Daily Encouragement

Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Poole Forge Covered Bridge, Lancaster County, PA

The Poole Forge Covered Bridge in Eastern Lancaster County is one of our many covered bridges. Notice the wreaths!

(Click on photo to enlarge)

"Wonderful Counselor"

Note: This week we are sharing a five part series based on Isaiah 9:6, considering one the great Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.

Message summary: Today we encourage you to regularly seek and follow the counsel of our Wonderful Counselor regarding all that concerns you.

Listen to our message on your audio player.

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Today let us consider the first of four names of Christ mentioned in Isaiah 9:6, "His name will be called Wonderful Counselor". Some versions treat wonderful as a separate description while others consider "wonderful" an adjective for Counselor. Of course either way it doesn't change basic theology. Jesus is both wonderful and a wonderful counselor!

Counseling is a popular field of study these days. The desire to help others is commendable. There are all kinds of places to study to be a counselor including college classes, online and correspondence. Just search "online counseling courses" and you will see there are many.

We have valued good counsel through the years and hope we've offered some as well. Some of the best counsel in our view comes from non-professionals well along in life who have the benefit of life experience, along with the wisdom that comes from a steady walk with the Lord and years of Bible study. Sadly many discount the value of this type of counsel, considering it inferior to those who have received formal training.

I thank the Lord for good pastoral and common sense counsel from others through the years. I still recall sitting down with my banker in my early 20's and getting some helpful financial and accounting counsel I didn't get in Bible College! It is our view that many seek complicated and often expensive solutions for answers that basically require obedience to simple advice. Bluntly in many cases the "counseling industry" can be a huge racket, offering advice that is contrary to the Bible.

We see ads run about addiction counseling covered by insurance which we hope have helped some. However many of these programs in our observation, during our pastoral years and now in our chaplaincy role, are just revolving doors. The greatest key to overcoming is when the counsel includes emphasis on Biblical principles and above all, a life-changing experience with Jesus Christ.

We all have personal and immediate access to the Wonderful Counselor. The Scripture teaches in Hebrews 4 concerning this counselor, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time" (verses 15,16).

The Bible study site gotquestions.org has these helpful comments concerning Christ being our counselor:

"In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people (1 Kings 4:34; Micah 4:9). Isaiah uses this word again in 28:29 to describe the LORD: "This also comes from the LORD of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom".

Jesus is a wise counselor. “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for He knew what was in each person” (John 2:25). He is able to advise His people thoroughly because He is qualified in ways no human counselor is. In Christ is “hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3), including the knowledge of all human nature (Psalm 139:1–2). Jesus always knows what we are going through, and He always knows the right course of action (Hebrews 4:15–16).

Christ’s position as our Counselor means we can trust Him to listen to our problems and guide us in the right direction (Proverbs 3:6). We can be sure He is listening because He told us to pray to Him about our worries (Philippians 4:6; James 1:5). We can be certain He has our best interests at heart because He loves us (1 John 4:19). And His love is so wide and deep (and wonderful) that we cannot fully understand it (Romans 5:8)." *¹

A small advent devotional titled "His Name Shall Be Called: Inspiration for the Christmas Season" features dozens of names and titles of Jesus Christ from both the Old and New Testaments. In regard to "Counselor":

"Not often is He called 'Counselor' now. Even God's saints continuously ask of men instead of God, "How may I find God's will?" Conference after conference is held by both the world and the church to find by human wisdom some better plan for earthly government, or for the church, or for the welfare of our earthly life and walk. But how rarely do we bow together or alone to seek that heavenly wisdom, that divine counsel, which alone will enable us to find our way out of the mazes in which we wander. When will His name be joyfully and triumphantly proclaimed as "Counselor" by His people? By you?" *²

Today we encourage you to regularly seek and follow the counsel of our Wonderful Counselor regarding all that concerns you.

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, as we travel here below we have much to think about, much to decide upon, and questions arise where it can be very difficult to find the right answer. At times it's hard to do the right thing, being uncertain as to what the right thing is to do. We know the best place to search is the Scriptures since that is where we find the greatest counsel, and then we seek in prayer the Wonderful Counselor who knows our needs even before we voice them. Thank You, Father, for sending Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, who loves and cares for us more than any human agent, and will guide us into His paths of righteousness all the days of our life as we cling to Him. Amen.

Special Year-end Financial Appeal

We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). Like most ministries, we typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support at this time but if you would like information about making a donation to our ministry see here.

In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read all over the world.

To donate directly online click here. (This will open to a page that designates the offering to: STEPHEN & BROOKSYNE WEBER - 700001-237376 SERVING IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY)

Please Note: If you desire you can donate directly through PayPal using this link. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber". We keep this option available due to the familiarity, convenience, for international supporters, and for those who may not need an official receipt. You can also set up for recurring donations.

Thank you,

Stephen & Brooksyne

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Wonderful Counselor" Video Maranatha Singers

"Wonderful Counselor" Video Resound Worship

"Jesus, What A Wonderful Child" Video Calvary Church choir and orchestra from several years ago.

"No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus" Video Steffany Gretzinger As we prayed together at the conclusion of today's message the line, "Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, who loves and cares for us more than any human agent" brought to mind an old hymn. We both enjoyed this updated version.

*¹ Article on gotquestions.org on the Messiah being a Wonderful Counselor. I have benefited from this site for many years now and it has a vast collection of easily searchable resources.

*² From "His Name Shall Be Called: Inspiration for the Christmas Season", published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.

Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne

About Us

"We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!"

Personal Ministry Update

Daily Encouragement email!

(each weekday)

Name:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday use our sign-up form or this page to subscribe to our free email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the top right side after opening this page.)

Daily Encouragement on:

Wordpress

iHeart radio

Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.

We want to thank all who financially support our ministry. We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if you would like to make a donation to our ministry see here for more information.

To donate directly online click here. This will open to a page that designates the offering to: STEPHEN & BROOKSYNE WEBER - 700001-237376 SERVING IN SPECIALIZED CHAPLAINCY

Please Note: If you desire you can donate directly through PayPal using this link. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber". We keep this option available due to the familiarity, convenience, international supporters, and for those who may not need an official receipt. You can also set up for recurring donations. You can also use PayPal on this link.

Thank you,

Stephen & Brooksyne

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

dailyencouragement.net

"Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation"