1. Text: Ps. 1:1; Prov. 1:5 Scripture Reading: I Chr. 14:8-17

2. “Acquire Wise Counsel” What counsel do you seek? The wicked of the world are not the ones we should seek counsel from!

3. “Acquire Wise Counsel” We need to be wise in the kind of counsel we seek! Let us learn from the lessons of the past! (Rom. 15:4) Let us learn from the lessons of the past! (Rom. 15:4)

4. “Acquire Wise Counsel” King Ahab of Israel  I Kings 22:2-6, 10-12: King Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to go with him to battle the Arameans (Syria)  400 prophets came and prophesied that the kings would be successful  I Kings 22:7: Jehoshaphat recognized they weren’t from God and asked again to speak to a true prophet of God!  I Kings 22:30, 34-40: King Ahab died in the battle with Syria!  He knew the 400 “prophets” that spoke to him were false, just as Jehoshaphat recognized, and still he sought after and was willing to take their counsel!

5. “Acquire Wise Counsel” King Ahaziah of Israel  II Kings 1:2: King Ahaziah (son of Ahab – I Kings 22:40) sustained a grievous injury and sent messengers to ask “Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron” if he would recover!  II Kings 1:3-4, 15-17: God sent Elijah to tell him since he asked a false god, he would surely die, and he did!

6. “Acquire Wise Counsel” King Ahaziah of Judah  II Chr. 22:2-5: Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab, so Ahaziah was the grandson of Ahab and great-grandson of Omri.  He only reigned one year over Judah because he was evil! Those who seek after BAD counsel and follow it do so to their own destruction! Those who seek after BAD counsel and follow it do so to their own destruction!

7. “Acquire Wise Counsel” King Rehoboam of Judah  I Kings 12:3-8: Rehoboam had a hard decision to make: so he sought after the wisdom of the elders who served his father King Solomon, but he “forsook” their counsel to listen to his younger friends.  I Kings 12:9-13: He had already made up his mind to listen to the “younger crowd” and followed the advice that was “music to his ears!”  It turned the people against him and the kingdom was divided! (12:16-20)

8. “Acquire Wise Counsel” King Jehoshaphat of Judah  I Kings 22:7: King Jehoshaphat asked for a true prophet of God  I Kings 22:17-23: He heard God was not with them if they went to war.  If they went to war, they would be defeated and Ahab would die!  I Kings 22:29, 32-33: Jehoshaphat & Ahab went to war with Syria  Jehoshaphat heard the counsel he sought after, but did not heed it!

9. “Acquire Wise Counsel” King Zedekiah of Judah  Jer. 38:14-23: Zedekiah sought Jeremiah’s counsel, and Jeremiah told him he wouldn’t listen to it, nevertheless he told him what he wanted to know.  He needed to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar to live and save the city!  Jer. 39: Zedekiah did not listen to Jeremiah but fled with the army, was overtaken and his sons were killed, he was blinded, and the city burned!

10. “Acquire Wise Counsel” Rich Young Ruler  Lk. 18:18-23: The rich young (Mt. 19:20) ruler asked Jesus what needed to be done to inherit eternal life.  He was given the chance to acknowledge Jesus as God (God is good – 18:19), and given the chance to see his own errors in the Law (Mt. 19:19-20).  But his trust was truly in his riches and he went away instead of obeying! To not heed GOOD counsel is foolish – fools despise wisdom and instruction! (Prov. 1:7) To not heed GOOD counsel is foolish – fools despise wisdom and instruction! (Prov. 1:7)

11. “Acquire Wise Counsel” King David  I Chr. 14:8-17: David inquired after God to know if he should go to battle the Philistines. God said to go. He defeated them and burned their false gods.  The Philistines raided again and David asked God a 2nd time. This time God didn’t just say “Go,” but gave instructions as well.  David followed the counsel of God and was victorious!

12. “Acquire Wise Counsel” The Apostles  Acts 1:21-26: In naming a new apostle, Matthias, they didn’t just do it their way, they sought God’s counsel and let God direct them in their choice!

13. “Acquire Wise Counsel” Saul of Tarsus, Cornelius, & Sergius Paulus  Acts 9:6, 17-18 (22:10, 12-16); Acts 10:29-33, 48; 13:6-7, 12: All 3 of these men have something in common:  They listened to someone sent (either by God or summoned by them) to teach them the gospel and then obeyed the gospel! (Mk. 16:16) Mark 16:16 16. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Mark 16:16 16. "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. We need to seek God’s GOOD counsel and be willing to do it! (Rom. 1:16-17) We need to seek God’s GOOD counsel and be willing to do it! (Rom. 1:16-17)

14. “Acquire Wise Counsel” What counsel do you seek? The word of men or the word of God?

15. “Acquire Wise Counsel” Saints are to seek after counsel from above For the counsel of God is good! Ps. 16:7 7. I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. Ps. 16:7 7. I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. Ps. 33:11 11. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Ps. 33:11 11. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Ps. 73:24 24. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Ps. 73:24 24. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

16. “Acquire Wise Counsel” Let us turn to the word of God to “acquire wise counsel!” (Prov. 1:5) Let us turn to the word of God to “acquire wise counsel!” (Prov. 1:5) When we accept God’s good counsel, we become wise!  Prov. 12:15; Prov. 9:9 Saints need to be careful in the counsel we seek, and upon hearing good counsel, need to be willing to do it! Saints need to be careful in the counsel we seek, and upon hearing good counsel, need to be willing to do it!

17. Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)