| Orientation to Biblical Counseling
|
| Lesson 3 - Why There is Hope
|
Your hope in the midst of trials:
- Those in Christ are freed from the power and penalty of
sin ( Romans 6:3-7
,14
,18
,23
). The past is dealt with once and
forever. To listen to the past is to listen to demons, and to
dishonor the Blood of Christ, Heb.l0:10,14-22. We are to give
our time and effort to the present.
- God will not allow believers to be tested or tempted beyond
what they can bear. He gives His grace and strength to endure
every test and resist every temptation so that you never have
to sin ( Rom.8:35-39
; 1 Cor.10:13
; 2 Cor.4:7-10
; 12:9-10
; Phil.4:13
;
Heb.4:15-16
; 2 Pet.2:4-9
).
- Our Lord Jesus Christ will grant mercy and provide grace
to help in every need. He constantly intercedes as an advocate
for you to God the Father and fully understands your weaknesses
( Heb.2:18
; 4:15-16
; 7-25
; Rom.5:10
; John 20:23
). Don't defend
self when treated unfairly, or suffering injustices. As your advocate,
let Jesus handle evil done to you on earth. Our job is to love
our enemies, do good to those who persecute you. Express goodwill
to them ,put them in the hands of God, pray that they may receive
spiritual blessings in Christ ( Rom.12:19
).
- Trials and testings will develop and mature you in Christ
if you respond to them in God's way ( Rom.5:3-5
; Jm.1:2-4
). He
never devises evil or harm for you, rather His plans for you are
for good ( Gen.50:20
; Deut.8:2
,5
,16
; Ps.145:17
; Jere.29
:ll-13;
Rom.8:28-29
; Prov.24:10
;21:22
).
- God's peace and joy are available to believers regardless
of others, possessions or circumstances ( Lu.6:35-38
; Matt.6:33
;
Rom.5:3
:12; John 14:27
, 15:11
, 17:13
; Rom.14:17
; Phil.4:4-7
; 1
Pet.1:6-9). Follow God's will, His word which is His righteousness
and the Kingdom of God is yours to proclaim. We reign in life
through righteousness.
- Only God can change people ( Eze.36:26-27
; Phil.1:6
,2:13
),
so you cannot and are not responsible for changing them. You are
accountable to God solely for your own deeds ( Jere.17:10
; Eze.18:1-20
,
especially verse 20; Matt.16:27
; Rom.2:5-10
; Col.3:23-25
; 1 Pet.1:17
)
and are to do your part in living at peace with others ( Matt.5:23-24
;
Mrk.11:25; Rom.12:9-21
, 14:19
; 1 Pet.3:8-9
, 4-8
).
- When you confess your sins, God forgives and cleanses you
( 1 John 1:7-9
; Rom.5:10
; Heb.7:22-25
; Heb.10:22-23
). Our job is
to honor the Blood of Jesus by acting and proclaiming ourselves
forgiven by His great sacrifice for us. To act guilty, condemned
or self-pitying is to make the cross null and void of power.
- As we follow God's way, walking in His word, living by His
truths as so stated, we enter into His promises of an abundant
life now, here on earth, as well as in eternity ( 1 Cor.6:17
; John
5:24; 4:24; 10:10).
Homework
- Memory verse :
- John l6:33; and meditate on this verse, read and listen to
it carefully, mull it over until you really understand and see
it, then act upon in attitude and in deed.
- Devotions :
- BSAF on Heb.6:19-20
.
- Put-off / Put-on :
- Continue working on the VOSWS, and complete columns 2 and
3.
Note: During the meditating process, seek others interpretation
of the verse, ask Holy Spirit to reveal deeper meaning, etc. For
example, on the memory verse, Jesus on the Cross exclaimed: "It
is Finished ! ". To me this verse means that Satan is defeated,
I am no longer in union with Satan, my sins are forgiven, I am
set free from the world, the flesh and the devil, I am complete
in Christ, I am an overcomer in Christ, now in Christ I can work
through all the trials , tests and temptations of life and overcome
them because Jesus overcame the world so can I in Him.