Counsel the Word - Biblical Counseling

2006-06-08T08:41:00.000-05:00

Anger

I am finishing up my degree program with The College of Biblical Studies in Houston and we are having to construct a twenty session counseling program for a disorder of our choice. Some of my classmates have chosen things like depression, Bi-polar disorder and OCD. I have chosen anger and specifically anger that comes from within men. We have been asked to come up with twenty biblical truths to teach the person coming for counsel. Also layout what the characteristics of anger are and have scripture to show what God says about those attitudes and actions. This has been above challenging because I have bad problems controlling anger. Because I have trouble with anger it affects how I go about my business each and everyday. Here is what i have come to know about my anger and other men like me. Each day I go about my daily activities I find my self seeking pleasure and peace. Both are not a bad thing on their own but if they become more important than God himself then they become my idols. You might say of course I don't love pleasure more than God, but I say and so does scripture that your actions prove that very thing. When you blow-up and get angry do you seek after something to numb the pain such as ice cream, new clothes, playing video games or pornography? The bigger question would be where do you find your comfort and rest? In the created things of this world or the creator of heaven and earth? A man who battles anger either is angry because he is not getting something he wants or he is getting something he doesn't want and thus he gets ANGRY! Until we realize that God is to be our chef source of hope and pleasure then we will continue to wrestle with the same demons over and over again.

Read what Colossians 3:15-17 has to say about this matter.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Amen.

2006-05-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

This has nothing to do with counseling the inner man, but I found it very encouraging.

Story Link

A few hours before a Kentucky high school was set to graduate its seniors a federal judge blocked prayer in that service due to a law suit earlier in the week over prayer. Over 200 students stood in response and prayed the Lord's prayer during the opening remarks. The crowd appluaded this action by the students and the superintendent said he was pleased with the student's response.

2006-05-19T07:38:00.000-05:00

The Choices we make, Part II

My professor, Nicolas Ellen, who is NANC certified and is a graduate of DTS and a near graduate of The Master's college gave a lecture on the choices we make and how they effect our lives. The outline he handed out in class is found below.

"Your Choices Determine Your Future" Galatians 6:7-8

1. The choices you make in life reveal the kind of person you are. Basically your track record does not lie.

2. The choices you make in life reveal who you serve.

3. When you make choices from a self-centered perspective it will start out feeling good but it will lead to feeling bad and down the path of destruction.

4. When you make choices from a God-centered perspective it will start out being hard but it will lead to feeling good and down the path of abundant life.

5. God knows whether your choices are driven from a self-centered perspective or a God-centered perspective.

6. The way you choose today will impact the kind of life you will have tomorrow. You will reap what you sow.

7. You can control your choices but you cannot control your consequences.

8. You cannot make self-centered decisions and expect God's blessings on your life.

9. You cannot expect to know God intimately while choosing a life of sin habitually.

10. If you always choose what you've always chosen you will always get what you've always got in every aspect of life.

11. It is insanity to think you will get different results when making the same choices.

Some of the above does not taste too good once you meditate on it and think about the ways which you are being selfish and not God centered in your thought patterns. Lets be filled with his Spirit each day so we are full of his love and we have fellowship with one another.

2006-05-10T11:57:00.000-05:00

The Choices we make, Part I

My professor, Nicolas Ellen, who is NANC certified and is a graduate of DTS and a near graduate of The Master's college gave a lecture on the choices we make and how they effect our lives. The outline he handed out in class is found below.

"The Thoughts of Your Heart Are exposed by Your choices"
Luke 6:43-45

1. The thoughts of your heart determine the choices of your life.

2. The thoughts of your heart lead you either to please God or to please self.

3. you cannot be self-centered in your thinking and produce God pleaseing results.

4. You cannot be God-centered in your thinking and produce self-centered results.

5. When the thoughts of your heart God-centered you will walk in love for God and a love for others.

6. When the thoughts of your heart are self-centered you will walk in selfishness towards God and others.

7. Your words tend to expose whether you life is God-centered of self-centered.

8. What your treasure in the thoughts of your heart will be exposed in the way you handle God, people, possessions, power, prestige, pleasure, or positions of authority.

