How can we "stand in the council of the LORD" today? Setting the Scene—Jeremiah 23:18 “For who has stood in the council of the LORD to see and hear His word? Who has paid attention to His word and obeyed it?” The verse pictures God’s heavenly council chamber, where true prophets listened, received His marching orders, and then spoke with authority. How can believers today enter that same sphere of divine consultation? --- What “the Council of the LORD” Signifies • A literal, unseen assembly where the LORD reveals His plans (1 Kings 22:19; Job 1:6). • The place of close fellowship and confidential revelation (Psalm 25:14, “The LORD confides in those who fear Him”). • Access once limited to a few, now opened through Christ (Hebrews 10:19–22). --- Access Granted—Our Open Door Through Christ • Jesus, our High Priest, “has opened a new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20). • By His blood we “draw near with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). • The Spirit ushers us in, giving us “access to the Father” (Ephesians 2:18). --- Standing in the Council Today—Core Practices 1. Receive the Word with Reverence • Daily, unhurried Scripture intake—read, study, memorize (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2). • Approach the text as God’s infallible, literal voice, not mere literature (2 Timothy 3:16). 2. Listen in Prayerful Stillness • Quiet your heart after reading; ask, “Lord, what are You saying?” (1 Samuel 3:10). • Expect the Spirit to illuminate and apply truth (John 14:26). 3. Obey Promptly and Completely • Jeremiah links standing in God’s council to “paying attention… and obeying” (v. 18). • “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). 4. Walk in Purity and Repentance • Unconfessed sin clouds spiritual hearing (Psalm 66:18). • Regular self-examination and repentance keep the pathway clear (1 John 1:9). 5. Stay Planted in the Local Church • God often speaks through gathered believers (Acts 13:1-3). • Submit to tested leaders and be sharpened by the body (Hebrews 13:17; Proverbs 27:17). 6. Discern by the Whole Counsel of God • Any impression must align with Scripture; God never contradicts Himself (Galatians 1:8). • Seek confirmation from multiple texts and mature believers (Proverbs 11:14). --- Common Obstacles to Standing in the Council • Noise and busyness that crowd out stillness. • Selective obedience—treating God’s commands as optional. • Reliance on emotions instead of the written Word. • Isolation from the church, severing God-given channels of confirmation. --- Fruit of Remaining in the Council • Clear guidance for personal decisions (Psalm 32:8). • Boldness to speak God’s word faithfully, not opinions (Jeremiah 23:22). • Steadfast hope when cultural winds shift (Isaiah 30:15). • Deepening intimacy with the Lord, our highest joy (Psalm 73:28). --- A Final Encouragement The invitation still stands. Through Christ, every believer can draw near, listen well, and walk away carrying heaven’s agenda. Step into the council, stay there often, and watch His purposes unfold in and through you. |
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