Divine CounselSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: We, human beings are weak in flesh. When we judge others, we commit mistakes. When we surrender ourselves and do things according to the Lord's wish and will, we will see that all that we do will be perfect and successful. It was only after being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that the Lord Jesus said that He and the Father were one (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3; John 14:9; 10:30). Lord Jesus is our only good example (1 Peter 1:21). To impress upon us and show us how essential it is to be filled with the fullness of the Holy Sprit, to lead a very devout life and to serve the Almighty God through a ministry which is abounding in miracles, Lord Jesus expressed the necessity of the Holy Spirit in various instances.
The healing ministry of the Lord Jesus was very unique. The Holy Scripture says that the power of the Holy Spirit descended on Him, not only the power but the divine counsel also descended along with it. Has not the Bible predicted saying, "The Spirit of counsel and might" (Isaiah 11:2) shall rest upon Him?
Look at our gracious and loving Lord Jesus. Everyday, for hours together He waited at the feet of His Heavenly Father. He said, "Whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner" (John 5:19). The Heavenly Father continued to reveal everything to Jesus.
There is a great difference between a man looking upon another man and God looking upon a man. In Matthew 9:1-2, we read about a paralytic man who was lying on a bed who was brought to Jesus by four men. "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7; John 2:24,25). Accordingly, Jesus looked at his heart. He saw the faith that he had in Him. On one side, Jesus saw the paralytic man's faith, but on the other side, Jesus saw that he was writhing in pain which was caused by sin. Jesus saw that to pull down the wall of sin between God and the sick man was the God's will. So Jesus said to the sick man assuring him, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you." He forgave his sins and healed him completely.
The Holy Spirit who was within Jesus Christ gave Him counsel and manifested His power. How necessary is this divine experience for us today! Once I had been to see a friend on an official duty. After the business was over, he said that some people desired to meet me and took me to an adjoining room. There were about thirty people assembled there. I began to talk to them about God's unchanging love as seen in the Holy Bible. A sister who was seated in the first row, instead of facing me, was looking somewhere else. I regretted within me saying, "I am talking about God, but this lady is looking somewhere else!" When I finished my talk, my friend introduced to me all those were assembled, one by one, and I prayed for them individually. When I came to that lady who looked so indifferent, my friend said to me, "Brother, this lady's right eye is completely blind. There is some feeble vision in one tip in her left eye with which she manages to see. Please pray that she should regain her lost eyesight." Those words pierced my heart like a spear. I understood how much she had struggled to see me through that little vision she had, while I was preaching. Broken-hearted, I wept for having misunderstood her plight and I prayed for her. The divine counsel is necessary for us to understand the right things in the right sense.
"Who is blind but My servant, or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear." (Isaiah 42:19, 20)
"Be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:16)
Dear friend, we do not know, when others will come to us with some problems. It is very necessary that we should be filled with the Holy Spirit so that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit may begin to work within us at anytime. Did not John the Baptist say that God had given His Son His Spirit beyond measure? (John 3:34). We too need that Spirit to get divine counsel at all times.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I am a weak person. Using my own knowledge and experience, I have misjudged others several times. Knowingly or unknowingly, I have hurt them. Father, please forgive me. Grant me Your divine knowledge and counsel that I may walk in the right path. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to seek Your divine counsel before I do anything. I give You all the glory. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |