Text: Psalm 1
Intro: There are two distinct spiritual rules that are implied in these verses:
1) The rule of absorption (Medication)
no wound can be healed until it absorbs the medicine.
Our spiritual lives contain many wounds that need to
be healed, These are wounds caused by sin. Only
the Word ofGod can medicate these wounds.
2) The rule of application (Meditation)
There is no "getting holy in a hurry", no shortcuts to
spiritual growth. We are always looking for a new way,
a new technique, but the same rule still applies: right
thinking means right living. The New Testament calls
this "the renewing of our minds". Our minds shape our
lives. Old saying "you aren't what you think you are, but
what you think, you are!
There are several kinds of spiritual people:
1) all word - no spirit - dried up
2) all spirit - no word - blowed up
3) all spirit - all word - grown up
The Medication of Meditation depends on:
I. The Foundation of Fortitude
Too bad we are not like the energizer bunny which keeps on going
and going, or like the timex watch which keeps on ticking even a
after a licking. Unfortunately, we are that which is left when every-
thing else is gone. We are nothing more than the signs of life that
is left after the drought. The Psalmist is implying that the Word of
God is implanted within us. If this be true, then the tree of the Word
which sinks it roots way below the drought level, will flourish even
in the driest of times.
A) The Tree is Planted (vs 3 "a tree planted")
this tree is not a wild tree, it is planted for a purpose. A wild
tree grows randomly and recklessly, but a planted tree is there
for a special purpose. This is why it is so important to bloom
where God plants you.
B) The Tree is Positioned (vs 3 "by the rivers of water")
notice he said, rivers, which is plural. This means more than a
single river, but many rivers. I believe this might imply that we
are planted by the rivers of the gospel, rivers of grace, rivers of
faith, rivers of mercy, rivers of justification, rivers of forgiveness.
C) The Tree is Protected (vs 3 "his leaf also shall not wither")
the protection of a tree comes from it's root system. There can
be not fruit without connnection to the root, and no fruit can be
bigger than the roots. This tree will withstand the winds of ad-
versity, the storms of atheism, the thunder of liberalism.
II. The Findings of Fruitfulness
(vs 3 "that bringeth forth his fruit in his season")
A) Reveals A Portrait ("his fruit")
This refers to the inner nature. Spiritual fruit is the expression of
God's nature within us. These are love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance and faith. Fruit
cannot be manufactured, it must be grown.
B) Reflects a Process ("in his season")
Doesn't happen overnight. I used to wonder about the statement
seasoned preachers would make about preaching from the over-
flow. Now after 30 years, I can understand what they meant. But,
even if there is no overflow, we must be ready in season, and out
of season,.
C) Requires a Pruning ("but prosper")
sometimes we develop twigs and too many branches. Therefore
God has to prune our many branches in order to strengthen the
remaining branches. The the waste that falls to the ground will be-
fertilizer for the root system. "all things work together"
III. The Facts of Focusing
A) Focus on God's Plan ("and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper")
This is not talking about "kingdom theology" or "name it and claim
it". It is simply saying that if we walk and live by God's plan that our
lives will bear fruit for the Lord.
B) Focus on God's Path ("for the Lord knoweth the way")