Before I get into the message, I want to say that I pray your mind is clear and receptive to the word of God. It’s funny how we as a church over time, have developed our own language and oftentimes it’s a language the world can’t understand and that the lost can’t understand. Let me give you an illustration. I went to a church once and as the preacher began to give his invitation, this is what he said, “I wonder how many of you here are totally depraved? Would you like to have the vicarious atonement of Jesus applied as the propitiation of your depravity? You know what I said? HUHHHH? Listen, our mission as a church is to speak in a language that everybody can understand.
Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in His way.” As I look at this verse, these 11 words seem to naturally divide themselves into 3 categories. The first you see is:
THE PATH – the steps He speaks about. Now I’m sure when he said “the steps” he wasn’t talking about the literal movement of your feet. He wasn’t talking about walking as being the actual movement of your feet but he’s talking about the Direction, the Course of your life.
Now I’m sure that when you were growing up, your parents might have said to you, and you might have even said to your children, “You better watch your steps.” Now, they weren’t talking about watching the literal movement of your feet, they were talking about the direction of your life! THAT IS THE PATH.
THEN THERE IS THE PERSON. A good man, a good person. Notice what the Bible says, it doesn’t say that “The steps of a man or ordered by the LORD,” BUT “the steps of a GOOD man are ordered by the LORD.”
Listen to me very carefully so you don’t miss what I’m about to say. I want to give you a simple observation of why a lot of people don’t understand the Bible. One of the reasons we don’t understand the Bible is because WE MAKE INCLUSIVE PREDICTIONS BASED UPON EXCLUSIVE PROMISES. Sometimes the Bible makes promises that are inclusive . . . they include everybody.
- When the Bible says that God loves all men . . . that includes everybody;
- The Bible says that the rain falls on the just and the unjust and the sun shines on the just and the unjust
And it doesn’t matter if you love God, Hate God, Curse God, Worship God, Despise God, or Praise God . . . He’s gonna make the SUN come up in the morning because that is an INCLUSIVE PROMISE.
I’m glad that the Word of God says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” That is Inclusive to everybody that has ever lived.
Contrary to what some may believe, I believe that salvation is for every person that will turn to God by FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST our LORD and Savior.
The promises of God are divided in to two Categories: INLCUSIVE PROMISES . . . these are the promises that apply to everybody.
But then there are EXLUSIVE PROMISES, and in fact, most of the promises in the Bible are EXLUSIVE, they are for a select group. That’s why the Bible is so emphatic in saying, “all things work together . . .” it doesn’t say for EVERYBODY. It is an EXCLUSIVE promise, “All things work together for the good of those who LOVE God . . .”
We understand from the New Testament that “there are none righteous, no not one.” “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” So we understand that when the Bible says that “The steps of a GOOD MAN . . .” is a reference to a REDEEMED MAN, a person that has made a conscious decision to follow Him by faith.
We saw the Path, and the Person. Now, let’s look at the PROVISION:
“THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN, A RIGHTEOUS MAN, A REDEEMED MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD.”
What does that word ORDERED mean? Now I looked up the meaning of that word ORDERED in the Hebrew lexicon, and do you realize there are around 25 applications for that word. There are a few I’d like to share.
So what does it mean to have my steps ORDERED? Well according to the concordance, it means to be FASHIONED. That means that God had DESIGNED IT OR FASHIONED IT with His hand.
Listen, don’t let this thought be lost on you, “Do you realize that God has FASHIONED everyone one of us just the way He intended us to be? One of the greatest blessing I’ve learned in my life is that God has fashioned me into what He has intended for me to be.
Some times though we get the idea that we’re not good-looking enough, or smart enough and thin enough or rich enough – but the Bible tells us, “The steps of a GOOD MAN are ORDERED BY THE LORD! God has fashioned us into exactly what He intends us to be. So I’ve decided I’m just gonna be the best version of me that I can be. There’s not another like me!
Listen, I was born into a poor farming family. We didn’t have much of anything. When I was 5 years old, my momma and daddy got a divorce, and all through my younger years until I was 17, I was basically raised by my grandma. But one day, I knelt at an old fashioned altar and asked Jesus to come into my life and as I began to read His Word I found out I was wonderfully and gloriously made and I can do something that nobody else in the world can do – Billy Graham can’t do, Richard Blackwell can’t do it, my wife can’t do – I found out I’m the only person in the world that can do ME – and MY STEPS HAVE BEEN ORDERED BY THE LORD.
You want me to tell you how to succeed in life? Go out and be the best version of YOU that God has created you to be!
But there is a second part to the meaning of that word ORDERED. Not only does it mean to FASHION, It also means to FURNISH.
Let me explain this though this story. When we prayed about starting Rally Point Biker Church, I prayed and I made a promise to God that I would never ask anybody to give anything. That’s why we have a set of Boots in the back of the church. I know it freaks people out that we don’t take up an offering. But just let me explain why. Now listen folks, there is nothing wrong with churches asking for money, in fact, many can’t survive without it, ministries can’t grow without it. And I’m not some super spiritual person, I just prayed and said to God, LORD, I’m gonna trust You. LORD, if you want people to give, you’re gonna have to lay that on their hearts. Father, I’m just going to trust in YOU and be faithful to do what you have laid on my heart to do.”
And can I say, 10 months down the road, we haven’t missed one bill, GOD has supplied ALL of our needs according to HIS riches in glory.
The Steps of a Good man are Ordered, are fashioned, are furnished, by the LORD.
Conclusion: Many of you know that a little over 2 years ago, I felt God had called me to pastor an established church in this area. For 6 weeks Kim and I got to know them and love them. And I felt certain that was where God wanted us to be. The morning that they voted us in to be there pastor family should have been the happiest time of my life – but it wasn’t. And I’m gonna tell you, me and God went to battle over that one. “LORD, how could you bring us here for 6 weeks and go through so much to get here only to tell me NO. God I don’t understand.” Going back and telling those people that loved us, that voted for us that we were not coming had to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. And honestly, I didn’t understand it. But can I tell you now, after 10 months of being here, I’ve never felt more sure of Gods plan for my life than I am right now. I’ve never felt more in the center of God’s plan than I do right now.
So I want to leave you with this thought, if you want to know real peace in your life, then you find the place that God has designed for you and get in that place and be the best version of you that you can be, knowing:
THE STEPS OF A GOOD MAN ARE ORDERED BY THE LORD!
Fighting for My Pea Patch 