Seeking God's Counsel

Seeking God’s counsel

Prov 14:15 NIV

15 A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.

We have a free choice, we decide what we say, think, or do, our conscious can either help or hurt, it’s not fool proof.

We can ignore it

Some have been seared as with a hot iron. (No feelings, unmoved)

It can be faulty

1 Tim 4:1-2 Even the word of God says There is a way which seem right to a man, but the end is destruction

We should give thought to the steps we take in life.

Failing to seek God’s Council: Samson was a man who needed Godly guidance in his life, a man who needed help beyond his strength. (Physical strength is a great gift, but without moral integrity, and guidance it will only serve to weaken and destroy us.)

Judg 16:15-22 NIV

15 Then she said to him, "How can you say, ’I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength." 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death.

17 So he told her everything. "No razor has ever been used on my head," he said, "because I have been a Nazirite set apart to God since birth. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man."

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, "Come back once more; he has told me everything." So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19 Having put him to sleep on her lap, she called a man to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him. And his strength left him.

20 Then she called, "Samson, the Philistines are upon you!"

He awoke from his sleep and thought, "I’ll go out as before and shake myself free." But he did not know that the LORD had left him.

21 Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison.

Spiritual lessons from Samson (We was confidant in himself, he didn’t seek council with God)

But in spite of his great physical strength Samson was a foolish man

Samson was a person with great potential who fell short because of his sin and disobedience.

Mighty in physical strength, he was weak in resisting temptation.

His life is a clear warning against the dangers of self-indulgence and lack of discipline.

Samson was a wild, self-willed man.

Passion ruled. Samson lost at once his godliness and his manliness; it severed him from God the strength of his manhood.

Samson was virtually to reduce him to the lowest state of degradation and shame.

Casting the pearls of our faith before godless people can lead to our own spiritual blindness and slavery (16:4-21 see Matt 7:6).

We can clearly see the importance thinking about our steps.

Ps 111:10 NIV

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

Prov 2:10-11 NIV

10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

Prov 10:23 NIV

23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

Spiritual lessons from Samson (Be Confident in God and seek council)

1. Knowing that God is your ability, and not yourself

Samson felt invincible, he did not worry about the consequences of his actions.

A correct perspective keeps me going or cripples my progress.

It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope.

When my perspectives are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.

2. Seeking Godly councile leads us in walking with God, and making the right choice’s

There is a solemn choice in life. Life and death, light and darkness, truth and lies are set before us.

At every instant the cry comes for us to choose one or the other, and the choice of one involves the putting away of the other. And we must choose.

Samson ignored this great power

3. Our Choice determines our fate

Life is not always fair or easy, but we have the ability to determine the out come of our lives, by the decisions we make.

Decisions made by maturity or by ignorance.

Fortunately there is help, life can be turned around, healing can take place. Our lord came that we might have life, and even a more abundant life.