The Pathway to a Joy-Filled Life

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

INTRODUCTION:

TS: Notice the steps to joy prescribed by the psalmist.

I- REJECT THE WORLDLY WAY OF LIVING. (Psalm 1:1)

Psalm 1:1 NLT

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

A- Listening to ungodly counsel.

(Psalm 1:1a)

Psalm 1:1 (NLT)

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

1- Counseling us to compromise to fit with the lost world.

Example of the false teacher Jezebel at Thyatira.

(Revelation 2:18-29)

Revelation 2:18–29 NLT

18 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze: 19 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. 20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. 22 “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. 24 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you 25 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. 27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.

B- Learning to do as the ungodly do.

(Psalm 1:1b)

Psalm 1:1 (NLT)

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

1- Believers are not to compromise with the world.

(Romans 12:2)

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

(2 Corinthians 6:17)

2 Corinthians 6:1 NLT

1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

2 Corinthians 6:17 NLT

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

C- Living in Lawlessness that warps the mind and heart against God.

(Psalm 1:1c)

Psalm 1:1 (NLT)

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

1- Following in the ways of compromise leads to a scornful attitude toward the things of God.

2- Note the pathway the psalmist is warning against:

a. Listening to ungodly counsel that breeds inner doubt.

b. Learning to follow worldly people that deny you of the direction and power of God.

c. Leaving the pathway of God (with its power and clarity of direction), choosing instead, a lawless spirit that produces a scornful rejection of godliness.

Relative who had once followed Christ and been called by Him to preach. This individual, during a time of difficulty, chose to follow the worldly path. He continued down this path into alcoholism and other assorted vices for many decades. He became critical of those who chose to follow Christ. He ridiculed me and made disparaging remarks about me (to my face) and God’s call upon my life.

II- PURSUE THE GODLY WAY OF LIFE. (Psalm 1:2)

Psalm 1:2 NLT

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

A- Living in the joy of obedience to God.

(Psalm 1:2a)

Psalm 1:2a (NLT)

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

1- Delight in the study of God’s Word.

a- Delight- No bribe needed to study it.

Thessalonicans (Acts 17:11)

Acts 17:11 NLT

11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

2- Delight in applying biblical principles to life.

King David an example.

3- Delight in obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Like the Phillip. (Acts 8:26-40)

B- Learning to focus on Godly principles of living.

(Psalm 1:2b)

Psalm 1:2b (NLT)

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

1- Meditate upon the principles you find in your study of God’s Word.

a- Ask yourself some questions:

What general principle can be drawn from this passage?

What specific direction for my life can be drawn from this principle?

What specific action can I take that will put this principle and direction into practice in my life?

III- ACCEPT THE REWARDS FOR FAITHFULNESS. (Psalm 1:3)

Psalm 1:3 NLT

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

A- Spiritual Growth (Psalm 1:3a)

Psalm 1:3a (NLT)

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

1- You will grow spiritually as you draw from the nourishing River of Life… (the Word of God and the Holy Spirit).

a- Having your tap-root deep in the soil of God’s word, drawing it’s nourishment from it and drawing the life-giving flow of God’s Spirit..

(I Peter 2:2)

1 Peter 2:2 NLT

2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

(2 Peter 3:18)

2 Peter 3:18 NLT

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

Precious promises

Positive assurances

You can’t defeat a person like this!

B- Spiritual Fruit (Psalm 1:3b)

Psalm 1:3b (NLT)

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

1- Bearing fruit in lifetime .

(John 15:4-7)

John 15:4–7 NLT

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

2- Bearing fruit after lifetime.

(Revelation 14:13)

Revelation 14:13 NLT

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”

C- Spiritual Endurance (Psalm 1:3c)

Psalm 1:3c (NLT)

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

1- Adversity can’t destroy this person.

(Romans 5:3-5)

Romans 5:3–5 NLT

3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

a- Instead of destroying, it produces an enduring character.

D- Spiritual prosperity (Psalm 1:3d)

Psalm 1:3 (NLT)

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

1- Nothing done for Christ is ever in vain.

(1 Corinthians 15:58)

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

IV- AVOID THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNGODLINESS.( Psalm 1:4-6)

Psalm 1:4–6 NLT

4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

A- Instability (Psalm 1:4)

Psalm 1:4 NLT

4 But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

1- Blown about by the adverse winds of life.

A- Purposelessness

B- Adversity

C- Happiness determined by circumstance

2- Following the Godly path avoids an unstable life.

(Ephesians 4:11-16)

Ephesians 4:11–16 NLT

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

(Colossians 2:8)

Colossians 2:8 NLT

8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

B- Condemnation (Psalm 1:5)

Psalm 1:5 NLT

5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

1- Eternal condemnation.

(John 3:18-19)

John 3:18–19 NLT

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

(Revelation 20:11-15)

Revelation 20:11 NLT

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide.

Revelation 20:11–15 NLT

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

C- Ruin (Psalm 1:6)

Psalm 1:6 NLT

6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

1- For life

2- For eternity

CONCLUSION:

Read Text:

Psalm 1:1-6

Psalm 1:1–6 NLT

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