This morning we continue our series entitled, “Refined Focus”, with a mini-series within it entitled “Focusing on the Word”. We have been walking our way through the first half of the first psalm for over a month. We have been studying the verses line by line. Today we finally get to the last line. 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.”
We will spend days studying the last line: “Whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”, or “Everything they do is successful.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. We serve a God who wants you to be blessed and who actually goes out of His way to bless you.
a. We serve a God who “takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants” (Psalm 35:27).
b. God has already given you “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). He has given you what you need to succeed.
c. We serve a God who “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim 6:17). God is not opposed to you enjoying life. Jesus actually came so you could HAVE and ENJOY life (John 10:10). God wants you to make it to heaven, but He also wants you to enjoy the ride!
d. Be continually thankful to God, who always “gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:57).
2. Your conduct cannot earn God’s blessing, but it can block it.
a. God blesses you freely, by His unearned and amazing grace.
b. If you could earn or deserve God’s blessing, then it would not be a free gift, but rather payment for your conduct. God is not looking to pay you, nor is He looking for you to earn it.
c. God’s blessing does not flow because your conduct merits it, but ungodly and unrighteous conduct can surely BLOCK IT.
d. The psalmist told you what NOT to do in Psalm 1, because he did not want you to put up BLESSING-BLOCKERS. Accepting and applying ungodly advice, living like a sinner and making fun of God will BLOCK His blessing from flowing in your life.
e. You cannot enjoy the blessing of Psalm 1:3, where everything you do succeeds, unless you heed the counsel of verses 1 and 2; where you abstain from ungodly conduct and you meditate/medicate on God’s Word day and night.
f. The Word works if you work the Word. Remove every BLESSING-BLOCKER in your life, meditate and medicate on God’s Word day and night, and you will get to the point where everything you do PROSPERS! You will be “The Blessed Man” of Psalm 1.
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 remove all blessing blockers from my life. I abstain from even the appearance of evil. I embrace the grace to walk upright before You. I meditate and medicate on Your Word day and night. I walk in Your Blessing, by Your grace, for Your glory. You bless me richly. You have already given me all things that pertain to life and godliness. You give me all things richly to enjoy. You take pleasure in my prosperity. You exalt me, so I can have the platform from which to exalt thee. I declare that I do. I represent and exalt You all the days of my life. The more you draw attention to me and the more the spotlight of this world is on me, the more I am able to DEFLECT that glory right back to you. I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
