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Today is Wednesday June 24, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Job, please read chapters 34-37 in your Bible or Click Here to read them. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2034-37&version=9

Today's Message: Darkened Counsel
Counselors may have all the degrees and qualifications the world can give, but unless their advice is in harmony with God's Word, it is "darkened counsel."

The next four chapters are Elihu speaking to Job and his three friends. Elihu, who was among the men, but did not speak a word until Job's three friends had nothing more to say. First, he condemned them, then he expressed even greater hostility toward Job. “Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.” -Job 33:1-6. Here is this young man telling Job, “you asked for answers, well here they are”. This egotist referred to himself by the words "me," "my," and "I" at least 55 times to inform Job that he alone was chosen to intercede on Job's behalf. We need to be very careful of the counsel we give, it's one thing to be confident in what we believe in, but it's another to think that we know everything, We can not make assumptions based on hearsay or the circumstances one is in, if we want to be good counselors, we must learn to look beyond the surface into the truth.

Elihu, continues his accusations, “For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.” - Job 34:5-10. Elihu accused Job of claiming to be perfect and sinless, yet he failed to acknowledged that Job did mention his imperfection as sin. He also accused him of saying “ It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.”. Elihu's conclusions were in direct opposition to Job and the testimony of God. He proclaims God's justice and goodness, bringing out some real truths of God and His majesty, but he wrongly interprets Job's defense as hypocrisy and self-righteousness.

Elihu is an example of what happens when we fail to read all of God's Word. Do you thing Satan does not know God's Word? He does and he will twist Scripture in order to try to mislead us. He even tempted Jesus, quoting Scripture, “And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” - Luke 4:9-12. He is just one more reason why we must read all of the Bible for ourselves. God allows us to be ministers (counselors) through His word, but we must learn all of it so we can teach it to others. We are all students who learn something new every day from the Bible, but we must remember that the glory is not in us, but in God. He is the one who shows us the truth, He does this through reading His Word directly, by preachers, and by teachers. “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men................And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” - Ephesians 4: 8,11,12.

Also, during times of affliction, we are often forced into thinking that we really did do something wrong, but we must not let ourselves get discouraged by those who give us darkened counsel, we are always going to face someone who thinks they know what is best for us without knowing the truth. However, God is still in control and He will take care of things for us. He is the comfort and assurance we need to handle every situation. Regardless of how bad it may seem, He wants to use it for our good and for His glory. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28

Today's Psalm: 33:10,11

“The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
We’re grateful for the Scriptures that make us wise unto salvation; for the godly wisdom that plants us in the fertile soil of Christian fruitfulness. When tempted to look to the wisdom of man or expertise based on godless counsel prompt us instead to look to You, our Wonderful Counselor. In Jesus' Name.............Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your week.
God Bless,
Christina

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