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THE GOOD NAME OF OUR SAVIOUR
PART 2-COUNSELOR
PROVERBS 22:1; ISAIAH 9:6
Introduction
Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches”
Ecclesiastes 7:1, “A good name is better than precious ointment”
We began talking about “The Good Name Of Our Saviour” last week.
We saw how that His name would be called “Wonderful” which means “miracle” or “full of wonder.”
We are full of wonder because of His Personage. . .His Prophecies. . .His Incarnation. . .His Life. . .His Love. . .His Death. . .His Present Work. . .His Future Work! Everything about our Lord is wonderful!
But this morning, we see here in our text that Isaiah 9:6 also says that
“His name shall be called. . .Counselor.”
The word “counselor” means “to advise and it can also mean to deliberate or resolve.”
Just as our Lord is the King of kings and Lord of lords, He is the Counselor of counselors.
Sometimes in our life we all need help don’t we! We need counsel! We need advice! We come across situations where we don’t know what to do, which direction to take or where to turn to.
Proverbs 1:5–“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:”
Proverbs 19:20–“Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”
WHEN WE NEED A COUNSELOR, WHAT SHOULD WE BE LOOKING FOR?
I. WE NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE!
When we need help, we don’t need a “newbee” do we?
When we need help, we need someone who has been around a while and one who is an experienced counselor.
Isaiah 25:1–“O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
This goes back to who Jesus is! He is the Emmanuel; God with us!
Eternal God with us!
John 1:14–“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
The Lord told the Apostle John on the isle of Patmos in Revelation 1:8–
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:17-18–“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. “
I’d say that is some kind of experience! Amen!
II. WE NEED SOMEONE WITH KNOWLEDGE!
That is, we need someone who has knowledge about what we are seeking counsel for! And we need someone who has the answers we need in our time of need!
The LORD is the most qualified in this area because His knowledge is limitless! The Psalmist said in Psalms 147:5–“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
Isaiah 40:28–“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.”
Even when the Lord Jesus Christ was a little boy on this earth, the Bible says in Luke 2:47–“And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.”
Whatever the need is in your life, our Lord has infinite understanding of the situation! He’s got a handle on it! He knows you and He knows your situation better than anyone else, including you!
Psalm 139:1-14
He is the omniscient God!
WE NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE. . .WITH KNOWLEDGE. . .
III. WE NEED SOMEONE WITH WISDOM!
Wisdom is the right application of knowledge. There are a lot of people who have knowledge, but don’t have a clue as to how to apply what they know!
But what we really need is someone who not only has knowledge, but also someone who knows how to apply that knowledge.
Again, our Lord and Saviour is qualified in this area better than anyone!
Job 12:13–“With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.”
Proverbs 2:6-7–“For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”
Romans 11:33–“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
WE NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE. . .WITH KNOWLEDGE. . . WITH WISDOM. . .
IV. WE NEED SOMEONE WITH GOODWILL!
(i.e. We need someone who cares for us!)
Psalms 142:4-5– “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.”
Psalms 34:15–“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
Mark 4:37ff
Psalms 27:13-14–“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Psalms 55:22–“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Psalms 56:3-4–“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”
Philippians 4:6-7–“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
1 Peter 5:6-7–“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Psalms 40:5–“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”
Psalms 139:17-18–“17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”
WE NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE. . .WITH KNOWLEDGE. . . WITH WISDOM. . .WITH GOODWILL. . .
V. WE NEED SOMEONE WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD–SOMEONE WHO EXCELS IN COUNSELING!
This goes beyond just experience! We need someone who excels in the field of counseling!
A. Our Lord Is Truly The Greatest Counselor!
Isaiah 28:29 says that He is “. . .is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.”
Jeremiah 32:19–“Great in counsel, and mighty in work”
Isaiah 40:13-14–“Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?”
Romans 11:34–“For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?”
B. Our Lord’s Counsel Stands Forever While The Counsel Of Others Comes To Nothing!
Psalms 33:10–“The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.”
Psalms 33:11–“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”
Proverbs 19:21–“There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
Isaiah 46:10 says that He declares “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
Hebrews 6:17 speaks of “the immutability of His counsel.” (i.e. His counsel does not change!)
Conclusion
Do you need some counsel in some area of your life today? Seek God’s counsel! Follow His counsel!
He Has The Experience!
He Has The Knowledge!
He Has The Wisdom!
He Has The Goodwill! (He cares!)
He Has A Proven Track Record! (He is the greatest! His counsel will stand throughout all eternity!)
You can refuse His counsel! But, understand there are consequences for not seeking His counsel, not waiting for His counsel, and for despising His counsel!
The Psalmist was looking back at the Children of Israel’s wilderness experience after they had been rescued from Egypt by the hand of the Lord.
Psalm. 106:13–“They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:”
Remember when Joshua and the people of God were approached by the deceptive Gibeonites who deceived them into making a league with them.
They made out like they were from a far country. It says in Joshua 9:14 that they “asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”
The prophet Isaiah had this to say to Israel about not taking the Lord’s counsel:
Isaiah 30:1–“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:”
Jesus was speaking to the people one time of John the Baptist and how God had used him both as a prophet as one to prepare the way for Christ Himself.
Luke 7:29-30–“And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.”
Whatever your going through right now, you need God in the equation!
In fact, He both has the answer and is the answer!
He has good name. He has an excellent name!
He is Wonderful and He is Counselor!
Won’t you come to Him today?!
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!