July 14, 2018
Truths learned in public ministry
- to be applied into private ministry
Truths learned need to be applied to private
Public ministry
- info gathering, declaration
Need both counselor and preacher
Good preaching and no counseling = people in distress
Call of church - both Public and Private ministry
1. why do people do the things they do?
2. how can everlasting change take place in this person's life? how does change take place?
3. how can I be an instrument of that change?
*** Everyone carries their own theories to these questions.
Impossible to do counseling/be a tool without knowing the mechanics of change
Every counseling step is change
Do these answers match the Bible's?
1. sin, upbringing/background, experience, desires, communication style, ways to receive love
2. confrontation, inner healing, new habit
3. pray, accountability, honesty, patience
Genesis 1:26-31
1st form of counseling
Experiences as facts vs. Interpretations of those facts
We all need truths outside of our lives like Adam and Eve, although those two were flawless and perfect, they still needed truth and guidance from another outside party - God.
Need truths outside of ourselves
God created human beings to be a community of giving and receiving counseling
Our need for counsel is not a result of sin, but because we're human
So much shame attached to counseling in society
Genesis 21:8
We're all counselors already but, does my counseling answer the 3 questions well?
Genesis 3:1
- dramatically different view of might and wrong
"Wonderful counselor"
Why we interpret life leads to how we live it
We're so used to so many confusion/interpretations
Genesis 3 - thousands of voices have been released onto humanity, confusing our world
- weep with those who weep
- mourn with those who mourn
- people should be drawn to our ministry by compassion and love
Luke 6:43-45
Child analogy
- "all the people around me is the reason"
- no child says "because I'm angry"
People think the bad things we do are caused by others
Must learn and study all Bible passages of the heart
alcohol loosen lips, heart comes out
When we start taking responsibility (words and behavior) is when change is ready to take place
Unbreakable - Organize Connection, Spiritual Connection
Apples will rot when they are not connected to source
Season after season - something systematically wrong with roots
We try to nail new behaviors
Lasting change travels through pathway of the heart
I can't run from me.
Romans 1:25
We are inescapably a worshiper, it's just what we choose to worship
Matt. 6:19-24
- we're after the treasure
- treasure will control our hearts
Col. 3:12-17
To address issues while they're still small
Relationship building for self satisfaction/happiness
Relationships are workroom for our redeemer
Where will the church get mature pastors if the immature ones run away
Col. 3:15 Constant prayer, Personal Pursuit
Peace of Christ to rule my heart
When resting in Christ, stop thinking about me, then able to care for others.
Effective cure always attached to diagnosis.
2 Peter 1:3-4
Word of God needs to dwell in my heart richly.
So many people are not ready, I'm not ready.
I haven't taken my calling seriously enough.
Am I prepared? Nope.
Be at rest with God's calling for me.
Direction, Admonish, Teaching, An instrument of rescue, Agent of heart transformation
Participants or consumers?
What's my true calling?
Teaching license vs. conducting.
Counseling resources, inochi no sen
Going into ministry and not losing God
1- Gaze. Focus on the glory of God, Isaiah 40, Last portion of Job, Eph. 1
2- Remember. God's child, pray every morning that God would remind me my identity in Christ
3- Rest. because God exists and glorious connected us to His glory by grace
4- Act. live with hope and courage
John Piper- A God Word Life, 2 Volume devos, 2 pages each
JP - book on prayer
Eugene Peterson - Puritans
1. Consideration (heart) - breakthrough blindness, what does God want this person to see? How can I ask to help them see it? Where is God calling this person?
2. Confession (heart) - What God is calling this person to see without blaming others and completely taking all the responsibilities
3. Commitment (direction) - new ways
4. Change (direction) - where is God calling this person to apply change in daily life? New commitments?
1-4 Biblical repentance
1-2 Put off
3-4 Put on
James 4
- what desires are being blocked that make me angry?
Counseling led by questioning, not declaring (Nathan prophet confronting David in questions)
Heart also interacts with flesh during depression. The gospel lightens the burden.
Giving a person a safe place is enough grace.
Counseling - great medium for personal ministry and evangelism
November 18, 2018
Romans 8:28-34
How does God reach out to us?
- God calls us
- People often ask if we love God enough, but the real question is are we growing deeper in our desire for God in the Holy Spirit
"All things work together"
- all the good and bad things (suffering included) (shame, failure, sin, etc.)
All the good and bad in my life will come together for the good of God's plan
8:29-30
- Golden chain of redemption, all connected to God's plan for salvation
Foreknew. Predestined. Called. Justified. Glorified.
When we're called by someone we like or respect.
Being Christian means we've heard our calling to follow God.
At right standing with God.
Satan often brings us these partial truths....our sin and how God hates sin, but God justifies
What do we rely on? Satan? Ourselves? or God's truth?
No one. Christ is the one who died. God already condemned Jesus.
God prays for us.
There are always 2 sides of the story to our salvation....God chose me a long time ago.
Trust and have Faith in God's plan.
November 23, 2018
Intimacy with God
How's my relationship with God?
How do we measure? By feeling? by satisfaction?
A true sign of intimacy with God
- having peace in times of struggles
Intimacy should permeate every moment of our lives
Psalm 139
John 1:14
Jesus knew how it felt to be alone
Having the desire to be intimate with God proves several things...
- Holy Spirit is in us
- Jesus cleared the way
- Jesus paid price already
We wouldn't want this intimacy if none of the above is true
We also wouldn't be able to feel this way about God
November 24, 2018
Intimacy with God
Shameful, Matthew 18:1-4
Get all my questions answered before becoming a Christian?
but instead, we should go to God like Children
Children don't struggle being intimate with God, they do it naturally.
A father wants his child to fall asleep in His arms talking to Him, tell him throughout the day how we're doing, greet him when we wake up....
During our "time out"/self punishment from our guilt and shame, we're restricting ourselves from intimacy. By punishing ourselves, we're saying Jesus's punishment isn't enough.
Intimacy is received. Galatians 4.
God doesn't look at us through a dirty sinful window.
Telling our Father about my hopes and dreams.
Prayer walk. Sharing meals is intimate.
November 25, 2018
2 Cor. 11:25-27, Roman 8:36, Psalm 44:32
When we became Christians, we get to join God's team. On the same side, but, we're left in the enemies' territory continuing to fight these battles.
Easy: to know God loves us, to feel our sins
Hard: to feel His love
Consuming vs. purifying fire
Like a thief who enters the home asking for....
money - okay
phone - okay
but our child? We would fight to our death.
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