16] So we need God strengthening for that fight. Friends, many live carelessly and they don't take heed. They are not in the fight. We can think of examples of some who lost God's power.

[20:30] Like Samson for one. And it reads of him that he didn't even know that God was no longer with him. God had left him. He'd lost God's power.

[20:41] And in times of spiritual warfare, there's a battle raging for the souls of men. We're in the fight. That's why we endeavour God helping us to be witnesses in personal, in corporate outreaches, in whatever means you can find to share the message of the gospel.

[20:59] The enemy wants to dog your steps and stop you. But there's a war raging, a battle on for the souls of men. More than ever before, we need the divine power. We need that rivers of water.

[21:10] We need his help. So sin, likewise, it's a war and it's against your soul. You're in a struggle. So we need God's power when we face such a fight.

[21:22] If you're not engaged in a battle against sin, then actually something is wrong. If you don't have that sense that you're in a battle, if you don't have that sense of temptation, that sense of conviction about issues, then it's time to pray.

[21:37] It's time to seek God's face. We need to have that sense of sin. And to realise that hostility and hatred that the devil is sending against us.

[21:48] And know most of all God's godly power of that surrendered life, his Holy Spirit filling. God's power is our resource. And we can expect opposition.

[22:01] We can expect resistance. It's telling how Paul puts it here in 2 Timothy 3.12. Yea, and all, everyone that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall, definitely shall, suffer persecution.

[22:17] So be prepared, be ready for resistance. And in time of persecution, we have more and more need of godly power, divine power.

[22:29] So hate sin as the enemy of your soul. Forsake it. Deal with it by God's power. Trust him as his own beloved children to know his resource to give you strength for the fight ahead.

[22:44] He's made us his own precious people and the Lord causes a people after his own likeness and nature. He wants us to bear fruit. We see, just to repeat, of the blessed man like a tree, bringing forth his fruit.

[22:57] His leaf also shall not wither. And so the Holy Spirit is with the blessed man, planting him, patterning a life that is like Christ in him, producing fruit out of his life.

[23:10] We see the path leads us the blessed way as we meditate, delight in God's word. There's a meditation, there's an application of God's word. And as a result, there's a fruit.

[23:21] There's a fruitfulness of flourishing. God's will is that we grow. It's sad to see some that make a profession of faith and there's not much evidence of growing.

[23:32] God wants us to grow. It's his will that we grow. It's his command. 2 Peter 3.18. But grow. Grow in grace. It's a direction to you, to us. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

[23:47] To him be glory both now and forever. God's desire for you that are saved is that you grow in that faith. Grow stronger. Grow stronger in your profession of faith, in the application of your faith.

[24:02] Grow to be more like your Saviour in the knowledge of him. It's a beautiful picture really, isn't it? The blessed man is like a tree reaching down the roots into the life-giving water, that spiritual life and strength.

[24:15] So God wants a greater faith in us, a greater righteousness, a greater desire. He wants us to be fruitful and keep bearing fruit, good fruit.

[24:27] He wants us to have a green and freshness, like a tree bearing fresh leaves, not fading, but green leaves. And like a strong and sturdy tree that can brave the storms.

[24:41] When I think of a tree, I think trees are very strong and resolute. They're planted. And it says that whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Now the word prosperity makes us think of money or material things.

[24:55] But the sense actually here of when it says whatsoever he doeth shall prosper is actually the intent is that he will move on.

[25:05] He will advance. It's got the sense of a growing, of a flourishing, maturing, advancing, progressing. He wants us to perfect, to grow, to mature, to increase, to get stronger.

[25:20] And it's by that spiritual life that he gives. So we see God's spirit is likened to this flowing river. And there's a wonderful fruitfulness that comes.

[25:31] I like this quote, What God chooses, he cleanses. What God cleanses, he moulds. What God moulds, he fills. What God fills, he uses. What God's spirit is, he's filled.

[25:41] What are we to be filled with God? Think of the water of life, the filling. The Holy Spirit's spoken of in such terminology, isn't it? Of the rivers of living water.

