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We share stories of how the blood of Jesus has transformed ours and others' lives.
Hi, welcome to the Red Ledger Podcast. My name is Lissa Frasure. I'm filling in today for Denalee. This is my co-host, Rebecca Holbrook. Today we're gonna talk about wise counsel. When should you have it? When should you get it? How do you get it? And the dangers of not getting it. What can it do to your life if you don't have wise counsel?
So where do you go about receiving that? I know, um, I looked in the word and in John 1426, um, Jesus talks about sending us a specific counselor. The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was given to us to give us counsel. But sometimes in life you go and you, you seek the word. You seek his help. And you still yearn for more, you need more or you need confirmation.
Do you have a time in your life, uh, Rebecca, when you have needed more and you haven't gotten it? Have you had where you're like, what do I do? I, I know I got in the word. I know the word says this. Um, what direction did you go in? Do you have, do you have counsel that you, that you seek out? I do, I am fortunate to have good friends that know what the Bible says, you know, to be affiliated with a church where we have found a tribe of, of women that we can go to and, um, just be able to discuss things.
Even if you know what the Bible says, sometimes you can overthink things, um, and it isn't because. You know, we don't trust God and we don't love God. Right? It's that we're trying to, to control the outcome, right? Uh, it's, it's what I think that the reason we call that overthinking, you know, and so sometimes you do need somebody to come alongside you and confirm the word inside of you, and the Holy Spirit is so gracious if you have people like that in your life because.
Um, a lot of times he will confirm or give you an answer through other people. It's vital that we have relationships in our lives that we can rest assured that they love you, that they want good things for you, and that they seek. The Holy Spirit also. Yeah. You know, I grew up outside of the church and I did not have wise counsel.
I had people that, that had knowledge and, and, you know, meant well, and I'm not saying every bit of, of, um. Advice that I got throughout my life wasn't good. You've known me for 20 plus years. We've known each other and you have been one that I've sought counsel for on many, many different times. Um, and I'm so thankful for that because there is a difference between godly counsel and worldly counsel.
Oh, yeah. I, I kind of wanna talk about that. Um, the, the difference between the Godly council and the worldly council from my experience is. God has a standard, God has a principle. There is a standard, and with his, I can check back with him, with the worldly, um, counsel or guidance. Um, what I have seen is that, or what I have experienced is that it's, it's, there isn't a standard.
The standard is, goes off of feeling correct and the, it goes off of feeling because. Of the flesh. Right. Right. It, it's all about, um, you know, your truth. Mm-hmm. And, um, um, you know, this is my truth or, you know, what have you. Mm-hmm. Well, there's really only one truth. Right. And the standard for that is, is the word of God.
And so I. You want people in your life that are going to always direct you back to the word, they're gonna always direct you back to Jesus Christ because he is the truth, right? He is the only way, right? And the truth and the life, and so my truth. Um, you know, it can be led by all kinds of things. It can be led by the experiences of your past about the way that you feel and we're goodness sake.
'cause our emotions can be, you know, on cloud nine, one minute and um, the next down in the pit. So you can't trust your feelings. You have to have a standard of measurement. Um. You know, which is the truth, the word. And I've heard, you know, one of the things I've heard, um, multiple times people talk about is, is projecting their emotions on things.
And a lot of times what, what happens is people project maybe an experience that they have had or maybe an emotion that they are having that trigger that is triggered from past experiences or previous experiences that that will guide somebody and, and it might take 'em. In the wrong direction versus the Lord's way, which, which has a standard.
Um, one of the ways, so I was, I had woken up one morning and I. I opened up my Bible, I was like, okay, Lord, what, what do you want me to know today? And I started in Proverbs and I was like, oh. And I flipped it open to Proverbs 22, and I'm just reading along and, and I was like, oh yeah, I'm getting ready to go to Proverbs 23, you know, which I totally messed up thinking that it was Psalms 23.
And, and so I, I went, oh yeah, okay. Psalms 23. So I kept reading into Proverbs 24, um, and it was Proverbs 24, 6. This is a new King James version. Um, but what it says was, and this is where I got, I, I kind of stood on or I got stuck, you know, and this is when the Lord highlights something to me. I'm like, okay, what do you want me to know here?
And this was just recently, and it says, for by wise counsel, you will wage your own war. And in a multitude of counselors, there is safety. What fascinated me was the fact that it said a multitude of counselors. I have been concerned for a long time about. Who do I talk to? What, what do I say? And, and am I saying too much?
