“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Prov. 11:14 ESV)

I have a business friend who has made millions of dollars in numerous business ventures. He says one of the big reasons he is so successful is because he takes advantage of his business friendships. In fact, over the years he has amassed a vast contact list made up of many successful businesspeople he utilizes for advice and counsel. Before he completes any project or venture, he runs it past them for input. He said their valuable counsel has saved him numerous times from making serious mistakes.

Plans fail for lack of counsel

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Prov. 15:22 NIV)

Wise guidance brings victory

“For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Prov. 24:6 ESV)

A wise man listens to advice

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Prov. 12:15 ESV) 

You will gain wisdom for the future   

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Prov. 19:20-21 ESV)

“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” (Prov. 7:1-3 NIV)

There is a little book written by Dodie Osteen, “Healed of Cancer,” which tells her amazing story of how God healed her of pancreatic cancer. She had reached the stage where her skin had turned yellow, and the doctors had given up and told her there was nothing more they could do except send her home to die. But instead of giving up, she decided to apply God’s Word with faith. She began by looking up all the healing verses in the Bible. She wrote them down by hand in a notebook, poured over them daily, and claimed them with faith for herself. She memorized, personalized, and spoke out loud key verses like, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:17 KJV), and “He Himself bore my sins in His body on the cross, so that I might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds I have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). She also placed on her walls lots of pictures of herself as healthy and well; these constantly reminded her of good health. And it worked. She did not die, but improved a bit every day until she became totally well and healthy again. Dodie’s testimony is a great example of the promise at the top: “Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as your own.”

Therefore 

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)

“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Phil. 4:9)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 19:17)

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36 KJV) 

Definition of freedom

Freedom: The quality or state of being free: such as. 1: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. 2: liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another: independence. 3: the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous.

Wherever the Lord is, there is freedom

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor. 3:17 NLT)

Therefore

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16 ESV)

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:21 NLT)

The above passage is the gospel (good news) stated very simply and clearly in only one verse. Let’s look at and define the verse a few words at a time: 

• FOR GOD - The Father, creator, maker, ruler of the universe, and the source of all moral authority

• MADE – caused, compelled, assigned, appointed

• CHRIST – Jesus the Messiah, the chosen one, the anointed  one, the King of Kings, the Lord of lords.

• WHO NEVER SINNED – a man of pure and perfect nature, untouched by sin.

• TO BE THE OFFERING – to be the acceptable gift sufficient to pay the total cost  

• FOR OUR SIN – for our transgression against God’s moral laws which have separated us from Him.

• SO THAT WE COULD BE MADE RIGHT – so that we could be made righteous, blameless, and irreproachable in God’s sight

• WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST – and have peace with God through what Jesus has done.

“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” (Prov. 10:9 ESV)

Integrity – The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. honesty, honor, good character, ethics, righteousness, virtue, decency, fairness.

Integrity means renouncing wrong ways and walking in God’s truth

“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor. 4:2 ESV)

The integrity of the upright is their guide

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” (Prov. 11:3 ESV)

“By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. “ (Psalms 41:11-12 ESV)

The righteous walks in integrity and their children are blessed

“The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!” (Prov. 20:7 ESV) 

In your teaching show integrity

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.” (Titus 2:7 ESV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV)

The verse at top is a promise about God’s kind of peace 

Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” Notice that he mentions peace twice in the first sentence. That’s because the peace that God gives is more powerful than fear. He says he has given peace to you, and it’s a  different kind of peace than what the world gives.That’s an important distinction to understand.

The verse at top is also a command not to allow fear

Because of the “different” kind of peace that Christ gives, you have been given God’s power over fear. He commands his people, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” 

God has delivered you from all fears

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 NIV)

Be strong and do not fear, God will help you

“Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.” (Isa. 35:4 NIV)

“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isa. 41:13 NIV)

Be strong, courageous and do not be afraid

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9 NIV)

Because God cares for you, cast all your anxiety on Him

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (2 Peter 5:6-7 NIV)

“But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:15 NLT)

God’s free gift leads to being right with God

“And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. (Rom. 5;16 NLT)

God’s wonderful grace and gift of righteousness

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:17 NLT)

Brings new life and a right relationship with God 

“Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. (Rom. 5:18-19 NLT) 

God’s wonderful grace rules

“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 5:20-21 NLT)

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Rom. 5:1-2 NLT)

Privilege defined

Privilege comes from the Latin word privilegium, and means a benefit enjoyed by an individual or group beyond what's available to others. Being a member of an exclusive club, organization, or group brings privileges for its members. Family members have privileges that only apply to family members.

Having privileges is wonderful

In 1968, I was stationed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, US Army Aviation Center. I was in charge of three music centers at the base. The job came with many privileges; I lived in a nice apartment, wore a  monogrammed jumpsuit, and I had a “go-to-the-front-of-the-line” meal card to use at all the base mess halls. When I was hungry, I just walked into any one of them, then to the front of the line and showed my card. It was great to have all those special privileges.

We have many privileges as members of God’s family

The Bible passage at top says we have “undeserved privilege” provided to us through faith in Jesus Christ. We are adopted in God’s family which  brings many wonderful privileges. Here are some of them:

·      Privilege of being a co-heir  with Christ “Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…” (Rom. 8:17).

·      Privilege of having bold access to God “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16 NKJV)

·      Privilege of having a new home waiting in heaven “But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13 NASB)

·      Privilege of being Blessed  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Eph. 1:3 NASB)

·      Privilege of using His Name “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:14 NASB)

·      Privilege of having all of God’s promises “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.” (2 Cor. 1:20 NIV)

·      Privilege of sharing the good news with others “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 ESV)

“For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” (Rom. 1:11-12 NLT)

 Encouragement is greatly needed! 

Encouragement is something we can freely and generously give to each other. It is to give support or confidence. To stimulate one another spiritually. It is to applaud, boost, brighten, buck up, buoy, cheer up, comfort, console, embolden, energize, enhearten, enliven, fortify, galvanize, gladden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, praise, prop up, rally, reassure, refresh, restore, revitalize, revivify, rouse, and/or strengthen.

Encourage and build up one another

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (2 Thess. 5:11 NIV)

Look for ways to encourage one another toward love and good deeds

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:24-25 NIV)

God gives endurance and encouragement to you

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” (Rom. 15:5 NIV)