READ: 2 Chronicles 18:1-27 (Text verses 6-7).
[TELL STORY OF AHAB / JEHOSHAPHAT / MICAIAH]
Tonight I’d like to start with THREE (3) PROPOSITIONS:
Firstly:
1. MANY PEOPLE SEEK ONLY COUNSELLORS WHOSE WORDS ARE APPEALING.
Ahab had a host of such "prophets" around him - he had lulled himself into a false sense of security, believing that he had the word of the Lord and the approval of wise counsellors. LEADERS ARE IN A DANGEROUS PLACE WHEN THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH "YES" MEN ! Note those words of Ahab concerning the godly prophet Micaiah in verse 7.
[READ - "he never prophesies good concerning me"]. Also note that Micaiah had to be sent for - he was not kept at the king’s side - Ahab didn’t like what he had to say.
You know, people are always looking for "flattering prophets". Those who will say just what they are wanting to hear. There are some Christians who go around from person to person, even to every preacher in town, they buy books and tapes, looking for someone who will say what they want to hear. Listen, if you search long enough you’ll ALWAYS find someone who is willing to agree with you - even if you say the moon is made of cheese ! (Sure, you may have to go to an institution to find them; but you can ALWAYS find someone who’ll say what you want to hear.)
The world laughs at the caricature of "fire & brimstone" preachers - they mock and scorn such men. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHY ? Because they don’t want to hear a message of judgment - a message that makes them uncomfortable and demands a decision. So they laugh, and run off to their flattering prophets who say "BE AT PEACE, ALL IS WELL !"
I thank God that in my own life I have always had, and still have, people who can "call my cards". People who know me well enough, and love me enough, to tell me the truth. To give me counsel I need to hear rather than just what I’d like to hear.
MANY PEOPLE SEEK ONLY COUNSELLORS WHOSE WORDS ARE APPEALING.
Secondly:
2. THE WORLD HAS SUCH COUNSELLORS IN ABUNDANCE.
There is no shortage of people who are willing to say what you want to hear. In fact, if there is a shortage it’s of those who will tell you what you need to hear.
If you’ve read "Pilgrim’s Progress" you’ll recall that there were MANY who have offered Christian "pleasant" counsel to side-track him from the truth. Listening to any ONE of them would have led him to destruction.
Many people are crying out "TELL US ABOUT THE GOD OF LOVE WHO WILL ACCEPT OUR SIN AND NOT CONDEMN. Not this God of fiery judgment." And they find their prophets of comfort. Even certain "churchmen" are prepared to preach such a one-sided half-truth gospel; not wanting to offend. These are the kind of men who would sell their own soul for the sake of popularity. (Billy Sunday said 100 years ago - "the theatre gives people what they want - the church gives people what they NEED !")
Other people enquire "Won’t my road lead to God ? I’m a Buddhist, I’m a Hindu, I follow Hari Krishna; won’t my "saviour" do ?" And there are plenty of voices willing to answer "Yes, of course, all religions lead to God !" (RUBBISH - "There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" - Acts 4:12.)
Our young people are getting disillusioned with life, and begin to question whether life is worth the living. Suicide seems an easy way out, and so they cry out "Is this the way?" And they too find their prophets of agreement. Rock ’n Roll counsellors who sing out their messages of death.
THE WORLD HAS "YES" COUNSELLORS IN ABUNDANCE.
Finally, my third proposition is this:
3. THE WISE SEEK ONLY GODLY COUNSEL, EVEN THOUGH IT CONTAINS NO FLATTERY AND IS OFTEN HARD.
Yes, the wise man’s prayer is "I would rather a word of rebuke at Thy mouth, Oh Lord, than rivers of praise from the lips of men."
Listen to what the Bible says : READ Proverbs 9:7-9.
And again in Ecclesiastes 7:5 it says : "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools."
THE WISE SEEK ONLY GODLY COUNSEL, EVEN THOUGH IT BE NOT FLATTERING, AND IS OFTEN HARD.
But now we are still left with a question:
HOW, THEN, CAN YOU DISCERN WHAT IS TRULY GODLY COUNSEL?
