| Behind the Word – counsel of the ungodly –Counsel means exactly what you think, a source of informed advice. Ungodly (Hebrew) – rasha pr. Raw-shaw’ – hostile to God, guilty of sin against man or God. |
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…..
4The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment……
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous….. But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:1a, 4,5 NKJV)
I begin every day in the Word. I have submitted my life to the authority of the Word.
I seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I pray, and listen for the Lord’s response. I try to respond as He leads.
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly….. The Word is my counselor. The Holy Spirit is the Counselor and is my counselor. The Lord is my counselor. Everything I have written so far is true, yet I know I receive, both actively and passively, counsel of the ungodly…. In its harshest definition, this phrase means the counsel of those who are hostile to God. What sources might be giving me daily counsel that is hostile to God?
Each day I spend some time in mind numbed TV watching. It now takes extremely careful channel selection to avoid shows that either subtly are hostile and in opposition to God, or are blatantly anti God. John wrote – and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. (1 John 4:3 NKJV) It would appear that the spirit of the Antichrist John speaks of is widely at work in our media – TV, talk radio, Internet, and even infomercial preachers who offer to sell God’s blessings.
How can I possibly filter all this Antichrist input? Paul had a suggestion — …casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…. (2 Cor 10:5 NKJV) Many of my media sources exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. The same sources may also have Godly content available if I choose very wisely.
Jesus tore the veil to the Holy of Holies to give me unfettered access to God, but sometimes I pull the veil back in place as I seek separation from God and engage and allow input in my life which opposes Him. I pull the veil when I call it harmless. I pull the veil when I forego the prodding of the Holy Spirit. I pull the veil when my eyes simply linger too long where they should not be looking.
Where and how will the input of the spirit of Antichrist entering your life today?
Stephen Faulkner 