Biblica l Cou n se lin g M a n u a l
Ada m Pu la sk i
Copyright © 2004 Adam Pulaski, St eve Lihn
D e dica t ion
This book is dedicat ed t o Rut h and Am y.
Ta ble of Con t e n t s
Forew ord
How t o View and Use This Manual I . Overview
1. Counseling Obj ect ives 1.1. I nt roduct ion
1.2. Precondit ions in Biblical Counseling
1.3. Foundat ions of Biblical Counseling/ Discipleship 1.4. Essent ial Considerat ions
1.5. Sum m ary
2. Biblical Psychology: Approach t o Problem s 2.1. Diagnosis
2.2. Approach t o Solut ions 3. Counseling Process 3.1. Problem Area 3.2. Solut ion
3.3. Counseling Tools
I I .a. Basic St udy: Orient at ion To Biblical Counseling 4. Orient at ion To Biblical Counseling Mini Series 4.1. God's Way vs Man's Way
4.2. Prerequisit es t o Biblical Change 4.3. Why There is Hope
4.4. Effect ing Biblical Change 4.5. Dealing w it h Self
4.6. Anger and Bit t erness 4.7. Depression
5.1. Healing Presence
5.2. Transform ing t he Nat ural Self 5.3. What Makes a Man a Man 5.4. Needs of Man
5.5. Healing of t he Soul 5.6. Mind and Will 5.7. Medit at ion Process 5.8. St eps t o a Liberat ed Will 5.9. Healing Prayer for t he Mind 5.10. Perfect ionism
5.11. Schizophrenia ( Double- Mindedness) 5.12. Transpersonal Psychology
5.13. Healed from Fear 5.14. Rej ect ions
5.15. At t it ude and Behavior I I .b. Basic St udy: Biblical Discipleship
6. Christ ian Grow t h Series, Part A
6.1. Est ablish a Foundat ion for Biblical Discipleship 6.2. Explore Problem s and Develop Sensit ivit y t o Sin 6.3. Est ablish Biblical St ruct ure for Change
6.4. Develop t he Pract ice of Right eousness 6.5. Est ablish Pat t ern of t he Mat ure Disciple 7. Christ ian Grow t h Series, Part B
7.1. Charact erist ics of a Christ ian 7.2. Change is a Tw o- Fact ored Process 7.3. Turning from Evil
7.4. Physical Challenges
7.5. Com m it m ent is Doing t he Word
7.6. Lifest yle Change is Evidence of New Birt h 7.7. Worried, Confused, Troubled
7.8. The Pure Self Act ivat ed 7.9. Holding Self Account able
7.10. Only God Can Change Us And Ot hers 7.11. Judging Yourself
7.12. True Dying 7.13. True Pat ience 7.14. Mind Cont rol
8. Soul Dynam ics Series, Part A 8.1. Living Soul
8.2. Sins of t he Flesh/ Self of t he Flesh 8.3. Dividing of Spirit and Soul
8.4. Union w it h Christ
9. Soul Dynam ics Series, Part B 9.1. Cleansing and Purifying t he Soul 9.2. Sin, Self, Suffer ing
10.2. Joy 10.3. Peace
10.4. Longsuffering 10.5. Kindness/ Goodness 10.6. Fait hfulness
10.7. Meekness/ Gent leness 10.8. Self- Cont rol
11. Supernat ural Life Series 11.1. Mind
11.2. Abiding 11.3. Vir t ue of Love 11.4. Will of God
11.5. That Which is Perfect 11.6. List ening t o God 11.7. Cent er of t he Soul 11.8. I nordinat e Desires 11.9. Union w it h God 11.10. Dream s/ Visions
I I .c. Basic St udy: St rengt hening Your Marriage 12. St rengt hening Your Marriage Series
12.1. Marriage - God's Plan t o Est ablish His Kingdom on Eart h 12.2. Principle of Aut horit y
12.3. Subm ission - Act of Bringing Fort h Wholeness 12.4. The Husband's Role in Subm it t ing
12.5. The Bride's Priv ilege 12.6. One Flesh Marriage 12.7. Parent / Child Relat ionships 12.8. Children Subm it t ing t o Parent s 12.9. God's St andard
12.10. Upbringing Goals for Children ( and Adult s) 12.11. Maint aining Good Marit al Com m unicat ions 12.12. Maxim um Husband and Fat her
12.13. Fulfilled and Fulfilling Wife and Mot her 12.14. Tough Love
12.15. Marriage Part nership I I I .a. Life St udy: Guilt And Sham e
13. Self- Accept ance Series 13.1. Self Hat r ed
13.2. Self- Accept ance
13.3. Healing of Mem ories: Forgiv eness of Sin 13.4. Bind, Loose, Cast - out
13.5. Barriers t o Wholeness - Failure t o Receive Forgiveness 13.6. Healing Presence
14.1. Assault s Against t he Soul 14.2. Lust s, Desires - I nordinat e 14.3. Feelings/ Fait h
14.4. Bondages
14.5. Purpose vs. Need 14.6. Purpose or Need 14.7. Eat ing Disorders 14.8. Covenant Foundat ions 14.9. God's Mot ivat ional Plan 14.10. Out of Cont rol
14.11. Sexually Abused 14.12. Sexual Abuse 2 14.13. Life- Dom inat ing Sins I I I .b. Life St udy: Anger And Bit t erness
15. Bold Love Series 15.1. Forgiving Love 15.2. Vicious Thought s 15.3. Reconciliat ion 15.4. Conquering Evil
15.5. Doing Good t o Your Enem ies 15.6. Loving a Fool
16. Arm or Of God Series 16.1. I nj ust ices
16.2. Revoking Revenge
16.3. Responding t o Difficult People 16.4. Assault s of Sham e, Rage, Hat red 16.5. Forgiving Enem ies
I I I .c. Life St udy: Fear
17. Freedom From Fear Series 17.1. Origins of Fear
17.2. Presence of Fear or Fait h 17.3. Learning Trut h Talk 17.4. Applying t he Trut h
17.5. Out of Cont rol ( World of Non- Exist ence) A. Form s And Worksheet s
A.1. Bible St udy And Applicat ion Form at A.2. Think And Do List
A.3. Love I s An Act ion
A.4. Vict ory Over Sin Worksheet A.5. Dy ing To Self
A.6. Problem Solv ing Worksheet A.7. Problem / Solut ion Worksheet A.8. Freedom From Anxiet y A.9. Cont ingency Plan
A.10. Change I s a Tw o- Fact ored Process A.11. Scheduling Worksheet
B.1. Bible Mem ory Verses C. I nt ernet Resources
C.1. I nt ernet Links
Bibliography
I ndex
List of Ta ble s A.1. BSAF - I nst ruct ion A.2. BSAF - Exam ple I A.3. BSAF - Exam ple I I A.4. BSAF - Blank Form A.5. Think and Do List A.6. VOSWS - I nst ruct ion A.7. VOSWS - Exam ple A.8. VOSWS - Blank Form A.9. Problem Solv ing Worksheet
A.10. Problem / Solut ion Wor ksheet I , Par t A: Analysis A.11. Problem / Solut ion Worksheet I , Part B: Plans A.12. Problem / Solut ion Worksheet I I , Part A: Handout A.13. Problem / Solut ion Worksheet I I , Part B: Hom ew ork A.14. Final Session Review
For e w or d
I n 1978, I began seeking biblical resources t o help w ork out som e personal problem s. This I found in a Christ ian bookst ore w here I picked up a book t it led " Com pet ent t o Counsel" by Jay E. Adam s, w hich opened m y eyes t o t he possibilit y t hat I could w it h confidence counsel m yself as w ell as help ot hers. This led m e in June of 1979 t o t he Biblical Counseling Foundat ion locat ed t hen in Arlingt on, Virginia, w here I spent t hree plus years t raining as a Biblical Counselor.
My t raining cont inued as I began t eaching a biblical counseling course t o various groups in 1980 t hrough 1984. From 1984 unt il t he present ( 2004) I cont inue in t he capacit y of t eaching and counseling at a local church in Silver Spring, Maryland.
During t his period of t im e, I w as led t o counsel in num erous and varied problem areas. From experiences gained, I accum ulat ed a reposit ory of handout s and w orksheet s t o facilit at e and keep t he counseling session biblical, t o m aint ain a focus on God’s w ord, and t o provide resource m at erial t o assist disciples t o counsel t hem selves.
This is w hat appealed t o St eve. Aft er at t ending m y 22- w eek course in 1996, St eve Lihn, w ho w as in t he final st ages of obt aining his doct orat e degree from Universit y of Maryland, suggest ed t hat t his program should be put on t he int ernet . We used t he acronym " BCOL" for t his undert aking, w hich st ands for Biblical Counseling On- Line. I t t ook t he sum m er of 1997 t hrough 1998 t o accom plish t his feat . This cyberspace m inist ry proved t o be very beneficial t o t he global body of Christ . I t has recorded t housands upon t housands of hit s and m any request s for inform at ion from all over t he w orld.
This prom pt ed us t o t ransform t he online m at erials int o a book form , available bot h elect ronically and in paper print , so t hat t he great er christ ian com m unit y can benefit . Since t he w int er of 2002, St eve and I w orked t oget her t o accom plish t his conversion.
We t rust t hat our findings w ill provide t he insight s and t he t ools necessary t o help one effect ively and succesfully becom e an overcom er in t his bat t le zone called life.
Many are t ossed about by t he w inds of t he w orld’s philosophies and argum ent s. But our bat t le is t o be led by t he Holy Spirit in applying God’s wisdom and t rut h t o t he challenges of life. The Bible provides all t he inst ruct ion t hat one needs on how t o live t his vict orious life in t he m idst of obst acles, of t em pt at ions, of t rials and varied difficult ies ( Rom . 8 :4 - 9
) . Thus, anyone born of t he w ill of God, w ho has received Christ as Lord and Savior, is equipped and qualified t o engage in t his bat t le of w isdom ( 2 Tim . 3 :1 6 - 1 7 ) .
Accordingly, t he purpose of t his m anual is t o provide a basic approach, and t he t ools t o est ablish a foundat ion t o assist one t o deal progressively w it h his ow n problem s from a biblical perspect ive. And t hen t o t each and counsel ot hers t o live by God’s com m andm ent s; t hereby, fulfilling our Lord’s direct ive t o m ake disciples of all nat ions (
M a t t . 7 :5 ; M a t t . 2 2 :3 6 - 4 0 ) .
Ove r vie w
Overview of biblical counseling principle and m et hodology.
Ta ble of Con t e n t s 1. Counseling Obj ect ives
1.1. I nt roduct ion
1.2. Precondit ions in Biblical Counseling
1.3. Foundat ions of Biblical Counseling/ Discipleship 1.4. Essent ial Considerat ions
1.5. Sum m ary
2. Biblical Psychology: Approach t o Problem s 2.1. Diagnosis
2.2. Approach t o Solut ions 3. Counseling Process
3.1. Problem Area 3.2. Solut ion
Ch a pt e r 1 . Cou n se lin g Obj e ct ive s
Ta ble of Con t e n t s 1.1. I nt roduct ion
1.2. Precondit ions in Biblical Counseling
1.3. Foundat ions of Biblical Counseling/ Discipleship 1.4. Essent ial Considerat ions
1 .1 . I n t r odu ct ion
This m anual is designed t o t each you t o approach circum st ances, relat ionships, and sit uat ions of life from a biblical perspect iv e and t o experience vict ory and cont ent m ent in all of life's t rials, t est ings and problem s.
The essence of w ho w e are is m ade of event s and how w e responded t o t hose event s. We are t he sum of w hat w e encount ered in life and our react ions t o t hose experiences.
M e m or y , t he recalling of t he past , is our spirit gazing at t he subst ance of our soul w hich, at t im es, direct s our life rat her t han t he w ord of God. Thus, m ost of our problem s are due t o ignorance on how t o biblically respond t o life, and t o use life's adversit ies t o our advant age as opport unit ies t o grow and m at ure in Christ ( Rom . 8 :2 8 - 2 9 ) .
These spirit ual resources are available t o t hose w ho are born by t he w ill of God. Hav ing accept ed Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, t he believer is enabled by Holy Spirit t o face life, t o count er adversit ies, t o grow in grace and st rengt h, and t o live in peace and j oy (
Joh n 1 :1 2 ; Joh n 3 :1 6 ) .
The issue is t he se lf , t he soul of m an. The self creat ed by God, belongs t o God. The self, t em pt ed t o be god w it hout God, becam e enslaved by Sat an ( Ge n . 1 :2 6 - 2 7 ; Ge n . 2 :7 ;
Ge n . 3 :1 - 6 ) .
The living soul is w hat w e w ill deal w it h...
• t o set it free
• t o again be com plet ely dependent upon God
• t o follow Him and t o glorify Him .
1 .2 . Pr e con dit ion s in Biblica l Cou n se lin g
Throughout t he counseling session, t he goal is t o change t he counselee's focus on t he false self, a self of lust s and appet it es t o a realizat ion of his t rue self, a self in union w it h Christ . This is accom plished by a cont inuous process of j udging self, one's ow n sins, not ot hers; changing focus from self needs t o one of accom plishing God's purposes for his life by loving Him and ot hers forem ost ; daily dying t o t he old m an and put t ing- on t he new m an; and of m aint aining a st at e of forgiving and reconciling t hroughout life. The ult im at e goal now is for t he counselee t o be a disciple, t o help and rest ore ot hers t o t his sam e posit ion w hereas t hey, in t urn, w ill do lik ew ise.
Fa lse Se lf
All of life in t he nat ural sphere condit ions and inclines one t o deal w it h life's experiences from a horizont al perspect ive, t hat is, t o react from a self- prot ect ive and self- defensive post ure, t o insure one's survival in a com pet it ive and fallen environm ent . This pronounced self- focus degenerat es, in t im e, unt il life is charact erized by guilt and sham e, anger and bit t erness, and fear: a life devoid of t he Presence of God. Life becom es filled w it h t he presence of self at t em pt ing t o m eet t he needs of self by a fruit less search for t he m eaning of life in a w orld syst em energized by evil.
A person in t his condit ion seeks relief by t he fashions and cust om s of t his w orld, by t he lust s and appet it es of t he flesh, by j ust ifying his ow n behavior, by placing t he blam e on ot hers, by seeking peace and j oy in t hings, people, possessions. Em phasis is on w hat ot hers have done or failed t o do, and t he rem edy is t o change ot hers and t he circum st ances of life by w hat ever hum an ( fallen) resources are available. The focus is on self, t o save self and t o use ot hers, and t he t hings of t he w orld t o find t he m eaning of life.
Tr u e Se lf
All t hat w as done t o us, w hat w e have done t o ot hers, t he failures, t he ills, t he violat ions of our persons, t he brut alit ies, t he perversions of life, rej ect ions, deat h of loved ones, t ragedies, loneliness, abandonm ent , Jesus paid t he penalt y for all t hese sins. and provided t he m eans t o handle t he t ragedies of life. We do not need t o deal w it h t hese violat ions , and t he t ragedies of life on our ow n. Christ is in us t o w ork out our salvat ion daily ( Ph il. 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ; Ga l. 2 :2 0 ; 2 Cor . 5 :1 7 ; 2 Cor . 5 :2 1 ; Rom . 6 :3 - 6 ; Ez e k . 1 8 :2 0 ) .
1 .3 .
Fou n da t ion s of Biblica l
Cou n se lin g/ D isciple sh ip
Se lf Kn ow le dge
When born from above, t he hum an spirit is regenerat ed, and unit ed w it h t he Spirit of God. How ever, t he soul rem ains t he sam e as condit ioned by life's experiences. Before we can advance in our spirit ual life, w e can advance only if w e com e t o know ourselves as w e really are, t hat is, as w e appear before t he alm ight y God. What w e have done t o ot hers, w hat ot hers have done t o us - our sinful int erpret at ions of and react ions t o t hese and ot her issues - are t o be dealt w it h from a biblical perspect ive.
D e live r a n ce
One cannot go back and reform t he 'old m an', and redo w hat w as said and done. But as a new creat ion, cit izens of heaven, w e look at life now from t he spirit ual realm t o t he eart hly. Our prim ary concern is in our relat ionship w it h God t he Fat her, not hing else should m at t er. As t he Fat her loves t he Son, t he Son loves t he Fat her. We have been adopt ed as sons. As w e are in Jesus, t he sonship, w e are t o love as Jesus loves t he Fat her. Part icipat ing and sharing in t he t riune love, our loving act ion becom es t he m eans of our deliverance ( Joh n 1 5 :1 0 ; Joh n 1 7 :2 0 - 2 4 ,2 6 ) .
The answ er t o healing t he soul lies here: loving t he Fat her by obeying His com m ands (
Joh n 1 4 :2 1 ) . Accordingly, unresolved act ions of t he past are t o be dealt wit h in t he present , and in t he spirit of repent ance and reconciliat ion.
Sa n ct ifica t ion
Sanct ificat ion is t he w ork of t he Holy Spirit ; only He know s t he heart and t he m ot ives. As a counselor, our basic funct ion is t o lead and encourage t he disciple t o rely on t he bible as t he sole aut horit y and rule for liv ing, and t o hear from and t o know t he Person of t he Holy Spirit ( Joh n 1 6 :1 3 ) . To accom plish t his, our aim is t o w ork w it h t he disciple t o est ablish a st andard from w hich he can w ork out his salvat ion.
To t his effect , t he follow ing guidelines are provided t o assist t he disciple t o work and abide w it hin a biblical fram ew ork.
•
Lovin g God by Obe y in g H is Com m a n dsOur problem is not w it h Sat an, not w it h people, not w it h circum st ances. But our problem lies in our relat ionship w it h God t he Fat her. No m at t er w hat one's life is at t he m om ent , w e m ust hold ourselves account able. We cannot blam e ot hers or t he circum st ances of life. People and circum st ances are not t o direct our lives ( Ez e k . 1 8 :2 0 ) . React ing t o life w it hout reference t o God's w ord, one becom es his ow n god. God is t o be God. Allow God t o have full com m and of your life. He w ill use t he t rials and t est s of life t o perfect you and conform you t o His Son ( Rom . 8 :2 8 -2 9 ; Ja m e s 1 :2 - 4 ) .
•
Ju dgin g Se lfself- defensive, t o ret aliat e, t o be m alicious, and sim ilar sinful act ions (
M a t t . 7 :5 ; Rom . 2 :2 ) .
How w e respond t o offenses and irrit at ions of life reveals t he spirit t hat is in us. Be aw are, and ask God for His grace t o be conscious of and sensit ive t o one's spirit . Then by His grace we est ablish plans t o respond t o offenses in a m anner t o rest ore ourselves and ot hers ( Ga l. 6 :1 - 4 ;
Eph . 4 :2 2 - 2 4 ) .
•
For givin g a n d Re con cilin gMany souls are w ounded by bit t er root j udgm ent s: parent al/ child relat ionships, abuses of all kinds, disappoint m ent s, bet rayals, and such, w hich paralyzes and poisons t he spirit . Put t he offender and t he offense in God's hands; let Him j udge t he sit uat ion. Get oneself free from t he offender or offense by asking God for t he grace t o forgive and be reconciled. Forgiv eness is an act of t he w ill, t o please t he Fat her - it is not an opt ion ( M a t t . 5 :2 3 - 2 4 ; M a t t . 6 :1 4 - 1 5 ; H e b. 1 2 :1 5 ; 1 Pe t . 2 :2 3
) .
•
D a ily D e vot ion sWe are eit her in t he flesh or t he spirit : t here is no gray area. We need t he daily infusion of God's w ord t o keep us in t he Spirit m om ent t o m om ent . We are t o be God- conscious, pract icing His Presence t w ent y- four hours a day ( Ps. 1 :1 - 3 ; 2 Cor . 1 0 :3 - 5 ) .
•
D a ily M e dit a t ion sObj e ct ive
We begin a life of reversals.The issues of t he past are dealt wit h in t he present , in a biblical m anner. The daily offenses and irrit at ions of life are confront ed and dealt w it h as direct ed by t he Holy Spirit . The self is det hroned. God is ent hroned. The st age is set for t he dram a of being conform ed t o t he im age of Christ . by pract icing...
... loving God;
... j udging self;
... for giving/ r econciling;
... conduct ing daily devot ions;
... engaging in daily m edit at ions.
1 .4 . Esse n t ia l Con side r a t ion s
Ove r com e r s
First st ep is t o j udge self, not ot hers. We are account able for our ow n act ions, and not t he act ions of ot hers, t hat is, w e are t o develop a sensit ivit y t o our ow n sin, and t o respond t o t he present sit uat ion as a new creat ure in Christ ( M a t t . 7 :5 ; 1 Pe t . 3 :9 ;
Ez e k . 1 8 :2 0 ) .
•
Th ou gh t 1Since t he 1st Adam failed t o overcom e Sat an, God allow s Sat an t o rem ain on eart h for us t o finish t he j ob. Man opened t he door for Sat an t o reign on eart h, it is up t o m an t o cast him out . Jesus condem ned sin in our corrupt nat ure t o deal w it h t he sin issue. Reckoning ourselves dead t o sin but alive t o God in Christ Jesus, w e are now em boldened t o confront Sat an.
Sin is not t he issue but our responses t o t he t em pt at ions, t he em ot ions of sin, t hat im pact s upon our senses and int o our t hought processes. This is w hat w e overcom e: t he evil t endencies t hat dw ell w it hin. Subm it t ing t o God, w e are now enabled t o resist and say 'no' t o t hese em ot ions, and say 'yes' t o t he Holy Spirit . At t his point w e becom e overcom ers by giving no foot hold t o t he enem y in our t hought s, speech and act ions; but inst ead cast him out and put him under foot as originally com m anded ( Ge n . 1 :2 8 ; Eph . 4 :2 2 - 2 4 ,2 6 ; Ja m e s 4 :6 - 8 ; Re v. 3 :2 1 ) .
God Love r s
All t hat w as done t o us, and all t hat w e have done t o ot hers, t he pains and sorrow s of life, God w ill int ervene and rearrange all t hings t o our adv ant age provided w e do t w o t hings: obey His com m andm ent s, and live according t o His purposes for our lives by being conform ed t o His Son ( Lu k e 9 :2 3 - 2 4 ; Rom . 8 :2 8 - 2 9 ; Col. 1 :1 0 ) .
Therefore, w e are t o change our focus from self t o God, by loving Him in our m inds, our em ot ions, our m em ories, and our w ills. Our biblical responses t o our neighbor and t o t he offenses of life provide t he proof t hat w e are loving God ( Joh n 1 4 :2 1 ; 1 Pe t . 3 :9 - 1 5 ;
M a t t . 2 2 :3 6 - 4 0 ; Lu k e 6 :2 7 - 3 8 ) .
•
Th ou gh t 2To t he ext ent and degree we love as God loves det erm ines t he ext ent and degree w e are overcom ing Sat an in t his bat t le of w ills - God or t he dev il's ( 1 Cor . 1 3 :4 - 8 ) .
W or d Kn ow le dge
" Th e W or d of God m ust abide in a person for a person t o know God in a personal w ay. To 'abide' m eans t hat t he word of God m ust not only be allowed t o com e int o a person's m ind and heart , it m ust be grasped and clung t o. 'Abiding' m eans t he Word of God...
•
living, m oving, ruling, and reigning in a person's life and heart .•
st irring and convict ing, and challenging a person.•
leading t o confession, repent ance, grow t h, m at urit y.•
t eaching love, com passion, forgiveness, goodness, and j ust behavior.•
causing one t o believe and t rust God's Son, Jesus Christ , as his Savior andLord." ( Quot ed from [14] [ Leader1] .)
Goa l
Our Lord t ook on flesh and bones - t he hum an nat ure - t hat t hrough t he Cross, w e m ay be t ranslat ed from t he eart hly t o t he spirit ual realm . No longer in t he im age of m an aft er t he fall, but now in t he im age of God as originally planned before t he fall, w e proceed t o t he 'high calling of Christ Jesus' ( Ge n . 1 :2 6 ; Rom . 6 :3 - 6 ; Rom . 8 :2 9 ; Ph il. 3 :1 2 ;
Col. 1 :1 3 ) .
1 .5 . Su m m a r y
•
Judge self in every encount er, being cont inually sensit ive t o sinful react ions: not excusing, nor j ust ifying self, neit her blam ing ot hers. We are t o rest ore self, t o prepare self t o be in a posit ion t o rest ore ot hers.•
Daily put - off t he old self and put - on t he new self by biblically responding t o life's irrit at ions and offenses.•
Const ant ly sust ain a st at e of forgiving and reconciling in t he affairs of life, allow ing Jesus t o live out His obedient life t hrough us.•
Dispose self t o t he purificat ion of t he int ellect , t he m em ories, t he em ot ions, and t he w ill t hrough m edit at ion and cont em plat ion.Ch a pt e r 2 . Biblica l
Psych ology:
Appr oa ch
t o
Pr oble m s
Ta ble of Con t e n t s 2.1. Diagnosis
2 .1 . D ia gn osis
Fe e lin gs
( M a t t . 1 2 :3 3 - 3 7 ) We are t he sum of w hat w e encount ered in life and our react ions t o t hese event s. Being condit ioned by life's experiences, we are prone t o react t o life im pulsively and inst inct ively rat her t han t o respond on t he basis of considered j udgm ent . Such act ions reveal a m an's inner life - his focus - and w ho and w hat det erm ines his peace and j oy ( 1 Joh n 2 :3 - 6 ; M a t t . 5 :4 4 ; Ga l. 5 :1 9 - 2 1 ; Col. 3 :5 - 9 ) .
Our usual focus is on w hat ot hers have done or failed t o do. As w e m aint ain a self-defensive and self prot ect ive post ure, w e are inclined t o j udge, t o condem n, t o crit icize, t o blam e shift , and sim ilar react ions. This self focus is a breeding ground for anger, frust rat ion, despair, bit t erness, self- pit y , and t he lik e - a life of feelings. A feeling-orient ed life is a fert ile area in w hich Sat an operat es and upon w hich he feeds ( Ge n . 4 :7
) .
D oin g
( Joh n 1 4 :2 1 ; Ja m e s 1 :2 2 - 2 5 ) The ungodly live by t heir senses. Their lives are direct ed by how and w hat t hey feel. This is w hat dist inguishes a com m it t ed Christ ian from t he w orld: a Christ ian lives by t he w ill of God, not by feelings. How ever, not hing w rong w it h feelings in t hem selves unt il w e act upon t hem . We are not t o be direct ed or t o live by feelings. We are t o t ake st ock and m ake not e of our int ent s - t he spirit t hat is being m anifest ed. Then ask God for t he grace t o insure t hat w e respond in a m anner t hat honors and glorifies Him .
Regardless of how w e feel w e are t o do w hat t he w ord of God says t o do. As w e do t o please t he Fat her, godly feelings follow - t he j oy of t he Lord. Living by t he w ord, one serves God t he Creat or. Anyt hing done w it hout fait h, w it hout reference t o God's w ord is sin ( Ja m e s 4 :1 7 ; Eph . 4 :2 9 ; Rom . 2 :6 - 9 ; Joh n . 3 :2 1 ; 1 Joh n 2 :3 ; Pr ov. 1 :2 2 -3 1 ; Rom . 8 :1 3 ) .
Root
( 2 Cor . 5 :1 7 ; Je r . 1 7 :9 ) Our responses and react ions t o life reflect our root s, t he source of our being. Man's t hought s, speech and act ions convey t he charact er of t hese root s. Here w e can ident ify t he sin pat t erns and st rongholds developed over t he years t hat charact erize t he lifest yle and personalit y of t he individual.
Cat egory of root problem s are m any: hypocrisy, m anipulat ion, lying, cheat ing, st ealing, boast ing, blam e shift ing, self- cent eredness, self- prot ect ion, self- int erest , anger, im pat ience, self- pit y , lust , im m oralit y , greed, m alice, deceit , et c - a life charact erized by self being on t he t hrone of one's life.
