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• 2 sam 16:15- 2 sam 17:14 On Purpose!
• , back in Jerusalem, Hushai david’s spy goes and praises Absalom who is concerned, and asks why he’s betrayed David and came to him. Hushai says he’s following the man Israel chose to follow- Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do, he tells him to go into davids concubines he left behind. Absalom does it before all Israel fulfilling the prophecy of Nathan
• Ahithophel gives more advice, says he’ll ride out with 12k men and surprise David- and kill him and all of davids followers will come and follow Absalom. Absalom thinks it sounds good, but asks Hushai for a second opinion. Hushai says- bad advice- David is going to fight back. Instead- gather all Isreal to fight david- Absalom decided Hushai’s advice is better-

1. Prayer Changes things- But not God’s purpose

• The first part of this story is that Ahithophel goes to Absalom to give him some advice- its weird advice- Go in to the concubines of David in the sight of Israel- Doesn’t realize that he is fulfilling a prophecy- but he is advising what Kings do that take over other kings- Show who is king.
• Here’s the thing tho- David prayed Athithophels counsel to be foolishness- 2 Samuel 15:31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”
• it was foolish advice– It insured the demise of Absalom. How could he and David reconcile after such a thing? Absalom sexually assaults his fathers concubines as a show of power
• Here’s the nugget of this part of the story tho- David’s prayer worked! He prayed that Athitophels counsel would be foolishness- and it was! This was horrible advice– PLUS- Later in the story- Absalom doesn’t take Ahithophels advice to let him go and attack- more foolishness.
• God answered David’s prayer and made Ahithophel look foolish- v17:23 says he committed suicide
• God moves when people of God pray! Not the suicide but the foolish advice!
• Moses prayed to change God’s mind and it did “Ex 32:14 So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.
• Joshua prayed to stop the sun from Going down Josh 10:12-13
• Hannah prayed for a child– 1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.
• What does it mean to you?
• Are you praying for things that God can move on? Have you given yourself over to doubt?
• We serve a God that can do above and beyond all we can ask or imagine- We need to PRAY
• Elijah prayed that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t. james 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

• That’s an answer to prayer!
• Tons of scriptures on prayer in the NT-
• Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Matt 21:22
• If there are things in your life that you want to see God move- PRAY- watch what he does-
• 1 John 5:14-15 READ He will answer!
• John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
• Pray big bold- prayers that will change the course of your life- Watch what Does does
• Matt 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened
• People will say- what if God doesn’t answer- who cares! PRAY!
• Pray for a wife, kids, building, provision, protection, etc. Why me? Idk- But he answered!

2. Take wise counsel- Understand God’s purpose

• Now in this part of the story- we see that Absalom took part of athithophels advice- the concubines, but didn’t take the advice that Athithophel was going to take 12k men and go kill david Read V 16:21-23
• Instead- he Took the advice of Hushai- Don’t attack david right now- but wait- he’s a man of war- but hushai was a spy- Hushai was trying to help david Read V 17:5-7
• In the end- Absalom said “v 17:14 READ
• It was better advice from Hushai than Ahithophel- and it was- Horrible idea to take the concubines- it was going to ruin Absaloms chances of being the King- But he did it
• So Absalom Took PART of Ahithophels advice, rejected the 12k fight, and took Hushai’s advice
• And Hushais advice was better- don’t attack david But Athithophels wasn’t great advice
• Who you take counsel from is very important. You take the wrong counsel it can redirect you
• Had Absalom inquired of the Lord, or the elders of Israel, or someone who didn’t dislike David- it may have been different- but he didn’t- He went with his gut on this one- Hushai wasn’t really helping either- He was just getting played into Davids hand
• What should he have done? He should have INQUIRED of the LORD what he should DO
• Its what his dad did- Its why he is a man after God’s own heart-
• 2 Samuel 2:1 David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”
• 1 Sa 30:8 David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”
• A King- A person- whomever- if you want success in your life- go to God First
• Had Absalom gone to God first- he may have had a different outcome (he’s gonna die)

• What does it mean to you?
• Who are you going to for the advice that you need in your life? Who do you ask?
• Pro 15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
• Do you ask people with no financial sense, health sense, marital, relationship, parenting, career, and most importantly spiritually- what you should do?
• Or worse yet- do you only rely on yourself?
• Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
• None of us are an island to ourselves- we have to go to God, and at times others, to win
• I am the senior leader of this church, but I still take counsel from the elders- I talk to other pastors and get their advice. I don’t just take one persons- I talk to many
• I don’t think I have all the answers- I talk to my wife a lot- Talk to God a lot
• Pro19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
• Here’s where you should go to get advice-
• First- The Word of God. If it is clearly explained in scripture- do what the scripture says- 2 Tim 3:16 all scriptures are useful for training
• Second- Pray- Now some would say pray first- but if its clear in scripture you don’t need to pray unless you’re praying for God to give you strength to do what he’s already clearly said
• You pray when scripture doesn’t give you a clear direction- Job, house, career, move $$ etc
• What you need then is WISDOM James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
• Third- Go to A Christian person who is SOLID and ask their advice- BUT- Must line up with the word of God- and they MUST be walking with God- not living in sin, absent from church, life in disarray. People will say- they can help! Sure- but find a better person-
• Fourth- Desires? PRAY- Ask God for the desires of your heart as they fall in in HIS WILL
• Jn14:13whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

3. God’s purpose will stand

• The best part of this story comes from the writer of 2 sam- in verse 17:14 For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom.
• For the Lord had purposed and to the intent
• We’re reading this story and watching the players- but don’t forget the biggest player-
• THE LORD- God wants David as king more than David does. He despises wickedness like Absalom and Ahithophel. His plans are going to be the ones that are going to go forward
• Whatever it is that God wants is what he’s going to get- He’s God- its his way!
• Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations
• Isaiah 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
• God is God folks! What he desires and what he wants is what is going to go forward!
• Isaiah 55:8-9 READ
• What does it mean to you?
• You can pray, you can take advice, but you have to realize that God is in control and there is only so much you can do. You want to be in HIS WILL and do what HE WANTS
• God is in control and you SHOULD pray as well- to be in his will, not get disciplined, fellowship
• Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
• Lam 3:37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?
• We are all players in God’s magnificent plan of redemption- we do have free will AND we are predestined as well! How? My inability to explain something doesn’t make it untrue
• Trust in God’s plan- Know that he is taking care of you and your situation- Its for HIS purpose
• Live without fear- God has taken care of you thus far and you can live without fear
• Don’t worry- Worry is a symptom of lack of trust- People worry who don’t trust and have fear
• Isaiah 43:13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?”

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