Mensa Otabil - Seek Godly Counsel
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Welcome to day number nine of our 40 Days of Power. It is also our second Sunday in the 40 Days of Power, and I trust that you went to church today and joined other Christians as we prayed and sought the face of the Lord in these 40 days of prayer, fasting, and consecration to the Lord. Today, I am concluding our week’s meditation on guidance because we have spent this week talking about guidance and praying for it.
In 1 Samuel chapter 9, verse 6, it says, «And he said to him, 'Look now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man. All that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go.'» God guides us; He speaks to His children through the presence of the Holy Spirit living inside them. In the Old Testament, people primarily went to a man of God, a prophet, or a priest to find the will of God. In the New Testament, God has given us the Holy Spirit to live inside us to show us His will. So instead of going first to a man of God to show you the will of God, you should first go to the Holy Spirit for guidance.
However, God also uses people to point us in the right direction, and in this case, it is the future king of Israel, Saul, and his servant who are looking for information about their lost donkeys. God used the prophet Samuel to speak into their lives. In addition to the Holy Spirit speaking to us, God sometimes uses people to confirm what the Holy Spirit has spoken to our hearts. God is able to guide us and direct us in the choices and decisions we make.
It is always important to discern whether we are hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit within us or if someone is claiming that God has given them a word for us. We must rightly discern the voice of God, as just because someone says they have a word from God doesn’t mean that God has spoken to them or that that word is for you. Just because someone carries the title of pastor, apostle, prophet, or bishop does not mean that they have exclusive rights to the word of God. God’s word is freely given to us through the Scriptures, and each of us can know the word of God. If we are born again, we have the Holy Spirit within us, and through Him, we can know the will of God.
If God confirms a word through someone else, we must discern that it is truly from God and that it is a word for us. It is important to be very careful when people speak into our lives. We should be cautious about letting someone dominate our lives with a supposed word from God to the point where every choice and decision we make is based on what someone else says. If you have given dominion over your life to another human being, you are not living as a Christian. As a Christian, the Bible is your primary source of direction, and the Holy Spirit is your source of guidance. If God uses someone else, that word is a third-party confirmation, and you must discern it properly. If that word dominates you, and every aspect of your life is run by someone else, you are not making the right choices as a Christian.
God does not force us to obey Him; He gently guides us. If someone claims to give counsel from God, how can we know? It must be humble; it must come with humility. It should not feel oppressive, as if you will offend God for the rest of your life if you disobey. That is not a humble word. It must be submitted to the word of God, and whatever that word is, it must draw us closer to Jesus Christ. If a word causes you to draw closer to a man of God rather than to Christ, you must examine it carefully because God’s word must draw us closer to Jesus. Every word of prophecy must glorify Christ and draw all men to Him. That is how you judge whether what you are hearing is of God or not.
Let us pray. Say with me: «Heavenly Father, you have placed people in my life to speak to me. Help me to discern your voice through others. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.» We will begin a new week tomorrow with a new focus for our prayers, and we are going to have a great time. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.