The Spirit of Counsel

Isaiah 1:18–20 ESV

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Pray for us all to be made more sensitive to the His Counsel.

The book of Isaiah written to a people who had stopped hearing from the Lord

Opening refrain is an invitation to reason, argue, to make sense of the God said over them

Not a perfect people; its a people with deep sins, deep transgressions

promise to make the people clean, to wash them white (He would do it. )

two things are asked of the people to be able to have such a posture with God

Be willing… voluntarily accepting and consenting to the conditions HE is setting

Obedient… ability to hear or receive what is being given

broad strokes of what is demanded of us “…obey is better than sacrifice” and again “Love justice, do mercy, and walk humbly before the Lord.”

We cannot obey unless we are able to hear

not what we want

what He is speaking and what is on His heart

David a man after His heart because he was willing to do all that was on the Father’s heart

The promise of the Lord for Judah stands today for us as well

If we are willing and obey we will eat the good of land.

If we refuse and rebel we will be devoured by the sword.

The opening is the Lord calling down to His people to reason…

The living God is inviting you to have a dialogue with Him as in a legal case

It is a restoration of what was lost in the garden of eden… that you no longer have to decide for yourself rather… that He will guide you in all ways. (yes, in everything)

He is your God, you can reason with Him, He will lead you in all truth.

The Spirit of Counsel will guide us into a restored order where God is in control and is leading us into His fullness.

Sorrow in Human Counsel

Psalm 13:2 ESV

How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

David on the run; twice anointed king; pit of despair with human Counsel

We can say wise counsel is needed but what is Wise Counsel devoid of God’s Council. (Careful who you receive counsel from)

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Reasoning with self appears circular we talk ourselves into what we understand

When we seek counsel from those who are not full of the Spirit we pile up those who will agree with us.

They had to seek out the Urim and Thummim for their counsel for their knowledge

We have been given the Holy Spirit not to

a. Use for just signs and wonders in a self-serving manner;

b. Minimize His role in our lives just to when we need Him (Holy Spirit I’ll call you when I need you)

The Holy Spirit is the 3rd person in the Divine God-Head that has been given to us. To be our PERFECT HELPER

Our Counsel

John 14:16 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

More than a Helper

Partner

Protector

Defender

Ally

Partisan

Body Guard

Succorer

Good friend

No one else walks with us in such a way… as our counsel He is speaking all the time… CAN YOU HEAR HIM?

v.17 declares he dwells with us and in Acts is when He is in us.

We do not have to go about our life on our own understanding but trust in God

John 14:26 ESV

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Teach All things…

He will train

He will give

He will guide

He well instruct

He will tell

He will declare

He will show

He will guide

We cannot go about saying “ I do not know what God wants from us.”

The reality is that God is speaking and giving counsel to you at all times… According to scripture you carry the mind of Christ.

However, we sometimes act as though we cannot hear Him because what He is saying is not agreeable to what we want.

It is not enough to ask for counsel… you must be willing to hear and receive the counsel

The Whole Counsel of God

Acts 20:27 ESV

for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Paul did not hold any of it back… in every way it is our responsibility to attain the whole counsel of God.

According to Eph 1:11 it is the counsel of His will

How does it impact me?

John 16:13 ESV

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Guide in all truth

Reveal what He hears…

in the Heavenly Kingdom

on the Earth

and Below

Declares things to come

He prepares you for what is coming

Declares what is the Lord’s

It is not a guessing game… the Spirit of Counsel does all this in you…

One more… for the sake of time 1 Cor 2:9-13 tells us that the Spirit of God searches His depths and reveals it to us… It is the Spirit that searches our hearts and minds and reveals it to the Father…

The Spirit of Counsel brings to surface even things we have hidden…

His Ways Are Higher

Elijah (Recap)

Mocks Baal

Mocks his prophets

Repairs the Altar

Calls to God and He responds

Provokes a people to return to the Lord

Declares a rain in drought

the Awe and wonders… the big signs and miracles… all of that

2. Jezebel says “this time tomorrow I will have his head…” and Elijah takes off in fear

a. what is your Jezebel? What has you on the run

b. Elijah’s Desperation “It is enough… take my life…”

3. The Lord cares for him; gives Him rest; feeds him; quenches his thirst as He prepares him for a long journey to encounter God in a different way…

a. How is the Lord giving you rest?

b. What is the journey He is sending you on?

4. Then the encounter on the Mountain;

a. Elijah “What are you doing here”

b. Lord I have been trying I am jealous for your ways

c. The Lord passed by the mountain…

i. Strong wind that tore the mountains… He was not there

ii. Earthquake… He was not in the earthquake

iii. Fire… He was not there

are you still searching for the big sign?

d. Sound of a low whisper… there Elijah finally heard… He found Him…

Today the Lord is whispering and giving counsel for you…

How do I receive it?

Isaiah 55:8 ESV

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

We must be able to hear and receive His counsel according to His perfect will. even when it is contrary to our thoughts… Encourage you to read this section.. v. 1-9 in it are the instructions to hear His counsel

v.1 open with again an invitation…Come buy and eat… without money, without price… Why do you labor that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to Me.

Eat what is good

Delight yourselves in rich food

Incline your ear

Come to Me

Hear that your soul may live…

This was the promise that was made at the opening of the book… if you are willing and obey

Today He is answering your prayer… He is responding to your call… do you hear it? His gentle whisper…