The blessing of those who study His Word despite impending Judgment of God
Psalm 1:1, “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers.”
Psalm 174I have followed your commands, which have kept me from going along with cruel and evil people."
Psalm 26:5, “I hate the gatherings of those who do evil, and I refuse to join in with the wicked.”
Proverbs 4:14, “Do not do as the wicked do or follow the path of evildoers.”
Jeremiah 15:17, “I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I burst with indignation at their sins.”
Living a godly life as a believer is not a choice, it is a mandate. It has often been said by many teachers that who we associate will we become. If we desire to live a godly life in a world full of cynicism and pagan thought, then we will in turn be drawn back upon the precepts of understanding that is found in the revealed truth of God’s Word. It is there that we can know most fully and aptly, appreciating and understanding fully His Word so that we can in turn lead joyfully lives for Him. So you see if we stand around in the advice of the wicked and heed the counsel of those who are unrighteous what part of we are we now not walking in the counsels and precepts of God? The Messiah does not want us to be influenced by the surrounding world, but to be an influence to the surrounding world around us. If we desire to live such godly lives, then we will in turn point our whole attention to His truth and study His truth. We ought as believers to be influential upon our circles of influence bearing eternal fruit. Those who abide in Christ will bear fruit like healthy fruit-bearing trees planted along a riverbank with strong roots (Jeremiah 17:7-8). There are only two paths in life, the path towards heaven and Christ or the path towards destruction and hell. Be sure what path you are choosing today is the path towards Christ, the path towards eternal life, not eternal damnation, the path towards influencing others, towards joy of the Lord, not the damnation of their souls.
Psalms 1:2, “But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law.”
Psalm 255, “Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
Psalm 63:5, “You satisfy me more than the richest of foods. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.”
Psalm 11913I have recited aloud all the laws you have given us. 14 I have rejoiced in your decrees as much as in riches.15I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. 16 I will delight in your principles and not forget your word.”
There is such a huge misunderstanding today in Christianity in that matter about studying. Studying is the highest form of worship unto God. In study we learn of God’s character and attributes and can appreciate at least in a finite sense God’s greatness and glory as revealed through His Son Jesus Christ. Study is important for it helps us understand the nature of the Law. While Jesus set the Standard of the Law in His life (Matthew 5:17-20), He also fulfilled its standard through His death (Romans 7:7-13). The Law in this sense means the whole of Scripture. Scripture reveals God’s Law and the means by which He provides salvation through that very Law. While we are under the New Covenant that doesn’t mean that the intent of the Old Covenant isn’t still there, as we are children of Abraham through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26-28). While not bound to the Law its intent was all along to expose sinners dependency upon self so that the God self within them would arise and live to its fullest expression and height as it did in the Garden of Eden. This was Christ’s full intent in coming down for us as the Son of God, to declare that He hath fulfilled the Law, His Divine Law in His death, Resurrection and Ascension yet at the same time its intent of the Cross is to expose our human inability to come unto Him except through that Passover sacrifice.
It is only through that very sacrifice that we can be made right with the Law for Christ is still the Law Giver as He was in the Old Testament. If we desire Christ then we will have to see the Law within us (Romans 7:14-25). The reality though is that many view the Law as wrong as it is not pertinent to us today. This is a wrong misconception that has to be corrected. Paul taught that we are to remain even as we are when we are saved. 1st Corinthians 7:20, “Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. 1st Corinthians 7:24, “Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.” Yet this still does not mean that the Law is not still pertinent to us today as we will see today. If we study God’s Word will understand the Law’s intent that its purpose in this age is to expose sinful human beings so that they will in turn, turn towards God not towards man. The more we understand God the more we will understand in turn His law and its purpose for us today. The more we know of the whole scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily decisions. This is not to say that the Law itself will save us, because we know from Galatians 3:14-21, “14When I saw that they were not following the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter in front of all the others, "Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you trying to make these Gentiles obey the Jewish laws you abandoned? 15You and I are Jews by birth, not `sinners’ like the Gentiles. 16And yet we Jewish Christians know that we become right with God, not by doing what the law commands, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be accepted by God because of our faith in Christ--and not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be saved by obeying the law."[4] 17But what if we seek to be made right with God through faith in Christ and then find out that we are still sinners? Has Christ led us into sin? Of course not! 18Rather, I make myself guilty if I rebuild the old system I already tore down. 19For when I tried to keep the law, I realized I could never earn God’s approval. So I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ. 20I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21I am not one of those who treats the grace of God as meaningless. For if we could be saved by keeping the law, then there was no need for Christ to die."
So as to say that the Law itself has fleeted away is wrong. The Law is God’s Word, and study of His Word will reveal His law, and His direct and indirect will (also known as the gray areas). It is through careful study of God’s Word that we can know God intimately as I said earlier study of God’s Word is the highest form of worship. If we desire to know God so well then we will in turn, turn towards His Word, in worship and adoration. C.S. Lewis said, “God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you that you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all. But fortunately, it works the other way around. Anyone who is honestly to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence sharpened; one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself.” Its time that we as believers study God’s Word for 2nd Timothy 2:7 says, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Jonathan Edwards said, “Resolved: To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.”
May our aim in studying be as Calvin said, “From his characterising the godly as delighting in the law of the Lord, we may learn that forced or servile obedience is not at all acceptable to God, and that those only are worthy students of the law who come to it with a cheerful mind, and are so delighted with its instructions, as to account nothing more desirable or delicious than to make progress therein. From this love of the law proceeds constant meditation upon it, which the prophet mentions on the last clause of the verse; for all who are truly actuated by love to the law must feel pleasure in the diligent study of it.” God does not force himself upon us to obedience, study or mediation on His Word for it up to us to study to show ourselves approved as workman who do not need to be ashamed. If the Word of God is alive and well today in your soul, then you will be studying it and allowing its flames to lick you through and through so that you can be purified presented as faultless before the Master on that day when He shall look into your entire life. Is that your desire today? To be made whole through His sacrifice as He looks into your life on that day? What will He find? Will He find a person who has studied the Word of God, His Word, which goes forth from His mouth? Or will He find someone who doesn’t care someone who is lax? Its up to you today to decide if you will allow the flames of His Word to burn in you, and for His Word to become like fire in your bones.
Psalms 1:3, “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.”
Genesis 39
3Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.”
Jeremiah 17
7"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.
Ezek 47:12, “All kinds of fruit trees will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, without fail! For they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing."
If we desire to delight in God’s wisdom and obey Him, the more fruitful we will become. On the other hand, the more we allow those who ridicule God to affect our thoughts and attitudes, the more we separate ourselves from our source and our food. As believers we must have contact with unbelievers if we are to witness to them, but we must not join in or imitate their sinful behavior. If you want despair, spend some time mocking sinners; but if you want God’s blessings, make friends with those who love God and His Word.
When Scripture says, “In all they do, they prosper.”, it does not mean immunity to failure or difficulties. Nor is it a guarantee of health, wealth and happiness. What the Bible means by prosperity is this: When we apply God’s wisdom, the fruit (results or by-products) we bear will be good and receive God’s approval. Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God’s Word in our hearts. This is the key to what we discussed earlier in terms of study. If we desire to love God supremely we will in turn study His Word faithfully for it is there that we can know Him most fully.
Psalms 1:4, “But this is not true of the wicked.
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.”
Job 21:18Are they driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm? Not at all!”
Psalm 355, “Blow them away like chaff in the wind--
a wind sent by the angel of the LORD.”
Isaiah 17:13, “13But though they roar like breakers on a beach, God will silence them. They will flee like chaff scattered by the wind or like dust whirling before a storm.”
Chaff is the outer shell(or husk) that must be removed to get at the valuable kernels of grain inside. Chaff was removed by a process called threshing and winnowing. After the plants were cut, they were crushed, and then the pieces were thrown into the air. Chaff is very light and is carried away by even the slightest wind, while the good grain falls back to the earth. Chaff is a symbol of a faithless life that drifts along without direction. Good grain is a symbol of a faithful life that can be used by God. Unlike grain, however, we can choose the direction we will take. The whole focus then is upon intimacy and study of God’s Word. The eye of our faith is the Messiah, as His return draws nearer each day may the lens of our faith be set upon Him, not upon the things going around us, while we may perceive them to be important, may our focus and our lives reflect the joy that is found in knowing Him intimately.
Psalm 1:5-6, “They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.6For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”
Psalm 55Therefore, the proud will not be allowed to stand in your presence,
for you hate all who do evil.”
Psalm 9:7-8, “But the LORD reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne.8 He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.”
Psalm 895All heaven will praise your miracles, LORD; myriads of angels will praise you for your faithfulness. 7The highest angelic powers stand in awe of God. He is far more awesome than those who surround his throne.”
Nehemiah 1
7We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, laws, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.”
Psalm 9
5
You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have wiped out their names forever.
6
My enemies have met their doom;
their cities are perpetual ruins.
Even the memory of their uprooted cities is lost.
Psalm 11
6
He rains down blazing coals on the wicked,
punishing them with burning sulfur and scorching winds.
John 10
14"I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,
2 Timothy 2
19But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his,"[1] and "Those who claim they belong to the Lord must turn away from all wickedness."[2]
Matthew 25:31-46, “31"But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37"Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’ 40And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,[4] you were doing it to me!’
41"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, `Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me anything to drink. 43I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44"Then they will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ 45And he will answer, `I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ 46And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."
In the end God will judge all. All will stand before Him and give an account. Only those who have received the Son will have the Son. Only those who have desired God in the inward most parts will be saved (Those who have received the Son by faith in His sacrifice on the Cross) and kept eternally secured in the palm of His everlasting hand. Those who have refused the Son will go to the place of darkness rather than the place of Light for those who have received Him. We see here that the judgment of humankind will be based upon the acceptance and availability to the Son. This is not that our salvation is motivated by the works that we have done or will do in the future, it is motivated by God’s Holy Spirit rising within us the passion to serve Him as we study and mediate upon His Word. If we desire so much of God; then we ought to desire as believers in turn to serve Him, and share His Word with others. It is through study that we know God and are most aptly able to share Him with others. Don’t be like the goats be like the sheep, who serve God who help out those who are oppressed and torn apart and then lead them not in the lake of fire but unto eternal life in Christ Jesus. The blessing of those who study His Word despite impending Judgment of God is that they will know God and be prepared for that very judgment that will befall the whole entire world. Are you ready today to face Christ? You never know when your last breathe will be, and its up to you to decide today where you will be spending your eternity, in the lake of fire or in heaven with the host of heaven.
If you haven’t received Jesus Christ today, I invite you to do so. You see Jesus tore apart the Veil when He said it is finished, and now it is finished, but for you today if you receive Him this journey has just begun. Don’t let the stirring in your heart go unattended to rather receive today by faith that God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ now accepts you on the basis of the work of Christ on the Cross. God has not doomed you to eternal suffering and torment in the lake of fire, rather He has chosen You as an adopted child today by receiving His Son by repenting of your sin, or changing your behavior and thus becoming His child. If you did that today, or you recommitted your life to Christ today, please email me at david@servantsofgrace.net or if you have a testimony of how this sermon blessed you, I would love to hear that as well. May God bless you and keep you.
Pastor Jenkins
http://www.servantsofgrace.net
