TAKING COUNSEL

Ezekiel prophesying to the elders who had visited him - Ezek.14.1

WORD OF WISDOM
COUNSEL ~ Spoken of counsellors who sat in public trials with the governor of a province (Acts 25:12).
The Jewish councils were the Sanhedrim, or supreme council of the nation, which had subordinate to it smaller tribunals (the "judgment, " perhaps, in Matthew 5:21, 22) in the cities of Palestine (Matthew 10:17; Mark 13:9). In the time of Christ the functions of the Sanhedrim were limited (John 16:2; 2 Corinthians 11:24). In Psalm 68:27 the word "council" means simply a company of persons. (R.V. marg., "company.")

In ecclesiastical history the word is used to denote an assembly of pastors or bishops for the discussion and regulation of church affairs. The first of these councils was that of the apostles and elders at Jerusalem, of which we have a detailed account in Acts 15.


Isaiah 30:1 (King James Version) 1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

Who are we to take counsel from? Rebellion is usually thought of as an attempt to overthrow government or authority by force. Rebellion is also any opposition to or defiance of authority, accepted moral codes, or social conventions.

Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

The bible speaks of rebellion when someone turns from the counsel of God to others. The Word plainly says that rebellion is as witchcraft. Now I am sure that those of us reading this do not knowingly partake of witchcraft, but rebelling against God is just as bad as witchcraft.

Have we rebelled against God? When we do not follow the Word of God, yes we are in rebellion. The accepted moral codes that we are to live by is the Word of God. Our social conventions are the Laws laid down by the Bible. Our authority is God.

None of us are perfect; we all fall short at times. When we fall short in obeying God, then we are in rebellion to Him. When we take counsel from those who are not anointed by God to counsel us, we are in rebellion to God.

People we have to be careful of whom we turn to for advice. This is looking for counseling, and if not from God then we are in rebellion. The Lord in the Old Testament used prophets to tell His people what He wanted them to know. Today because of our relationship with Christ we can and should talk to the Lord Himself. There are times though that the Lord will guide us to someone who can counsel us.

God approved counseling lines up with the Word of God. It is not the talks you have with your best friend, when she agrees with you, or tells you she has been there. Do not misunderstand what I am saying here. Counseling is something that is needed by all, but it has to be God anointed counseling from a God anointed person who will lead you to follow what God says to do about any even situation.

The next time you need advice think about whom you are going to talk to. Be sure that the person you seek advice from is going to guide you to follow the teachings that have been laid down by God.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG