July 15, 2020

Counsel #

Proverbs 20:15

Introduction

We live in the age of information. Smart phones have made us dumber. The sharpening of technology has dulled the intellectual ability to reason and remember.

The older, wiser generation, may not understand this, but the younger generation will understand, you don’t have one phone number memorized.

We don’t need to understand things, we can just look it up. Intellectual understanding has been devalued due to the in-exhaustible resources at the very tip of our fingers with a smart phone & internet.

Not sure how to: 1. Sew a dress, fix a car, fish for bass, prime a pump, plant a garden, fix a radio, get oil stains out of clothes…

Not bad, just illustrates where our modern generation is at.

Before the printing press, this was information, was passed person to person, generation to generation. It was valued, with the print press, information became easier to produce. With the Internet, it is even easier, and cost even less!

I. Appreciation of Counsel – Valued (Pro 20:15, 29) #

A. Recognition - (Pro 20:15) #

Prov. 20:15 ¶ There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

1. Good & Bad counsel #

• • Learning to recognize, or appreciate good counsel.
  • Counsel is abundant, and more so in todays day and age of technology!

2. Discernment #

• • Rehoboam (1 Kings 12:3-6*, 8*)

    • Counsel can be obtained on any street corner, sometimes people will give you counsel when you aren’t even looking!
    • Rehoboam chose poorly… he had enough sense to seek counsel.
    • Some people aren’t really looking for counsel, they are just looking for someone that will tell them what they want to do...

  • KNOWLEDGE of God and His word, is valuable

• Developed by use:

Heb. 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

• Given by God:

1Kings 3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

B. Respecting appreciating (Rehoboam young/old) #

Prov. 20:29 ¶ The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

II. Acquiring Counsel – (Proverbs 20:5, 18) #

A. Drawing out counsel #

Prov. 20:5 ¶ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

1. Water on the surface, is often not suitable to drink #

• It is easily obtained, easy to find, sometimes it finds you when you are not looking for it.

2. Water found in wells, if often very good drinking #

• Most of my life, we have had well water.
• As a teenager, we had two wells, a shallow well, and a deep well. Pump didn’t work, shallow well
• Good water drawn from a well, requires work.
• Good counsel, requires effort on our part.
• Wise people have learned to be quiet.
• Prov. 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

B. Directing counsel #

Prov. 20:18 ¶ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

1. War is not to be entered into lightly… #

• This is a matter that will completely impact life..

• Marriage -

• Life directions…

• Decisions that impact others…

  • Government – Joshua, in Joshua 7 made a decision based on what some men said… but he didn’t consult God! (Joshua 7:1-5)

III. Authority of Counsel (Proverbs 20:24, 27) #

A. Path #

Prov. 20:24 ¶ Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

1. God guides

   1. Prov. 16:9 ¶ A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
   2. God will guide us, we should be sensitive to the leadership of God!
   3. Sometimes where God leads, it doesn’t make sense,

2. God’s path is ALWAYS the best path for our life!

B. Purpose #

Prov. 20:27 ¶ The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

1. God is the best at seeing directly into our thoughts..

2. Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

3. If you want to truly understand… consult the Word of God!

4. Ask God himself for guidance, and direction in life!

5. God will NEVER steer you wrong! - You may get confused, or lost, or take a wrong turn, but God will never steer you in the wrong direction!