This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, with a mini-series within it entitled “Focusing on the Word”. We are walking our way through the first half of the first psalm. Let’s get back to it. The Bible says:
(Psalm 1:1-3 KJV) “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
(Psalm 1:1-3 ERV) “Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream—a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.”
In this message we will focus in on the line: “nor standeth in the way of sinners”, or “who don’t live like sinners.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The message of grace — that God loves us in spite of our sin and that we can never earn His love — is not a license to sin. God loves us and hates sin at the same time.
2. Here’s something you don’t hear much today: Sin is still sin, God is still holy, and He still expects us to walk in His holiness.
3. Paul did expansive teaching on grace and sin. The Apostle made it clear that we are saved by grace and not by works. Sin cannot rule over grace. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. But while explaining this Paul said, “Sin once used death to rule us. But God gave us more of his grace so that grace could rule by making us right with him. And this brings us eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” It’s clear that grace rules over sin. But this is not a license to sin. Paul continued, “So do you think we should continue sinning so that God will give us more and more grace? God forbid! Our old sinful life ended. It’s dead. So how can we continue living in sin?” (see Romans 5:20-6:2).
a. You are saved by grace. This means you are free FROM sin, not free TO sin.
b. God declared you righteous because of the righteousness of Jesus. If you sin you don’t lose your righteousness. This is where some mistake this message as a license to sin. Here’s the danger. Sin may not unravel your righteousness, but it will unravel your life.
c. When you sin you are not going to lose your salvation, but you will reap what you sow.
d. When you are Born-Again and you still accept a lifestyle of sin in certain areas of your life, in those areas you are going to miss out on God’s best. You can be saved and miserably saved.
4. The Blessed man described in Psalm 1 is a man who accepts and walks in the righteousness provided to him by God. This man becomes light and salt in the world. This man draws the lost to God, not by living like the lost, but by living like God.
5. If the world cannot see anything different in you, when what will they be drawn to? The world should be able to SEE Jesus IN you!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016. I strip away anything and everything that does not line up with Your purpose for my life. I thank You for saving me by Your unearned and amazing grace. I thank You for putting my sin on Jesus and putting His righteousness on me. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I received Your righteousness by grace. I could never earn it or deserve it. I am now free FROM sin, not free TO sin. I don’t live like the world. I don’t stand in the way of sinners. I don’t embrace a lifestyle of sin. When people look at me, they will see Your Son, my Savior, Jesus the Christ. I am light and salt, becuase I die to sin, self and selfishness. I allow Your light to shine through me for all the world to see, and when the spotlight is on me, I will am quick to deflect the GLORY right back to You! I live IN You, WITH You, and FOR You! My life is all about You! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
