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"Who's Pulling Your Strings?"

Intro:

Tonight we are preaching on the subject of “counsel.” Before we get too far we need to define our terms to get a good mental picture of the meaning of counsel:

Ps 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary: hue `etsah ay-tsaw' from 3289; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence:--advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose.

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary: hlbxt tachbulah or tachbuwlah {takh-boo-law'}; from 2254 as denominative from 2256; (only in plural) properly, steerage (as a management of ropes), i.e. (figuratively) guidance or (by implication) a plan:--good advice, (wise) counsels.

Let us try this for a definition of this word. In Psalm 1:1 we see counsel as in “advice” or “advisement” while the Proverbs 11:14 word has the idea of “steering using ropes”. We will say for our sermon's sake tonight that counsel is advice that steers our lives and sways our decisions.

When thinking of this word perhaps we will picture a horse being steered but the ropes of the bridle, or maybe even we will picture the strings that control the moments of the marionette puppets.

We all have influences and advisers in our lives that sway our decisions... I heard a preacher once say “Our decisions determines our direction, and our direction determines our destination.”

The question that must be answered tonight is, “Who's Pulling Your Strings!?!”

I. The Necessity of Godly Counsel

Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established.

Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

II. The Sources of Godly Counsel

A. The Person of Christ

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

B. The Precepts of Scripture

Psalms 119:24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellers.

Psalms 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Proverbs 6:20-23 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

~The Home

2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

~The Local Church

C. The Result of Prayer

Jeremiah 32:17-19 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: 18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, 19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

III. The Counterfeits of Godly Counsel

A. Confirmation of Established Decision

~Though a question is asked, the answer is already decided upon. The seeker is not seeking council, but confirmation for a decision already made.~

See: I Kings 12: 1-10 ~ Rehoboam

B. Collaboration of Conspirators

Collaborate: Webster Online Dictionary:

Etymology: Late Latin collaboratus, past participle of collaborare to labor together, from Latin com- + laborare to labor — more at labor

Date: 1871

1 : to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor

2 : to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force

3 : to cooperate with an agency or instrumentality with which one is not immediately connected

See: I Kings 12:25-33 ~ Jeroboam

C. Coercion of Evil Influences

Webster's 1913 Unabridged Dictionary

Coercion /Co·er cion/ n. [L. coercio, fr. coercere. See Coerce.]

1. The act or process of coercing.

2. (Law) The application to another of either physical or moral force. When the force is physical, and cannot be resisted, then the act produced by it is a nullity, so far as concerns the party coerced. When the force is moral, then the act, though voidable, is imputable to the party doing it, unless he be so paralyzed by terror as to act convulsively. At the same time coercion is not negatived by the fact of submission under force. "Coactus volui" (I consented under compulsion) is the condition of mind which, when there is volition forced by coercion, annuls the result of such coercion. Wharton.

2 Chronicles 22:1-5 ~ Joram, son of Jehoram

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