Psalm 001:01-03 Blessed – Part 1 – audio

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Three Part Series:  Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3

Text: Psalm 1:1-3

Introduction

1. Happiness…

2. People are constantly in pursuit of it.

3. God desires us to be happy individuals as well.

4. As a matter of fact, He tells us how to accomplish it.

5. The word “blessed” means happy.

6. In the Hebrew, it comes from a word that literally means “to go, walk straight on; signifies to be happy.” In other words, the way in which we go (Live) shows what the end will be.

7. One can derive happiness from life by going the right way in this life.

8. Let us start a short series on what the book of Psalms tells us about how to live a blessed life.

I. BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE SINS ARE FORGIVEN.

Psalm 32:1-2. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

A. Do you realize the consequences of your iniquities?

1. They cause you to be separated from God – Isaiah 59:1-2

2. They cause you to be deserving of eternal separation from God – Romans 6:23

3. Unforgiven sin causes you to be an enemy of God – Matthew 12:30

4. Hebrews 10:28-31 – Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

B. Indeed, it ought to bring us great joy t4o know that our sins are forgiven and covered.

1. Forgiveness is described as our sins being covered.

a) In Old Testament times, when a debt was owed, it was carved into the face of a stone.

b) When the debt was paid in full, the engraving was filled in with wax.

c) Sin is a debt that we owe.

d) It is covered by the blood of Jesus.

2. Isaiah 1:18. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, ” Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

a) Here, sin is shown as a stain that is removed.

b) Hence, that stone of debt is not only filled in, it is scrubbed clean as if there never was a debt owed.

3. Isaiah 38:17. Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

a) Sin is cast behind the back of God.

b) He throws that rock behind his back!

4. Isaiah 44:21-22. “Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

a) Sins are blotted out like a thick cloud.

b) A thick cloud arises between God and stone which He threw behind His back.

5. Micah 7:18-19. Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.

a) God casts our sins into the depths of the sea.

b) He throws that rock into the deepest part of the ocean; never to be seen again.

II. HOW DO WE ATTAIN THIS FORGIVENESS?? BLESSED ARE THE UNDEFILED IN THE WAY.

A. Psalm 119:1-2. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

1. Those who are undefiled are blessed. The passage goes on to tell us how to be undefiled.

2. The undefiled are those who walk in the law of the Lord.

3. The undefiled are those who keep God’s testimonies.

4. The undefiled are the ones who seek God with their whole heart.

5. We attain forgiveness by seeking God with our WHOLE heart.

a) With an open mind.

b) With a ready mind (Ready to obey).

c) With a hunger – Matthew 5:6

6. Once we seek Him, we must be willing to walk in His Law and keep His testimonies.

a) We must be obedient.

b) Belief alone is not (And never has been) enough.

B. We must allow ourselves to be instructed by God – Psalm 94:12

1. Let’s emphasize here that it is God’s instruction that will lead to our salvation and ultimate happiness.

2. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

3. Only two possible sources of spiritual authority – Matthew 21:23-25

4. Man’s doctrine will not profit us.

III. TAKING DELIGHT IN GOD’S LAW BRINGS HAPPINESS!

A. Psalm 1:1-2. Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

1. Do you delight in the Law of God?

2. We delight in…

a) Watching sports…

b) Reading good books…

c) Gardening…

d) Exercising…

e) Reading the Bible???

B. Psalm 112:1. Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

1. Do you GREATLY delight in God’s law?

2. Whether or not you delight in God’s law depends largely on how you view it.

a) Do you simply view it as a rule book?

(1) Do this.

(2) Don’t do that.

(3) The Bible is a rule book, however, if this is the primary way you see the Bible, you are probably not going to take much pleasure in it.

b) A better way to view the Bible:

(1) A book in which I can see the very mind of my Creator.

(2) A book that reveals my Creator’s great love for me.

(3) A book in which I can learn how to better please my Creator and live in a right relationship with Him. Thus giving me great peace / happiness.

(4) A book that teaches me how to be a better:

(a) Neighbor.

(b) Friend.

(c) Spouse.

(d) Parent.

(e) Brother / Sister.

(5) A book that gives me hope.

(6) Viewing the Bible in these ways will help me to DELIGHT in it.

Delivered on: February 5, 2012. Streetsboro.