WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

Is. 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

If it wasn’t for God’s word I think I would go crazy. The culture of the world has gone totally off of the rails, God’s word is the tool that centers us and holds us up when everyone around us is making bad decisions. The Lord has used His word to convict me, guide me, comfort me, correct me, encourage me, heal me, and equip me. When I was newly saved, His word gave me assurance of salvation. Several times cults and false teachers tried to lead me in a different direction in life and God’s written word was there to guide me back into the right path. When I was struggling about direction for my ministry The Lord came to me in His word to give me clear direction about His purpose and plan for my life and ministry. Throughout history The Lord has always met His people through His word. Luther spoke about his doubts when he was criticized for his reformation teaching, the word of God was like a staff he leaned on when the persecution became unbearable. here is something Luther said about The Lord as our Counsellor.

“Wonderful He is called because of the wonderful way in which He leads us, while allowing us to be buffeted as heretics and sinners hated of God. This defamation continues all the while the church is here on earth. But it is difficult for Christians to bear, not only to be disparaged this way by the world as the worst, most shameful people under the sun, but also to be tortured by their own flesh to feel and think in their hearts that God is angry with them. Here good counsel is needed to help Christian believers bear up, for if I, forever and a day, am called a heretic and my teaching is disparaged as having mislead the whole country and the people, fearing and feeling always with trembling heart that God would slay me, I would not be able to survive for long. Then I need to have Christ stand by me with His good counsel, putting a staff in my hand.”

Moves of God are threatening to worldly people. These folks may have a form of religion, but when the real thing shows up, criticism becomes unavoidable. It is in these times especially we have to depend on our Counselor. We look to Him in the written word, He responds in clear, unmistakeable guidance. As the end of this age approaches, the attacks will intensify. Not only will they be stronger, they will also become more stinging because of where they come from. Luther was attacked by the church. He was part of the church. He was a priest, a monk, and a college professor. It was the counsel of God that strengthened him in those difficult times, God’s word will strengthen you as well.