Hear Counsel and Receive Instruction

Almost every one whom I have ever ministered to has expressed a desire to hear the voice of the Lord. They have longed to experience a “visitation.” Somehow they seem to think it would be easier for them to live holy if they were to just have supernatural encounters. Well, all I can say to that is Satan and all his angels were with God day and night, yet they rebelled. He anointed Saul and gave him supernatural victories over all his enemies, yet he consulted with witchcraft.

The Lord said love for Him would cause us to keep His commandments. Whether in this life, we see His face or not, if we truly love Him, we will obey Him. That is the bottom line. The Master has spoken. He will not allow us to pass the burden of righteousness back to Him. He has done His part. He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

But of course, we want to have it our way. That is nothing new.

St. Mark 8:11

11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

We who are filled with His Spirit have already received the greatest sign of all, righteousness. We are free from sin, death, hell and the grave. Our salvation is the testimony of a true and living God. It is the evidence of His love for us, His holy character and His trustworthiness.

Proverbs 19:20-21

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

It is the desire of the Lord to lead and guide His people. This is an established truth. It is so unfair to assert that the Lord has made this guidance so hard and complicated. That is far from true. I asked Him why His leadership in the lives of His people is such a controversial issue. He replied….

“When I instruct, the spirit does hear me. It has received a sure word; a word that will not fail. Why do you strive with a matter which I have determined? Am I not the author of such instruction? Have I not searched out the course that is to be taken? You agreed with me in the beginning. You rejoiced in my wisdom. But the matter became a trial when you would not allow my wisdom to manifest its manifold nature.

When opposition and a snare threaten and even hinder my judgments, you go forward to do that which you deem good and right. Was this not the desire of your soul in the beginning? Or perhaps you never really trusted my wisdom. I know your thoughts and they are for you and your way. Did not the snare manifest the melody of your heart? Did it indeed become an opportunity for you to usurp my wisdom and insert your will? This too, is a test of obedience.

The impurity of your heart is the revelation in this matter, for I have revealed it. It is by my power that all things live and move. I have ordained the way of all things. I know the route they take. I know the beginning and the end. Am I impotent that I cannot find a way to bring about my will? What does hinder me? Who and what is my equal? Do the goings-on of this world make my wisdom of non-effect?

Why are you so impatient? What is your cause? Why will you not obey and be satisfied? Why do you look for opportunity to abandon my instruction? Are you justified in this? Does time and chance override the words I speak in a matter?

It is your quest to know my voice. You desire me to visit you with signs of my presence and sounds of my guidance. Your prayer request is to commune with me daily. You say you desire intimacy with me. But why would I withhold and hide myself from those who truly seek to know me?

The answer is simple. You want to know me, but you do not want to be led by me. For I have tried you in the simplest of matters. You have continued to abandon my way, wisdom and counsel. You exalt the desire of your own heart without regard for the desire of grace in your life or the lives of others who are affected by your ways.”

There are situations that occur in marriages, ministries and among friends that might call for one who has a leadership role to instruct another in the wisdom of God, in an effort to address some antagonistic issue affecting the individual, the counselor and others. Now the counselor gives righteous counsel which the individual knows to be the counsel of the Lord. Therefore, he or she quickly agrees to obey.

Nevertheless, stumbling blocks are placed in the path of the individual. If the stumbling blocks are character issues of the individual, then the instruction of the Lord is not only a test for the heart of the individual seeking the wisdom of God; but has also extended itself as a trial for the counselor and all others who are affected by the actions of the individual.

When the counselor who could be a husband or wife, father or friend, or a pastor concludes the individual is not going to obey the counsel of the Lord, and elects to order or implement another course of action due to the disobedience of the individual, he makes himself an enemy of the Spirit of God.

When God gives instruction, no alternate course of action is to be taken (even in the name of disobedience), without specific new instructions from God. Your authority or any other ability you have in the lives of others is not a license to change the instruction of God. It is for God to chasten those who disobey. It might be that God has given such instructions to reveal the disposition of the individual, but surely He is not left without a plan if the individual fails to submit to the wisdom provided.

Now the counselor and others if so be the case, must judge why it was so easy to quickly abandon the instruction of God and hastily implement one of his own. Simple, the counselor was never truly in agreement with God’s instructions from the beginning or is fearful and afraid of what might be repercussions affecting him.

Understanding follows obedience. You will not grow up, or be able to walk in maturity until you fully trust God’s judgment for your life and the lives of those in your sphere of influence. He will instruct in both. Sometimes the things He tells us to do are not to the liking of the flesh. Nevertheless, He expects us to obey. You will never understand the mind of God without obedience. He is not obligated to reveal Himself to those who will not regard His Word. Remember, He knows us and the way we will take. Only the pure in heart shall see (understand) the way of the Lord.