Is this crossing a line in me expressing something? But I have gone to my friends, I've gone to you, I go to dentally. There's, there's a couple other women that I have in my life that, that know the word. And are gonna steer me back to that. Um, but before, before I had this, and, and even, and it took me a while to gain that, it took me a while to gain more people outside of, um, outside of your council on when it came to, to, to the word.
It took me a while to, to, to build that, those relationships. And so I looked at this and I was fascinated by the multitude. The multitude. And so I thought, huh. Why does God want us to look at a multitude of counselors? And then I thought, oh, he wants us to go out in twos. God likes his word confirmed. He wants us to know the truth.
And so sometimes as men, women, we get things wrong. We get it very wrong. And so what I'm looking, when I come to you with a problem, I'm looking for you to say, oh yeah, Elise, you're going in the right direction. Or Did you know that the word said this or, no, I don't agree with that. That's off. That's that goes far from that.
And then I can go to the other friend to Dely, let's say, and she will confirm what you're saying because she's going off of the same word. Or she won't. So then that's when I can go back. And so I, I, as I looked, I continued to find multiple, there's 13 spots just in Proverbs alone that talks about counselors and, and seeking out counsel.
Multiple ones talk about a multitude of counselors. Mm-hmm. It is important that we have a multitude of counsel. Um. Where there is no council, the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. And that's Proverbs 1114. Um, this is all the new King James version that I'm going off of. Um, but I think what the Lord is saying here is, is that don't hold these things in.
We're not called to do life alone. Is that your experience? Are, are you? Do you see? Do you understand where I, um, where the multitude has such a, has such a profound, um, I guess, push forward to, to, to help. Keep people on track instead of getting them off. Do you know? Do you know what I'm saying? Yeah. I mean, even going back to Genesis, right, with Adam and Eve, we're not meant to do life alone, right?
God saw that, that Adam was not complete without his helper. And uh, and absolutely I think that, that it is imperative that we find these people in our lives and not necessarily that we are in the same socioeconomic, um. Status or anything like that. Um, but, but that you are based out of the word of truth, right?
Because again, that is the standard and that takes discipline, right? And effort. Yeah. It takes discipline and effort to know what the word says. And if you. Can find somebody that has taken on the responsibility for their life of learning this book of learning. The word of spending, the, the sacrifice of time, then they can be trusted.
Right? Right. There's a lot of people that you can't trust because if, especially if they're coming from the world system, though, God can speak through anyone. Right. Um, if you're coming from the world system, they can give you knowledge. Right. Which knowledge is powerful. But what Proverbs, um, main thing is, is, is knowledge and wisdom and understanding.
So you gather knowledge. You apply the knowledge that becomes wisdom, right? You apply the wisdom that becomes understanding, right? And so you want these multiple, you know, um, people in your lives that, that have spent the time to get to know the Lord, to get to know his word, because you know that that is important to them.
And that that's why there is safety. Because no matter where these people are in their lives, if they're always gonna point you back. To the, the word of truth, the standard of truth, and you're safe. Right? It, when you brought up Adam and Eve, that is a perfect, um, example. Eve did not seek counsel in a decision that she was making.
She was led by temptation. She was led by the enemy. She did not seek counsel. She did not have counsel, and she was led by the flesh. She was led by the flesh. And then what happened? You know, it changed all of humanity and what was going on. It's, it's important for us to seek wise counsel for, I would say, for our personal life choices, for our finances.
If you've never purchased a home. Seeking a real estate agent, seeking somebody who's purchased multiple homes, would probably be a wise thing to do. It would be, you know, seeking a, uh, an accountant or you know, how that's going to affect your taxes. Do you have enough money to do that? You wanna seek counsel instead of just going, I'm just gonna go buy a home, I'm just gonna go do this or buy a car, you know, something that, that doesn't, uh, keep in value.
You know, you wanna seek wise counsel and, and here if you don't have that, if you're, if you don't have access to that. You potentially can go down those rabbit holes of making unwise purchases or, you know, um, and hurt yourself. Get yourself in in debt, get yourself in bankruptcy, all those things. One time, and this might be a controversial thing to talk about, so, you know, my father passed when I was very young.
