#21.4 - Sevensational: The Spirit of Counsel
Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
I find it no coincidence that I was held back from writing this blog, so allow me to catch you up a bit in the midst of still not feeling well along with having technical difficulties (mmm technology…”my fave”). I was admitted into the hospital for 5 days after I ruptured my ear drum on Valentine’s Day evening…but it wasn’t just any “normal” rupture…my ear drum was fully blown out and right now it is likely that I will need surgery. By the time we got back home from dinner (Parenthesis Rabbit Hole: I soldiered through that dinner like a boss for the sake of reservations at a restaurant to eat beef brisket AND my gorgeous date wearing a form fitting hot pink thermal hoodie and 80’s acid washed jeans-the outfit I LOVINGLY picked out from Goodwill for him since he decided to make me look like “Goldie”-The Lost Golden Girl with a pastel rainbow knitted sweater and palazzo khaki pants) I was literally bleeding out of my ear and continued bleeding out of my ear for several days after in the midst of going to an urgent care clinic and inevitably the hospital. To this day…I still have no hearing in my right ear, which may have been different if the first medical professional I sought help with in January over this ear infection had listened to me by not giving me a medication that wouldn’t work let alone a medication I told her that I am allergic to. Why does any of this matter? Communication is vital when it comes to seeking counsel and communication involves balanced levels of talking AND listening. I have persevered a lot through suffering the last couple weeks meanwhile NONE of the suffering I have endured has shaken my faith or hope…God doesn’t leave His children…therefore I always have hope.
It is interesting to me that both hope AND faith contain the word “trust” in their respective definitions (Definition of Hope-Merriam Webster & Definition of Faith-Merriam Webster). Despite the fact that I have given you a recent real-life scenario regarding communication about physical health and seeking counsel with medical professionals that should tell us the right things to do and to avoid the wrong things to do with our physical bodies…it’s a whole deeper understanding of trust to seek counsel spiritually because it requires a free-willed relationship with faith in God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. We must have faith in God, we must follow Jesus as closely as we can because God not only gave us a manual for life but the map of how to live (spoiler alert…we will always fall short - no one is perfect or sinless), and be guided by Holy Spirit. Living in a world that does not culturally value living the 2 Corinthians 5:7 life, “For we live by faith, not by sight.” isn’t always easy because we are surrounded by those that have no faith or deficits in hope…again…both of which require trust. I don’t know about you, but I certainly can speak for myself here…I have had different times in my life where I had ecosystemic trust issues. So how do we navigate through spiritual challenges in a physical world since God tells us in his truth (the Bible) that we are never alone? Before I go any further I want to give you two Biblical proofs (one old testament and one new testament) that God never leaves his children:
Old Testament: Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) - “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
New Testament: Joshua 1:9 (NIV) - “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
The answer to the above question: We were given a helper-Holy Spirit!!! More proof we are never alone, we can trust God…He made the way for us by giving us Jesus.
Isaiah 11:2 (NIV) - “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord.”
So let’s back it up a moment and “up the ante” for the sakes of imagination and thought process with some hypothetical questions: 1. What if we didn’t have doctors to seek counsel with for our physical bodies? 2. What do you think that would look like if we had the capability to handle our own medical care based on our own research, wants, and needs? Overall, I believe it would be entirely illogical…complete chaos for obvious reasons…but one of which entails having access to levels of control we aren’t meant to have. We already know that God created our personal ecosystems a connected combination of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements and we know that we cannot do everything completely on our own without any help…so God gave us doctors, mental health care workers, family pastors, priests, clergy, elders, and…emphasizing again…Holy Spirit!!! It would be exceptionally easy for me to extensively elaborate on my personal pain, anger, and disappointment in different seasons of my life after trying to seek Counsel (Merriam Webster) with others; people like my doctors, surgeons friends, family, pastors, clergy, mental healthcare workers etc. Truth be told, I am still struggling with wrapping my mind around how the first healthcare worker in January dismissed my cries for help while deciding to do her own thing which made my condition worse to the point I entirely ruptured my eardrum, lost my hearing, had to be in the hospital for 5 days, go from taking 1 prescription medication (my blood thinner) to 8 prescription medications, and more than likely going to have surgery. I was seeking help…trust was broken. And don’t get me started on a person in biblical community that decided to judge me via text after they asked how I was doing after I decided to be vulnerable and trusting enough to share my feelings with them merely one day after I was released from the hospital; this situation resulted in the need to create permanent boundaries by severing the relationship due to their inability to give me space as they justified their flawed theology despite the initial conversation ending lovingly…trust was broken. Regardless, having these negative experiences with these individuals…God’s love still allows me to wish them well from afar and hope that they learn from these situations. We all have stories where people angered us, hurt us, or disappointed us. On the flipside, there have been moments in our own lives where we have angered others, hurt others, and disappointed others. No one is sinless here…no one is perfect here…but we have a perfect God that operates in love…not curses. People will consistently fall short, let you down, and say the wrong things…but that shouldn’t stop you from seeking counsel when you’re authentically led by Holy Spirit to do so. I can most assuredly tell you…life would be negatively overwhelming if we were perfect, had complete control, and knew everything; there would be no room to grow…no need to communicate…no need to seek counsel. Life would also inevitably feel hopeless, illogical, and chaotic if we didn’t have the perfect counselor sent to us by God (WHO IS LOVE - not anger, not pain, not disappointment) through Jesus…known as Holy Spirit. We are blessed to have a counselor that never falls short and the choice to live a life in faith, hope, with the ability to seek counsel. All we have to do is be open to having a genuine relationship with God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.
