When I was a new Christian I read Watchman Nee’s little book called “Sit, Walk, and Stand.” It dealt with three stages of Christian growth. First, when we begin our walk with the LORD as we work out our salvation, we should sit quietly under the teaching and tutorage of brothers mature in the faith. After we have assimilated foundational truths of God we then begin to walk out those truths in whatever ministry the LORD assigns to us. Finally, like an oak of Bashan, a tree of life, we stand in that truth through all the trials of life. Today we come to the precipice of judgment, the dividing line of history, when God calls his people to stand in faith in the judgment. Consider this idea of “standing” in the very first psalm:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

[2] but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

[3] He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.

[4] The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

[5] Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

[6] for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.  (Psalm 1 ESV)

We see all three of Watchman Nee’s principles in verse one. The biggest mistake a new Christian can make is to continue to “sit in the seat of scoffers” rather than sitting under the teaching of a mature, faithful Christian. I am not saying that a new Christian should run off and join just any local church because, sadly, almost all churches scoff at true doctrine these days. There is only one way to know whether you sit under the teaching of a faithful Christian, does his or her teaching line up with Scripture, the revealed Word of God? You may find such a teacher in your home town, correspond with one who lives far away, or sit under the instruction of a good teacher you find on the internet. But, if you are a new Christian, do not sit in the seat of scoffers. Instead, sit in the seat of the righteous.

Second, once you begin to learn God’s truth, then walk in it. This is called “walking in God’s way,” or “walking the narrow path.” People who continue to sit in the seat of scoffers will sooner or later “walk in the counsel of the wicked.” This means that they will put the scoffers’ plans into action rather than God’s plans. When he does this, then he, third, “stands in the way of sinners.” So we see that there exists God’s way, a narrow way, and the way of sinners, which is a broad path to destruction.

God’s impending judgment upon the earth represents this path to destruction. The one who delights in God’s way, God’s Royal Law, stands throughout these coming judgments because he stands like a tree planted beside streams of water. He cannot be easily uprooted. In fact this psalmist promises that the one who walks in God’s ways will stand in the judgment. The wicked, however, “will not stand in the judgment.”

And so it now begins. Have you taken time to sit in the counsel of the righteous and learn of God’s good and pleasing ways? Have you then assimilated those ways into your very being and performed them? (This assimilation is the writing of God’s royal law upon your heart so that his ways become internalized within you. The Kingdom of God is within you!)  Remember that faith without works is dead. You must show your faith in action. This is what the psalmist means when he says that the tree planted by streams of water (each faithful Christian) bears its fruit in its season. We bear fruit by doing good works born of our faith in Christ. Now, having done all, stand!

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thus with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. (Ephesians 6:10-18 KJ2000)