And so one of the things I always wondered about was where was he? Where is he? Did he go to heaven? So I always had this curiosity. Um, and there was a, a desire, you know, um, a yearning. I missed him, you know, it was very difficult. And so I sought out psychics and mediums and that took me down some serious rabbit holes.
And the word says, and I didn't know this, then I had been told by, um, multiple Christians. That's not okay to do. Don't do that. And I was like, oh my gosh, why would people have this gift? 'cause I considered it a gift if it wasn't meant to be used. And, um, you know, where do dead people go? And this, you know, all this stuff.
Anyways. Well, in Leviticus, um, 1931, it states do not turn to mediums or those who consult the spirit of the dead. That's kind of a mixture between the NIV and the NLT version. Um. Deuteronomy 18, 11 and 12 also talks about a medium and the spirit, um, the spiritist and the one who calls up the dead. Um, and how that, um, for all who do, these are an abomination to the Lord.
I didn't know that. I had no idea. I did not know what I was entering into. And it, my heart, you know, we, we talk a lot as Christians about the heart posture, about where your heart is at. My heart was not in a bad place. My heart was, I miss my dad. There's mercy for that. And, and look at you now. Yeah, totally.
Like now you know the truth and um, the truth is that you free and you understand what those gifts are. Those people are probably, are gifted. Yeah. Um, from the Lord, and, and that is what happens. What I say all the time is, um, even with my experiences about the gifting that, that the Lord has given to me. I was raised in church, right?
And I, and it wasn't talked about, like we talked about on our last podcast. I had no idea because the denomination that I was raised in didn't acknowledge the giftings whatsoever. Right? So when things aren't acknowledged and they're not taught you, you don't know, right? Even if you're raised, I went to church three times a week.
Um, and, and so I just thought that I was just very intuitive. Um. It's kind of a scary level sometimes because I had no idea that these were gifts from God, and so I just thought that I had this crazy intuition and um, and I did use it for my advantage. It, I was really good at sales. Um, but I the same as you.
I didn't know that I was using that for my own personal gain Yeah. At the time. Uh, and, and so God, God knows what my, what my heart is on that. Yeah. But, uh, going back to, to these gifts, I think that also what happens is these mediums that probably do have a gift from the Lord. But because of their lack of understanding, their lack of knowledge of what, where the true source of that is, they're actually consulting demons.
Right. And, uh, demons are talking to them. Demons have been around for a really long time. They study us. They, um, are able to give you information that that is, is true. And so people are drawn to that. They're drawn to that power because they're, they're looking, but it's, but it's a false, it's a counterfeit, right?
They're drawn to that because it is a, a counterfeit of God's heart. Yeah. That's what I was going for. I was, I was looking for comfort. That's what I was looking for. Right. And so I was seeking comfort where I could find it. I didn't know that the comfort came from the comforter. That it came from the Holy Spirit, that it came from Jesus and 'cause nobody had taught me that.
And, and, and I did. I wasn't ever in a position, um, where I, I was able to learn that it, I, I didn't go to church. Um, I mean, I did go to a church. Um, but that, that was not the love of God was not shown to me ever. In fact, that's what kept me away from him. Um, but. The comforter is what was given to us. The comforter was what?
And I, that's where I should have gone, but I didn't know that because I didn't have that counsel. Now that I have, I have that. Now that I have those things, I know now when I'm feeling, you know, overwhelmed or sad or wondering about something, I run to the father. Yeah, I run there. Well, let me ask you this question.
When you went to the clairvoyance and the mediums and stuff like that, what did you feel afterward? Did you feel comfort or did you feel fear? I don't know that I felt either one of those things. I felt more intrigued because there was nothing that was ever given to me like it was your dad had blue eyes.
It was, you're, you know, it, nothing was ever. Nothing was ever, your father is in the arms of Jesus. Mm-hmm. Nothing was, your father is in heaven. It was never, it was very, um, uh. You know, telling me about my future type stuff, which turned, which turned away from that, you know? And so as, as somebody who was seeking what, I don't, I don't have any direction.
I grew up without a father. Mm-hmm. I, you know, that's, that's one of the major problems in America today mm-hmm. Is that so many people don't have parents, two parents in the home, and it is hard. And so you have these kids that are growing up. Doing their best, trying to make these decisions on their own and not having wise counsel.