Amid all the plethora of voices that want to offer us advice today, how do we determine what voices are from God, and what are carnal, or even devilish voices?
In 1 Thessalonians 5:21 we are instructed to "TEST ALL THINGS; HOLD FAST WHAT IS GOOD".
There are "TESTS" we can apply to distinguish godly counsel from imitations. This evening I want to suggest to you THREE (3) SUCH "TESTS’.
Firstly (AND PRIMARILY):
A) The "CONCRETE" Test.
What IS the concrete test ? THE WORD OF GOD. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness..."
Here is the "concrete test; ACID TEST ! For believers the Word of God is our first AND our last resort. Our standard. Here is "the rub" - you CANNOT go past the Bible for direction and counsel in your life and your walk with God.
And note, it says: "ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God ..." NOT just the bits you like; NOT the "agreeable parts" that don’t place too much of a demand upon you; not just the promises without the conditions ... ALL SCRIPTURE. WE need the whole counsel of God’s Word to direct us.
The Concrete Test ! Whatever counsel you may be offered - no matter how good or plausible it might sound - it must line up with the Word of God. If it doesn’t, it MUST be rejected outright.
The second test we ought to apply is:
B) The "CHARACTER" Test.
i.e. THE GODLY LIFE & EXAMPLE OF THE COUNSELLOR.
I don’t want to hear the counsel of those whose lives are somewhere to the left of "whoopie". I want to listen to them that are hearing from God ! And you don’t hear from God unless your life is right. It doesn’t matter how many people they’ve supposedly healed - what is the character of their life ?!
Jesus said: "You will know a tree by it’s fruit". That does NOT mean ’how much they have achieved’ - it refers to the fruit of the character of their lives.
Now you need to be aware that there is one DANGER with this test - the "Character" test. And it’s simply this ... There are some very impressive counterfeits around. The Bible warns of "wolves in sheep’s clothing". The devil himself is able to take on the guise of an angel of light. And SOME false counsellors / false teachers / false prophets may hhave the appearance of being very pious.
Therefore WE MUST BRING EVERYTHING BACK TO THAT CONCRETE TEST OF THE WORD OF GOD.
OK, the third and final test we ought to apply is:
C) The "CONSCIENCE" Test.
i.e. THE TESTIMONY OF A TRUE CONSCIENCE.
Sometimes you’ll hear someone’s advice and in your heart ALL THE WARNING BELLS ARE GOING OFF - something’s not quite right ! At other times, there’s a peace there that you are hearing truth and wisdom. (It "witnesses" with you.)
Don’t EVER violate your conscience because of the crowd. You hear those warning bells going off in your head at what you’re hearing - something’s not quite right. But then everyone else seems to be quite happy accepting it, and so you think you must be wrong and you go along with it. DON’T DO IT ! Don’t violate your conscience ... CHECK IT OUT FULLY !
[Illustration:] The story of the Emperor’s new clothes.
Now, you need to be aware, however, that there is also a danger with this "Conscience" test. And it’s this. The voice of our EMOTION / FEELINGS usually scream the loudest ! Don’t get them confused.
For this reason, again, we must always come back to the CONCRETE TEST of the Word of God. All other tests submit to this one ... "WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES !"
I’d also warn you - if you have never come to faith in Christ - DON’T APPLY THIS TEST AT ALL ! Your conscience still has yet to be illuminated by the light of God in spiritual regeneration.
So, the Bible tells us that we are to "test all things". We should use the "Conscience" test, and the "Character" test, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL - the "CONCRETE" test ... the Word of God.
CONCLUSION:
Friends, we can be like KING AHAB, and surround ourselves with people who tell us things we want to hear - listen to teachers that are pleasing to the ear - BUT at the end of the day we don’t do ourselves any favours. At BEST it will lead us into bondage; WORST STILL it could lead us to complete destruction !
SO, take this matter seriously to heart. THE WISE PERSON WILL SEEK ONLY GODLY COUNSEL, EVEN THOUGH IT CONTAINS NO FLATTERY, AND IS OFTEN HARD.
Amen.
