They “Asked Not Counsel at the Mouth of the Lord”

Text: Joshua 9:14

Introduction:
 I. Discussion of the setting of the text.
    A. Joshua 9:4-15
    B. This was a violation of Exodus 34:12-17.
II. We can see in this expression and consequences which were 
    suffered by the Israelites a warning for God’s people today.

Body:
  I. The Bible contains that counsel which is from the mouth of 
     the Lord.
     A. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
     B. Psalms 119:105
     C. To the spiritually minded person, God’s word is just as 
        authoritative when given through a book as it would be 
        if He appeared to speak to us in some direct way.
     D. So often, the expression is found “Thus saith the Lord” 
        1 Corinthians 14:37

 II. Man is in need of that counsel which is from the mouth of 
     the Lord.
     A. Scriptures:
        1. Proverbs 14:12
        2. Jeremiah 10:23

III. When we have in our homes easy access to the “counsel at 
     the mouth of the Lord”, and we are in need of that counsel, 
     why do people fail to ask “counsel at the mouth of the 
     Lord”?
     A. They have lost faith in the Bible as God’s counsel.
     B. Because of ignorance. Hosea 4:6
     C. Because they have put their trust in men.
        1. Two problems here.
        2. False teachers. Matthew 7:15
        3. All these learned men tend to disagree.
        4. Ephesians 5:17; 3:3-4
     D. Our own wisdom and the wisdom of others.
        1. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19
        2. Isaiah 55:8-9
     E. Ignorance and unconcern.  Living their lives with little 
        thought for eternity.

 IV. Areas in which people are making fatal mistakes because 
     they ask not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
     A. Marriage, divorce, and remarriage.
        1. Adulterous marriages are being formed.
        2. Matthew 19:9
     B. Many failed (?) of this evil failed to recognized the 
        evil of divorce itself.
        1. Matthew 19:3-6
        2. 1 Corinthians 7:3-5
        3. Malachi 2:16
     C. In doctrinal matters concerning conduct of the church.
        1. Religious error and division are primarily the result 
           of failure to “ask counsel at the mouth of the Lord.”
        2. In first departure – Organization of the church.
        3. Many years ago, the “restoration movement” began – 
           not long; however, before division came.
           a. Missionary society – 1 Timothy 3:15
           b. Instrumental music – Ephesians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 
              14:15
           c. Today, division is present and again the problem 
              is men are not “asking counsel at the mouth of the 
              Lord.”
              (1) Church sponsored recreation. 1 Timothy 3:15; 
                  5:16 (principle of division between individual 
                  and church) – Parties; ball teams; weight 
                  rooms.
              (2) Elders are taking oversight of brotherhood 
                  projects. 1 Peter 5:2
              (3) Church support of human institutions (such as 
                  colleges, etc.)
              (4) Churches raising money in other ways than 1 
                  Corinthians 16:2
              (5) Instrumental music.
     D. In the conduct of the home.
        1. Concerning children.
           a. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
           b. Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; Ephesians 6:4
           c. 1 Samuel 3:13
           d. Titus 2:4
        2. Concerning husbands and wives.
           a. Ephesians 5:22-31
           b. Titus 2:4-5
     E. In the plan of salvation.
        1. Mark 16:16
        2. Acts 2:38
        3. Acts 22:16
        4. 1 Peter 3:20-21

Conclusion: Let us always seek counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

1. West End (McMinnville, TN) 11/14/82

Top of the page