Right. Or not having, they're not having a group of kids. You know, like our children have, have a group of kids that they can go to. They, they can go to the word, they can go, they have leaders. They have, they are, they are equipped. Mm-hmm. Um, I, myself was not, and so here you are in these positions with these people that.
Their intention I'm sure is good. I'm sure it is. 'cause every person that I came across that was a medium, they were sweet. They were awesome. They were so nice. Absolutely. And that's what I was trying to say, uh, is it's just a, a counterfeit, it's a counterfeit for the trueness of, of truth of the word. And, um, there are so many people, I can't even count how many people I have ministered to.
That are gifted, but they think that they're going crazy. Yeah. Like they, they will hear a voice or they will um. Have some kind of prophetic gifting or they will have, uh, words of knowledge or words of wisdom, and they don't know that it's a gift from God. And so they, they will fall under the deception that they're going nuts.
Right. That they're going crazy. Mm-hmm. And, um, it's just, it's unfortunate. And as, I think one of the reasons why I am so passionate about the, the gifts is because there are counterfeit counterfeits out there, but also because I. Would experience these, uh, giftings. And not only did I just not understand where they came from at all, which is so silly looking back at this point, but, but, but also that when I would have, um, pain manifest in my body when I went somewhere, or I would know just with a knowing that, oh man, somebody in here has, um, a migraine or, you know, whatever the, the case may be.
It kind of messes with you a little bit if you don't have the understanding of, of the giftings. And, um, then if there's a, a door available for the enemy to then make you think that you're going crazy. Yeah. That just takes you off. It does, takes you off. And so that's why it, it's, it's here, here with both of those.
It's, it's such a great example of needing that the, the wise council. I know. Um. The King, king Jehosaphat. King Jehosaphat had counsel. He sought out counsel. You know, even Dan Daniel was used as counsel for, um, Nebu. You know, it was, you know, we need that counsel and people are, are yearning for it because God's word is truth.
God's word is, is, um. Is the standard or should be is, is the standard. Because when it comes to the world, you're, you're fishing through, you're just fishing, you're not getting really a standard, right? Mm-hmm. And so when I went to go see these mediums or whatever, um, there wasn't really a standard. There wasn't healing.
And in fact. What I have experienced as when I left and came to Christianity was massive panic attacks and, and I attribute some of, uh, much of that to trauma, but I also attribute that to much of what I had gotten myself into because I was being led by what I feel. This is what I feel like, this is what I feel like this is good because these tarot cards, they're angel cards.
Angels are good, right? Like angel cards are good. I mean, so why shouldn't I talk to Archangel Michael? Why shouldn't I talk to, you know? Because you're supposed to talk to one spirit, and that's the Holy Spirit. Um, you're supposed to communicate with the Lord. You're supposed to communicate with Jesus. And so all the counsel that I had had never veered me in that direction until coming to Christ and having this word.
Um, and so that brings me to what, what is wise counsel? Um, when I looked it up, I, I looked up what is, um, biblical, uh, counsel and it said, um, the Google, I was looking at Google. Um, it said that biblical counsel is seeking somebody that has not only biblical knowledge, but discernment. And that's exactly what I'm looking for.
When I want counsel and I know my children, one of the things that I've taught my children multiple times is the, the whole saying of birds of a feather, they flock together. So even in the church, a church, and I'm there churches, Christian churches, I'm just, you can have. Unbiblical counsel, and you can have unwise counsel.
So you need to know the word. You need to equip yourself with people, and it will, you'll have that, the seamer, you'll have the it what seems right. You'll have the knowing. Uh, when my first daughter was born, she was diagnosed with uh, a disease and I went to seek. I went to seek my pastor and, and the leaders and they told me, um, that God would be glorified through her disease and death.
And I am grateful for that council because, and I'm just gonna be totally honest, I left that. Meeting with two middle fingers to this guy saying, you're not gonna put a death sentence on my baby and call it love, right? That I could not make sense of. I could not make sense of the fact that I sought this counsel and they told me that the death sentence that had just been, um, given to your daughter is from God, and that it will glorify him and that it's love.
And so that was when I left that denomination. And then that when I renounced that denomination, that was when God started to move in my life. He was able to then show up to me, um, as the healer, and that's when I got filled with the Holy Spirit. I, um, was fortunate to be seeking the Lord on my own. I went to the source because I didn't know.
