The Spirit of Counsel and Might

[Albert Finch]

(Read Isaiah 11:1,2)

 

Counsel and Might Defined

Counsel is defined as advice, plans or admonitions of prudence to provide leadership and proper decision-making to achieve God's plan and purpose. The term can be used to apply to secular or human counsel, but primarily counsel received from the Holy Spirit.

The Hebrew word for counsel is "etsah" and is used numerous times in the Old Testament and translated either counsel, advice, advisement, or purpose. One of the first occurrences of the term is in Exodus 18:19 when Jethro gives counsel to Moses concerning the leadership of Israel.

According to Isaiah 9:6, the Lord Himself is known as the Wonderful Counselor. A counselor is one who gives advice or formulates a plan for the achievement of a specific goal. The Spirit of counsel grants advice from God's throne and provides the perfect plan or strategy to achieve a specific mandate. The Lord does not merely have counsel; He is the Spirit of counsel.

Might is taken from the Hebrew word "gebuwrah" and is defined as power, strength, or force producing valor, victory and mighty deeds. The Spirit of might illustrates and demonstrates the marvelous acts and miraculous powers of the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 3:24 affirms this saying,

"O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in Heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?"

These two Spirits working in unison function through the Holy Spirit by giving advice or counsel which formulates a plan that demonstrates the mighty acts and miraculous powers of God.

 

 Adherence to Counsel Releases Might

We see this demonstrated in the ministry of the Lord Jesus as well as the Old Testament prophets who functioned in this Spirit for a season.
Naaman was instructed by the prophet Elisha to dip in the Jordan River seven times; his adherence to the word of counsel released the Spirit of might to heal his leprosy. Jesus applied clay to a man's eyes and told him to go to a specific pool to wash the clay away; his meticulous obedience to the word of counsel released the Spirit of might giving the man his sight. These are just a few of the many Biblical illustrations outlining the function of the Spirits of Counsel and Might.

Clearly, not every circumstance will be as vividly outlined. Even so, whether received through prayer, the written word or prophetic utterance, our careful adherence to God's counsel releases the Spirit of might to do awesome things.

 

The Lord's Counsel

In Revelation 3:18 the Lord gives us a word of counsel saying: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see."

 

Our dedicated obedience to His counsel unleashes the empowerment to live the life of one who overcomes and victorious over the spirit of this age and all spiritual opposition so that we sit with Him on His throne as He overcame to sit with the Father.

 

 Affirmations

 

I AM AWARE OF THE COUNSEL OF THE LORD AS I STAY IN HIS PRESENCE AND WALK IN THE SPIRIT.

POWER, VICTORY, STRENGTH, AND MIGHTY DEEDS ARE AVAILABLE TO ME AS I OBEY HIS COUNSEL.