Standing in the Council
But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.
Jeremiah 23:22 (NIV)
God exposes false prophets with a simple test: if they had stood in My council, they would proclaim My words and turn the people from evil. Prophecy without council is guesswork with anointing. Whoever never stood with God carries no message from God. Pulpits full of opinions reveal councils left empty and cold.
Standing in the council is the messenger's first obedience. Before speaking to people, listen in secret. Jeremiah wept alone what he preached in public. Messages that skipped the knee never pierce hearts. Obedience precedes eloquence; the secret place precedes the pulpit always and everywhere.
Fruit betrays the fountain: council words convert from evil conduct and evil deeds. True preaching produces return, never applause. If a message never confronts evil, it never came from the council. God measures sermons by conversions, not by likes or growing offerings plates.
Today, return to the council before opining. Less stage, more secret. Listen until it hurts, obey until it costs, and only then speak. Today's message must be born from yesterday's knees. Whoever rises from the council carries authority no study can manufacture.
And seek the council: feet in secret sustain voices in public.