In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of making a clear break with sin and sinful companions. He uses the example of a man who starts by walking with the ungodly, then progresses to standing in the way of sinners, and finally ends up sitting in the seat of the scornful. The speaker warns against the subtle and deceptive nature of sin, highlighting the danger of becoming scornful of the things of God. He encourages believers to run away from sin and to have full confidence in their actions, reminding them that whatever is not done in faith is sin. The sermon also touches on God's purpose for his people to live flourishing and fruitful lives, and the need for believers to have a deep relationship with God in order to experience true spiritual growth.

The best book to read is the Bible. If you read it every day, it will help you all your way. Oh, the best book to read is the Bible. Duniya mein saas se pyaare purthak Bible. Duniya mein saas se pyaare purthak Bible. Varejo utko rosvaro, rame dharura koi naho. Duniya mein saas se pyaare purthak Bible. Vasika siranda purthakam Vedam. Vasika siranda purthakam Vedam. Anradume vasita, kundramal nadathume. Anradume vasita, kundramal nadathume. Shall we open our Bibles, please, at Psalm 1. Shall we open our Bibles, please, at Psalm 1. Daite se mana Bible gandhamanu tesi, madhuri kirtanam tadgunam. Aaye, bhajan se ta pehla dihaye, apne Bible me saham khole. We'll read responsibly through the Psalm from verse 1 to verse 6. Madhar nundi, aaru vachanamu aakari varaku, manamu maarchi maarchi sadhukundam. Aaye, bhajan se ta pehla dihaye, ko pehle bhaja se chepa tak, paari paari se hum padenge. Particularly, I want you to notice again verse 3 in this beautiful Psalm. Iyaka ramyamena dhondi kirtanamu, moda vachanamu meru guptinsarani koruchudam. Me chaata visheshkar, teesra paad yeh sundar bhajan me se aap dhyan de. Let us read this verse again. Yeh vachanamu nu mariya starchavutham. Yeh spathku hum ek baad kherse padhe. Let's all read it. All read it. Andhana namu kalisi sadhukundam. Aayam sab saath milke spathku padhe. We don't want any silent voices. Yamalukoda maunamu ga avanakurudam. Koi chukna raham nahi chaati. Neeti kaalule yor naadamana, yaaku vaadagadana, kaalamundu balamirthi sathuvaranamu, madhura chena dhantayu, sthapalamudu. Now the Lord has been speaking to us in these days about His wonderful purpose for His people. Yeh dinamule yandhu, prabhu tanapajarakalakainatuvanti, odbudamainatuvanti uddesimunu guruchi, matlaadukusu ochinadu. In dino me prabhu humse, apni prajake lungose, jo odmud baat ko batana chaata ho, batate chale aa rahe hain. God has made a wonderful plan and a wonderful provision for us. Devudu manimittamainatuvanti, odbudamainatuvanti erpadunu, odbudamainatuvanti vishayalunu manakalaku stitha bachchivunchinadu. Prabhu ne hamarele odmud vishayal, odmud yojana hamarele banaye hain. And it's God's purpose that His people should live flourishing and fruitful lives for God's glory. Devuni mahimarthamai, aaniyaka prajalu, vardhiluchu, vestaristu, adhunti punduchundalanevi, aaniyaka uddesimayumadhi. Parameshwar ki abhilasa icha je hai, ki parameshwar ke jo log hai, wo apne jeevan me tarakki karte jaye, phallaate jaye. Now while we have been in these meetings, we have been catching wonderful glimpses of what God can do for us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. ekutamalo evidamaga cheri unduchundeta appudu, devudanayaka kupacheta, tanu cheichunatuvanti adhbudamainatuvanti vathiyokayana kumaruniyandu, aashcharyamalainatuvanti nidharshanamanu, choosthu ochinam. So in these days, in these meetings, we have been catching glimpses of what God can do for us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And some of us are having to confess that up till now, we have not been enjoying the kind of life that God wants to bring us into. devudu elaati jeevitamalooni ki mano thevalainani anandintalaini koruchunadu, alaati vathini manalok kundalu anabhuvinsakunda unarane pura oppukunarasini. aur hamme se kuch hai, ist baat ko maansakte hai, jat pakar ka jeevan Prabhu chahta hain, uska anandile ham nahi le rahe hain. You know, when God is livingly in the midst of His people, then we begin to see our hearts as they really are in His sight. chundi devude prayate, sa jeevamaynatvadi vidamaga, manamajalo jeevisthu, nivasthamu chaichunarane chuchatapudu, mane eka hrvayamalo nivishayalano, unnadi unnatigane, manamo chuchkuna galusram. When God Himself is in our lives and lives within us, then we begin to see our state as the state of the heart. And some of us have had to confess that until now our lives have still been very dry and very unsatisfied. Manalo kondaram haitheno, mane eka jeevisthamun inkanu, endi povinamiganu, atrupti karamiganu unnavenani, uppukunavalasinavaram ga unam. Aur hamme se bahato ko ist baat ko maanlena padatahe, hamara jeevan atvatto sukha raha aur vina santushtha karaha. Well, that's the very reason why God has brought so many of us into this place. I'm sure that God needs all over India Christians who are like flourishing palm trees. Mera vishwas hai, Parameshwar manta hai, Hindustan ke har prantho mein, Prabhu ke log jo dharmi log hai, khajur ki vrishki nahin phalte rahe. And He also wants to plant in many places local churches that are full of spiritual life and spiritual joy and spiritual fruitfulness. Mariyu aatmiya mena twanti jeevamu, aatmiya mena twanti santoshamu, aatmiya mena twanti phalamula to kudinatu vanti, variniga, mara Hindustani okka palubhagamulo, akkad akkad varini, naata valayunani kuda koruchunadu. Aur Prabhu maanta hai, ye Hindustan ke andar, hen mena sthano me saaniya mandaliyo sthapit kare, jis mandali ke andar mein anand bhara ho, jis mandali ke andar mein harsh bhara ho, aur pavitra aatma se varte ja rahe ho. So we are asking many of us that God will clearly show His secret to us. Naraga, manalo anekhalamu, devrutanaiyaka rahasya vallu, maathulala valinani, bailupachalani koruchunam. Humari praatna Parameshwara se ye hai, ki humare jeevanume prabhu is baat ko sposh kare, aur humare hriday ko sahab kare. And I believe that is why God has led us to this first psalm this morning. Andhu gaane, devudi dinamuna, yuvde khalamuna, ye kirtana, madhvi kirtana loni, maathula loni ki, naripinchunani, namuchunam. Hare, vishwasai silai Parameshwara ne, jis bhajan taita ke pehle adhiha ke, andar hume le aaya hai. You see, this wonderful book of psalms begins with this precious picture of the flourishing Christian. Kirtana gandamiyaka madhvi ajayamu, aarambha bhaagame, vardhiluchunatvanti, adhutamainatvanti, kraisthava bhaathamu, drushyamuto, aarambhamaluchunani. Bhajan ki andar aaramehi me, hum paate hai, kaise jo masti hai, jo tarakki kar rahe hai, unke vishay me. Right in the middle of this psalm, we have a picture of God's happy man. Ye kirtanaiyaka nerega madhja loni, devuni korakaiyana, santoshkaramaina, manavuni drushyamunu, chupisthu unati. Aniyat bhajan ke beechume dekhte hai, Parameshwara ka jo anandi purushkona hai. Here is God's flourishing man. Ikkara, devuni oka, vardhiluchu unnatvanti oka, manushuni padamu kanapatuchuni. Haan ek manush hai, Parameshwara ka jan hai, jo ki jeevan me tarakki kar rahe hai. Here is God's man, marked with spiritual fruitfulness. Devuni manushrayanantvanti, aayana phalavantamaina vardhile, jeevata me oka suchana, dinalo kanipishkoti. Haan Parameshwara ka jan hai, jatke jeevan me asa suchak malam hota hai, jo phal raha hai. He brings forth his fruit in his season. Aayana tanakalamandu phalamitsunadu. Vo jo ki apne ritu me phal lata hai. And his leaf does not wither. Alatvani oka aaku vada kaiyundunu. Aur jiske pathe nahi murjhate. You know, so much in this world is like a withered leaf. Hi lokam lo manamo, endipoyena aaku lagana, yanto chustunamu. Hum dekhte hai, sunsaar me jagat me, aise bahot se cheeje hai, jo ki sukhe paton ki nahi hai. It starts off with such a beautiful appearance. Aarambham lo, chakkani ramyamena toh enti, roop toh aarambham utsunadi. Aarambhe, dekhne me bada khussura, sundar dikayi padta hai. But everything that's of this world is subject to corruption, and we find that it fades away. Haitha hi lokam lo undedi, yavottunu, aadi kullu patnadi gaanu, aadi gatinchu poyanadi gaani, kanapaduchunadi. Sunsaar me jo cheeje hai, goto sada hatke, adintame hai, aur ekdino naash ho jate hai. Everything that is from man is sure to fade and to die. Manavano lo londi, bailu derunadi, padhi kuda, vaadi poyi, ruta maynadi gaani, chupintamaduchunadi. Jo kuchh manush se hai, goto asafal honewala hai, aur marjanewala hai. But here is a man whose leaf does not fade. Haitha ikada vakar unadu, vani oka aaku vadadu. Yaha ek vekti hai, jiske patte sookte nahi, murjhate nahi. Here is a man whose leaf is always fresh. Hikada oka manush unadu, vani oka aaku