I had been led astray by my whole life, by, um, people that I trusted that I thought knew the word, and when I needed them most, they steered me to. Literally attribute something that is from the enemy, from Satan to God being glorified. And, um, I just absolutely, and totally rejected that. I rejected it so much that I'm, I'm not going to serve a God like that.
Right? That's not going to happen. Well. So in God's mercy. Then once I had renounced that he had the ability to come and show up to me as the healer, and he healed me of a accident that I had. Um, when I was 17 years old, I got into a bad car accident. My neck was so messed up, I never, uh, took the time or the money to get it, um, repaired like I should have with adjustments and that type of thing.
You know how you are when you're 17, you think here? Yeah, of course. But anyway, by the time, by the time that this happened, you know, um, some severe pain was in my neck. I felt like I was 90 years old or something, and he gave me a vision of my future and the future of me preaching in Africa. And I was like, okay, well God, if you want me to do that, then you have to heal my neck.
And mind you, I knew that God could heal, but I had never seen a miracle. I had never seen anything like that. And so it was just him, him prompting me on the inside because I was saved. I need you to heal my neck and I need you to, I need as much of you as possible. And that was when I got filled with the Holy Spirit.
I didn't even know what I was asking for because I wasn't taught any of that. But he was just so gracious and kind, uh, and knew my heart. My heart was asking for him and I, and so I got filled with the Holy Spirit. I got healed, um, completely. And uh, that was all. God's mercy on me for seeking counsel. That should have been godly counsel.
But that has not been my experience. My experience is that God is Jehovah Rafa, that he is our healer. That's a, that's a great testimony. I I do recall that. I remember your neck. You were. It was painful. Mm-hmm. You were having a hard time. I remember that. I do recall that. Yeah. I, I had forgotten that story that sent me on the trajectory that I am on now.
And I mean, I've seen the most miraculous things that God has done and the most cool healings. And, um, if I still believed or if I would've ascribed to what those religious teachers were, were telling me, I wouldn't, I wouldn't have. And I, and who knows if my daughter would still be here. Right. Yeah. I mean, and she's doing great.
She's great. She's absolutely healthy and amazing. She's doing awesome. Yes. I, um, and that's just one of those examples of it's just, man, these people weren't trying to lead you astray or doing anything. No. It's just the lack of knowledge. It's just a lack of knowledge. But it also is the lack of, of, uh.
Understanding who the Holy Spirit is. Right. There was no teaching of the Holy Spirit and, and who he is, uh, whatsoever. And who did you say that? That he is biblically the Holy Spirit. He's the counselor. Mm-hmm. He's the counselor. He's the, he's the advocate. Mm-hmm. He, I, that's what the word says. The word says that he is the counselor.
Mm-hmm. And God sent him when Jesus passed or passed over. Um. God sent the Holy Spirit to us, to counsel us, to help us so that we are no longer walking through life like Old Testament. Mm-hmm. Having to memorize scripture, having to, to do all these, um, works. Yes. It's not like that anymore. Mm-hmm. Now, I, we can hear from him, but sometimes you still need help.
I mean, I've, I've been to Col Bible College, I've read the Bible. I, I'm in the word every single day. I read books. I, you know. I am not saying I'm, I'm, I'm here. I haven't made it, but I'm a lot further than where I was and, and I can get through things a lot with just the Holy Spirit and my husband, but sometimes I have questions and sometimes I need counsel.
You need, we need encouragement. Yeah. There's actually a gift. Um. It's in the, I don't know, it is a gift, but it's not, um, one of the spiritual gifts as far as like the power gifts and the gifts of, of speech and stuff like that. But it's a gift of exhortation, exhortation and anybody that has that gift, man, I just, I love that gift so much because I wasn't encouraged a whole lot as, as a child that just wasn't, um.
My parents' gift. And their gift is very much giving, but there's different other kinds of gifts that people have, and the gift of exhortation is so important. And a lot of times that is just what we need in the Godly counsel. Yeah. Keep going, keep going. You heard from the Lord, you know what the word says, right?
You have the Holy Spirit that lives on the inside of you. Yeah. And um, and we just need that to, to help us stand. You know, even Moses, when they were fighting that, that battle, he had to have, um. People hold up his arms. Right, right, right. I think it's so important to have, to have people surrounding you.
Jesus had people surrounding him. He wasn't, there was, there was a a, a time where he was off by himself. Right. He went and sought out the Lord and, and, but, but he always had his disciples around him and he went into, um, homes. He communed with the people. It's so important to get your. To get your people and my, my heart in this, and what the Lord has been showing me is, is that some people are feeling very alone and you're feeling like you don't have, you don't have your tribe, but your tribe.