[25:53] Someone illustrated it by talking about a glove. I have a glove in my hand. The glove cannot do anything by itself. But when my hand is in the glove, it can do many things.

[26:05] And this one compared the Holy Spirit to such a thing. That the Holy Spirit is filling us like a hand fills a glove. And we're really just a glove.

[26:17] But he fills us. Amen. So the psalmist tells further of the ungodly. So we'll read on verse 4. It says, The ungodly are not so. They're not like the godly man, the blessed man, who's got all of those benefits and joys.

[26:31] But the ungodly are like the chaff, which the wind driveth away. Of course, the picture of a farmer with wheat and chaff, throwing it in the air.

[26:41] And the chaff blows away. The rubbish grain blows away. And so the ungodly are the opposite of the blessed man. The godly have found the way.

[26:54] The ungodly are lost, hopelessly lost. The godly have life. The ungodly are in death. They're like a dead man. The godly have a fullness, this flowing river.

[27:07] The ungodly have an emptiness. They're just like a piece of chaff, just rubbish straw. That's no good at all. Just like the chaff, lost, dead, empty.

[27:19] The ungodly, it says, they do not know the way of life. They refuse it. They go their own way. It tells us how there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

[27:31] The ungodly do not know the way of life. They refuse it. The ungodly do not know the word of life. They are scornful of it. And they do not know the author of salvation.

[27:43] They do not heed his word, his truth. That can save their soul. Their delight is vain and empty. They have no lasting joy, no eternal hope, nothing to steer them away from emptiness and despair.

[27:57] The ungodly do not have the water of life. They would rather drink their fill of the world and its vanities, of dirty water, of water that will not help them.

[28:10] They do not have the strength that comes like the godly man, the strength that comes from being planted by the rivers of water. They are powerless when trouble comes. They do not have the Holy Spirit of God.

[28:21] They've got the spirit of death, of destruction. They are dry like the chaff, like this rubbish grain. They're dry, thirsting, trapped, missing out on eternity.

[28:36] What a loss. What a tragic place to be. They're lacking that key that could open up, unlock the way of life, the mystery of life, the answer. They haven't got that key.

[28:48] They haven't got that answer. So that great question of life, why am I here? They're dead in their sins. Dead like chaff, the wind drives away.

[29:00] Like tumbleweed, you could imagine in the western movies, of that dead, deadness. It's lifeless. Friends, there's no life in the world.

[29:12] There's no real joy there. No lasting peace. What a tragedy, what a loss to miss this blessed way. What a failure it would be. It says in the word of God that judgment is looming.

[29:24] It says that the ungodly, they will not stand. It's got the sense that they won't stand justified in the judgment. It's got the sense that when they stand before the judgment, they stand condemned.

[29:38] Things will only get worse for the ungodly man. They will not stand in the judgment. Friends, guilt and shame is upon them.

[29:51] And as much as they may try to dull their conscience, you know, some glug, glug, glug, they try to dull their conscience, the fact remains. They are unforgiven. The pardon is offered, but they've refused.

[30:03] And fact is, they're running out of time. Judgment is surely coming. Judgment is coming. It says, as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after that, the judgment.

[30:16] Death is sure. And then judgment. The ungodly will be ashamed. And they'll be judged guilty. What a horror. To be forever shut out of blessedness.

[30:27] Forever shut out. They'll face eternal ruin. Loss. What a shame to miss heaven. To miss out. To miss this. The glad news is, friends, you can be blessed.

[30:38] You can be the one of whom it says, blessed is the man. That can be you. That is you. If you're saved, you are blessed.

[30:50] And it says, happy is that people whose God is the Lord. Blessed is the man. And there's a whole congregation of such people. There's a people. A congregation. Talks about someone.

[31:01] A congregation of the righteous. There's a glad fellowship of the redeemed. God's people. But sinners miss out on that blessing too. They'll miss out on the fellowship. Of the blessed.

[31:13] For the blessed man, there's a reason for deep joy. And comfort. As Paul told the Thessalonians, rejoice evermore. Now this is one of only two verses in the Bible that contain two words.