So what does it look or feel like when Holy Spirit counsels us? Well, we know that God is love so Holy Spirit will speak lovingly…quick to listen…slow to anger…because that is what was mapped out for us by Jesus. God’s truth beautifully describes Holy Spirit’s voice in various chapters of the Bible:
“A Gentle Whisper”
1 Kings 19:11-12 (NIV) - “The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”
“Advocate, Teacher, Reminder”
John 14:26 (NIV) says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
“Truth and Prophecy”
John 16:13 (NIV) - “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
“The Guiding Counselor and Loving Eye”
Psalms 32:8 (NIV) - “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
I may be dating myself here…but have you ever seen the classic Disney movie Pinocchio (1940) with the famous and catchy song “Give A Little Whistle”? If not, I at least encourage you to read the intro and lyrics here because I have underlined parts of the lyrics for remarkable consideration to relate to Biblical principals other than the blatant idea that if we changed to “always let your conscience be your guide” to “always let Holy Spirit be your guide”):
“… Give yourself a cross examination
Are you just about to make a big mistake?
Well here's a way to save the situation
So learn it now, for heaven's sake
Give your better self a break
… When you get in trouble and you don't know right from wrong
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
When you meet temptation and the urge is very strong
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
Not just a little squeak, pucker up and blow
And if your whistle's weak, yell "Jiminy Cricket!"
Take the straight and narrow path and if you start to slide
Give a little whistle, give a little whistle
And always let your conscience be your guide
Biblically speaking:
“Cross Examination” - 2 Corinthians 13:5
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?”
“Learning” - 1 John 2:27
“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”
“Give your better self a break” - 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”
“Narrow Path” - Matthew:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
“When you don’t know right from wrong” - James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
Crying out to The Lord” - Psalm 34:17
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” (It’s not a “whistle” but an authentic cry to Abba.)
“Always Let Holy Spirit Be Your Guide” Galatians 5:25 & Romans 8:14 & Acts 24:16
Galatians 5:25 - “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Romans 8:14 - “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
Acts - 24:16 - “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”
Relying on Holy Spirit is an unparalleled experience that the enemy doesn’t want God’s children let alone anyone to have. Here’s some ways the enemy can try to interfere with the stages of attacks:
Stage 1: Confusion
Is it my voice I am hearing? Am I really being told to do something loving when I am in my feelings? John 10:27 tells us, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Eternal life seems pretty loving to me (as opposed to death/kill - Stage 5). God’s children know Holy Spirit’s still, calm, LOVING voice (because God is love and Holy Spirit doesn’t tell us to do anything except for to act upon love)…I have found that 9/10 Holy Spirit has me do things I typically don’t want to do…and that’s where obedience comes in. Lean into that communication and don’t let there be a barrier there. When we question our obedience to Holy Spirit…it’s a form of grief and God’s word says in Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Don’t grieve Holy Spirit…He is not sent to us to grieve us…He is here to guide and help us. Holy Spirit would never tell us to do anything other than to act on love towards one another and to love one another like in 1 John 4:7, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” Holy Spirit comes through having an open, faithful and loving relationship with Abba and Jesus Christ.
Stage 2: Chaos
Disobedience causes chaos…the physical proof of confusion. Refusing to follow Holy Spirit will NEVER and I repeat NEVER bring positive consequences. Acts 7:51 tells us, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” Imagine…what if Holy Spirit was like, “Nah…I’m not going to counsel people today…instead…I’m going to do my own thing.” (Keeping in mind the medical professional I recently saw that acted that way when she treated me.)...there would be complete chaos! (Also keeping in mind the chaos of being so sick I had to be admitted into the hospital.). God never leaves us…therefore Holy Spirit will never leave us…faith, trust love, relationship is vital to combat chaos!!!
Stage 3: Theft
1 Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit.” Quenching the spirit is a form of robbery as the word “Quench-Merriam Webster ” in this scripture is referencing taking control into our own hands to “extinguish” God’s will through Holy Spirit all while metaphorically meaning to hinder, suppress, or act unresponsively to the Holy Spirit's guidance, promptings, and gifts.
Stage 4: Destroy
In my mind, destruction can be done to our relationship with God, Jesus, Holy Spirit and others if we allow the enemy to interfere with it. Isaiah 59:1-2 reminds us, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Being separated from God (Holy Spirit is part of the 1 in 3) is destruction that will only lead to further destruction. Jesus has offered and gives us hope! We are children of God…not children of the enemy or the enemy’s attacks…so don’t give the enemy room to destroy that divine and Biblical relationship that we are called to nurture (the opposite of destroy).
Stage 5: Kill
I am pretty sure I have written some of these verses out before but it’s good to have the reminders (Holy Spirit is guiding this after all and He is the reminder - as stated above). There is one unforgivable sin…blasphemy against The Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:31-32 clearly states, “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” We have nothing and are as good as dead without our relationship with God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. Not only is it impossible to truly live a life worth living surrendered to Abba…but open ourselves up the inability to do God’s work by sharing Jesus with others like in Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This concept also goes back to robbery as well in my opinion but sticking on track with “kill”...that particular unforgiveness regarding Holy Spirit seems permanent…and spiritually DOA. Following Holy Spirit leads to fuller, happier, and more loving time here…and we combat the enemy by following and having faith in The One True God, His Only Son Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit given to us as a loving counselor that we can rely on…any day…any moment…any night…any time.
Song(s) of the Week:
Fall Like Rain - Passion, Kari Jobe, and Rachel Halbach
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For God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, The Bible, Holy Spirit’s counsel, perseverance, hope, faith, relationships, growth, time, Biblical boundaries, and character development…I am…
#Satisfied
