Ask Counsel of the Lord

The battle between good and evil is a war that will never end. It appears good has achieved a victory over evil but don’t fool yourself, a battle may have been won but the war rages on. Prayer has delivered on its promise and increased prayer for our Country and Constitution will bring restitution to our government. Don’t stop praying!

A new preacher entered a Sunday school class and asked a question pertaining to the lesson which was in progress. “Who broke down the walls of Jericho?” A boy immediately answered, “Not me sir!” The preacher turned to the teacher and asked, “Is this the usual behavior in this class?” The teacher replied, “I believe this boy is an honest boy, and I really don’t think he did it.” Leaving the room the preacher sought out a deacon to explain what had happened. The deacon said, “I have known both the boy and the teacher for several years, and neither of them would do such a thing.” By this time, the preacher was heartsick and reported the incident to the education committee. A spokesperson stated, “We see no point in making an issue out of this. Let’s pay for the damage and we’ll charge it to upkeep. Anyway, we’re already looking into the possibility of our insurance covering it.”

That’s the type of insane, nonsensical, rhetoric that the new President will be facing as excuses and finger-pointing will abound to explain past behavior and failures. Get ready for several more battles and keep your head on straight for the enemy is sly and devious.

[2 Peter 1:2-11] Soon after Israel’s victories over Jericho and Ai, several of Canaan’s southern city-states formed an alliance and immediately set out to fight against God’s people. The fearful Gibeonites, however, had a different strategy. They chose to deceive Israel into thinking they were somebody that they were not (non-Canaanite inhabitants) with hopes of a peace treaty being struck between themselves and Israel. Their deceptive scheme worked, and it was successful because “they (the Israelite leadership) did not ask counsel of the Lord” (Joshua 9 [v.14]).

Tragically, the masses still today are buying into the falsehoods being uttered by the enemies of truth because they are not asking (seeking) counsel of the Lord. Our failure, as a nation, to seek counsel of the Lord, has had devastating consequences as evidenced by the rapid decline of morality, the ever-increasing number of broken and dysfunctional homes, financial woes, religious division and confusion, etc. Hosea recorded what the Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). God, through His Word, gives us everything we need in all matters pertaining to life and godliness, but the problem is, we, like Israel of old, refuse to seek His counsel. The words of the wise man should suffice as we conclude: “Turn at my rebuke; Surely, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called, and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you distained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. Therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their own way And be filled to the full of their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:23-33). …pray without ceasing… (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22).