PSALM 1
PSALM 1:1a How blessed is the man who…
(Blessed = Flourish)
SEVEN BIBLICAL TRAITS OF A FLOURISHING PERSON
1. A Biblically Flourishing Person Orders His Life Around Godly Counsel
PSALM 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.
KEY: A biblically flourishing person is humble enough to get counsel from others, but the standard he uses is not simply worldly success. He only receives personal counsel and instruction on sensitive personal or spiritual matters from other spiritually mature people!
PRINCIPLE: Like begets like. Only a godly person can produce another godly person!
2. A Biblically Flourishing Person Makes Their Closest Friendships With God Seekers – Not God Rejectors (Mockers)
PSALM 1:1b Does not… stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
KEY: This does not mean that he has no friendships with unbelievers. In fact, he cultivates friendships with unbelievers in order to evangelize them and influence them for Christ!
ASK: Am I influencing this person for Christ or are they influencing me? If it’s the latter, back off on the friendship.
PRINCIPLE: A biblically flourishing person makes their closest friendships with mature believers because they long for the friendship of like-minded people who share the same virtues, convictions, commitments about God, family, and culture which they themselves possess. Spiritually flourishing people intentionally develop friendships with people that have a similar passion for growing in character and tenderness of conscience toward the things of God which only other mature Christians possess.
3. A Biblically Flourishing Person Gets Enjoyment, Encouragement, And Refreshment From The Word Of God
PSALM 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
ISAIAH 66:2 “For My hand made all these things, So all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But I will look to this one, At one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
KEY: The biblically flourishing person has decided that the Word of God is the final, absolute, and uncompromising authority for their life (the foundation of their worldview).
4. A Biblically Flourishing Person Allows The Spirit Of God To Rule Them
PSALM 1:3 He will be like a tree firmly planted [rooted] by streams of water…
(Water is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit.)
JOHN 7:38-39 “He who believes in Me [Jesus], as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive…
GALATIANS 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
KEY: Two of the most important evidences that I am ruled by the Spirit of God is first love and all of its expressions (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) and gratitude or praise.
EPHESIANS 5:15-21 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And [even] do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
How Am I Kept Filled With The Spirit?
EPHESIANS 3:16-21 [I pray] that He [God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints [holy ones] what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
5. A Biblically Flourishing Person Lives A Life Of Loving Service (A Fruitful Life)
PSALM 1:3b Which yields its fruit in its season…
- They have fruit (influence) in the lives of others.
- They are patient as they fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. (“in its season”)
KEY: Moving people one step closer to the Savior! Got any fruit?
6. A Biblically Flourishing Person Is Prosperous
PSALM 1:3 And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
KEY: The biblically flourishing person’s God-directed activities will prosper, that is, come to their divinely directed fulfillment. This is the reality check principle. If there is no spiritual fruit in your life, then something’s wrong… time for a reality check.
7. A Biblically Flourishing Person Is An Impact Player In Life (Purpose)
PSALM 1:4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
> Because The Biblically Flourishing Person’s Life Has Substance (Opposite Of Chaff)…
1. Their life makes a difference. They live for God’s glory and purpose.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
2. They are safe. They know God loves them!
ROMANS 8:37-39 In all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below–there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Because Their Eternal Destiny Is Squared Away, He Knows That He Is Going To Heaven After He Dies
Safe Because Their Eternal Destiny Is Squared Away
PSALM 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.Safe Because They Know That God Is Constantly Watching Over Them
PSALM 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.
APPLICATION: Three Final Thoughts and a Prayer
1) The biblically flourishing person lives with the quiet confidence that their life will be vindicated in the end!
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
2) The biblically flourishing person can face setbacks with confidence.
ROMANS 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
3) The biblically flourishing person is fulfilled.
ECCLESIASTES 5:19-20 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God…20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.
LIFE PRINCIPLE: Biblical flourishing is the byproduct of a spiritually mature life. It is acquired by someone who exemplifies these seven traits in a way that brings glory to God and makes the gospel attractive to the unchurched.
HOMEWORK: A daily prayer…
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come to you, in the name of Your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, and by the aid of Your Holy Spirit; I thank You and praise You for the blessed life that you have given to me as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Please help me to walk with you in this life of blessing by refusing to walk in the counsel and advice of the wicked; or develop friendships with those committed to the path of sinners or to sit in fellowship among the scoffers and all those who do not fear You. Instead, LORD, help me to make it my delight to study and to meditate upon Your Word day and night; to allow Your Word to speak to my mind in my solitary moments so that it may nourish my spirit and strengthen my soul.
Please put a great hunger in my heart to know your Word, and through it to reflect upon the wonderful gift of Your presence in my life. Please strengthen me like a tree that’s firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in its season and has leaves that do not wither; so that in whatever I do, I might prosper. I know that those who are wicked are not so blessed, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, they have no hope in the day of judgment nor any place in the final assembly of the righteous ones who love and trust You.
LORD, I thank You that You know, remember, and eternally bless those who have been made righteous through faith in You and consequently I will not inherit the destiny of the wicked. It is with gratitude and humility that I praise You and offer this prayer to You my God, in Jesus name.
Amen.