Seek My Counsel

Hosea 4:12

My people consult a wooden idol,

    and a diviner’s rod speaks to them.

A spirit of prostitution leads them astray;

    they are unfaithful to their God.

When we give our lives to Jesus Christ we enter into a holy matrimony with God through Jesus.  We are the bride of Christ.  What we must understand is, God's love is unconditional but it's not without standards.  He commands us to be fully devoted and faithful to Him and not have any other god's before Him. Exodus 20:1-6

Though there are those who believe in open marriages, and practice polygamy, there is no such thing as an open marriage with the LORD.  Idoaltry is likened to spiritual adultery.  The children of Israel were no strangers of chasing and worshipping false gods and steeped in various forms of idolatry as many of us are today. 

Enticed by the nations around them, the children of Israel became captive to a spirit of prostitution.  The diving rod was just one of the many methods the children of Israel used as a means to try and tell the future.  This was an act of divination which is forbidden by God.  Today it would be similar to Christians using swinging pendulums ( dowsing pendulums), tarot cards, horoscopes, mediums, incantations, channeling, quija boards, astrology, psychics, crystals, tea cup readings, witchcraft, sorcery, and the like.  God does not approve of any occult practices and as people of God we have no business taking part in it.  Galatians 5:19-25, Revelation 22:12-15   

Any attempt to receive revelation, wisdom, guidance, knowledge outside of God is off limits.  If God is not the Source then leave it alone.  Occult activity is common and has been around for centuries but, God has not chnaged His mind about it nor will He.  We have the very Spirit of God living on the inside of us.  The Holy Spiirt is The Helper. He is the one that leads us into all truth.  

  

Who Or What Do You Seek Counsel From?  

Deutornomy 18:9-14

9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.  14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.

As it was then, so it is today.  These are customs we are to avoid not embrace.  

How many professing to know Christ dibble and dabble in all sorts of occult practices?  How many seek counsel from a horoscope to tell them what the day will bring, who to marry and what not?  How many ask what " zodiac sign" you are before they even ask you your name or believe they know everything they need to know about you from your sign.  Deut. 4:19 And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.  Astrology, including horoscopes is another form of worshipping starry hosts.  We are to worship God alone.  Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

How offensive it is to God when we won't seek Him!  How it breaks His heart! How offensive it is to God when we won't read, meditate on the word of God and do what it says but, we'll take a horoscope or some other form of divination as our guide!  Some will note it's just harmless entertainment but, what does light have to do with darkness?  When is it ever okay to allow Satan to entertain you?  Have we forgotten that Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy?

Desperation Leads To Vulnerability

1 Samuel 28:3-25 recounts the story of when king Saul could no longer hear from the LORD, he grew desperate  He went in search for a medium (Though he had cut off all spirits and mediums in the land).  We must be careful that we don't become desperate and allow the enemy to capatilzie off of our vulnerability.  Don't return to the very places or go back to that which God has cleansed you from.  Every voice that claims to be speaking for the LORD is not really speaking for the LORD. 1 John 4:1-6 reminds us to test every spirit.  Do not be enticed to sin against the LORD.  Guard your heart.

Psalm 38:15. “But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer” 

Sometimes God is quiet because, He's waiting on us.  If you are waiting for God to give you instructions make sure you complete the previous task before trying to move on to the next.

If it's a sin problem, repent.  God is absolutley faithful!  1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

There are plenty agents of Satan who are waiting to take advantage of you in your time of desperation and vulnerability.  They'll gladly offer to be your guide for a fee, sell you something with the promise that it will protect you, ward off evil and the like.  Remember God is your Rock!  Make God your refuge!  Psalm 91

Be on guard.  Put your hope and trust in the LORD.  Don't fall for the traps of the enemy!  Wait on the LORD!  There is nothing outside of Christ worth searching for.

God's Desire Is That We Seek Him And His Counsel.

Psalm 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the Lord will stand 

Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

There is no greater love, authority, wisdom or power than the LORD's.  There is none greater than Him.  He is the Great I AM.  It is God's desire that none should perish but, have everlasting life with Him.  There is only one way to God the Father and that is through His Son, Jesus.

Romans 10: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.