ellapadu taza gaani, bhatta gaani ununu. Yaha ek vekti hai, jiske patte sadev hare rate hai. Whatever this man does has got God's blessing on it. Ye manushunu chena daani antani baini, devani oka aashirvadamu kaliguchunadi. Kuchhe manush karta hai, uske opar parameshwar ki harshis hoti hai. So it is in God's definite purpose that this book of Psalms begins with such a picture as this. Antani batiye, ye kirtanayaka grandhamu, ye vidamaga ye manushnu vishayam hai, matladu nappudu, ye devani oka uddesyamu lo unadani chupistunadi. Ye bhajanase, sundartase, es vekti ko tasbir ko dikhateve pragath hotha hai. The book of Psalms has been called the book of spiritual experience. Kirtanayaka grandhamu, aatmiyamena tuvandi, anabhavamula grandhamani philobaduchunadi. Bhajan tahita ki jo pustak hai, ye kahi jatiye aatmik anubhavon ki pustak. When we read these Psalms, we find the psalmist is going through all kinds of different experiences. Ye kirtanayaka grandhamu, anabhavamula grandhamani philobaduchunadi. Bhajan ko padte hai, humko malum padta hai, ye bhajan ka liknewala jeevan ke dhinmen anubhavon ho kar gujar raha hai. God is dealing with this psalmist day by day. Devudu dina dinamuna kirtanayaka grandhakarta to koda, ye laagu naruchukundu nadu, matlaaduchunadu kanamaduchunadi. Dhen pratidin, Parameshwar ye bhajan ke rachitakta ke saath vyavhar karta hai. We find that sometimes God sends many sorrows into the life of the psalmist. Ye kirtanayaka grandhakarta eka jeevitamalo, devudu aneka vesalamano, dukkhamano, kampinchchunadu, chustunadu. Hum ye bhi dekhte hai, bhajan ke liknewala ke jeevan mein, Parameshwar bhin prakar ke dukho ka bhi bheshta hai. Sometimes there are many enemies around and much warfare. Kuni pariyayamalo, chuttu, shatrur avarinchi unaro, yudha porathamalo, kanamaduchunadi. Usme dikhai padta hai, uske chaar aur shatru hai, aur yudh me wo paaya jaa raha hai. But also in the songs there are happy days when the sun is shining. Haithe ye kirtanarone, santosha karamena tuvanti, prakasha manamena tuvanti, pagaluvanti, karanamulu kudamano. Parameshwar bhajan me ye bhi dikhai padta hai, anan ke din hai, surya prakashit ho raha hai. You see, God is dealing with this man and bringing him through to this place where he has a flourishing life to the glory of God. Chudandi, devudu, ye manavuni andhu, karyamu dharinchuchu, devuni mahimaardhamai, a phalinchi vardhinu nattvanti sthanamuloni ki, hiskari raavaramu, ye kirtanarone karamaduchunadi. Vam dekhte hai, Parameshwar is vekti ke jeevan me karya karta hai, aur sa stan me usko lata hai, jaha Parameshwar ki mehma ke liye phal lanewala hai ban jaye. Do you know how right at the end of the psalms, the heart of the psalmist is filled with worship and praise and adoration to his God. Mahamandala merugudamu, ye kirtana grandhakarta, kirtana yokka, chivari, bhaagamuloni ki raagane, devuni koragaina, stuthulu, stotramulu, ayana gharapaksha to, khagayamu, nindi unnattaka unnari. Antmesh bhajansetha ke likne wale ke jeevan me ham dekhte hai, uska hriday Parameshwar ke mahima madai prasansa se bharda hua hai. We can say that he has now learned the secret of the flourishing palm tree. Ipud maram chappo vastunu, ayana vardhillu churnatu vanti, tamala, karjura, hakshamu lanti, anabhavamuloni ki vachanawadu ga unnadu. Anam ap ke sakte hai, ki khajoor ke ped ki nahi, jo bharna, phalna, phoolna, uske marv ko isne seekh liya hai. But you see the whole book begins with this beautiful picture of a man or a tree planted by God's rivers of God's water. Haitha evi churandi, ee grandhami oka aarambhamuloni, devani oka nadi, devani oka jalamula prakkana, nathapadina chuttu wale uninatu vanti, manishuni oka chaara ramyamainatvanti, adbudhamainatvanti, dhrishyamu khanipinsunani. Anam admut, is tasbeer ko dekhte hai, aise vekti ko jo ki Parameshwar ke nadi aur jal ke paas ye rompa gaya laga gaya hai. And you know the whole Bible really begins, right at the beginning, with the same picture. Ne churandi, Bible oka aarambhamuloni, madalu petha gane, aa lathi dhrishyamu tone aarambhamu avuchu nada ne vi chustu naam. Dekhte hai, saare sampurunu Bible ko aarambhe si prakashu ko suru hota hai. It has always been God's desire to have a man who knows the secret of spirituality and fruitfulness. Devdi allapudu, talagvara gayanatvanti, manishunu atniyatvamunu, palavantvamainatvanti, jivitamunu eriginawadayi unanane, kalampuno kaligi unanane