[31:27] Making it a verse that is hard to forget. Who knows what the other one is? Jesus wept. So you've got two memory verses today. Jesus wept.

[31:38] And rejoice evermore. Very easy memory verses, aren't they? Paul says, rejoice evermore. Two words. And so our rejoicing is eternal.

[31:49] It's eternal. Forever. Forever. Forever. This blessing. This joy. It's forever. The best place for you, for me, is to be planted by the rivers of living water. Friends, do you know him?

[32:01] He says, he that believeth on me, the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. It says, for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

[32:21] Now these are telling words. It says, the way of the ungodly shall perish. You know the Bible says, we believe on the Saviour, we have everlasting life.

[32:34] If not, we perish. It says, the way of the ungodly shall perish. Which are you? Will you trust him today?

[32:45] Or will you ultimately be one who will perish? To lose heaven, to lose this opportunity, this trust, to reject the pardon he extends is to miss everything, isn't it?

[33:03] Will you seek and receive his way? It's a new way of living. His word is the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth. They still say that, don't they?

[33:14] His word. And his water, the Holy Spirit, that refreshing, that filling, that fullness, that aliveness, that imparting of his life, his divine nature, that you can be a partaker of the divine nature.

[33:30] You can draw near to him. So let us not make the mistake of the ungodly, walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the way of sinners, sitting in the seat of the scornful.

[33:41] Let us instead meditate day and night on his precious truth. Let God plant us, spiritually plant us, that will bring forth fruit and he will bless our life.

[33:54] The Bible tells again, as I've said, how there's joy and peace in believing. Real joy is found in believing. It's Christ.

[34:06] It's faith. The way of the ungodly shall perish, but joy and peace is in believing. Trust him. Trust that Jesus, our Lord, died on the cross for your sin.

[34:21] Rose again. It can be the ever-living saviour, your saviour, that trust him. But for the ungodly, their way shall perish.

[34:32] They don't know the freshness. They don't know the life giver. They're like chaff, dry, empty, blown away by the wind. They will perish. But you can have joy and peace in believing.

[34:44] And that joy and peace is forever peace, forever joy. forever the favour, the blessing. What about you? Are you planted by the rivers of water or are you like the dry piece of chaff blown away?

[34:59] Friends, you can live and know a blessed, abundant life. And this is not a short-term blessing. When we read about this blessed man, we see that this joy is full and forever.

[35:15] John says, These things write we unto you that your joy may be full. This is a full joy, a forever joy. And your joy can be full. Not some joy that you might have from some sporting event or some achievement personally, some claim you can make of something that was pleasing to you.

[35:36] But this joy is full joy. It's forever joy. It's the joy that Jesus brings, that joyful, abundant life. And what matters is our source, where we plant it.

[35:49] So, it's all about location. Are you like that tree? Plants it. Drawing your nutrients and nourishment from the maker of life, the source of life, the author of life, the author of eternal life, of eternal salvation.

[36:07] So, leave off the old way. Find the new way. Find the word. Who is the word? Our Lord. Delight in him. Meditate on his truth.

[36:19] And know that whole new way of being as a blessed man, a blessed woman who knows the saviour. Let us pray.

[36:30] Lord, we thank you that you give joy to the heart that believes. Lord, there's joy and peace in believing. Lord, we thank you that there is a wonderful comfort that you give to those who simply call upon you and know that saving grace.

[36:45] Lord, because you paid it all at the cross where you laid down your life for sinners such as we. You spared not your son, our father, that we might know eternal life through your great gift.

[37:02] And Lord, we pray each one might have that trust. Christ. And if not, they'll keep searching and seeking. They'll keep yearning till I find it, Lord.

[37:14] They'll find it by your mercy. You'll extend it to them. Lord, as your word tells us, you shall find me if you shall search for me with all your heart.

[37:25] Pray that each one might have that yearning to know you. and for we that know you to know you more, that we'll find our delight there in that resource, in that watering that feeds our spiritual life, that empowers us and gives us even such that we can be partakers of the very divine nature.

[37:52]  Lord, we pray for that. Encourage each heart. Lord, we ask that you would be honoured in every life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.