You do have a tribe. There are people, we are here to help. Um, it's important to have that. It's so important to have, I, I am blessed with, I was telling you today, I think I, I have at least five women in my life that I know, pray for me. Occasionally I can talk to that. I lift up, that they lift me up, and I am blessed beyond just because of that.
I, I didn't have that before. It has taken me some time, but I am now since it, I, taking that time to build those relationships, I am confident with the council that I have surrounding me. Mm-hmm. And it has helped in my life. Put me on the trajectory of staying on the narrow path. Yes. My teachings. Yes.
Pastoral teachings. Yes, I have, I have been around some great. Amazing teachers and have learned the word and it has gotten in me, but it has been through the relationships that have really helped me to get out of panic attacks, to stay in my marriage, to go to Bible college, to be a mother to my children.
It has been through that council to, to do serious life decisions. It has, it has been through that. Mm-hmm. And so I wanna encourage you. Out there. I know some people are feeling very lost and very alone. You're not, you're not alone. If you need help, if you need counsel, you can write help in the comments and, and we can reach out to you and, and check in on you and see, you don't have to do life alone.
God doesn't want you to do life alone. We're called to commune with one another. We're called to do life together. We are called to do life together, but like what, um, one Corinthians 1533 says, it says, do not be deceived, which means that you can be deceived. Right. Evil company corrupts good habits. Yes.
And so if that is the case, then the opposite is also true. Right. Believe that good company will help you stay with good habits, you know, will help to get you to, uh, stay in your marriage, you know, if you're struggling and, um, will help you. Um, in those times when you go through menopause or yeah, or whatever it is, your hormones are kind of crazy and, you know, um, you might not necessarily be thinking along the lines of, of what the word of truth says.
You know, you do need good. People around you. And, um, I wanted to go back and say that those gifts are in Romans chapter 12, verse eight, about the gift of exhortation and giving and all of those type of things. And it's important to also, along the lines of, of counsel, is to identify what those gifts are in people that you find, like you have the gift of exhortation for sure.
Mm-hmm. And, uh. And to call those out in people. Right. Yeah, I agree. It is important and I, I, I know I do have that gift. I find myself encouraging all the time, and I love to mm-hmm. Because I, there's a grace that the Lord has given me. Mm-hmm. Because I have made so many mistakes and bad choices. Um, same. Me too.
And, and, and so I just, I have grace for people. And, and so when they're beating themselves up or going, oh, I'm like, no, it's gonna be all right. Yeah, absolutely. It's going to be okay. You can, you can do better. Um, you know, yes, let's identify what we did wrong, but then let's repent. Turn away from it. And move forward.
Yeah. What does the word say to do? Right. Um, there's been a few people that I've had to stand firm with and, and you've had to stand firm with me, and I appreciate that, and that's what the word does. Today in society, when you look out so much, uh, what I see is it's a very self-motivated self. Self self.
Yeah. I am entitled to whatever it may be. I'm, I deserve this, I deserve this. I'm not gonna argue those arguments, but what I do see is that there's not accountability. And that's not what the word is. The word is accountable because the word is trying to take us to the, the standard of the Lord, because we're not, I mean, there is a standard in heaven and and it's not what we have here on Earth.
It is trying to get us to be better and to be better. It's literally the opposite. I, I say this all the time, but it is how I conduct my life. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that when I hear from the Holy Spirit, it's because it's the opposite of what I feel like doing. I know you can take that to the bank. I know like 99% of the time it's like, this is not what I feel like doing.
Right. Uh, so this must be God. Right. Because his wisdom is completely different than ours, you know? Right. In, in the world it's. Me, me, me, me, me. I deserve this like, like you were saying, but also, um, you want revenge, right? Your heart wants them to suffer, right? You were hurt, betrayed, you know, whatever. And um, you know, God says no.
You are gonna pray for them. Yeah. You are going to bless them. You're going to bless them. That's what I just heard. You're going to bless 'em. And you're like, ah, that really hurts and feels uncomfortable. It does, but it is the best way. It is the best way. It is the best way because it releases you from the bondage of.