ni karabalutunane. Parameshwar aise vekti ko dhunta hai, jo Parameshwar ke bhedon ko jane, aur phalne punne ki baat ko jo jane jaye, aise manush ke tara Parameshwar pehle dhunta hai. Right at the beginning of the Bible, we have a picture of unfallen Adam. Unfallen. We may say this is the beginning of the palm tree. Manushnu hi tamala hukshamika aarambha dasa de. Now of course, God has his heart set on something like this. But Satan also is equally determined that God shall not get this. That's why we read the story of the fall of man. See, there's a great warfare going on concerning this matter. Of a man who will satisfy God. We believe that through these meetings, Satan's plans and purposes are going to be spoiled and defeated. God is still going to get what he wants, all through this land of India. Our Parameshwar Hindustan is not going to get what he wants. How beautiful Adam was when he came forth from the hand of God. God says, I'm going to make a man who will have my image upon him. I'm going to make a man who shall have dominion and who shall scare my heavenly throne. I'm going to make a man who shall have my image upon him. I'm going to make a man who shall have dominion and who shall scare my heavenly throne. We read that at the beginning, God used to walk with Adam in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day. We read that at the beginning, God used to walk with Adam in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day. As soon as the palm tree began to appear, the enemy began to appear. As soon as the palm tree began to appear, the enemy began to appear. Thank God, God's purposes can never be spoiled or interfered with. This book is about a second man called the Lord Jesus Christ. This book is about a second man called the Lord Jesus Christ. We read concerning Christ that he is a man who is approved of God. We read concerning Christ that he is a man who is approved of God. This is a new beginning in Christ Jesus. Now we have all known what it is to be a part of Adam. We know that very well. We know how dry and how fruitless is the natural life that we receive from Adam. The glorious gospel is that we may now be joined to the second man, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we repent of our sins, when we enthrone the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour indeed, we find that the life of this second man comes into us. That is really the secret of the life that flourishes in the courts of God. In Adam all shall die, but all those who are in Christ shall be made alive. All those who are in Christ shall be made alive. I just began by saying that right there in the early chapters of Genesis we see the beginnings of God's purpose in this connection. Now the book of Psalms begins with just the same picture. It ends by saying, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. That word blessed really means the man who has a double share of heavenly happiness. Here is God's happy man. We have another picture. Here is the man who is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. If you look at this psalm, you will see really it is a psalm about two men. One man is like the chaff which the wind drives away. That really is God's picture of the whole Adamic race. You have seen many times out in the fields the women winnowing their grain. They choose a windy day for that work. I am sure that many times you have seen the wind driving away the dead chaff. That is the picture of Adam and Adam's race. That is a humanity which God has rejected. If you are only a part of Adam, there is no hope for you. The Adam race is the chaff race. Thank God for that other man that we can see in someone. As we shall see in a few minutes time, here is God's wonderful picture of the second man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Doesn't this make you think of 2 Corinthians 5.17? If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. That gives us a little background of this beautiful psalm. I want to say to you that your only hope of being a flourishing palm tree is to get yourself linked up with Christ himself. It is not your effort that will make you into a palm tree. We could really say that God has only got one palm tree. That one flourishing palm tree is our Lord Jesus Christ. We are really only the fruit of that one palm tree. It says here in this psalm that this palm tree will bring forth his fruit in his season. Thank God, here in our meeting this morning, we can see the fruit of God's palm tree, the Lord Jesus. There are many here who have seen the glory of Christ. There are many here who have realized their desperate need of Christ. And there are many here who have received the gift of eternal life from the hands of Christ. That makes us just part of the fruit of this one great palm tree. And our great need in these days is to see more of the glory of the Lord Jesus. When we see more of his glory, we can receive more of his fullness. That is the way God is going to get his flourishing Christians in this land. May God help us to see more of Christ. May God help us to run into Christ himself. May God help us to drink deep into his blessed spirit. Now this first psalm teaches us many things about God's flourishing man. In the first place, this psalm tells us about a great refusal which this man has to make before he can flourish. You see, the first verse describes a man who is refusing something. He will not have it. And he will never be a flourishing palm tree unless he has learned this great refusal that is so necessary. It says here that this man will not walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Many temptations are coming to this man. Many subtle suggestions are being made to this man. This man has taken up an attitude of non-cooperation. He is not going to listen to these suggestions. He is not going to follow these counsels. Now of course that really means that here is a man who has made a definite break with all kinds of sin and sinning. Now we are not saying that he has attained holiness and perfection. We are not saying that. What we are saying is that deep down in his heart, once and for all, he has made his choice of holiness for the glory of God. Now I believe that we have got to be brought to that place before we can be flourishing palm trees. I believe there are many who have come to this convocation but they have not yet made a deep, adequate, enduring break with all kinds of sin and sinning. When you came to Hyderabad, you had to leave your home. When you came to Hyderabad, you had to leave your home and your province. When you came to Hyderabad, you had to leave your home and your province. You had to leave that home behind. Now in the same way, we have got to leave behind old habits. Now I ask you, you have left your home, have you left your bad habits also? Now I ask you, you have left your home, have you left your bad habits also? Have you ever said what the Apostle Paul said? Have you ever said what the Apostle Paul said? For me to live is Christ. Some of us want a little bit of sin and a little bit of salvation. Some of us want a little bit of sin and a little bit of salvation. But sin and salvation are opposite things. You know, we have got to learn to hate something if we are going to be good Christians. And you will never be a part of this great flourishing palm tree till you yourself have learned to hate iniquity. And you will never be a part of this great flourishing palm tree till you yourself have learned to hate iniquity. Some of us still have some love for the lying tongue. Some of us still have some love for filthy things. Some of us still have some love for filthy things. Some of us still have love for human pride. Some of us still have love for human pride. God have mercy on us if we still have any love in our hearts for sin. God have mercy on us if we still have any love in our hearts for sin. Dear brothers and sisters, I would like to tell you that we should not hate our sin. I would like to tell you that we should not hate our sin. O God make me a holy man. O God save me from every kind of iniquity. O God save me from every kind of iniquity. There's no hope of being a palm tree if you haven't in your heart made a break with all kinds of sin and sinning. There's no hope of being a palm tree if you haven't in your heart made a break with all kinds of sin and sinning. He's standing in the way of sinners. He's standing in the way of sinners. And the last word, the third word in the verse, he's sitting in the seat of the scornful. And the last word, the third word in the verse, he's sitting in the seat of the scornful. He is a man who started by just having a short walk, that's all, just a short walk with ungodly companions. He is a man who started by just having a short walk, that's all, just a short walk with ungodly companions. Then after a while he's standing still and he's having a long talk. Then after a while he's standing still and he's having a long talk. You be careful of having a short walk. You may soon be standing in the way of sinners. You may soon be standing in the way of sinners. And at the end of the verse the same man is sitting down in the seat of the scornful. And at the end of the verse the same man is sitting down in the seat of the scornful. Can't you see what a subtle and deceptive thing sin is? You see, people are so rational and practical, but you don't see any deceit? No one knows how rational this Park is and how he gets things done according to the rules. Please notice, at the end, he's with the worst kind of people. Please notice, at the end, he's with the worst kind of people. Finally, he's with the worst kind of people. Finally, he's with the worst kind of people. It's bad to be ungodly, but it is worse to be scornful of the things of God. It's bad to be ungodly, but it is worse to be scornful of the things of God. Look at this man. He has started to walk a little with people who are ungodly and devoid of devotion. But he finishes by being a great friend, even of the scornful. You know, the best thing to do with sin is to run away from it. It's bad to be ungodly, but it is worse to be scornful of the things of God. Some people say, Christians don't have to run away. Paul told Timothy to run away fast from all kinds of fleshly lusts. Paul told Timothy to run away from all kinds of fleshly lusts. That means that what you can't do with full confidence, then don't do it at all. That means that what you can't do with full confidence, then don't do it at all. There was a Christian worker who always liked to go to the meeting with a clean shirt. He used to ask his wife to look at the shirt before he went out of the door, is it nice and clean. He used to ask his wife to look at the shirt before he went out of the door, is it nice and clean. Sometimes his wife said, no you must take it off, it's dirty. Sometimes his wife said, no you must take it off, it's dirty. Sometimes she used to say, yes, that's nice and clean, you can go to the meeting. Then one morning he showed his shirt to his wife, he says, is this all right? Well, she looked at it carefully. She said, well, it's not dirty. But she said, it's not clean either. She said, it's just doubtful, that's all, doubtful. So this worker ran to his box and he took out a clean shirt. He said to his wife, if it's dirty, it's dirty. Some of us are allowing things in our lives that we are not sure about. So that verse in Romans 14 says, what is not of faith is sin. Well, you must apply it yourself, I can't take time to apply that. Well, all the thought is simply this, that if we want to be flourishing palm trees, we must refuse the counsel of the ungodly. I want to finish what I have to say by taking your eyes right away to the Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to show you many verses where the Lord Jesus Christ refuses the counsel of the ungodly. Just a word first, however, about that first man, Adam. You know, the great failure of Adam was because he listened to the counsels of the ungodly. We saw a few minutes ago that picture of Adam and God walking together in the cool of the garden. In the very next chapter we read about the serpent, who was more subtle than any beast of the field. You know how the serpent came to Eve and began to speak to her? You know, he was coming to her with some good counsel. At least he was going to make it sound as if it was very good. He says to Eve, has God said that you must not eat from the trees of the garden? So Eve gave a very simple answer. She said, we can eat from all the trees of the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then comes Satan's counsel to her. Did God say that to you? You know, God knows that when you take from that tree, then you will be like God, and you will know good and evil. In other words, he says to her, you are robbing yourself of something wonderful that you could be enjoying. You know, that's something that he often says even to Christian people. God is robbing you of some of the happiness that you could have in this world. Better not to be too strict with yourself. Take something of the Lord and take something of the world also, then everything will be good. So we call that the counsel of the serpent. He gave Adam counsel to disobey the word of God. God has spoken so clearly about this matter. Then come these counsels of the serpent, which are given by the Lord. Then comes Satan's counsel to her, that she should disobey the word of God. Well, Adam listened to the counsel of the ungodly. That's why the Adam race could never be a fruitful palm tree. Thank God for the second man, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you remember how he was baptized in the river Jordan by John the Baptist? When he came up out of the water, he was taken into the wilderness of temptation. Satan did not want God to have a flourishing man. He says, I must conquer this man right at the beginning of his ministry. As he had come to Adam at the beginning, so he comes now to the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know what he said when he tempted Christ in the wilderness? Do you know what he said when he tempted Christ in the wilderness? Three subtle counsels from the serpent came to him. Matthew 4, verse 3. When the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command these stones to be made bread. He says, I have a very easy suggestion to make to you. He says, If you want to prove that you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread. Now the Lord could easily have done that miracle. But this is the important thing. The Lord Jesus had no direction from his Father to turn those stones into bread. And this second man is a man who gets all his directions from above. It would even have been wrong for him to do a miracle that was not God directed. You know, this world has seen miracles that are not God directed. The magicians of Pharaoh could do their miracles under the direction of Satan. Man shall not live by bread alone. Man shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth and heart of God. Satan continues with another counsel. Remember, they went to the pinnacle of the temple. Satan says, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down. And Satan started quoting the Bible at this point. It is written in Psalm 91, He will give his angels charge over thee and they will protect you. It is written in Psalm 91, He will give his angels charge over thee and they will protect you. See what the counsel is? You believe so much in the word of God. Show me your faith in the word of God. But even to do that without being directed from above would have been failure. God protects those who live in His will. God's protection is for those who accept His direction. The Lord Jesus had no direction from God to cast himself down from the pinnacle of the temple. So these are some of the subtle counsels of the ungodly. You know the last temptation. They went up into an exceeding high mountain. They looked out over all the kingdoms of the world. And what love Christ had for this world. How His heart longed that the people of this world might know the blessedness of His dominion. They realized the subtlety of this third temptation. Satan is talking to the Christ who died for all the nations of the world. All these things will I give you if you fall down and worship me. That's the counsel of the ungodly. Just show some recognition to me. You will have all the nations of the world. Thank God this second man did not listen to the counsel of the ungodly. Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve. Then we are told that the devil leaveth him. The palm tree is still standing. The palm tree is unspoiled. There is no fading in the leaf of Christ. Told that the angels came and ministered unto Him. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Our Lord Jesus is that tree. He brings forth his fruit in his season. His leaf shall not fade. Whatsoever he doeth it shall prosper. Are you in Christ Jesus this morning? You were born in Adam. No palm trees in Adam. Have you been reborn in Christ? Have you ever seen that this Jesus is the one that you need for time and for eternity? Make your break with sin this morning. Choose a new life in union with the new man. In Christ Jesus. It is only in that way that India will begin to see God's own palm trees. May God give you a great hatred of everything that is sinful while you are here in the convocation. May God open your eyes and give you a great vision of the Lord Jesus Christ. This man is your only hope of being a flourishing palm tree. Shall we pray? Amen.