July 3....1998....what a day! It has been 10 years since the Lord trusted me with my heart attack and bypass surgery. By His grace, He has given me 10 years of memories....10 years of seeing things from a fresh perspective...10 years of being able to experience the joy of deeper relationships....10 years to learn how much He loves me...10 years to consider how important making disciples is to Jesus. 10 years to appreciate the way His Spirit leads me, comforts me, counsels me. Below are some of the lessons I have learned about the Wonderful Counselor:
So, we have been given a Counselor, one who defends us, helps us, and leads us.
What does it mean to be Spirit-led by this Counselor? How does this play out in practical ways in the life of the believer?
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11 (NASB95)
A. He knows how to get us to that path of life (the knowledge of His will)
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Colossians 1:9 (NASB95)
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all 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. John 16:13 (NIV)
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Corinthians 2:12 (NIV)
B. He knows how to keep us on that path of life (the fullness of joy that comes from being in His presence)
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:19 (NASB95)
34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. John 3:34 (NIV)
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:18 (NIV)
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5 (NIV)
C. He knows what we need while we are on that path of life (the Fruit of the Spirit; the Provision of God)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
CONCLUSION:
Do you need more love? More joy? More peace? More patience? More kindness? More goodness? More faithfulness? More gentleness? More self-control? These pleasures are all available in His right hand by His Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit comes from Him and is produced through His disciples. It is by grace, through faith.
Are we bearing the Fruit of the One who is the Wonderful Counselor? Do we have an intimate relationship with our live-in Counselor? What is the key to intimacy?
16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we must be Spirit-led: not by the world, by Satan, and even by our own flesh, our own desires of the sinful nature. During this intense “tug-of-war” we need to plead with our Counselor to help us live a life marked by His Fruit. We need to live the discipled life.
Denny
The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
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