Ke y
We est ablish godly root s by changing I t o W e , you in union w it h Christ . This begins w it h t he new birt h, follow ed by daily renew al of t he m ind. Thus life is confront ed on t he basis of God's w ord - t he w ill of God. As w e do t he w ord, t he Holy Spirit changes our root s w hich affect s our feelings. This is a purificat ion process. And w e, in t urn, begin t o respond t o life in a m anner t hat glorifies God ( 2 Cor . 1 0 :3 - 5 ; Ga l. 5 :2 2 - 2 3 ; 2 Pe t . 1 :3 - 8 ;
2 .2 . Appr oa ch t o Solu t ion s
Pe r spe ct ive
( I sa . 5 5 :8 - 9 ; Pr ov. 1 4 :1 2 ) We are t o look at life from God's perspect ive, His view , not from our w ay, experiences, ideas, opinions, w hat ot hers say, t he w orld's philosophy or it s psychology. The basic problem and t he suprem e challenge you w ill face in m aking Christ - honoring changes is dying t o self. The biblical perspect ive concerning 'self' is exact ly opposit e t o w hat t he w isdom of t his w orld proclaim s ( Lu k e 9 :2 3 - 2 4 ) .
Accordingly , t o liv e biblically is t o respond t o life's challenges in a m anner t hat pleases and honors God, no longer pleasing and grat ifying self ( 1 Cor . 3 :1 9 - 2 0 ; 1 Joh n 2 :1 5 -1 7 ; 1 Joh n 2 :2 0 ,2 7 ; 1 Cor . 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ) .
H ope
( H e b. 6 :1 8 - 2 0 ) Hope is an anchor of t he soul because it affect s our m ind and em ot ions. Christ w it hin m e, t he Anoint ed One, breaks t he yoke of life's pressures on m e. And m y j ob is t o develop t his inner im age of Christ w it hin m e, t hat in Him , I am m ore t han a conqueror, never under but alw ays over circum st ances, no m at t er w hat I face in life.
To really believ e t his in t he inner core of m y being t hat all God's prom ises are m ine depends upon m y living in and by t he living w ord of God ( Joh n 1 6 :3 3 ; Ja m e s 1 :2 - 4 ) .
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( Ez e k . 3 6 :2 6 - 2 7 ) God gave m e a heart of flesh, put His Spirit w it hin m e, and gives m e pow er t o carry out His com m ands.•
( 1 Cor . 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ) Being a child of God, I receiv e rev elat ion k now ledge by t he w ord of God in and t hrough m y hum an spirit .•
( Rom . 8 :2 8 - 2 9 ) No m at t er w hat happens t o m e in life w hen I call upon God He w ill int ervene in m y life, He w ill reach int o m y experiences, redeem m y past , and cause t hings t o w ork out for m y benefit .•
( 1 Cor . 1 0 :1 3 ) God is t he One Who is fait hful. As I put m y fait h in Him , He w ill bring m e out successfully.•
( H e b. 4 :1 5 - 1 6 ; H e b. 7 :2 5 ) All I hav e t o do is ask boldly , and God's Grace is available t o m e, and t he blood of Jesus Christ int ercedes alw ays, w ashing and cleansing from all sense of guilt and sham e w het her real or im aginary.•
( Rom . 6 :3 - 6 ) My old hum an nat ure and all m y past has been buried w it h Christ w hen I w as bapt ized int o His deat h. At t he burial I w as also raised w it h Him int o t he new ness of life, freed from t he pow er of sin, and free now t o do act s of right eousness.Ch a n ge
( M a t t . 7 :1 - 5 ; 1 Cor . 1 1 :2 8 - 3 1 ) Crit ical t hat I j udge m yself daily, t hat I am w alking in t he Spirit , responding t o life God's w ay , t hen I w ill be in t he posit ion t o help rest ore ot hers.
( Rom . 1 2 :1 - 2 ) My t ot al being belongs t o t he Lord for His use. This requires a t ot al overhaul of m y person, separat ing m yself from m y past , and t he w orld's syst em and influences in order t o be conform ed t o t he w ays of t he Lord.
( Eph . 4 :2 5 - 3 2 ; Col. 3 :5 - 1 7 ; Rom . 1 2 :9 - 2 1 ; 1 Pe t . 2 ; 1 Pe t . 3 ) List ed in t hese references are t he basic put - offs and put - ons t o guide and lead one t o live a biblical lifest yle.
( Rom . 8 :2 9 ; 1 Joh n 3 :8 ) Exam ine self daily t o see if I am living by God's st andards for t hat day, being a blessing and dest roying t he w orks of t he devil.
W or k Ou t You r Sa lva t ion
( Ph il. 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ; Ps. 1 :1 ; Joh n 1 5 :5 ) The enem y never st ops w orking. This com pels us t o be com plet ely dependent upon t he Lord 24 hours a day: t o be conscious of His Presence, and t o be act ively involved in t he pursuit of est ablishing His right eousness in all of life's endeavors.
( Ja m e s 1 :2 1 - 2 5 ) Through t he m edit at ion process, w e change our inner m an, t he root . And from t he godly root , our t hought s, our speech, and our act ions. This cont inues unt il w e experience t he fullness of God and express His Presence w herever w e go.
Ch a pt e r 3 . Cou n se lin g Pr oce ss
Ta ble of Con t e n t s 3.1. Problem Area 3.2. Solut ion
3 .1 . Pr oble m Ar e a
We underst and t hat biblical counseling looks at life's issues from t he perspect ive of our 'feelings', 'doing' and 'root ' levels. I t is t hrough t hese levels, w e assess and evaluat e t he problem , t he diagnost ics.
Our 'feelings' t ell us w hat is happening, but w e are not t o m ake decisions or live by t hose 'feelings'. This is w hat dist inguishes a Christ ian from t he w orld. The w orld lives by 'feelings' but a Christ ian liv es by his w ill. And his w ill is based on t he w ord of God w hich is t he w ill of God. He is t o do w hat God says t o do regardless of his 'feelings'.
The 'doing' of God's w ord regardless of feelings is illust rat ed by God's com m andm ent t o love our enem ies, do good t o t hose w ho hat e you, bless t hose w ho curse you, and pray for t hose w ho persecut e you. This is all cont rary t o our nat ural feelings but our t rue self in exercising God's com m and - t he self in union w it h t he Holy Spirit - t ranscends t he nat ural and changes our feelings int o com passion rat her t han ret aliat ion.
The em phasis on t he Christ ian life is in t he 'doing'. I t is t he 'doing' t hat changes our feelings as w ell as our 'root ' level. As w e do w hat God's w ord com m ands, t he Holy Spirit changes our 'root ' from selfishness and self- cent eredness, conform ing us t o t he im age of t he Lord Jesus Christ .
3 .2 . Solu t ion
Accordingly, w e are t o view t he problem from 'God's perspect ive', and His w ord provides t he solut ion, t he 'hope', and w it h hope are 'changes' t hat are necessary, and t he 'pract ice' of t hese changes t o conform you t o t he im age of Christ .
Depending upon your problem or sit uat ion, t he follow ing are provided t o assist you in seeking God's solut ion:
1. Or ie n t a t ion t o Biblica l Cou n se lin g . An eight w eek t raining course t o provide st udent s w it h a basic know ledge on how t o handle t heir problem s God's w ay as opposed t o t he w orld's w ay.
2. Biblica l D isciple sh ip . A five w eek program for new Christ ians, t eaching t hem how t o grow and m at ure in Christ . This could be used for individual counseling or a classroom set t ing.
3. St r e n gt h e n in g You r M a r r ia ge . A t en w eek course for pre- m arit al and m arit al sit uat ions.
4. Life St u die s . These are w orksheet s designed for individual counseling sit uat ions, and deal w it h a variet y of sin problem s and t he solut ions t hereof.
The Life St udies are divided int o t hree cat egories:
1. Gu ilt a n d Sh a m e , t he past ;
2. An ge r a n d Bit t e r n e ss , t he present ; 3. Fe a r , t he fut ure.
3 .3 . Cou n se lin g Tools
Use Se ct ion A.7 , “Pr oble m / Solu t ion W or k sh e e t ” as a guide t o gat her basic inform at ion in order t o evaluat e t he problem , and t o provide a biblical solut ion.
Th e Life St u die s , t he various subj ect m at t er w orksheet s, and t he form s list ed in t he
Appe n dix , provide source m at erial for discussion purposes as w ell as for hom ew ork assignm ent s.
For an in- dept h biblical underst anding of t he specific issues addressed in t his m anual, w e recom m end t he follow ing:
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Se lf- Con fr on t a t ion M a n u a l and H a n dbook , for t he m inist ry of Biblical Discipleship/ Counselling. By Biblical Counseling Foundat ion. [5] [ BCF1]•
St r e n gt h e n in g You r M a r r ia ge . By Wayne Mack. [15] [ Mack1]•
Th e H e a lin g Pr e se n ce . by Leane Payne. [19] [ Payne1]•
Re st or in g t h e Ch r ist ia n Sou l Th r ou gh H e a lin g Pr a y e r . by Leane Payne. [20] [ Payne2]•
Bold Love . By Dan Allender . [3] [ Allender1]•
Th e D ivin e Con spir a cy . By Dallas Willard. [32] [ Willard1]•
Th e I n t e r ior Ca st le . By St Ter esa of Avila. [30] [ St Teresa1]•
Tr a n sfor m a t ion in Ch r ist . By Diet rich von Hildeband. [11] [ Hildebrand1]•
Colle ct e d W or k s of St . Joh n of t h e Cr oss . By Kieran Kavanaugh.[13] [ Kavanaugh1]
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H e a lin g t h e Cu lt u r e . By Robert J.Spit zer. [28] [ Spit zer1]Re m e m be r : You are given life so t hat Life m ay indw ell you, Christ Him self, and you are t o w ork out t his life daily being conform ed t o His im age. God's w ord is your aut horit y, and t he indw elling Holy Spirit is your pow er t o enable you t o be a blessing on t his eart h. Go now as you m ake a disciple of yourself, go and m ake disciples of ot hers and fulfill Christ 's com m and. Let a godly lifest yle be a living w it ness of Christ w alking t his eart h in, as, and t hrough you.
W or k Ou t You r Sa lva t ion ( Phil. 2: 12- 13) Mem ory Verse( s) :
Josh . 1 :8
Devot ion:
BSAF on Eph . 4 :2 5 - 3 2 .
Put - Off/ Put - On:
Select a problem t hat t he Lord w ant s you t o w ork on and com plet e colum ns 1 t hrough 4 on Se ct ion A.4 , “V ict or y Ove r Sin W or k sh e e t ” . Review
Eph . 4 :2 5 - 3 2 ; Rom . 1 2 :9 - 2 1 ; 1 Pe t . 2 and 1 Pe t . 3 . Preview
Ba sic St u dy : Or ie n t a t ion To Biblica l
Cou n se lin g
There are t w o series in t his area.
Ta ble of Con t e n t s
4. Orient at ion To Biblical Counseling Mini Series 4.1. God's Way vs Man's Way
4.2. Prerequisit es t o Biblical Change 4.3. Why There is Hope
4.4. Effect ing Biblical Change 4.5. Dealing w it h Self
4.6. Anger and Bit t erness 4.7. Depression
4.8. Fear and Worry 5. Healing The Soul Ser ies
5.1. Healing Presence
5.2. Transform ing t he Nat ural Self 5.3. What Makes a Man a Man 5.4. Needs of Man
5.5. Healing of t he Soul 5.6. Mind and Will 5.7. Medit at ion Process 5.8. St eps t o a Liberat ed Will 5.9. Healing Prayer for t he Mind 5.10. Perfect ionism
5.11. Schizophrenia ( Double- Mindedness) 5.12. Transpersonal Psychology
5.13. Healed from Fear 5.14. Rej ect ions
Ch a pt e r 4 . Or ie n t a t ion To Biblica l Cou n se lin g M in i
Se r ie s
Ta ble of Con t e n t s
4.1. God's Way vs Man's Way 4.2. Prerequisit es t o Biblical Change 4.3. Why There is Hope
4.4. Effect ing Biblical Change 4.5. Dealing w it h Self
4.6. Anger and Bit t erness 4.7. Depression
4 .1 . God's W a y vs M a n 's W a y
D y n a m ics of Pr oble m Solvin g
( H e b. 3 :1 3 ) Being ignorant of sin desensit izes and causes hardening.
( Rom . 1 :2 0 - 3 2 ) Aft er aw hile you becom e your ow n god by est ablishing st andards t o j ust ify self- cent ered pursuit s. People perish because of ignorance; t herefore, it is a quest ion of becom ing know ledgeable, of becom ing sensit ive, of recognizing t hat living in t his w orld cannot be t aken for grant ed ( H ose a 4 :6 ) .
Th e W a y s of M a n a n d t h e W a y s of God
Approxim at ely 230 psychological schools of t hought are pract iced in t he world dealing w it h t he st udy of m an's behavior, and t he varied m et hods and m eans required for m an t o solve personal problem s. These schools are reduced t o five com m on charact erist ics.
1. M a n is good : Hum anism - independence from God - New Age: Man has everyt hing necessary w it hin t o solve ow n problem s - m ind m erely blocked by negat ive t hinking or influences - develop posit ive t hinking and draw from one's ow n resources - see self as w ort hw hile and est eem ed. What does God say? Ps. 6 2 :9 ; Rom . 3 :1 0 - 1 8 ,2 3 ; Rom . 7 :1 8 .
2. M a n is a su pe r ior a n im a l : Basic view of m an is t hat his behavior is w rongly condit ioned or program m ed by environm ent and circum st ances. He needs t o be recondit ioned or reprogram m ed by m anipulat ion of behavior t hrough use of posit ive and negat ive st im uli... He is art ificially m aneuvered t o respond t o rew ard and punishm ent in order t o im prove self. What does God say? Joh n 1 5 :4 - 5 ;
Rom . 1 :1 8 - 3 2 ; Ja m e s 4 :1 0 .
3. M a n ca n ch a n ge h im se lf : Alt hough being w ounded by circum st ances of life, m an can change bad behavior. This is a com binat ion of t he above posit ions: t hat t hrough educat ion, logic and reason, m an can ovecom e self. What does God say?
Je r . 1 3 :2 3 ; Ez e k . 1 8 :2 0 ; Ez e k . 3 6 :2 6 - 2 7 .
4. M a n , a vict im of con scie n ce : Man driven by inst inct s, t hw art ed by fam ily, by societ y, by upbringing, and by ot hers, w ho are responsible for his problem s. Deep analysis necessary, along w it h hypnosis, resocializat ion, cat harsis, self-act ualizat ion, free associat ion, et c. What does God say? Ez e k . 1 8 :2 0 ; Ph il. 2 :3 -4 ; 1 Tim . 4 :1 - 2 .
5. M a n , a ba r ga in e r : When t he above doesn't w ork, t he w orld uses - t rade- offs. You do t his, and I w ill do t his, a 50/ 50 arrangem ent . I m balances are inevit able, t he self nat ure alw ays w ant s m ore t han it s share. What does God say? God com m ands us t o love w it hout expect at ion of ret urn, t o ret urn good for evil. Rom . 1 2 :2 1 ; Ph il. 2 :3 - 4 .
Man's w ay is alw ays self- orient ed, he is his ow n god, as evidenced by :
1. no biblical confront at ion,
2. no conversion experience expect ed or even considered,
3. no repent ance,
5. and no sanct ificat ion process in bearing t he im age of God.
Given im pet us in m odern t im es from t he so- called Enlight enm ent and t he Renaissance periods, t his t ypifies and represent s m an's at t em pt t o save him self w it hout God. Such concept s have culm inat ed t oday in a societ y w hose sinking foundat ions are being built on preferences ( feelings) rat her t han principles ( absolut es) . Tw ist ed hum an reason and logic replaces t he Ten Com m andm ent s.
God's W a y of H a n dlin g Pr oble m s
( Ph il. 3 :1 3 ) God is t he God of t he 'I AM', He is not in t he past , nor in t he fut ure, He is alw ays in t he present . We st art from t he present and each day t hereaft er - one day at a t im e.
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( Lu k e 9 :6 2 ) Looking back int o t he past w ill m ake you unfit for t he present .•
( H e b. 1 1 :1 5 ) Thinking of t he past m akes one vulnerable, and w eak.•
( Rom . 8 :2 8 ) Past event s in our lives are irreversible. Why w ast e t im eand effort t here.
Our react ions t o t hose event s can be changed as w e allow God t o int ervene in t he present , t o reach int o our experiences, t o redeem us, t o free us t o love and w orship God. Ev ent ually w e becom e lov ers of God in our spirit s inst ead of lov ers of self by dw elling on t he past .
( 1 Tim . 4 :7 ; Eph . 4 :2 2 - 2 4 ) Thus, it is t hrough discipline w e becom e godly: by com m it m ent t o live God's w ay in t he present t hrough t he sim ple process of put t ing- off and put t ing- on - by t he aut horit y of God's w ord and by t he pow er of t he Holy Spirit .
Accordingly, w e change our coping m echanism s from react ing t o life t o responding t o life on t he basis of God's w ord.
God's Re sou r ce s
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Holy Spirit - Joh n 1 6 :7 - 8 ,1 3 ; 1 Cor . 2 :1 1 - 1 5 .•
Bible - 2 Tim . 3 :1 6 - 1 7 ; H e b. 4 :1 2 .•
Counselors - Ga l. 6 :1 - 2 ; Rom . 1 5 :1 4 ; Pr ov. 1 5 :2 2 .•
St art up t he spiral by t ackling t he im m ediat e problem first ( Ja m e s 1 :2 ) . Act on know n solut ions, post pone act ing w hen solut ions are unknow n (W or k Ou t You r Sa lva t ion ( Phil. 2: 12- 13) Mem ory Verse( s) :
2 Tim . 3 :1 6 ,1 7
Devot ion:
BSAF on Joh n 1 6 :7 ,8 ,1 3 ; H e b. 4 :1 2 ; Ga l. 6 :1 . Do one a day.
Put - Off/ Put - On:
St udy Eph . 4 :2 2 - 3 2 and m ake a list of your failures t o respond biblically.
4 .2 . Pr e r e qu isit e s t o Biblica l Ch a n ge
Fou r St a ge s of Spir it u a l D e ve lopm e n t
1. Bor n - a ga in st a ge is t he new birt h, new life - et ernal life from above.
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( Joh n 1 :1 2 ) Child of God, God is now t he Fat her of our spirit s.•
( Ph il. 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ) Salvat ion is not j ust a dest inat ion change. I t ist he beginning st age of t he developm ent of a new life. We w ere t he slaves of Sat an, but now w e are children of God, j oint - heirs w it h Jesus. Accordingly, w e are t o resist t he residual evil t endencies of t he old life by subm it t ing t he nat ural life t o t he spirit ual life on a cont inuous basis unt il w e " becom e like lit t le children" ( M a t t . 1 8 :3 ) . Takes a m om ent t o be born- again from above, but a lifet im e t o w ork out being conform ed t o t he im age of Our Lord.
