The Psalms: Following God

I.                   Tree or Chaff--Which do you want?  Psalm 1

A.                 The righteous and the wicked

1.         The righteous

a)                  What he doesn’t do

(1)               Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

(2)               Does not stand in the path of sinners

(3)               Does not sit in the seat of scoffers

b)                  What he does do

(1)               He delights in the laws of the Lord

(2)               He meditates on the law day and night

c)                  Results

(1)               He’ll be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water

(2)               Yielding fruit in season

(3)               His leaf foliage does not wither

(4)               Prospers in whatever he does

2.         The wicked man

a)                  Why is he called wicked?  

(1)               From God's point of view, it's wicked to only seek out yourself as the reference point, instead of God (ie--His word)

b)                  Results

(1)               Like chaff that gets blown away

(2)               Unable to stand against judgement

(3)               Unable to stand in a gathering of the righteous

(4)               Will perish

B.                 Application

1.         Getting absorbed with the word has great results

a)                  A tree firmly planted by streams of water.  

(1)               No one can move you or uproot you

(2)               You won’t be a vacillator, you’ll be firm in your convictions

(3)               Also, you won’t be blown away into judgement

b)                  You will produce all kinds of fruit

(1)               Your ministry will grow

(2)               You’ll have wisdom, more than your contemporaries

(3)               People will come to you needing all kinds of advice

c)                  Your foliage will not wither. 

(1)               Ttransformed into someone with attractive character, someone who can love people.

(a)               You won’t be a nasty old bitter person (a dead tree, without soft  bright leaves.)  Instead, you’ll be a prickly, boney, old person. (no leaves, etc)

a)                  Prosper in whatever he does

3.         Getting absorbed with the wicked has terrible results

a)                  Like chaff that gets blown away

(1)               Instead of being firmly rooted, you’ll be easily knocked down when judgment comes. 

(2)               Unable to stand against judgment

b)                  Unable to stand in a gathering of the righteous

(1)               They will be too much for you

c)                  Will perish

(1)               Ain't going to last

II.                Following God            Psalm 16

A.                 Realizing that following the Lord is the only way to go    Vs 1-5

1.         I have no good besides God

2.         It's the believers who are the majestic ones

a)                  Not the others who serve other gods.  Their sorrows will be multiplied

3.         God is with us and takes care of us

a)                  He supports my lot

b)                  Given us a great heritage (Our position in Christ)

B.                 Application  Vs 7-8

1.         I will bless the Lord (thankfulness) vs 7

2.         I will set the Lord continually before me vs 8

a)                  I'm going to commit to the means of growth

C.                 Results Vs 9-11

1.         My heart is glad vs 9

2.         My flesh will dwell securely  vs 9b and 10

a)                  He will take care of me

3.         God will teach me His will vs 11a

a)                  It leads to life

4.         Complete fulfillment in following God vs 11b

III.             Getting Forgiven        Psalm 32

A.                 How good it is to be forgiven (vs 1-2)

1.         How blessed it is when our sin is covered.

2.         How blessed it is to whom the Lord does not credit with iniquity

B.                 The struggle and blessings of confession (vs 3-8)

1.         When we refuse to confess

a)                  Our body wastes away

b)                  The Lord's heavy hand is on us with conviction

c)                  Our vitality is drained, like the fever heat of summer

2.         Blessings of confession

a)                  God forgives us of the guilt

b)                  We realize that God is there for us, even in a flood of great waters.

c)                  We realize that God is our hiding place and He preserves us from trouble and helps us believe he will deliver us

C.                 Learn from your mistakes:  Listen to God's instruction

1.         He will instruct us and counsel us with his eye upon us.

2.         Don't be stubborn like the mule or horse who avoid any kind of supervision

3.         The wicked have many sorrows/Those who trust the Lord has loving kindness surrounding Him. 

4.         Be glad in the Lord and rejoice

IV.              Dealing with enemies Psalm 37

A.                 Define how students view enemies.  What  kinds of things, situations, or people?

B.                 Don't worry      vs 1-2, 7-11

1.         They will wither quickly and fade away

2.         Instead, remember it's the humble who will prosper (see vs 11, 37, )

3.         The wicked person's schemes will turn on himself   vs 12-15, 17,20-21, 34-36, 38

C.                 Instead, trust God to protect you vs 3-6

1.         Live your life, don't spend your time worrying

2.         Cultivate faithfulness for what you're responsible for and for what's in your control. 

3.         Give your whole life to Christ

D.                 You won't be forsaken  vs 23-26, 39-40