Counseling Exam 23
23.Tim believes his recent psychiatric diagnosis is a life-long disease and is to blame for his behavior towards his wife. Write out your word-for-word response to Tim on this matter. In your response, be sure to address the themes of biblical responsibility and self-control.
Tim, when you first came to follow Christ, what did you believe about your actions up until that point? Were you responsible for your actions then, or were you justified for them because of a broken world? As you had repented for your actions, we know that we came to be justified by Christ alone. We were offensive to God, and couldn't stand before Him.
How would you describe what God did next, Tim? Yes, He crossed that barrier through Jesus, living a perfect life under our same circumstances. He was tempted in every way, just like we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15) We can't say that we sin because of our circumstances- it's our choice. I counsel you to read through the Bible to see how people have sinned throughout history. We have small imaginations for how deeply sinful we are. So it's tempting to think that it's not us, but it must be a disease. We have always been desperately in need of our savior.
One such example was King Saul. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the first king of Israel. He walked with the Lord for several years, until he worshipped the Lord in his own way. The Lord forsook him, even allowing a spirit to go and tempt Saul. One could even say that He sent the spirit to humble Saul. When Saul had David play the harp for him, his spirit was soothed. And then suddenly it wasn't- Saul lashed out, throwing javelins at a boy who was just doing what he'd been asked.
With whom does the fault lie? The spirit, Saul, David, the Lord? Could a modern diagnosis have been the answer for Saul's spiritual repugnance? If we believe the Lord is sufficient, then we should see that Saul's only real healing was in submission to God. Even if he had to give up being king. Having a clean and strong conscience before God is worth suffering for.
Tim, if you suffer from temptation, you are not alone. There are so many examples of people falling to temptation and the consequences. Part of living in this sin cursed world is that sin comes from all directions, especially from our own selfish heart. There's just one Man with the strength to defy sin. And He's got enough strength to spare. His great gift is that we learn to depend on Him in our suffering, just as the perfect Man learned obedience by the things He suffered. (Heb. 5:7-9)
Because He has made us to inherit the Holy Spirit, we have the tools necessary to resist sin, just as Jesus did. We are not victims of sin, but perpetrators. But in Jesus we join in the victory. As we go forward, we will train on how to take our thoughts captive to obey Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) I will walk you through putting off anger with your hands, and putting on humble service with them instead.
Tim, when you first came to follow Christ, what did you believe about your actions up until that point? Were you responsible for your actions then, or were you justified for them because of a broken world? As you had repented for your actions, we know that we came to be justified by Christ alone. We were offensive to God, and couldn't stand before Him.
How would you describe what God did next, Tim? Yes, He crossed that barrier through Jesus, living a perfect life under our same circumstances. He was tempted in every way, just like we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15) We can't say that we sin because of our circumstances- it's our choice. I counsel you to read through the Bible to see how people have sinned throughout history. We have small imaginations for how deeply sinful we are. So it's tempting to think that it's not us, but it must be a disease. We have always been desperately in need of our savior.
One such example was King Saul. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the first king of Israel. He walked with the Lord for several years, until he worshipped the Lord in his own way. The Lord forsook him, even allowing a spirit to go and tempt Saul. One could even say that He sent the spirit to humble Saul. When Saul had David play the harp for him, his spirit was soothed. And then suddenly it wasn't- Saul lashed out, throwing javelins at a boy who was just doing what he'd been asked.
With whom does the fault lie? The spirit, Saul, David, the Lord? Could a modern diagnosis have been the answer for Saul's spiritual repugnance? If we believe the Lord is sufficient, then we should see that Saul's only real healing was in submission to God. Even if he had to give up being king. Having a clean and strong conscience before God is worth suffering for.
Tim, if you suffer from temptation, you are not alone. There are so many examples of people falling to temptation and the consequences. Part of living in this sin cursed world is that sin comes from all directions, especially from our own selfish heart. There's just one Man with the strength to defy sin. And He's got enough strength to spare. His great gift is that we learn to depend on Him in our suffering, just as the perfect Man learned obedience by the things He suffered. (Heb. 5:7-9)
Because He has made us to inherit the Holy Spirit, we have the tools necessary to resist sin, just as Jesus did. We are not victims of sin, but perpetrators. But in Jesus we join in the victory. As we go forward, we will train on how to take our thoughts captive to obey Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) I will walk you through putting off anger with your hands, and putting on humble service with them instead.
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