What do I do? - Divine Direction

Wise Counsel

One of the biblical names for Jesus is “Counselor” (Isa. 9:6). It reveals His nature and character as One who reveals His will and way through counseling. His name is also “Everlasting Father” and “Good Shepherd,” because of pastoral and parental counseling—godly advice from those wiser and more mature than ourselves—is an important way of determining the will of God.

Numerous Scriptures confirm the necessity of seeking counsel before making major decisions: “He who listens to counsel is wise.” “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” “Plans go wrong with too few counselors; many counselors bring success.” “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.” “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” “Every purpose is established by counsel, and with good advice go to war.” “Don’t go to war without wise guidance; there is safety in many counsellors” (Prov. 11:14; 12:15; 15:22; 19:20; 20:18; 24:6). If it is wise to seek counsel in matters of war, how much more so in matters of God’s will, which pertains to eternal life and death endeavors?

Seeking counsel is critical, then, but we must seek it with an open heart rather than concluding ahead of time that we know the will of God. When we approach a prophet, pastor, parent, or elder, we should not talk and act as if we already have our minds settled: “God told me to do this, but I was wondering what you think about it.” If God really told you to do it, who will be willing to argue with God? That attitude makes it difficult for another person to give you proper counsel. God will not force His counsel on you any more than He forces His salvation on you.

Confirmation
One of the best-known principles for determining the will of God is the scriptural requirement that everything must be confirmed in the mouth of two or three witnesses before accepting it as fact. This principle about receiving confirmation was established in the law of Moses (Deut. 17:6; 19:15) and reestablished under grace in the Church by the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 13:1).

The rule can be applied to a word of counsel, a word of prophecy, or a Rhema word. Just as the general will of God cannot be established by a single verse, neither can the specific will of God be established by one prophecy, one Rhema, one counselor, or one anything else. It is not offensive to the Lord for you to withhold judgment on a word until you receive confirmation from two or three other sources. In fact, He insists that in all serious matters there be at least two and preferably three witnesses before you accept a prophetic word.

Unity
When more than one party is involved in a decision, agreement and unity among them are essential for God’s will to be revealed. When everyone is in the specific will of God, there will be unity. For a husband and wife, for example, to be in full agreement and peace about a matter is indicative of God’s will. We must be in unity with God, ourselves, and others who are involved in the decision, and Psalm 133 tells us that where there is unity, there is life.

By now we have accumulated a number of indications of God’s will. Suppose we have taken a specific desire and what we believe to be a directive word from the Lord, and exposed it to the whole Word of God, both in Spirit and in context. The Word light has turned green. Then suppose we have received several personal prophecies and proper counsel, which have brought confirmations in the mouth of two or three witnesses. We have the fruit of the Holy Spirit with regard to the matter, and there are no checks or restraints from the Spirit, but rather a sense of peace and clearance. All pertinent parties are in unity; all things are in order.

At this point, we can move in the confidence that it is His general will, based on the Word, and His specific will, based on the confirmed Rhema. But these two green lights of Word and will are not enough to act upon. The third light, the way of God, must turn green as well before the work of God can be accomplished.