The Pathway To God's Blessings

The Pathway to God’s Blessings

Psalms 1:1-6

Introduction- Good Morning Church

This morning I will begin service by asking you a question- participation

What makes you happy? Numerous things for a moment-right?

How are you going to get there? If you are there, how are you going to be able to stay there? Happy

It is kind of a trick question because happy will be different for each person you ask.

I do not like roller coasters and things that turn you upside down. Some people will travel by plane, pay big money and stand in a long line to do it all day and think it is the greatest thing.

So for each of us we will have to identify what makes us happy and determine if we are willing to pay the cost if any to be able to have it.

If you are a Christian, you have to throw another element in to the mix- - Does what makes you happy line up with God’s word?

Is God going to be pleased with your choice of happiness?

Psalms 1:1-1:6 Read from the Bible

We read this Psalm and we quickly see that we have a choice we need to make.

There are two pathways and we have to choose the road we will take.

One path will be blessed of God and one is not.

One path delights in the things of God and His direction and one is labeled wicked and not of the Lord

One is planted with deep roots and one is blown around like chaff.

Which one do you want? Which one are you? Most people would say I would like the one blessed.

Anyone who has ever gotten lost understands being on roads that we did not want to be on.

Traveling those roads lost until we realized that we were on it or someone points it out to us and we want to get off.

Turning around and going the right way.

What scares us about that road?

It is unfamiliar

It is dangerous

It has consequences

We change our mind and we choose a different road.

Sometimes it is the road signs- wrong highway and we change.

Detour signs and we have to make a change. An alternate route to get to where we want.

Sometimes In our travels the destination changes and we go another way.

Clearly this passage shows us the two roads where one is guided by the Lord and one is decided by what we want and is the wicked road compared to the blessed road of God.

Really the Psalmist is telling us… it is God’s way, His word and direction or our way which is a way of destruction.

You have to understand this about the Lord- He is more worried about you getting on the right road than wither you are happy.

Let me say it another way because you cannot confuse the two. In verse one the word in the Hebrew is translated both happy/ blessed.

Happy/blessed is the man who does not do the things displeasing to the Lord and those that are selfish and doing their own thing will not be blessed.

His blessing falls on the just and unjust, but it is only temporary. Though the wicked prosper for a season, judgment is coming and that road leads to destruction.

You cannot for long be blessed and willfully disobeying the Lord.

Here are some things you need to understand-

God’s Word was given to direct our path

“God’s word says we will be blessed/happy… those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.”

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105).

The mark of righteous living is one’s unwavering dedication to God’s Word.

Careful to avoid every kind of unrighteous living, he meditates on God’s word.

Here the word meditate is to mumble or utter God’s word under ones breathe- some people think that is a flaw I have of talking to myself but my Lord says it’s healthy.

That’s my story and I am sticking to it.

Psalm 37:23-24: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”

Yahweh guides our steps- He delights in being a part of our lives and gives us direction, Protection, and takes no joy when we stumble but will with his mighty hand help us back up to our feet and continue to walk with Him.

He says when we stumble not if, that He will be there to help us-

I don’t know about you but that gives me joy and that makes me happy!

Most Psalms give us observations of life between the wicked and the redeemed.