Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday May 18, 2014
Text :Psalms 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (vs2) But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (vs3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
Psa. 65:4 "Blessed is the man whom thou chooseth, and causeth to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
Eph.1:3-7 " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (vs4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (vs5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the pleasure of his will,(vs6)To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (vs7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
Psa.27:13-14 "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.(vs14) Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the Lord.”
Premise
The Pulpit Commentary ,Vol.8, Pages7-8; A Comment On Psalm 1:1-6 --- THE BLESSEDNESS OF THE TRUE. “God is Love.” He must, therefore, seek the happiness of his creatures. Man is the highest of his earthly creatures, and his happiness must be of the highest kind, not only fit for him to receive, but worthy of God to bestow. Such is the happiness here depicted. It does not come anyhow, but in accordance with law. It does not depend on what a man has, but upon what he is. It is inward; not outward. It is of the spirit, not of the flesh. Happiness is blessedness--- the blessedness of the true in character.”
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor.15:58
2. THE HARMONIOUS DEVELOPMENT. “This is shown under the figure of a tree, fair and flourishing. It stands, not in the desert, but in a fit place. “Planted.” The hand of God is seen in the godly man’s life. This is security. Where God has put him, God can keep him. from the heavens above and the earth beneath nourishment is provided. Though worldly supplies may cease, and the waters of earth fail , the river of God will still run free. Moreover there is the power of assimilating. Life develops according to its own order. What the plant does unconsciously, is because of it being subject to the law of its being, however the godly man develops freely and consciously, under the benign rule of Christ.”
3.THE CONSUMMATION. “God’s work always tends to completeness. Every advance is an approach. Every fulfillment is a prophecy of the perfect end. In the life of the godly there is the truest pleasure, the noblest usefulness, the heavenliest beauty. And the charm of all is permanence. There is not only moral freshness, as where there is real soundness of health, but there is enduringness. This is brought out vividly by contrast. “The ungodly are not so.” With them there is no reality. Separated from the true life, everything is unstable and uncertain. There may be a kind of prosperity, but it is false and misleading.(Psalm 73:2-17). The pleasures of sin are but for a season; but the love of God is for ever. In the day of trial the just shall stand, accepted, and blessed; but the wicked shall be winnowed out of the society of the true, and swept away, as the worthless chaff, by the swift and resistless judgment of God.”
Definition
Blessing is defined "as the active outgoing of the divine goodwill or grace which results in prosperity and happiness amongst men.(2) A gift and approval of God, also rendered as" happy", enjoying the favor of God".
EXPOSITION
1. The Vanity Of Materialistic Things: Prov. 23:4-5 “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. (vs4) Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; then fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” Eccl. 5:10-11 “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this also is vanity. (vs11) When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes? St. Luke 12:15 As an introduction to the parable of the “rich fool” “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
2. What Are Some Of Our “Present Blessings” That Should Always Cause Us To Rejoice:
a. The Present Blessing Of Forgiveness Of Sin---Psalm 103:10-12 “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. (vs11) For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. (vs12) As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Isa.55:6-7 “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (vs7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” 1 John1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
b. The Present Blessing Of Being Justified--- Rom. 5:1-2 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our lord Jesus Christ: (vs2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”
c. The Present Blessing Of No Condemnation---Rom. 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (vs2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”
d. The Present Blessing Of Being God's Chosen People---1 Peter 2:9-10 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: (vs10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
e. The Present Blessing Of Perfect Peace--- Isa. 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.(vs4) Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord JE-HO’VAH is everlasting strength:”
f. The Present Blessing Of Divine Support--- Psa.37:23-25 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. (vs24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand. (vs25) I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
g. The Present Blessing Of Divine Help--- Heb. 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he has said,(Josh.1:5; 1 Chron. 28:20)I will never leave thee , nor forsake thee. (vs6) So that we may boldly say. The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
h. The Present Blessing Of Knowing That Your Labor Is Not In Vain--- 1 Cor.15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
I . The Present Blessing of Acceptance And Help At The Throne Of Grace--- Heb.4:14-16 “Seeing then we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (vs15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (vs16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.