Wise Counsel | Hearing God | Pastor Justin Moore

Devotional

Day 1: True Wisdom Begins with the Fear of the Lord

True wisdom isn’t measured by worldly success but by a heart anchored in reverence for God. Proverbs 1:7 declares that fearing the Lord—acknowledging His authority and holiness—is where knowledge starts. This isn’t about terror but awe, recognizing God as Creator and Sustainer. Society elevates influencers, but true counselors point to Scripture. Wisdom flourishes when we submit to God’s Word, not cultural trends. Without this foundation, advice becomes noise. [10:20]

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Proverbs 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you sought guidance from sources that prioritize success over Scripture? How might anchoring your decisions in reverence for God shift your perspective?

Day 2: Choosing Counsel That Feeds the Ego Divides

Rehoboam’s story warns against seeking advice that flatters rather than refines. When faced with a critical decision, he rejected the elders’ wisdom for his peers’ approval, fracturing a kingdom. Counsel rooted in ego ignores hard truths; godly counsel aligns with Scripture, even when uncomfortable. Wise voices don’t always affirm—they often challenge. The right advice prioritizes God’s glory over our comfort. [14:46]

But [Rehoboam] abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men… “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” (1 Kings 12:8–11, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a decision where you’re tempted to choose validation over correction? How can you discern between counsel that flatters and counsel that transforms?

Day 3: Iron Sharpens Iron in Godly Community

Isolation breeds stagnation; community cultivates growth. Proverbs 27:17 compares relationships to iron sharpening iron—friction that refines. Godly friends ask hard questions, pray boldly, and hold us accountable. Like Rehoboam’s peers, some voices dull our edge. But those rooted in Christ’s Word polish our character. Spiritual growth accelerates when we stop pretending we “have it all together.” [29:07]

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
(Proverbs 27:17, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life consistently challenges you to align with Scripture? How can you intentionally invite them deeper into your struggles?

Day 4: A Teachable Heart Welcomes Uncomfortable Wisdom

Pride resists correction; humility receives it. Proverbs 12:15 contrasts the fool who trusts their own instincts with the wise who seek outside perspective. Teachability isn’t passive—it’s actively pursuing counsel that stretches us. Like a coach correcting an athlete’s form, godly advice realigns us with truth. Wisdom often hurts before it heals. [23:32]

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

Reflection: When has your resistance to feedback kept you from growth? What step can you take this week to embrace uncomfortable truth?

Day 5: Confirmation Through Prayer and Godly Counsel

Major decisions demand dual confirmation: Scripture and Spirit-led community. The preacher’s church-planting journey required both prayer and counsel to discern God’s will. James 1:5 reminds us to ask God for wisdom—He gives generously. Yet He often speaks through others’ discernment. Trusted believers help us test personal convictions against God’s unchanging Word. [30:46]

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
(James 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: Are you facing a decision where you’ve sought God’s voice but avoided others’ input? Who can help confirm if your direction aligns with Scripture?

Sermon Summary

Hearing God through wise counsel takes center stage as Proverbs teaches the church how not to wander but to live by a steady voice. True wisdom plants its roots in the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 1 moves the disciple from “I don’t know” to discernment by naming the starting line as reverence: God is Maker, Father, enthroned, and not a consultant. That starting line keeps advice from drifting into ego or trend. The image lands plainly: wise counsel is getting the benefit of experience without the experience.

Proverbs refuses to call success wisdom. The text insists that counsel must point to Jesus and run on Scripture. The Bible does not spit out formulas; it forms people. Scripture makes the disciple wise so decisions can be faced faithfully when no proof-text appears. Luke 21:33 raises the stakes: heaven and earth will pass, but Christ’s words don’t. So the first move is not to people, but to prayer and the Word. The disciple hits their knees, opens the text, and looks for the fruit of the Spirit to fence the path.

Rehoboam shows what happens when counsel serves an appetite. He hears the elders say, “serve them,” then chooses the peers who say, “assert your dominance.” That choice feeds pride and fractures a kingdom. The contrast unmasks a trap: many want to speak, but not all should. Family ties are not credentials. Amen-corners are not wisdom. The Word reads a life like a book, and that sting is mercy.

Wise counsel usually lives ahead on the road: spiritually, emotionally, experientially. Age can help, but the deciding mark is Scripture in the bones and a life that actually hears God. The truly wise don’t push into someone’s decisions; they are invited. The disciple gets picky about who is let in because the first voice is God’s and the test is God’s Word. The issue is rarely God’s silence; the issue is teachability. Proverbs calls the fool right in their own eyes, but names the wise as those who listen.

Godly community becomes the greenhouse for this. Lone-ranger spirituality is just pride with a halo. Growth accelerates when disciples walk with the wise, because iron really does sharpen iron. An abundance of counselors brings safety, plans succeed, and souls are protected. Across moves, ministries, and marriages, prayer, fasting, Scripture, and community converge to confirm steps. God delights to orchestrate those confirmations.

Key Takeaways

1. True wisdom begins with holy reverence [10:20] The fear of the Lord redirects decision-making from self to God. Reverence recognizes limits, dethrones impulse, and anchors counsel in God’s character. Without it, advice skews toward ego and urgency. With it, even hard words become a path to life. [10:20]
2. Scripture is the first counselor, not last [20:07] Christ’s words outlast the cosmos, so they outrank circumstances and sentiments. Running to people before prayer reverses the order and muddies discernment. Start with kneeling and a Bible open, then test every impression and opinion against what God has already said. God never contradicts himself. [20:07]
3. Wrong voices feed the ego and divide [14:46] Rehoboam did not lack counsel; he chose flattery over wisdom. Counsel that inflates power, urgency, or grievance usually masks pride. The right voice often presses humility, service, and patience, which feels smaller in the moment but guards unity and future fruit. [14:46]
4. Teachable hearts find safety in community [28:44] An abundance of counselors does not mean a crowd of echo chambers. It means trusted saints who know Scripture and know the person well enough to tell the truth. Teachable posture turns sharp iron into a gift, converting correction into protection and growth. [28:44]
5. Invite the wise; don’t follow the loud [18:29] The truly wise don’t force access or sell certainty. They wait to be invited and point past themselves to Jesus and the Word. Choosing who gets close is part of wisdom, because proximity shapes pathways long before a big decision arrives. [18:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:22] - Buckle up; worship night invite
[01:59] - Why hearing God matters now
[03:24] - Wise counsel: benefit without the pain
[04:23] - Pepsi Challenge: info vs wisdom
[08:35] - Walk with the wise, become wise
[09:33] - Proverbs 1: purpose of wisdom
[10:20] - Fear of the Lord: true beginning
[12:27] - The Bible forms, not formulas
[13:17] - Wrong voices open the door to trouble
[14:33] - Rehoboam’s peer pressure and pride
[18:29] - Invite, don’t be bulldozed by advice
[20:07] - Words that outlast the cosmos
[26:31] - Community as a greenhouse for counsel
[28:44] - Safety and success with many counselors
[30:46] - Seeking God and counsel for big moves
[33:43] - Marriage: second biggest decision
[35:03] - Prayer, response, and next steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Luke 21:33 (ESV)
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."

Observation Questions

According to Proverbs 1:7, what is the foundation of true wisdom, and what characterizes those who reject it?
In the story of Rehoboam (referenced in the sermon), what two types of counsel did he receive, and how did each group advise him to respond to the people’s grievances? [14:11]
What does Luke 21:33 reveal about the permanence and authority of God’s Word compared to earthly things?

Interpretation Questions

Why does the “fear of the Lord” matter so deeply in discerning wise counsel? How does this reverence shape our priorities when making decisions?
Rehoboam’s choice to follow his peers’ advice led to division. What does this story teach about the dangers of prioritizing ego or popularity over humility and service? [14:46]
How does prioritizing Scripture as the “first counselor” (rather than a last resort) guard against impulsive or self-centered decisions?

Application Questions

Who are the people you regularly seek advice from? What specific evidence in their lives (e.g., rootedness in Scripture, humility, fruit of the Spirit) confirms they are wise counselors? [16:41]
When facing a decision, how can you practically prioritize prayer and Scripture before consulting others? Share a recent situation where you did (or didn’t) do this, and what you learned.
The sermon warns against “amen-corners” — people who only affirm what we want to hear. Is there an area of your life where you’ve avoided challenging feedback? How could inviting a trusted, Scripture-grounded voice into that area bring clarity or growth? [17:08]
Teachability is described as a mark of wisdom. What practical step could you take this week to cultivate humility (e.g., asking for feedback, studying a Proverbs chapter daily, or fasting over a decision)?
The sermon emphasizes that “lone-ranger spirituality is pride with a halo.” How can you deepen your engagement with a biblical community (e.g., joining a small group, sharing a struggle openly, or serving alongside others)? [26:31]

Sermon Clips

37s

“``What you and I should do when we're faced with troubles or a decision, we should hit our knees before the creator of the universe and ask him, God, what do you have in this situation? What wisdom do you have? I want to hear from you. And then, God, I want to open your word and see what it says. And whatever path you're trying to go down, if it leads away from God's word, if it's full of the fruits of the spirit, then we avoid those things. We know that we don't go down that road, but instead we follow his word as the first source of wisdom in our lives, not the last.”

43s

“We open ourselves to trouble when we listen to the wrong voice, and that's why wise counsel doesn't begin with people's opinions. It begins with God's truth because God's word is the first source of wise counsel. We've talked about this principle all throughout this series that anything that you experience, anything that you think that you hear from God, whether it be through Rhema, whether it be through dreams and prophecy, what you always do is take those things back to the word of God to make sure that it aligns with who God is and his plan and will for your life that he's already written in these pages. God will never contradict himself.”

42s

“Listen, Rehoboam didn't fail because he had no counsel. He chose the one that fed his ego the most. We open ourselves to trouble when we listen to the wrong voices, friend. And here's the thing. A lot of people want to speak into your life. Can I give you a hard truth today? You shouldn't let them. You need to be picky about who gives you counsel and the counsel that you will follow in your life. And it should not be from a worldly perspective. It should not be anything that contradicts God's plan and what he's already said for us.”

45s

“Because the issue isn't whether God has spoken, the issue is whether we're willing to listen. Because teachable people receive wise counsel. So it goes back to what we talked about before. Listen, they're not always going to agree with you. Wise counsel sometimes pushes you a little bit, challenges you a little bit. It's not always just going to agree with the stance that you take, and you have to remain teachable all the days. I have to remain teachable all the days of my life. Proverbs twelve fifteen says this. It says, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.”

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Wise Counsel | Hearing God | Pastor Justin Moore | Parker County