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: “bringeth forth his fruit in his season”, or “a tree that produces fruit when it should.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You ‘live your life out’ in times and seasons.
a. Solomon said, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecc 3:1).
b. In Genesis the Lord said, “As long as the earth continues, there will always be a time for planting and a time for harvest. There will always be cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night on earth.” (Gen 8:22).
c. Your purpose is fixed and it was established before the foundations of the world. The earthly manifestation of your purpose comes as your live out the “times” and “seasons” of your life.
2. There are times and seasons when you are expected by God to produce fruit.
a. Jesus said, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything.” (John 15:5). If you remain connected to Jesus and you meditate His Word in your heart, you will produce plenty of fruit in the earth. I am a witness.
b. Jesus said, “You did not choose me. I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit—fruit that will last.” (John 15:16). You were chosen by God to produce fruit in the earth. The Father expects your life to produce fruit and for the fruit to last.
c. If you meditate the Word continually, you will be fruitful when you are supposed to be fruitful!
d. There are some seasons of your life that will be more fruitful than others. But when you meditate the Word of God day and night, you are in position to be fruitful when you are SUPPOSED to be fruitful.
e. When God inspects your life for fruit, when He comes looking for the fruit you are supposed to be producing IN SEASON, what will He find? Will He find you fruitful or fruitless? The psalmist makes it clear that if you meditate/medicate God’s Word day and night, you will produce fruit IN SEASON. Your life will be fruitful when it is supposed to be fruitful!
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 meditate Your Word day and night. I keep Your Word on my mind and in my mouth. I keep my thoughts SET to the things above. As I do, I am in position to bring forth fruit IN SEASON. My life is fruitful. You chose me to produce fruit in this world and the fruit You produce through me LASTS! When people look at me, they see You and they see the fruit You are producing THROUGH me, for Your glory! I abide in You and Your Word abides in me. Living this way I am able to produce MUCH fruit. I live my purpose out in times and seasons. And I declare that the seasons that are supposed to be fruitful, ARE, because I meditate and medicate on Your Word day and night. I will leave a mark in this world that will never be erased. Not by my power, but by Your amazing grace! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