9. The choices you have made towards God, family, friends, and others has revealed the true nature of your heart.

10. Who we are is not based on what others think of us, do to us, or do for us.

11. Who we are is exposed by what we think of others, what we do to others, and what we do or don't do for others.

I have found in my own walk with God that what I sow I also reap. If I walk through the day thinking just about what I need to get done and give no thoughts to God's wonderful majesty and his compassion then when someone cuts me off in traffic or does me wrong I will not respond in a loving manner. I have spent the entire day thinking about me and what I need to do to get things done, so when someone does me wrong I will react in anger because hey they are threatening the most important thing. Me and my happiness. But if I am filled with the Spirit and I continue to pray and speak to God throughout the day when that moment comes I am filled with him and I respond in such a way that is God honoring because I have God's interest on my heart and his glory is at stake and not my own.

2006-04-15T07:53:00.000-05:00

Good Friday and the Ransom to Satan By Denny Burk

I read a very interesting article by Denny Burk found here ... Good Friday and the Ransom to Satan

I found this article very helpful because it helped correct an wrong view of satan and God when it comes to the payment of sins on the cross. Thanks Denny.

2006-03-21T12:08:00.000-06:00

Anger

I. Definition of Anger
A. Disposition of the mind that entertains antagonism towards another individual, manifesting itself in various actions. (Matt. 5:21-22; Gen. 4:1-8)

II. God’s Perspective on Anger
A. Anger is an attitude resulting in action
(Prov. 14:17,29,15:18,16:32,19:19,22:24-25,)

III. Man’s Perspective on Anger
A. Anger is an emotion that is neutral

IV. Types of Anger
A. Godly - To be troubled or disgusted in attitude or action as a result of someone disgracing God or disregarding His Holy Laws (John 2:12-17; Epheisans 4:26-27, Mark 3:5,10:4,Matthew 23, Exodus 32:19,Jeremiah 15:17, Nehemiah 5:6, 2Kings 13:19)
B. Worldly- Negative attitude or action as a result of some need, desire, or standard not being met or being offended by someone (I Samuel 18:6-8, 20:24-34; James 4:1-2;Acts 7:54, Ephesians 4:31-32, Numbers 20:1-13,)

V. Issues that lead to Worldly Anger
A. Misplaced Dependency (depend on people, place, things, or events to provide what only God provides) (I John 2:15-17, Jeremiah 17:5-6)
B. Unrealistic Expectations (expecting things that are beyond the scope of possibility)
C. Untrained in Handling Disappointments (not accepting the fallibility of people, places, things and events)(Proverbs 13:12, Genesis 4:1-8)
D. Not Accepting powerlessness over people, places, outcomes of events (resisting the fact that you were not designed to control people and outcome of events) (Numbers 20:1-13,Eccl. 9: 1-2; Eccl. 7:13-14)
E. Fear (Proverbs 29:25)
F. Pride (I Sam. 18:6-8)
G. Ignorance to Truth (Proverbs19:2-3)
H. Living by the Flesh (Galatians 5:17, 19-21)
I. Inferiority Complex (consumed with seeing yourself as less than others) (I Sam. 18:6-8)

VI. Reasons Worldly Anger Shows Up (James 4:1-2)
A. Identity attacked or not affirmed
1. Put You Down
2. Does not encourage you
B. Unmet Desires
1. You want something you can’t control getting
Examples:
· To have control
· To be loved
· To be accepted
· To be understood
· To never hurt again
· To be respected
· To be served
· To have your way
· To be viewed as competent
· To be approved of
· To belong to someone
· To be held in high regard
· To maintain a favorable position with people
2. You’re getting something you don’t want and you can’t control it
Examples
· To lack control over people/outcome of events
· To be unloved
· To be rejected
· To be misunderstood
· To be hurt/disappointed
· To be disrespected
· To not be served
· To be denied your way
· To be viewed as incompetent
· To be disapproved of
· To not belong to anyone
· To be held in low regard
· To maintain an unfavorable position
C. Personal Standards not agreed with
1. You want something done or handled your way by others
2. You want life to fit your preference

VII. By-Products of Worldly Anger (Col. 3:8)
A. Bitterness
B. Slander
C. Abusive Speech
D. Wrath
E. Malice

VIII. Wrong ways people deal with anger (James 1:20)
A. Suppress- acting like it does not exist
B. Aggression- openly expressed anger at someone else’s expense
C. Passive Aggressive- indirectly expressed anger at someone else’s expense.

IX. The Right Way to Deal With Anger James 1:19,Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 3:1-8)
A. Acknowledge your anger
B. Confess the sin of your anger
C. Identify the Issues that lead up to your anger (Refer to V of Outline)
D. Identify reasons why you where angry (Refer to VI of Outline)
E. Identify the specific desires you are demanding to be fulfilled by God, people, places, events and things(Refer to VI of Outline)
F. Accept your inability to control God, people, and the outcome of circumstances
G. Accept these conditions:
1. The Person may be willing and able
2. The Person may be willing and unable
3. The Person may be unwilling and able
4. The Person may be unwilling and unable
5. It may be a desire that was not meant to be satisfied
H. Accept responsibility for your unloving thoughts, words, deeds, in the situation
I. Repent of unloving thoughts, words, deeds in the situation
J. Choose to serve and love others unconditionally
K. Follow the Biblical Mandate according to the relationship (1Cor13:4-7)
1. Husband/Wife (Eph. 5:18-33, Col. 3:18-19, I Peter 3:1-12)
2. Children (Eph. 6:1-2, Col. 3:20)
3. Parent (Eph. 6:4, Col. 3:21, Deut. 6:6-9, Prov. 22:6)
4. Friends (Prov. 27:5-6, Prov. 17:17,Prov. 27:9, Prov. 18:24)
5. Others (I Peter 3:8-12, Rom. 12:9-21, Gal. 6:1-10)
6. Leaders (I Tim. 4:16, Heb. 13:7, 17;I Peter 5:5, I Tim. 5:17-22, Luke 6:40)
7. Employer/Employee (Eph. 6:5-9, I Peter 2:18-29)
8. Government (Rom.13:1-2, I Peter 2:13-17)
9. Enemies (Luke 6:27-36)

Information taken from a handout by professor Nicolas Ellen.

2006-03-21T12:04:00.000-06:00

Understanding Fear

1. There is a fear for which man is not responsible, but it is a fear which has a definite cause. It is startle or fright, an instantaneous and instinctual response to possible bodily danger. This quickly changes to one of the other fears or resolves to relief. God has built within man a startle or fright response to warn him of possible physical danger. It even appears that this response is an instinctive, knee-jerk reaction which happens in his brain and body an instant before he cognitively assesses his danger. One concludes, therefore, that this kind of fear is physiologically generated in man’s brain and body and is instantaneously prepares him to meet a possible threat to his physical being. Such could be termed a physiological emotion, for its origin is within man’s brain and body. It is the only fear that originates in man’s brain and body. All other fears originate in man’s immaterial heart before then a millisecond later they are experienced in man brain and body. (Ruth 3:8, Luke 24:37)

2. There are fears which are good and right. These fears have discernable causes. These
fears are consistent with loving and trusting God.
a. The fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7)
b. Concern (Galatians 4:11)
c. Respect (Romans 13:7,1Peter 3:2)
d. Caution (Proverbs 14:16)
e. Urgency or Emergency (Nehemiah 2:2-3)
f. Awe (Mark 16:8)

3. There are fears which are wrong. These fears have discernable causes. These fears are
inconsistent with loving and trusting God.
A. Fear of false gods (Jeremiah 10:2-5)
B. Worry or untrusting apprehension (Luke 12:7,32, Philippians 4:6)
C. Timidity or cowardice (2 Timothy 1:7, Joshua 1:9)
D. Uncontrollable fear like panic or some dread (Psalm 48:4-6)
E. Intimidation (Proverbs 29:25)

