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Scripture Reading:  Psalm 64

Who Will Be Our Counselor?

Intro.

1.  Prov. 11:14 – This truth has always caused man to seek counselors.  Cf. Today’s use of guidance counselors of all sorts.

2.  Counsel from above is always to be preferred to the counsel of men.

3.  COUNSEL (boule) - “from a root meaning a will, hence a counsel, a piece of advice.... boule is the result of determination” (Vine).

4.  Counsel is one’s will, given on the basis of purpose & determination (cf. Acts 15:37).

5.  Counsel of God & men – cf. Acts 5:38-39.

I.  THE COUNSEL OF GOD.

   -God has revealed His determined will.

  A.  The Scheme of Redemption:  The Suffering & Exaltation of Jesus.

    1.  Acts 2:23; 4:27-28 – Purposed by God.

    2.  Prophesied – Isa. 53:10-12; Zech. 13:7.

    3.  Nothing “took God by surprise!”

    4.  God set forth Jesus – Eph. 1:10-11 (Christ & our inheritance!).

  B.  God has Determined that His Counsel be Served by Man – Acts 13:36.

    1.  Wholly declared – Acts 20:27.

    2.  Commands to be obeyed – Lk. 7:30.

    3.  Revered & submitted to by man – Rom. 9:19-21 (cf. Psa. 73:24).

  C.  God’s Counsel is Immutable – Heb. 6:17.

    1.  Without variation, unchangeable – cf. Isa. 46:8-12 (Jas. 1:17).

    2.  Many think God will change His revealed will to suit their will…He will not!

  D.  Jesus is the Complete Expression of God’s Counsel – Isa. 9:6; 11:2; Zech. 6:12-13.

II.  THE COUNSEL OF MEN:  TRAITS & TYPES.

  A.  Characteristics:

    1.  Can be good – Must harmonize with God’s counsel – Prov. 19:20-21.

    2.  Can be shortsighted – Acts 27:9-15, 21.  Lacking complete knowledge & power to achieve its goal; self-serving; etc.

    3.  Can be hasty – Acts 27:42.

        -Based on prejudice, limited knowledge, unholy purposes.

    4.  Can offend God – Lk. 23:50-51; Acts 5:33.

  B.  Good Type: Counsel Growing out of Spiritual Wisdom & the Determination to Obey God.

    1.  Prov. 8:14 – The counsel of wisdom.

    2.  Prov. 12:15 – Wise people listen to wise counsel.

    3.  Prov. 11:14 – Heeding wise counsel can prevent failure.

  C.  Evil Type:  Designed to Ignore God’s Truth & Righteous Conduct.

    1.  Psa. 1:1 – Counsel of wicked leads astray.

    2.  Psa. 2:1-3 – Devise evil things (cf. Christ).

    3.  Psa. 64 – Counsel of evil is secretive, aimed at destroying good, ignorant of God.

    4.  Prov. 21:30-31 – It will fail before God!

III.  APPLICATION:  Who’s Counsel Will We Hear On…  (Psa. 119:24; Jno. 6:68)

  A.  How to be Saved?  (Hear, believe, repent, confess faith and be baptized - Rom. 10:17; Jno. 8:24; Acts 17:30; Rom. 10:9-10; Mk. 16:15-16)

  B.  Holy Living? – Rom. 12:1-2

  C.  Truth or Error? – 1 Jno. 4:1, 6

  D.  The Church? – Matt. 16:18 (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; 5:23); 1 Tim. 3:15

  E.  Home, Work, Neighborhood, etc.? – Matt. 22:39

  F.  Brotherly Relations? – Eph. 4:25ff

  G.  Death & Eternity? – Jno. 5:28-29 (Acts 17: 30-31)

Conclusion

1.  Psa. 33:10-11 – The counsel of wicked men shall be overthrown.  The counsel of God shall stand forever.

2.  Whose counsel shall you hear & follow?