Father’s Day
Men of God
Psalm 112
June 15, 2003
Intro:
A. [THE FATHER’S DAY TOP TEN LIST OF THINGS YOU’VE BEEN ITCHIN’TO SAY FOR YEARS NOW...]
We often hear "the rules" from the feminine side.
Ok- well now hear the guys’ side - it’s only fair (realizing of course that Father’s Day is the only day of the year we could get away with it!)
#10 Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
#9 Shopping is NOT a sport, and no, we are never going to think of it that way.
#8 Sunday = sports. It’s like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
#7 “Yes” and “No” are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
#6 Check your oil! Please, check your oil!
#5 Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all past comments become null and void after 7 days.
#4 If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
#3 If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing’s wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
#2 ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
#1 Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we…
B. Today I want to take a break from 1 Corinthians and turn to Psalm 112.
C. Psalms 112:1, Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.
D. 10 characteristics of Godly men…
I. Posterity
Psalms 112:2, His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
A. The Psalmist says that the man who fears the Lord and finds delight in His commands will have mighty children.
1. Now I must say that there are many who have a problem with the word fear and they want to say that it really means reverence or awe.
2. However the Hebrew word actually means both.
3. God is someone to be revered and respected.
4. And God is someone to be feared because of His awesomeness.
5. And the psalm says the man who fears God for who He is will have mighty children.
6. The man who takes great delight in Gods commands will have mighty children.
B. A man’s posterity is all of his descendents and succeeding generations.
C. There is a phenomenon taking place in this area that not many people recognize.
1. That phenomenon is referred to as a generational curse.
2. Perhaps you recall that one of the Ten Commandments says this as recorded in Exodus 20:5 (NIV), You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
3. You can see this vividly today, if you know what you are looking for.
4. Usually children who grow up in a broken home grow up to have broken homes.
5. Children whose parents get divorced usually experience divorce themselves.
6. Children who grow up in poverty usually raise their children in poverty.
7. Children who grow up in the home of an alcoholic usually grow up to be alcoholics.
8. Generation after generation of the same curses.
D. But there is a way to stop the curse!
1. Exodus 20:5-6 (NIV), You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
2. Psalms 112:1-2 (NIV), Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. 2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3. The cure is that somebody has to stand up and say, “I’m going to stop the madness! I’m going to change things for the next generation! I’m going to get myself right with God. I’m going to start loving God and keeping His commandments! I’m going to fear God and take great delight in His commands! I’m going to break this generational curse by turning my life over to God and teaching my children to do the same!”
9. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. 2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
II. Prosperity
Psalms 112:3, Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
A. Next the psalmist says that the man who fears God and keeps His commandments will have wealth and riches.
1. It is, of course, possible to be financially wealthy without God.
2. And it is likewise possible to be poor with God.
3. But a person who takes great delight in God’s commandments will become more and more wealthy as he grows older.
B. Listen to some of the Bible’s teachings in the area of finance…
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV), Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,
2. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV), For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
3. Colossians 3:23 (NIV), Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
4. Proverbs 22:7 (NIV), The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
5. Romans 13:8 (NIV), Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
6. Malachi 3:10 (NIV), Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
7. Luke 6:38 (NIV), Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
8. That is a sampling of the Bible’s teachings on money and it is clear that by taking delight in God’s commands in this area will cause a man to become more prosperous.
9. The man who fears God and keep these commands will eventually see that he has more wealth than he once had.
10. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
III. Providence
Psalms 112:4, Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
A. The psalmist now says that that even in hard times, good things happen to the man of God.
1. Even when things look their darkest and worst there is light and good things for the man who takes great delight in God’s commands.
2. Providence was a word that the founding fathers of America used to describe the way that God works things out for our good.
3. Providence was a word that the founders used to summarize Romans 8:28 (NIV), And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
B. God gives people a free will—sort of!
1. God allows us to make choices that will affect our lives.
2. [illustration]
I am grateful that my son, Alan was able to attend TZ school in Greencastle this year.
In the hallway outside the gym there is a banner that says, “You are the some total of your choices.”
Not many schools teach that choices and behavior have consequences any more.
1. But it is true and God does give us the freewill to make choices that have consequences on our lives and He also gives other people freewill to make choices that can have consequences in our lives as well.
2. BUT God will work out even the bad in our lives for the good in the long run.
3. The Scripture teaches that we are victors and over comers!
4. The Scriptures do not teach that bad things will never happen to us, but it does teach that we will over come and be victorious if we keep getting up when we’re down.
5. As long as we don’t quit and loose our faith, we will WIN!
6. We’re destined to win!
7. God allows freewill, but He’s still in control of the outcome!
8. As long as a man keeps getting back up, he wins!
9. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
IV. Poise
Psalms 112:5, Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.
A. This verse echoes the last verse in saying that good will come to the man who fears God and delights in his commands.
B. But since the man of God knows this, he can face the problems and potential problems that he faces with poise.
1. Since he knows that God will take care of him in the end and that he will overcome, even if there is a storm that he faces, he doesn’t have to loose control over it.
2. Even if there is someone who is treating him unfairly, he can treat them fairly because he knows God is going to work it all out even if the other person “takes him to the cleaners!”
3. Even if there is someone who needs help that he thinks may not pay him back, he can lend freely knowing that God’s going to work it all out for the good even if he doesn’t pay it back.
4. Even if there is someone who is stabbing him in the back, he can face the situation with poise because he knows who is in control of his destiny!
5. Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.
V. Peace
Psalms 112:6, Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.
A. The reason he can face the future with poise, is because of the peace that he has.
1. Since he knows his destiny, there is peace.
2. He doesn’t have to worry about protecting himself or his family, because he knows that God is really in charge.
3. He’s going to be wise and prudent, but there is no need to worry because he has received the peace that passes understanding.
4. A peace in knowing that all is well.
5. Even if there is a trial that he faces, he has no fear or worry.
6. There is the peace that is implied in “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!”
7. Jesus said in John 14:27 (NIV), Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
B. The man of God who fears the Lord and delights in his commands will never be shaken.
1. That’s a real man—a man who cannot be shaken!
2. Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.
VI. Pollyannaism
Psalms 112:7, He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
A. Pollyanna was a character in a novel by Eleanor H. Porter.
1. Pollyanna was an excessively optimistic person.
2. I’m not sure men would feel good about being called Pollyanna, but I do think that they would like to be referred to as having Pollyannaism.
3. Men would like to be excessively optimistic.
4. However, men tend to be negative and pessimistic.
B. But real men of God can be excessively positive and optimistic, because they know that now matter how bad things have been and no matter how bad they are, they’re getting better and better and better and better!
1. The man of God knows that things are going to work out for good, so we can always be positive and optimistic.
2. Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
VII. Perspective
Psalms 112:8, His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
A. The man of God is secure, because he knows that things have gotten better, are getting better, and will continue to get better.
1. The man of God has seen improvement, is seeing improvement, and knows improvement will continue.
2. He has a view of the past, present, and future.
3. Most men are worried about how things are going to turn out.
4. But since the man of God already knows that it is going to turn out wonderfully, he can have a sense of perspective on his life.
5. He doesn’t know exactly what things are going to look like at the end of his life, but he KNOWS he’s going to be a winner!
6. Most men don’t know that.
7. God’s men know that life is a chart and there are ups and downs on the graph, but its general direction is up and it is going to end up off the chart!
B. His heart is secure because he has a perspective that his life is getting better!
1. From year to year, his life is improving and that is a perspective that most men don’t have.
2. Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
VIII. Praise
Psalms 112:9, He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
A. Now the psalmist says that the man of God will have his horn lifted high in honor.
B. I know that we try to downplay praise of people because it sounds like the man has a pride problem.
1. But the truth is that men do (because of the fall) have pride problems.
2. And the way to correct that is praise.
3. It may not sound right to our way of thinking, but it is.
4. Men who are well adjusted and confident are men who had mothers and have wives who praise and compliment them.
5. The truth is that the flesh in men condemns us already.
6. When we are criticized, we fight back and try to assert our worth.
7. But when those around us compliment us, we humble ourselves.
8. Sounds strange, but because of the fall, that’s the way that it is.
9. Every man needs praise and the psalmist says that the man of God will receive it.
10. Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
IX. Proven
Psalms 112:10, The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
A. Now the Psalm says the wicked will see what happens to the man of God and will be vexed.
1. That means that the wicked will see how God takes care of the man of God and he will be perplexed and angry about it.
2. They will gnash their teeth and waste a way while their longings come to nothing.
B. It may seem that they will prosper for a while, but it won’t last.
1. God promises us that even though it may appear that wickedness is rewarded in this life, God promises that the man of God will be proven.
2. Even though it appears that it doesn’t pay to do right, God promises that it will pay.
3. Malachi 3:16-18 (NIV), Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. 17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
4. Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
X. Happy
Psalms 112:1, Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.
A. Now I’ve been repeating this verse throughout this sermon, but I’ve saved it until the end because it is really the main point of this whole psalm.
1. This Psalm says a lot of things about the man who fears the Lord and finds great delight in his commands…
a. He will have a mighty posterity.
b. He will enjoy prosperity.
c. He will understand that Providence controls the outcome of his life.
d. He will walk with poise.
e. He will have peace.
f. He will be as optimistic as Pollyanna.
g. He will view life from a winning perspective.
h. He will receive praise.
i. He will be proven.
2. The Psalm certainly says all of that, but the very first verse sums it all up when it says that he will be “blessed!”
a. The Hebrew word for blessed means happy.
b. It means “how happy!”
c. It means REALLY happy!
d. The man who enjoys all of these P’s in his life is going to be truly happy!
e. And it won’t be this sappy, short-term feeling—he’s going to be truly happy!
3. And this is exactly what Jesus referred to when He said in John 10:10 (NIV), The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
B. Father’s if you love the Lord and take great delight in His commands then you are living!
1. This is not only for spiritual giants—this is for every believer who fears God and takes great delight in applying the commands of God to his life!
2. If you are a man of God then you are living!
3. Do you realize what you’ve got?
4. Do you realize how blessed you are?!
5. Do you understand that on Father’s day (and everyday) how happy you are?!!
Conclusion:
A. Disappointment and unfulfillment vs. happiness
Ecclesiastes 12:13, Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
B. The man of God who fears the lord and keeps his commandments has every reason to be happy—notice what the text says…
Children WILL BE mighty in the land
Wealth and riches ARE in his house
Even in Darkness light DAWNS
Good WILL COME
He will NEVER be shaken
He will have NO fear
His heart IS secure
His horn WILL BE lifted high in honor
The wicked man WILL see and be and vexed
BLESSED is the man who fears the lord and finds great delight in His commands
IS the Word of God true or not?
It’s your choice: happiness or unfulfillment…
