Psalms 119:2 Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.
1. NEVER MAKE A DECISION WHEN YOU ARE DEPRESSED OR DOWN.
A. WHY ? DEPRESSION IS A LACK OF FAITH.
NO ONE GETS DEPRESSED WHEN LOOKING AHEAD TO THE GOOD THINGS GOD HAD PLANNED FOR US.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
WE MUST COME TO HIM WITH DILIGENCE, NOT TAKING DECISIONS IN LIFE LIGHTLY.
I spoke with a woman today who said she had a lot of decisions to make. I asked her how that was going. Her reply was, “Well, we will keep on going one way or the other, no matter what I decide.” Wouldn’t it be nice to have a better outcome from the decisions in your life than just “keep on going” ?
B. ONLY GOD IS ABLE TO KNOW ALL THE DETAILS AND HAS POWER OVER THEM.
Amos 5:8 Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is His name:
C. IMPORTANT TO GET THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD.
MANY CHURCHES ARE SHALLOW. OTHERS HAVE A FOCUS ON ONE OR TWO ITEMS THEY LIKE TO HEAR AND LEAVE OUT THE REST OF THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE.
Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
2. THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD WILL BRING THE GREATEST BLESSINGS.
A. THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD IS WHAT WE NEED, BUT WHAT IF WE ARE NOT HEARING OR ARE UNSURE ?
Psalms 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
REJECTING THE COUNSEL OF GOD HARDENS THE HEART.
Luke 7:30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
B. COUNSEL FROM THE LOST BRINGS DEEPER SIN.
Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
SO, WHAT IS THE CORRECT THING TO DO ? WE MUST SEEK COUNSEL OF GOD THROUGH GODLY PEOPLE.
WHO ARE THE GODLY ?
–NOT JUST THOSE WHO SAY THEY ARE, BUT THOSE WHO HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD. THEY HAVE A GODLY FEAR OF THE LORD–NOT PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER GOD TO BE A “BUDDY.”
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
–THOSE WHO RECEIVE PERSECUTION BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
–THEY ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF TIMING IN SEEKING GOD. THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO PROMOTE “PUSHING THINGS THROUGH” WHEN THERE IS TIME.
Psalms 32:6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
3. THE COUNSELS OF GOD BRING SPIRITUAL RICHES, VISION, AND CONFIDENCE.
Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
A. IT BRINGS SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
B. IT BRINGS A BETTER VISION OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW, AND WHAT SHALL BE.
PAUL, SEEKING TO KNOW WHAT GOD WANTED, WAS GIVEN A VISION OF WHAT TO DO. PAUL COULD SEE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO THE WRONG PLACES, AND WERE CALLED TO GO ELSEWHERE.
Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
C. IT BRINGS ABOUT A CONFIDENCE SO THAT YOU CAN MOVE AHEAD WITH ASSURANCE FROM GOD.
Proverbs 3:26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.