Whatever the situation was. Mm-hmm. And you can be happy and you can genuinely see them and be happy for them. Yeah. Regardless of if they're giving you a cold shoulder. Right. You know? Yeah. I mean, it doesn't have anything to do with them. It's all about you. You forgive people or yourself. Right. You're not forgiving them because, because it will benefit them.
Yeah. You are releasing them like God released you. That's exactly it. Like God released you. One of the consequences of on ungodly counsel, again in Proverbs, it gives you your consequences. 1412 says, um, warns that a way that seems right to a man can ultimately lead to death. A lot of times, and again, this could be churchgoers.
This could be churchgoers. These are people out. It's just, it's that. It's not biblical counsel. It's not. That's wise counsel. It comes from the Lord wise counsel comes from the Holy Spirit. Wise counsel comes from truth. So you wanna maintain seeking that. It also says here in one Corinthians 1533, um, to be cautious about the company that you keep because bad company can corrupt good character.
Mm-hmm. So God is constantly counseling us on, on who or with. And so some of the ways to find that council is to seek out a good biblical church, a church that's just biblically based, that doesn't throw in religion. The manmade stuff. The manmade stuff is where it's gonna get you off into the ditch. Um, there is no perfect church.
As you know, there is not, not a perfect church, but there are plenty of churches. God has raised up some mighty men and women to go out there and build churches that, that talk on the Bible. I've been at one, I am at one now. Um, I, I've been at multiple, so it's, it's, it's not, you can find elders of the church and those are people.
Um, I guess I would be considered an elder now. I never thought that was gonna happen, but, um, that's older, that's experienced things in life. Or somebody who is a leader that is considered somebody who, who has that biblical knowledge and that discernment from the Lord. Yeah, I would definitely say to seek out somebody whose life is working.
Yeah. And to judge people by their fruit. Yes. And yes. You know, getting people saved and, and operating in the gifts of the spirit are important. But really the fruit of the spirit is what Galatians five talks about. It's, it's how do they love people? Right. Are they peaceful? Do they have joy? Yeah. Um, are they kind?
Yeah. Um, that's the fruit that I'm looking for. Right. Uh, because, you know, salvation, it, it is important for, uh, us all to be. Helping people be reconciled to Christ. Absolutely. That is the great commission. We're all supposed to be doing that. Uh, but at the same time, that isn't the fruit that God is talking about.
Right. The fruit of the spirit being, um, are you enjoyable to be around? Yeah. You know what I mean? Right. Yeah. Are you enjoyable to be around? Yeah. Can I be around you? Mm-hmm. Um, I know, uh, your pastors are people that you should have access to. Pastors should give you. Wise counsel. Um, and again, the Bible does say to test every spirit.
Mm-hmm. So you can test even what they give you. 'cause sometimes they get it wrong. And that doesn't mean that you need to, um, to, you know, cast stones at them. It means that they're human too. And it means that maybe they had a bad day or maybe, maybe you misheard. Maybe they misspoke. Um. But you should have access to a pastor or or leader, and it's okay to go to them.
It's important to go to them. If you don't have access, that's a red flag. That's, you know, that's, but you should be able to find that at a, um, uh, Bible-based church. Mm-hmm. Yeah. When you are seeking this out, really who you're seeking out is the Holy Spirit in that other person. Because that's what's going to give you confirmation and help you.
No, you are on the right track. No, this is, you are fine. Um, or going to say, well, no, this is what the word says. No, I, I understand it to be this. So when you look it up, you're able to get back to the word. You're able to see that the word is, is confirming the direction that you need to go in. And so that's what you're looking for in that person is that godly wisdom, that character, the fruit, the fruit.
The judgment. You know, a lot of times people go, you know, talk about, as a Christian, you're not supposed to judge. No. You're not supposed to judge the heart, but you are supposed to judge the fruit of a person. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Uh, it's super important to that. People know that. Yeah. You know, only God can judge me.
Well, yeah. Ultimately, but, and he does judge you by your heart, like you were saying. But it is important to surround yourself with people that are operating in the fruits of the spirit. 'cause we, otherwise it drains you. Yeah. And we all know people that drain you. Yeah. You know, they're the people that you can only have limited doses of.
And that's not to say that we're all gonna be everyone's cup of tea. Right. You know, we, I don't necessarily care for some people's company that doesn't meet them a, a bad person or anything like that. It's just how I'm wired. Right. And I definitely am not gonna be everyone's, um, you know, favorite person either.
Yeah. I'm aware. I'm aware. Dito, let me too, you made it aware. You made me aware. I'm aware. I'm aware. For me, my sake, um, I've, I've been aware, but there is fruit in my life. Yes, there is. I laugh a lot. Yeah. And I think that that is important. I do too. I wanna be around people that laugh. Yeah, me too. That have um, uh, you know, a serious side that they know when to get down to business, but that they.
Have the joy of the Lord even, uh, no matter what their circumstances are. Right? Yeah. Yeah. I think it's important to, like you were saying, to look at the person and where they're at and how they are and you know, I'm probably, um, am not going to go to somebody I. Who is in the midst of a bankruptcy and ask them how to invest my money.
Right. I, I mean, I, I mean, I just wouldn't, um, well, and another good way of, of judging people's fruit is go out to eat with them. Yeah. How do they treat the server? Yeah. How do they treat it? Yeah. Yeah. How do they treat the people that are underneath them that can't do anything for them? Right. Yeah. That is a good judge of people's fruit.
Yeah. That is a great judge of people's fruit. Yeah. When looking for wise counsel, be sure to go to your church. Um, if you're not in a church, find a church, find a, a Bible-based church not to go, um, so that you can be religious, but go so that God can speak to your heart so that he can change your fruit so that he can connect you with other believers.
It's not easy to walk through this life without partnership. No, we absolutely need other people. We do, and I'm so thankful for my partners that I am able to walk through life with because. It's, it can be hard. Mm-hmm. And so, and the word says in Ephesians that you should stand and then continue to stand.
It says it like three times in six, uh, what is that, 20? Yeah. Somewhere around there. 15. Anyways, 15, 20, Ephesians six. Somewhere it talks about standing and then stand and, and now this is standing against the enemy, but you are going to have trials and tribulation. Mm-hmm. That's what the word, you know, talks about.
We will have those. Mm-hmm. They're coming. They are here. Um, so who are you standing arm in arm with? And it will take you some time and, and some of these people will go and it's okay. Some of 'em will not stay. And those I have had, um, I think, uh, Carla and, and Rebecca that have been the two constant women in my life that know the Lord.
And then I've had others come and go. Mm-hmm. And, um, and. I'm thankful for those. Yeah. So I'm like, okay, they served a purpose. They did, and I served a purpose in their life as well. Mm-hmm. So find yourself a church. Get connected with people. There's, um, there's, I'm sure there's groups, there's small groups, there's ways to go.
But get, get yourself connected. And if you don't have anybody, again, comment and, and we'll, we'll connect with you, I think. Also, uh, as many verses as we have talked about in Proverbs. You know, Proverbs is the book of Wisdom. Mm-hmm. It's just a really good book to read, a great book read. Mm-hmm. So if you're looking for wise counsel, I mean, you can always go to the book of Proverbs, and then also if you're struggling, Psalms helps me Yeah.
When I'm struggling, right. I just read and read and read Psalms until I, the Holy Spirit speaks to me and I get an answer, and, and I'm, and I'm comforted. Um, those books, they're right next to each other in the Bible, Proverbs, and Psalms. Uh, I find a lot of wisdom there. A lot. Yeah. And that brings me to a red ledger gift plug.
We have plenty of Bibles. Um, if you go to red ledger gifts.com, you can find. So many Bibles, they're beautiful. They're um, they're also masculine ones for those of you that have extra testosterone and would like them, um, they're great. They're really good looking. Um, Bibles and you can get into the word and I highly recommend it.
Proverbs is a great way. That's where I was at, and throughout there. Like I said, there was 13 different scriptures that spoke on council, and it was multitude of council and count, and I was just like, okay, wow. I'm apparently supposed to surround myself with wise people. Okay, I can do that. Mm-hmm. So the other thing that we haven't mentioned is, hey.
God has answered my prayers about bringing women into my life. That, that are exactly this. Yeah. Um, bringing people into your life that are full of wisdom that, um, you know, have something to, to offer your life, to help you to stand, to lock arms with. And so we don't wanna, uh. Just completely rule that out.
God is so merciful and kind and faithful to answer our prayers. Yes. And bring the right people into our lives. Amen. That's great. So thank you for joining us today. Um, like and subscribe and, and be sure to leave comments. It, it just helps with the AL algorithm. So we thank you. Bye. Thanks so much. Bye.