Derek Prince Secret Council of the Godhead

Counsel: Advice, direction, plan Council: Meeting to take counsel together Principle in Scripture: Counsel (right planning) proceeds out of council (collective deliberation)


I. The Covenant Of The Lord A. Ps. 25:12–14—The covenant follows the secret. Implication: until we enter into the secret council of the Lord, we do no understand His covenant. B. Covenant is only understood by revelation from God on the basis of character. Basic character requirement: the fear of the Lord.


II. The Council Of The Godhead A. The Godhead is the ultimate council of the universe: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Out of this council proceeds the counsel that determines the course of history. B. Three examples of the Godhead in council: 1. Gen. 1:26— “Let us make man in our image . . .” Heb. Elohim: Plural word also found in singular: contains mystery of the God who is One, yet more than one 2. Gen. 3:22—“‘The man has now become like one of us . . .’ ” 3. Is. 6:8—“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” C. Priesthood of the individual believer should give access to the council of the Godhead, in order to accomplish divine purpose. However, we need to hear the counsel of the Godhead collectively, as a Body.


III. The Purpose Of The Holy Spirit A. John 16:12–15—The administrator of the total wealth of the Godhead is the Holy Spirit. He is the indispensable key.B. Gen. 24—Just as Rebecca depended on the nameless Servant, so the church must depend on the Holy Spirit in order to: 1. Know about God the Father and Jesus the Son 2. Receive her inheritance 3. Be marked out as the true church 4. Reach her final destination C. We cannot bypass the Holy Spirit and receive our inheritance. The Holy Spirit is the only channel of access to the council of the Godhead.

IV. The Wisdom Of The Holy Spirit A. 1 Cor. 2:6–16—God’s secret wisdom revealed only to the spiritual man (compare Zech. 12:1; Heb. 4:12) B. Three things that can only be known by revelation: 1. The nature of God 2. The origin of man 3. The nature of man C. The Spirit has revelation; the soul has ideas. 1. The soulish man does not understand or accept spiritual things. 2. But we have the mind of Christ, imparted by the Holy Spirit to the corporate Body.


V. The Essence Of The Gospel A. 1 John 1:1–3—An invitation from the Godhead to join them B. End purpose: To bring man into fellowship with the Godhead


VI. Pattern Of The Godhead: A. Unity but not egalitarianism B. Three eternal principles 1. Fatherhood: provides identity and security. God the Father is behind everything in the universe. 2. Headship: God the Father has authority over Jesus the Son; the Holy Spirit is submissive to both. Yet all are divine and they are one. 3. Fellowship: Where fatherhood and headship meet


VII. Practical Application A. The key to effective collective leadership is right relationship within the leadership B. Eph. 3:14–15—Whenever God produces a family there must be a father 1. We need to discern fatherhood, recognizing that Fatherhood gives headship. 2. Where Fatherhood and headship are properly functioning, we will have fellowship. 3. Our relationships will be such that the Holy Spirit will be attracted and He will open to us the counsel of the Godhead.C. Eph. 5:21—Keys to receiving counsel of the Godhead 1. The fear of the Lord—It cannot be apprehended except by revelation 2. Our attitude to one another should be dictated by the fear of the Lord 3. Warning: We should not seek God’s counsel unless we are willing to meet the conditions and are prepared for suffering


VIII. Natural/Spiritual Principles Of Fatherhood A. There can be no family without a father. Where the father fails, there is no adequate substitute. B. Witchcraft contends against fatherhood, natural and spiritual. Satan’s objectives: to emasculate males and destroy fathers. 1. Rev. 12:1–5—Satan fears the man who will rule 2. Mal. 4:5–6—Wrong relationships between fathers and children inevitably will bring a curse. 3. Elijah is God’s answer to Jezebel (witchcraft)


IX. Our Objectives A. As the church: to reproduce on earth the council of the Lord with fatherhood, headship and fellowship. To do this we must wage war against witchcraft.B. As leaders: To find our place in a leadership council which functions on the model of the Godhead


© 1982 — Derek Prince Ministries–International