DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONALS: MAY 24 THE SPIRIT OF COUNSEL ON JESUS (1) SCRIPTURE: PROVERBS 19: 20 – 21 (KJV)
The Spirit of Counsel can be interpreted as “anointing of advices and guidelines given by God. The Spirit of counsel gives sufficient advices, instructions and directions on general issues of life to those who He rests upon. Counsel has played vital roles to those who seek it. Those who listen to counsels of consult people before doing things usually do things correctly. Reason Prov. 15: 22 said: “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed” (English Standard Version). We are told in Prov. 19: 20 to “Listen to counsel and accept discipline that you may be wise the rest of your days” (English Standard Version). If counsels from human beings enable one to be wise for the rest of one’s life, then the counsel from the Spirit of Counsel gives more values to our secular and Spiritual lives.
Jesus Christ, under the influence of Spirit of Counsel, was guided to give those who listened to Him wonderful and useful advices and instructions which turned their lives around for good for the rest of their lives. Jesus noticed from His conversation with Nicodemus that Nicodemus needs to become a New Person, free of sins for him to make heaven. He counseled Nicodemus to be born again if he wants to have eternal life (John 3: 1-7). Jesus Christ offered a powerful counsel to everyone on the earth to know that “man does not live by bread alone” (Matt. 4: 4). The easiest ways many have ruined their lives is through foods. If we all know that hearing the word of God and carrying out the instructions from God extends our lives the world would have been a better place for everyone.
The counsel Jesus gave His Disciple He first sent out gives us two powerful insights to how to handle gospel ministries. Jesus told the Disciples not to think of taking the gospel to the world with money and food in their pockets nor stuff their travelling bags with dresses. The excellent presentation of the gospel will make those hearing them to feed them. Jesus’ word: “The worker is worthy of his food” (Matt. 10: 10) is another great counsel to Ministers of God engaging workers in their ministries and give them very miserable stipend or nothing. Yes, no one can pay one working God’s works, but those working in churches and ministries need to be taken care of so that they will not be involved in thing that is evil and stealing to eat. The beloved, it is important to point out here that the best ways to make the gospel relevant to the world is depending on the Counsels of the Spirit of the Lord in all things.
PRAYER:
HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, feel my brain, heart and mind with Divine Counsels to make me a dependable guidance, consultant, instructor and advisers to people around me in the name of Jesus Christ.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch