Standing In The Counsel Of God

Jeremiah 23:18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?

This passage speaks of taking time to get with God and hear what He is concerned with. God is using Jeremiah to rebuke false prophets who haven't been with God, and don't have a clue with what He is wanting to speak to the Jewish nation. 

I want to take the text in a slightly different direction. Standing in the counsel of God means remaining firm in the things He has said. Paul in Ephesians 6 speaking of the armor of God says: Ephesians 6:13  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. After you have equipped yourself with armor, stand firm. It is one thing to put on armor it is another to stand firm when an enemy is attacking.

It is one thing to claim a promise in the bible, it is another to stand firm in claiming it. That is exactly what the writer of Hebrews is saying in this passage: Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. That text tells that there is often a lag time between doing what God wants and getting what He has promised. The text implies God put some conditions on receiving, they were fulfilled but the promise has not yet come.

Standing in the counsel of God, is refusing to give up on His promises.

Standing in the counsel of God is remaining firm even when we don't see results. 1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Standing in the counsel of God is remaining firm in the things God has taught you. 2 Timothy1:13  Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Standing in the counsel of God, is not allowing your standards to slip, or to go back to behaviors God delivered you from. God calls that returning to vomit.

In short, having done all stand, and keep on standing.