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

Today's Message: Darkened Counsel

Counselorsmay have all the degrees and qualifications the world can give, butunless their advice is in harmony with God's Word, it is "darkenedcounsel."

The next four chapters are Elihu speaking toJob and his three friends. Elihu, who was among the men, but did notspeak a word until Job's three friends had nothing more to say.First, he condemned them, then he expressed even greater hostilitytoward Job. “Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, andhearken to all my words. Behold, now I have opened my mouth, mytongue hath spoken in my mouth. My words shall be of the uprightnessof my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. The spirit ofGod 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 formedout of the clay.” -Job 33:1-6. Here is this young man tellingJob, “you asked for answers, well here they are”. This egotistreferred to himself by the words "me," "my," and"I" at least 55 times to inform Job that he alone waschosen to intercede on Job's behalf. We need to be very careful ofthe counsel we give, it's one thing to be confident in what webelieve in, but it's another to think that we know everything, We cannot make assumptions based on hearsay or the circumstances one is in,if we want to be good counselors, we must learn to look beyond thesurface into the truth.

Elihu, continues his accusations,“For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away myjudgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurablewithout transgression. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorninglike water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, andwalketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothingthat he should delight himself with God. Therefore hearken unto me yemen of understanding: far be it from God, that he should dowickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.”- Job 34:5-10. Elihu accused Job of claiming to be perfect andsinless, yet he failed to acknowledged that Job did mention hisimperfection as sin. He also accused him of saying “ Itprofiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.”.Elihu's conclusions were in direct opposition to Job and thetestimony of God. He proclaims God's justice and goodness,bringing out some real truths of God and His majesty, but he wronglyinterprets Job's defense as hypocrisy and self-righteousness.

Elihuis 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 willtwist Scripture in order to try to mislead us. He even tempted Jesus,quoting Scripture, “And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set himon a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son ofGod, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall givehis angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands theyshall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against astone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt nottempt the Lord thy God.” - Luke 4:9-12. He is just one morereason why we must read all of the Bible for ourselves. God allows usto be ministers (counselors) through His word, but we must learn allof it so we can teach it to others. We are all students who learnsomething new every day from the Bible, but we must remember that theglory 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 byteachers. “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, heled captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men................And hegave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; andsome, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for thework of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”- Ephesians 4: 8,11,12.

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

Today's Psalm: 33:10,11

“The LORD bringeth the counsel of theheathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of noneeffect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts ofhis heart to all generations.”

Today'sPrayer:

Dear God,

We’regrateful for the Scriptures that make us wise unto salvation; for thegodly wisdom that plants us in the fertile soil of Christianfruitfulness. When tempted to look to the wisdom of man or expertisebased on godless counsel prompt us instead to look to You, ourWonderful Counselor. In Jesus' Name.............Amen.

Havea wonderful and blessed day/night and enjoy the rest of your week.

God Bless,

Christina

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