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.”
Today we will continue to focus in on the line: “he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water”, or “they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Solomon was the wisest man to ever live (outside of Jesus). He said, “The first step to becoming wise is to look for wisdom, so use everything you have to get understanding.” (Prov 4:7 ERV). Another translation says, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.” As believers our goal should be to walk in the wisdom of God daily. The first step in doing so is to get understanding. If we can’t understand what God is saying to us we will never be able to apply the wisdom He is attempting to impart to us.
2. You will never maximize what you do not understand. Seek understanding first. Clear understanding positions you to apply what you understood. Once you do, you are operating in wisdom. Wisdom is the application of knowledge.
3. Overflow causes you to thrive. Overflow of the Word is what you have when you meditate God’s Word day and night.
a. The tree described in the first psalm is a tree that is thriving BECAUSE it has a consistent water source.
b. When a tree is in need of water, the first water it receives goes to address the lack. The tree is in survival-mode, so the first load of water is used to address what the tree needs to survive. However, once all the immediate NEED is met and the tree knows it will survive, the additional water goes to help the tree THRIVE. It is at this point that a tree will produce leaves and fruit in abundance.
c. The tree of Psalm 1 is a tree that thrives, not just survives, because the water never stops! This is the picture the psalmist paints for us of the believer who meditates God’s Word day and night.
d. When you have the Word of God on your mind every day and throughout the day, you don’t just survive, you thrive!
4. The goal of the believer is not just to receive surface-level understanding of God’s Word, but rather to apply the revelation of the Word. You don’t get the revelation behind a Word from God by simply hearing it or reading it one time. But as you meditate it — over and over and over again — the Holy Spirit will unpack, unveil and reveal the layers and layers of revelation behind the Word. It is at this point that you can truly receive divine understanding and walk in divine wisdom.
5. Understanding is the key to your prosperity in Christ Jesus.
a. When you first receive a Word of God you are simply trying to get understanding of what God said. If you read Mark 4 you will see that Jesus likens the Word to seed and our hearts to soil. When you first receive the Word, you have the Word sown in your heart, but you don’t have an understanding yet.
b. Jesus explained that while you are trying to get an understanding of the Word sown in your heart, satan fights against you. Satan does not want you to get understanding. He will bring trouble and persecution BECAUSE OF THE WORD (see Mark 4:17).
c. While we are trying to get an understanding of what God said, satan is stirring up trouble BECAUSE of what God said. If you don’t ever get to the point where you understand the Word, you will LOSE the Word. Jesus said, “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.” (Mat 13:19).
d. In order to walk in divine victory you must get understanding of the Word. But you will never get true understanding unless you meditate and medicate on the Word you receive from God.
e. If you want to walk in the Blessing and experience God’s best you will MEDITATE the Word day and night!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a season of refined focus for me. I bring my life into focus in 2016 by giving my attention to Your Word. I want to be like the tree described in Psalm 1; a tree that has a water source that never runs out. I am like that tree. My water source is Your Word. Your Word never runs out in my life, because I CHOOSE to meditate and medicate on it day and night. I don’t just receive the Word to survive. I have an overflow of the Word in my life and I THRIVE on a daily basis. The Word is incorruptible seed. It is sown in my heart. I know satan will bring trouble and persecution BECAUSE OF THE WORD, but that’s okay. I am not moved. I am not swayed. I am not shaken. I am not destroyed. I meditate Your Word and I get understanding. Once I have understanding satan can never snatch the Word from my heart. Your Word produces fruit in my life. Like the tree of Psalm 1, I bring forth my fruit in my season, my leaves to not wither and everything I do succeeds! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
