And Whatever He Does Will Prosper

"And Whatever He Does Will Prosper" - (Psalm 1:3) The man who is separated from sin and united to the Scriptures has all the qualities of a "strong" and fruitful tree. It is planted next to the means of grace, here called "streams of water"; from this he draws the just abundant supply of strength and vigor, but secretly, hidden from the eyes of the people.

I. A tree planted.

A. "Every plant that My Heavenly Father has not planted will be torn apart" (detached, uprooted, expelled or removed from its place of origin).

1. It is planted next to streams and has an inexhaustible source of nutrition.

2. Next to water streams.

3. So, even if one current fails, another is available.

4. The rivers of forgiveness and the rivers of grace, the rivers of promise and the rivers of communion with Christ, are sources of provisions that never fail.

5. It will be like a fruitful and flourishing tree, for divine blessings produce real effects.

6. The righteous are planted by the grace of God; By nature, we are all wild olive trees and continue to be so until we are grafted in by a heavenly power from above.

7. A good tree never grows of itself; it is the planting of Jehovah, to be a tree of righteousness, and in this God is to be glorified (Isaiah 61:3).

8. Everything Christ does for us is so that we may be God's people and render Him praise and service as living evergreens and always with spring freshness; with this, God is glorified in His saints.

9. It is planted next to the means of grace, here called streams of water; "From here it draws the just abundant supply of strength and vigor (energy), but secretly, hidden from the eyes of the people."

10. And its leaf does not fall.

11. Their foliage (thicket, leafiness, greenness) does not wither, but is evergreen (eternal).

12. As for those who show only the leaves of Christian profession, without any fruit, the leaves themselves will at last wither and fall; but if the Word of God governs in the heart, and the profession exercises it, professes it, my occupation will be preserved forever, green and fresh.

13. That bears fruit in its season.

14. The man who delights in the Word of God receives its instructions, has patience in the hour of suffering, faith in trial, and holy joy in the hour of prosperity.

15. "Bearing fruit is an essential quality of man who possesses grace, and his fruit will be in season." C.H.S.

16. It bears fruit in its time; he manifests the graces of the Spirit, his words and his deeds are always timely and appropriate.

17. The wicked have their marked days, their occasions, their work, and their particular places to which they cling closely; so that if their neighbor were to die of hunger, they would not depart from their custom, they care nothing.

18. But the blessed man, being free at all times, in all places, for all works, and for all people, comes to serve and help whenever there is a need.

19. And its leaf does not fall.

20. "He describes the fruit of the leaf before, and therefore it is intimate (profound, internal) to the one who professes the word of doctrine to first bear the fruits of life, if he does not want that fruit, he withers because Christ cursed the fig tree that did not bear fruit." Luther

21. Their leaf does not fall: their spiritual life is not subject to cyclical changes (they return to a state, at the end, they begin again); rather, it is characterized by an interior and continuous renewal.

22. (Moody) He said, "All the trees of the Lord are evergreen."

23. This kind of man will prosper in everything he does.

24. The reason, of course, is that he is living in fellowship with the Lord and all his service is directed by the Holy Spirit.

25. The only way to be effective and successful in the Christian life is to be led by the Spirit of God.

26. Self-directed activity is a great waste of time, money, and strength! Amen.

27. And everything he does will prosper.

28. (Psalm 73:2-26) Just as there is a curse wrapped up in the prosperity of the wicked, there is also a blessing hidden in the crosses, losses, and afflictions of the righteous.

29. "The trials and tribulations of the holy one belong to the divine administration and through them one grows and bears fruit in abundance." C.H.S.

30. Outward prosperity, if it follows walking with God, is very sweet; like zero, which when it follows zero increases in the value of the number, although it itself, in itself, is nothing. John Trapp. Amen