An Instructing Saint
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The Importance of Counsel.
The Importance of Counsel.
Without counsel: Errors are made
Without counsel: Errors are made
Where no counsel is, the people fall:
But in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Without counsel: Endeavors are missed
Without counsel: Endeavors are missed
Without counsel purposes are disappointed:
But in the multitude of counsellers they are established.
Only by pride cometh contention:
But with the well advised is wisdom.
The Individuals involved in Biblical Counseling
The Individuals involved in Biblical Counseling
The first individual is the Holy Spirit.
The first individual is the Holy Spirit.
The second individual is the human counselor
The second individual is the human counselor
The third individual in counseling is the counselee
The third individual in counseling is the counselee
The Role of the Spirit
The Role of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the principal person.
The Holy Spirit is the principal person.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go:
I will guide thee with mine eye.
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not;
I will lead them in paths that they have not known:
I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked things straight.
These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Qualifications in a counselor
Qualifications in a counselor
1. Shows Spiritual Maturity/Fruit
1. Shows Spiritual Maturity/Fruit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
2. Strives toward Godliness
2. Strives toward Godliness
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
3. Fears God, not Man
3. Fears God, not Man
25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.
4. Demonstrates Biblical Fidelity
4. Demonstrates Biblical Fidelity
24 Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.
92 Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.
5. Accurately Handles Scripture
5. Accurately Handles Scripture
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
6. Obeys the Great Commandment
6. Obeys the Great Commandment
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
A counselor's authority comes from the Word of God
A counselor's authority comes from the Word of God
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
1. Teaching
1. Teaching
A. Evangelism
A. Evangelism
B. Edification
B. Edification
2. Conviction
2. Conviction
Conviction means bringing facts to bear upon a case as to prove that someone is guilty of a sin.
The Spirit gives the Word of God to the people of God to bring conviction.
3. Correction
3. Correction
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
4. Disciplined training in righteousness
4. Disciplined training in righteousness
20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Sources of knowledge available to the Christian counselor
Sources of knowledge available to the Christian counselor
The Scriptures
The Scriptures
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Counseling experience
Counseling experience
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
(3) The dynamics of his own sinful heart.
(3) The dynamics of his own sinful heart.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
There is no unique problem that has not been mentioned plainly in the Scriptures!
God's has a solution to every problem
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Questions the counselor should ask the counselee
Questions the counselor should ask the counselee
1. What is the specific problem (or problems) in this case? This question implies that the counselor wants to understand the problem thoroughly on all levels.
2. Specifically, what biblical principles apply in this case?
3. What must be done to bring these principles to bear upon the case in order to understand and solve the problems?
Jay Edward Adams, The Christian Counselor’s Manual (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1973), 24.