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( 1 Joh n 2 :3 - 6 ; Joh n 1 4 :2 1 ) To obey is t o really hear, t o reallylist en, t o see, and t o underst and w hat I list ened t o, and t o act upon w hat I heard. I f w e are obeying, w e w ill w alk as Jesus w alked.
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( 1 Cor . 3 :1 6 ) Obedience builds t he t em ple. Doing t he word are t he bricks of t he t em ple m aking it suit able for God t o dw ell in it .2. Spir it u a l st a ge is know ing t he fullness of t he Holy Spirit , being fully em pow ered t o live t he Christ ian life.
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( Lu k e 1 1 :1 3 ) Sim ply ask and receive.•
( Lu k e 2 4 :4 8 - 4 9 ) Receive pow er from on high.•
( Act s 1 :8 ) When t he Holy Spirit com es upon you, you w ill receive pow er t o be His w it nesses.•
( 1 Cor . 6 :1 7 ) One spirit w it h Him . You are a co- w orker.•
( Rom . 5 :5 ) Love is poured out int o our heart s, act by fait h upon t his t rut h. Love is ready t o flow out as a river of living w at ers. Fait h, hope and love flow s from obedience.3. Pa t h w a y of t h e cr oss st a ge is a daily exercise of get t ing dow n int o t he deat h of Christ , t o allow Christ t o live out His life t hrough us.
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( Rom . 6 :3 - 6 ) Old nat ure buried, no longer slaves of sin. As w e put - off daily sins, w e arise im m ediat ely in t he new ness of life in Christ and able t o respond biblically t o all of life's encount ers.•
( Eph . 4 :2 2 - 2 4 ) We m ust do t he doing: put t ing- off corrupt ions -•
( Lu k e 9 :2 3 - 2 4 ) No longer defend or prot ect self, but pract ice deat h t o privat e aim s, selfish passions and prej udices, t o w orldly reput at ion and honor.•
( Ph il. 2 :3 - 5 ) As w it h Jesus, now I am t o seek t he int erest s and bet t erm ent of ot hers. I am no longer cent ral but t o use self t o be a blessing t o ot hers.4. Asce n sion / ove r com e r / spir it u a l w a r fa r e st a ge is w here t he believ er realizes and know s he is in union w it h Christ .
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( Eph . 1 :1 7 - 2 3 ) We are seat ed w it h Him , " Far above all aut horit y..."•
( Lu k e 1 0 :1 9 ) Given all aut horit y over t he pow er of t he enem y.•
( Rom . 8 :2 9 ; 1 Joh n 3 :8 ) God creat ed us t o be conform ed t ot he im age of His Son, and as such, t o do as He did: t o dest roy t he w orks of t he devil.
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( Col. 2 :1 3 - 1 5 ) Our problem is not w it h Sat an, he has been defeat ed. The issue is our relat ionship w it h God, know ing w ho and w hat w e are in Christ Jesus. Therefore, w e are t o keep t he enem y from having any foot holds in our lives by being free in t he follow ing areas: ( Ja m e s 4 :6 - 8 )o
Ge n e a logy : ( Ga l. 3 :1 3 - 1 4 ) Realize and know t hat t he Blood of Jesus has freed m e from all generat ion curses ( Ex odu s 1 8 :2 0 ) .o
Cir cu m st a n ce s of life : ( M a t t . 1 6 :2 4 - 2 5 ; Col.1 :1 0 - 1 1 ) No longer react t o or cont rolled by t he ext ernals of life, by personal at t acks, by pressures of t he w orld, by t rials and t ribulat ions, but respond by and according t o t he prom pt ings and pow er of t he Holy Spirit ( Ja m e s 1 :2 - 4 ) .
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En vir on m e n t : ( 1 Joh n 2 :1 5 ; 2 Pe t . 1 :4 ) Part aker of t he divine life and nat ure, and have escaped from t he w orld's syst em of lust s. The devil has not hing on m e. I am now in t he posit ion t o overcom e him in all areas of life in t he nam e of Jesus Christ . To t he ext ent I grow in virt ues, t o t hat ext ent Christ inhabit s m y life.Th e Ch a r a ct e r ist ics of a n Ove r com e r
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( Eph . 3 :9 - 1 0 ) Proclaim s God's w isdom t o t he enem y: for t his is a bat t le of w isdom .•
( Pr ov. 2 4 :1 0 ) Not hing can ever lim it or defeat us in Christ . We proceed unt il v ict ory prevails.•
( Pr ov. 2 1 :2 2 ) No com prom ises: w e ascend, w e assault , and cast dow n all opposit ion.•
( Lu k e 1 1 :2 0 - 2 3 ; 1 Joh n 4 :4 ; I sa . 9 :6 ) We m ove from st rengt h t o st rengt h for t here is no end t o God's kingdom . We are com m issioned t o est ablish His Kingdom of peace and j oy on eart h.Being an overcom er w e accom plish God's purposes for our lives by being conform ed t o t he im age of His Son. We do as He did, w alk as He did: do all t o dest roy t he w orks of t he devil in ourselves and in ot hers.
W or k Ou t You r Sa lva t ion ( Phil. 2: 12- 13) Mem ory Verse( s) :
1 Cor . 1 0 :1 3
Devot ion:
BSAF on Rom . 1 2 :1 - 2 ; Ga l. 5 :1 6 - 1 7 .
Put - Off/ Put - On:
Review sam ple list ( below ) and Eph . 4 :2 2 - 3 2 , not e problem s you are experiencing t hat God w ant s you t o w ork on during t his course. Work out one problem at a t im e by using Se ct ion A.4 , “V ict or y Ove r Sin W or k sh e e t ” .
4 .3 . W h y Th e r e is H ope
You r H ope in t h e M idst of Tr ia ls
1. Th ose in Ch r ist a r e fr e e d fr om t h e pow e r a n d pe n a lt y of sin ( Rom . 6 :3 -7 ,1 4 ,1 8 ,2 3 ) . The past is dealt w it h once and forever. To list en t o t he past is t o list en t o dem ons, and t o dishonor t he Blood of Christ ( H e b.l0 :1 0 ,1 4 - 2 2 ) . We are t o give our t im e and effort t o t he present .
2. God w ill n ot a llow be lie ve r s t o be t e st e d or t e m pt e d be y on d w h a t t h e y ca n be a r . He gives His grace and st rengt h t o endure every t est and resist every t em pt at ion so t hat you never have t o sin ( Rom . 8 :3 5 - 3 9 ; 1 Cor . 1 0 :1 3 ; 2 Cor . 4 :7 - 1 0 ; 2 Cor . 1 2 :9 - 1 0 ; Ph il. 4 :1 3 ; H e b. 4 :1 5 - 1 6 ; 2 Pe t . 2 :4 - 9 ) .
3. Ou r Lor d Je su s Ch r ist w ill gr a n t m e r cy a n d pr ovide gr a ce t o h e lp in e ve r y n e e d . He const ant ly int ercedes as an advocat e for you t o God t he Fat her and fully underst ands your w eaknesses ( H e b. 2 :1 8 ; H e b. 4 :1 5 - 1 6 ; H e b. 7 :2 5 ;
Rom . 5 :1 0 ; Joh n 2 0 :2 3 ) . Don't defend self w hen t reat ed unfairly, or suffering inj ust ices. As your advocat e, let Jesus handle evil done t o you on eart h. Our j ob is t o lov e our enem ies, do good t o t hose w ho persecut e y ou, t o express goodw ill t o t hem : put t hem in t he hands of God; pray t hat t hey m ay receive spirit ual blessings in Christ ( Rom . 1 2 :1 9 ) .
4. Tr ia ls a n d t e st in gs w ill de ve lop a n d m a t u r e you in Ch r ist if you respond t o t hem in God's w ay ( Rom . 5 :3 - 5 ; Ja m e s 1 :2 - 4 ) . He never devises evil or harm for you, rat her His plans for you are for good ( Ge n . 5 0 :2 0 ; D e u t . 8 :2 ,5 ,1 6 ;
Ps. 1 4 5 :1 7 ; Je r . 2 9 :ll- 1 3 ; Rom . 8 :2 8 - 2 9 ; Pr ov. 2 4 :1 0 ; Pr ov. 2 1 :2 2 ) .
5. God's pe a ce a n d j oy a r e a va ila ble t o be lie ve r s regardless of ot hers, possessions or circum st ances ( Lu k e 6 :3 5 - 3 8 ; M a t t . 6 :3 3 ; Rom . 5 :3 - 1 2 ;
Joh n 1 4 :2 7 ; Joh n 1 5 :1 1 ; Joh n 1 7 :1 3 ; Rom . 1 4 :1 7 ; Ph il. 4 :4 - 7 ; 1 Pe t . 1 :6 - 9 ) . Follow God's w ill, His w ord w hich is His right eousness and t he Kingdom of God is yours t o proclaim . We reign in life t hrough right eousness.
6. On ly God ca n ch a n ge pe ople ( Ez e k . 3 6 :2 6 - 2 7 ; Ph il. 1 :6 ; Ph il. 2 :1 3 ) . You cannot and are not responsible for changing ot hers. You are account able t o God solely for your ow n deeds ( Je r . 1 7 :1 0 ; Ez e k . 1 8 :1 - 2 0 ; especially verse 20;
M a t t . 1 6 :2 7 ; Rom . 2 :5 - 1 0 ; Col. 3 :2 3 - 2 5 ; 1 Pe t . 1 :1 7 ) , and are t o do your part in living at peace w it h ot hers ( M a t t . 5 :2 3 - 2 4 ; M a r k 1 1 :2 5 ; Rom . 1 2 :9 -2 1 ; Rom . 1 4 :1 9 ; 1 Pe t . 3 :8 - 9 ; 1 Pe t . 4 :8 ) .
7. W h e n y ou con fe ss y ou r sin s, God for give s a n d cle a n se s y ou ( 1 Joh n 1 :7 -9 ; Rom . 5 :1 0 ; H e b. 7 :2 2 - 2 5 ; H e b. 1 0 :2 2 - 2 3 ) . Our j ob is t o honor t he Blood of Jesus by act ing and proclaim ing ourselves forgiven by His great sacrifice for us. To act guilt y, condem ned or self- pit ying is t o m ake t he cross ineffect ive. Self- pit y is negat ive pride, w orshiping t he devil.
As w e follow God's w ay, w alking in His w ord, living by His t rut hs as so st at ed, w e ent er int o His prom ises of an abundant life now , here on eart h, as w ell as in et ernit y ( 1 Cor . 6 :1 7 ; Joh n 5 :2 4 ; Joh n 4 :2 4 ; Joh n 1 0 :1 0 ) .
Mem ory Verse( s) :
Joh n l6 :3 3 : Medit at e on t his v erse, read and list en t o it carefully , m ull it over unt il you really underst and. We are 'overcom ers' in Christ . I t is about t im e, w e begin t o replace evil w it h right eousness.
N ot e : During t he m edit at ing process, seek ot hers int erpret at ion of t he verse, ask Holy Spirit t o reveal deeper m eaning, et c. For exam ple, on t he m em ory verse, Jesus on t he Cross exclaim ed: " I t is Finished! " To m e t his verse m eans t hat Sat an is defeat ed, I am no longer in union w it h Sat an, m y sins are forgiven, I am set free from t he w orld, t he flesh and t he devil, I am com plet e in Christ , I am an overcom er in Christ , now in Christ I can w ork t hrough all t he t rials , t est s and t em pt at ions of life and overcom e t hem because Jesus overcam e t he w orld so can I in Him . When I do sin, I confess and I am im m ediat ely cleansed and I begin t o praise Him for His great sacrifice. ( 1 Joh n 1 :9 )
Devot ion:
BSAF on H e b. 6 :1 9 - 2 0 .
Put - Off/ Put - On:
Cont inue w orking on 'problem areas' via Se ct ion A.4 , “V ict or y Ove r Sin W or k sh e e t ” .
4 .4 . Effe ct in g Biblica l Ch a n ge
Appr oa ch t o Pr oble m s
Fe e lin gs
( M a t t . 1 2 :3 3 - 3 7 ) We are t he sum of w hat w e encount ered in life and our react ions t o t hese event s. Being condit ioned by life's experiences, we are prone t o react t o life im pulsively and inst inct ively rat her t han t o respond on t he basis of considered j udgm ent . Man's w ords and m anner of speech reveal his inner life, his focus, and w ho and w hat det erm ines his peace and j oy ( 1 Joh n 2 :3 - 6 ; M a t t . 5 :4 4 ; Ga l. 5 :1 9 - 2 1 ; Col. 3 :5 - 9
) .
" Separat ed from God, fallen m an becam e a flesh person, living from t he creat ed flesh as t he source and cent er of life. I n t he realm of creat ure flesh, m an searched for t he m eaning of life w it hin his brains, int ellect s, m em ories, em ot ions, feelings and passions, w hich all exist s in t he organs of his body." He looked t o him self for t he m eans t o survive w hich becam e t he m eaning and purpose of his life - self- int erest , self- prot ect ion, self defensiveness: t rait s t hat charact erizes fallen m an.
Man t hus becom es vulnerable t o w hat ot hers have done or failed t o do t o m ake him secure - it is t he fault of ot hers. This st at e of apprehension opens t he door t o self- pit y, fear, w orry, anger, bit t erness, j ealousy, despair, depression and t he like... All t hese react ions are 'feelings', and 'feelings' are fert ile areas in which Sat an operat es and upon w hich he feeds ( Ge n . 4 :7 ) .
D oin g
( Joh n 1 4 :2 1 ; Ja m e s 1 :2 2 - 2 5 ) Residuals of t he fallen life exist in our m em bers: t he self- defensive, self- int erest , self- prot ect ive life m echanism s. We are responsible t o deal w it h t hese areas in w hich feelings init iat e react ions rat her t han being prom pt ed by t he w ord of God. Regardless of feelings, w e are t o do w hat God's w ord says t o do: pract icing loving our enem ies, being kind t o t hose w ho hat e you, blessing t hose w ho curse you, and praying for t hose w ho insult you. By God's grace, you w ill event ually change m aliciousness and ret aliat ion t o com passion and benevolence. Anyt hing done w it hout fait h, w it hout reference t o God's w ord is sin ( Ja m e s 4 :1 7 ; Eph . 4 :2 9 ; Rom . 2 :6 - 9 ;
Joh n 3 :2 1 ; 1 Joh n 2 :3 - 6 ; Pr ov. 1 :2 2 - 3 1 ; Rom . 8 :1 3 ; Lu k e 6 :2 7 - 3 1 ) .
Root
( 2 Cor . 5 :1 7 ) Our responses or react ions t o life reflect our t rue root s: t he source of our being. The essence or subst ance of a m an are his t hought s, his speech and his act ions. Here w e can ident ify t he sin pat t erns and st rongholds developed over t he years t hat charact erize t he lifest yle and personalit y of t he individual. Be aw are of t he 'body'. I t is not an ent it y unt o it self, but t he body is God's vehicle t o est ablish His Kingdom on eart h. Accordingly, t hrough our body, our t hought s, our speech, our act ions are t o reflect t he t aproot - t he charact er of Christ Him self.
•
Ke y : We est ablish godly root s by changing 'I ' t o 'We', you in union w it h Christ . This begins w it h t he new birt h, follow ed by daily renew al of t he m ind as w e begin t o confront life on t he basis of God's w ord ( 2 Cor . 1 0 :3 - 5 ; Ga l. 5 :2 2 - 2 3 ; 2 Pe t . 1 :3 - 8 ; Eph . 4 :2 2 - 2 4 ; Col. 3 :1 0 ) .Appr oa ch t o Solu t ion s
Pe r spe ct ive
( I sa . 5 5 :8 - 9 ; Pr ov. 1 4 :1 2 ) We are t o look at life from God's perspect ive, His view , not from our w ay, experiences, ideas, opinions, w hat ot hers say, t he w orld's philosophy or it s psychology. The basic problem and t he suprem e challenge you w ill face in m aking Christ - honoring changes is dying t o self. The biblical perspect ive concerning 'self' is exact ly opposit e t o w hat t he w isdom of t his w orld proclaim s ( Lu k e 9 :2 3 - 2 4 ) . Accordingly , t o liv e biblically is t o respond t o life's challenges in a m anner t hat pleases and honors God - no longer pleasing and grat ifying self ( 1 Cor . 3 :1 9 - 2 0 ; 1 Joh n 2 :1 5 -1 7 ; 1 Cor . 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ; 1 Joh n 2 :2 0 ,2 7 ) .
H ope
( H e b. 6 :1 8 - 2 0 ) Hope is an anchor of t he soul because it affect s our m ind and em ot ions. Christ w it hin m e, t he Anoint ed One, breaks t he yoke of life's pressures on m e. My j ob is t o develop t his inner im age of Christ w it hin m e, t hat in Him , I am m ore t han a conqueror, never under but alw ays over circum st ances, no m at t er w hat I face in life. To really believ e t his in t he inner core of m y being t hat all God's prom ises are m ine depends upon m y living in and by t he living w ord of God ( Joh n 1 6 :3 3 ; Ja m e s 1 :2 - 4 ) .
( Ez e k . 3 6 :2 6 - 2 7 ) God gave m e a heart of flesh, put His Spirit w it hin m e. He gives m e pow er t o carry out His com m ands.
( 1 Cor . 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ) Being a child of God, I receiv e rev elat ion k now ledge by t he w ord of God in and t hrough m y hum an spirit .
( Rom . 8 :2 8 - 2 9 ) No m at t er w hat happens t o m e in life w hen I call upon God He w ill int ervene in m y life. He w ill reach int o m y experiences, redeem m y past , and cause t hings t o w ork out for m y benefit .
( 1 Cor . 1 0 :1 3 ) God is t he One w ho is fait hful. As I put m y fait h in Him , He w ill bring m e out successfully.
( H e b. 4 :1 5 - 1 6 ; H e b. 7 :2 5 ) All I hav e t o do is ask boldly , and God's Grace is available t o m e. The blood of Jesus Christ int ercedes alw ays, w ashing and cleansing from all sense of guilt and sham e w het her real or im aginary.
( Rom . 6 :3 - 6 ) My old hum an nat ure and all m y past has been buried w it h Christ w hen I w as bapt ized int o His deat h. At t he burial I w as also raised w it h Him int o t he new ness of life, freed from t he pow er of sin, and free now t o do act s of right eousness.
Ch a n ge
( M a t t . 7 :1 - 5 ; 1 Cor . 1 1 :2 8 - 3 1 ) Crit ical t hat I j udge m yself daily, t hat I am w alking in t he Spirit , responding t o life God's w ay . Then I w ill be in t he posit ion t o help rest ore ot hers.
( Rom . 1 2 :1 - 2 ) My t ot al being belongs t o t he Lord for His use. This requires a t ot al overhaul of m y person, separat ing m yself from m y past , t he w orld's syst em and influences in order t o be conform ed t o t he w ays of t he Lord.
( Eph . 4 :2 5 - 3 2 ; Col. 3 :5 - 1 7 ; Rom . 1 2 :9 - 2 1 ; 1 Pe t . 2 ; 1 Pe t . 3 ) List ed in t hese references are t he basic put - offs and put - ons t o guide and lead one t o live a biblical lifest yle.
( Rom . 8 :2 9 ; 1 Joh n 3 :8 ) Exam ine self daily t o see if I am living by God's st andards for t hat day, being a blessing and dest roying t he w orks of t he devil.
W or k in g Ou t You r Sa lva t ion
( Ps. 1 :1 ; Joh n 1 5 :5 ) The enem y never st ops w orking w hich com pels us t o be com plet ely dependent upon t he Lord 24 hours a day. We are t o be alw ays conscious of His Presence - t o be act ively involved in t he pursuit of est ablishing His right eousness in all of life's endeavors.
( Ja m e s 1 :2 1 - 2 5 ) Through t he m edit at ion process, w e change our inner m an, t he root . From t he godly root , God prom pt s our t hought s, our speech, and our act ions. This cont inues unt il w e experience t he fullness of God and express His Presence wherever we go.
( Eph . 4 :2 2 - 2 4 ; 1 Joh n 2 :3 - 5 ) We are t o ident ify areas t hat need changing, being specific t o ident ify put - offs and appropriat e put - ons.
W or k Ou t You r Sa lva t ion ( Phil. 2: 12- 13) Mem ory Verse( s) :
Josh . 1 :8
Devot ion:
BSAF on Eph . 4 :2 5 - 3 2 .
Put - Off/ Put - On:
Cont inue w orking on failures and com plet e colum ns 1 t hrough 4 on
4 .5 . D e a lin g w it h Se lf
M a r r ia ge Con ce pt
( Ge n . 2 :7 ; Ph il. 3 :8 ) God form ed m an out of t he dust of t he ground. By God's breat h, m an received consciousness, a capacit y t o t hink, and an aw areness of his environm ent and surroundings. Man's very being depends solely upon God. Man w it hout God is not hing.
( Ge n . 1 :2 6 - 2 8 ) God creat ed m ankind, Adam and Eve, as one ent it y. Mankind is m at ed t o God and t hrough t he im aging process t o be t he revelat ors of God's love t o t he w orld. God blessed t hem , and endued t hem w it h pow er t o be prosperous in all areas of liv ing. All t hat w as required w as for m an t o volunt arily st ay m at ed and subm it t ed t o God's aut horit y - His w ord.
( Eph . 5 :2 1 ) Bot h husband and w ife, as separat e ent it ies, are subj ect t o t he Lord first , t hen t o one anot her. By t his act of obedience, recognizing God as Creat or and Sust ainer, t hey w ould m erge int o one flesh. The concept of m arriage applies t o t he body of Christ as His bride being m erged int o one by obedience - individually and collect ively.
Loss of I m a ge
( Ge n . 3 :1 - 6 ) Man t est ed t o choose t o be dependent upon God or t o be independent - t o becom e t heir ow n gods. The desire t hat w as put int o t hem t o please God, now t urned t o lust t o please t hem selves. Becom ing gods t hey looked t o t hem selves for resources t o handle life, t o find w it hin t hem selves w isdom , st rengt h, and abilit y t o underst and and cont rol life in all it s m anifest at ions. By t his choice, as t hey changed from self- loving-ot hers t o self- loving- self, fear becam e t heir const ant com panion.
Se lf Pr om ot ion
( Ge n . 3 :7 - 1 0 ) Reverent ial fear and aw e of God and His m agnificence changed t o fear of punishm ent and a concern for t he survival of t he self. All m an had t o do w as look t o God, obey His w ord, and God w ould t ake care of everyt hing else. Separat ed from God m an has t o look t o him self for securit y, God no longer t here t o provide. Man now looks horizont ally t o find accept ance and approval by perform ing and im pressing ot hers how great he is, by cont rolling ot hers, by seeking pow er over ot hers: by w ealt h, by posit ion. Man is alw ays seeking t o find t he m eaning of life w it hin him self w hen t he m eaning of life can only be found by m anifest ing t he glory of God in his behavior.
Re m a r r ia ge
( Lu k e 9 :2 3 - 2 4 ) By and t hrough t he Cross of Christ , w e are enabled t o resum e t he original relat ionship w it h God before t he fall. By t he cross, w e are freed from t he self-loving- self and becom e t he self- self-loving- ot hers, expressing t he glory of God in our behavior t o ot hers.
( Eph . 4 :2 2 - 2 4 ) We are all condit ioned by life's experiences. We are t he sum of all t hat w e encount ered in life. Our cult ure, our environs, our circum st ances in life have im pact ed our lives and has affect ed our react ions. Thus, our coping m echanism s are sensit ized t o cover and prot ect t he self in com pet it ion w it h ot hers. The answ er t o t his w orldly, fleshly self is t o st udy our union w it h Jesus Christ , and t his by t he daily put t ing- off of t he corrupt ed self and t he put t ing- on of t he new self by t he renew ing of t he m ind.
( Ga l. 5 :1 6 - 2 6 ; Pr ov. 2 8 :1 3 ; Je r . 1 7 :9 ; Rom . 6 :1 2 - 1 3 ) You w ill face const ant t em pt at ions t o self cent eredness t hat lead t o t hought s, speech, and act ions t hat are devast at ing t o t he body of Christ and your ow n w alk w it h t he Lord. Those sins t hat charact erized your life apart from Christ m ust be confessed and repent ed of if you are t o m at ure as a child of God.
( Eph . 1 :3 - 1 4 ; M a t t . 7 :1 2 ) Man's problem s is t hat he pays t oo m uch at t ent ion t o him self, not t oo lit t le. We already know how w e w ant ot hers t o t reat us. Thus, w e are com m anded t o t reat ot hers t he sam e w ay w it h t he focus on t he ot her and not self. God has given t o us all w e need or w ant . There is not hing w e should seek for ourselves but t o exercise w ho and w hat w e are in Christ Jesus.
I n t im a cy
( Rom . 8 :1 4 - 1 7 ; 1 Cor . 1 :2 6 - 3 1 ; M a t t . 5 :1 6 ) A proper view of self com es from an underst anding of w ho you are in Christ : t hat God is act ively involved in your life, t hat He has chosen you t o be a t est im ony of His pow er t o t he w orld, and t hat He gives you a purpose for living by conform ing you t o t he im age of His Son.
( Ge n . 4 :7 ; Joh n 1 4 :2 1 ; Joh n 1 5 :1 0 - 1 1 ; 2 Cor . 4 :7 - 1 0 ; 2 Cor . 4 :1 6 - 1 7 ; M a t t . 6 :3 3 ) Your cont ent m ent in all circum st ances of life is dependent on your obedient responses t o God in your t hought s, speech, and act ions. By obeying t he Lord in your daily w alk, t his dem onst rat es t he Lordship of God over your life. The sense of value, of w ort hiness, of self- est eem com es by first seeking His Kingdom and His right eousness.
( Rom . 6 :3 - 4 ; Rom 6 :1 3 - 1 4 ; Col. 3 :5 - 1 1 ; 1 Pe t . 2 :1 1 - 1 2 ) Envy, j ealousy, covet ousness, and greed reveal a self- focus t hat quest ions God's w ork and provision in your life. These sins m ust be put - off out of your com m it m ent t o live for Jesus Christ .
( 2 Tim . 3 :2 - 7 ; 2 Pe t . 2 :1 - 3 ) I n lat t er day s, w e w ill be lov ers of self, led on by v arious im pulses, alw ays learning and never able t o com e t o t he know ledge of t he t rut h. Being a hearer only, you w ill be deluded.
Be a r in g H is I m a ge
( Col. 1 :1 0 ; 1 Joh n 3 :8 ; Ph il. 2 :1 2 - 1 3 ) Daily w alking in Christ , com m it t ing our w ill t o please God, being fruit ful, increasing in t he know ledge of God, st rengt hened in His pow er, t hese changes in lifest yle give evidence t hat w e are a child of God. As such, t he pot ent ial of Christ resides w it hin you alw ays ready t o be a blessing, dest roying t he w orks of t he devil, and t o reign in life t hrough right eousness.
W or k Ou t You r Sa lva t ion ( Phil. 2: 12- 13) Mem ory Verse( s) :
Lu k e 9 :2 3 - 2 4 , m edit at e on t his verse.
Devot ion:
BSAF on Eph . 4 :2 6 - 2 7 ,2 9 .
Put - Off/ Put - On:
Review Ga l. 5 :1 9 - 2 1 ; Col. 3 :5 - 1 3 . Check out sinful t hinking pat t erns. Make up Se ct ion A.2 , “Th in k An d D o List ” t