4. There is only one fear for which there is no discernable cause. It is a fear for which man is responsible, because it results from the sin in his heart. It is the fear of God’s judgment in man’s conscience ever before God begins to move in judgment. It is the apparently uncaused fear seen consistently in the lives of the mentally unsound. This type fear is an indicator that there is a lack of love in our lives that we are not dealing with accordingly. (Genesis 3:10, Proverbs 28:1, 1John 4:18, Leviticus 26:17, 36-37) When one is fraught with excessive fears, he is actually fearing God’s Judgment due to the sin which he is presently entertaining in his heart. Human wisdom claims that when apparently uncaused fear exist is a source of the past. They believe it is a result of unresolved anxiety in childhood or it is past fear which has arisen in response to some present day stress. Human wisdom would claim that it is dormant fear somewhere in the brain and it can mysteriously be activated. However, the scripture makes it clear that apparently uncaused fear is an expression of one’s fear of God’s anticipated judgment due to present, chosen sin which one is personally entertaining in his life. When one experiences apparently uncaused fear it is a sign for them to come to Christ confess and repent to receive forgiveness of present sin.

Information taken from The Heart of Man and The Mental Disorders by Rich Thomson

2006-03-21T11:54:00.000-06:00

Key Concepts of Biblical Counseling

1. The Premise of Biblical Counseling

To Help People establish a right relationship with God the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.
To help people put off particular sins that keep them from loving God and loving others
To help people put on particular patterns of righteousness that produce a love for God and love for others.

2. The process of Change in Biblical Counseling

Confession of sin (1 John 1:9, James 5:16)
Repenting of sin (2 Corinthians 7:10-11, Proverbs 28:13)
Radical amputation of sin (Mathew 5:29-30)
Replacement of sin with right living in that area (Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 3:1-7)

3. The Points of change in Biblical Counseling

People will need to change in thoughts, attitudes, motives, desires and theology.
People will need to change in conversations and communication.
People will need to change in behavior and lifestyle.
People will need to change in how they relate to others.
People will need to change in the way they serve God and others.

4. The Parameters of Change in Biblical Counseling

People will need to gain a biblical understanding of God and submit to his will accordingly.
People will need to gain a biblical understanding of themselves and submit to God’s will accordingly.
People will need to gain a biblical understanding of others and submit to God’s will accordingly.
People will need to gain a biblical understanding of life’s situations and circumstances and submit to God’s will accordingly.

5. The Projects of Change in Biblical Counseling

a. Hope Homework – projects, activities and reading assignments given to help people gain a true hope in Christ in accordance to the problems they are facing.
b. Doctrinal Homework – projects, activities and reading assignment s given to help people gain a solid theological understanding of their problems so they can deal with them properly.
c. Awareness Homework – projects, activities and reading assignments given to help people become aware of their own sinfulness in the problem so that they can stop deceiving themselves about the problem they are facing and own up to it accordingly.
d. Action Oriented Homework – projects and activities given to move people into specific obedience towards God and specific expression of love towards others.

6. Principles to apply in Biblical Counseling

a. Submission or Acceptance of who God is
b. Entrusting oneself to God
c. Acceptance of what God allows
d. Thankful for what he has done or is doing
e. Submit to what he says
f. Worship
g. Prayer
h. Using Spiritual Gifts

7. The Personalities encountered in Biblical Counseling

Those who lack Knowledge yet once they receive it are able to work on their problems and honor God.
Those who have knowledge but refuse to apply what they know to work on their problems and honor God.
Those who have knowledge but don’t know how to apply it to their problems and honor God.
Those who lack knowledge and are not interested in getting knowledge to work on their problems and honor God.

Information taken from a handout by Nicolas Ellen

2006-03-19T22:58:00.000-06:00

Below you will find an image of the Biblical Framework for use in counseling to bring a person to healing and restoration with God. This model was taken from Rich Thompson's Book, "The Heart of Man and The Mental Disorders."

Biblical Counseling Framework

2006-03-17T09:02:00.000-06:00

This blogspot will soon be providing information on Biblical Counseling and how the word of God is sufficient to counsel the heart of man.