01/10/2021 - ADVICE BORN OF MAN

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His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. John 7.3

Through this verse, it is clear that family members, whether blood or spiritual, who have good character and other predicaments, as well as friends and leaders in other ministries – should not be sought to advise us. If man’s advice can help, imagine God’s. Isaiah said: His name will be called Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9.6). Nothing bad or despicable ever came out from His mouth!

Ahab, who lived in sin, set up a group of prophets for himself, because he didn’t want to seek the Lord. Moreover, he had his wife as a counselor. The king heard from his appointees: Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand” (1 Kings 22.12b). Jehosaphat, king of Judah, who was standing next to him, didn’t like what he heard and asked the king of Samaria to bring a servant of God, and it happened exactly as he said!

Later, when the Ammonites, Moabites and those of Mount Seir, with a few others, made an alliance to destroy Judah, Jehosaphat called the people of Israel to Jerusalem and opened his heart before God in a fast in which they all participated. Fear had gripped the king, for those nations would do them great harm if they didn’t destroy them. But the Lord helped His people in a spectacular way (2 Chronicle 20.22).

When he went with Ahab to war against the Syrians, Jehosaphat almost lost his life, for he had to identify himself as a king of Judah who had been invited (1 Kings 22.30). That day, Ahab believed his prophets and died (2 Kings 22.40). It was clear to Jehosaphat: stubbornness against the Lord is the worst attitude, and seeking Him – the best (Proverbs.3.5-8). Anyone who stops seeking the Most High in order to listen to the advice of man will realize that he has acted wrongly!

King Asa, Jehosaphat´s father, after having been helped in the case of the Zerah the Ethiopian, who went against Judah with a million soldiers – heard God’s rebuke through the prophet Azariah, son of Obed, and summoned his people to Jerusalem. There, they agreed to cry out to the Lord. Whoever didn’t do this would die, from the least to the greatest, men and women (2 Chronicles 14.9-15; 15.1-13). This oath was Asa’s way of radically demonstrating his appreciation towards the Lord.

Twenty-three years later, Asa despised the covenant, for he didn’t seek God, but made an alliance with the king of Syria. He fell ill and instead of asking the Lord for help, he preferred to resort only to doctors. Dealing with these professionals was never wrong, but not keeping the agreement made with the Most High is very dangerous: And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. (2 Chronicles 16:12). Honor the New Covenant!

Of course, Jesus didn’t heed the words of His brothers, who didn’t believe in Him as they should. When He was used in unusual ways, even His family members wanted to arrest Him: But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” (Mark 3.21). Listen to the Father, who speaks through the Word

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares