Introduction

One might wonder if there is one set way to approach someone with a certain problem. The answer is both no and yes. It is no in the sense that every person is set in a unique set of circumstances with his or her own personality. This should humble us and set us seeking His grace to see what He says about this particular problem, if one is known.

On the other hand, we must say there are some things we must do if we are going to approach a person facing a certain problem. We need a certain heart that is ready to work along with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was constantly in that mode of operation. Even when we get down to specifics there are a number of materials and approaches we could take. We are not limiting what manner one uses such things, but believe having these things convenient can help us penetrate deeper and more cleanly than not having any guidance.

To be honest, I have had my share of using an approach I never thought of before. In one sense it is different but when I look closely, it is using an ecletic approach to ideas that have fertilized my mine at one spot or another. Many people do not have a pool of material or guidance what needs to be covered. We cannot be thorough, but we do want to begin a reservoir of material that will begin to recover our confidence in guiding people to righteousness.

More than this, we want to think about how we can train others to handle such problems. At this point we would like to introduce the major concerns that are similar to each problem that we are confronting.

Understanding the person - Showing compassion

This is the way we meet, talk to, understand, pray for and communicate with the person that has the problem. In this study, we have many case studies from the times Jesus encountered people. Under this study, we can divide into two categories that will sharpen our focus. 1) We have people with special needs, and 2) we have people with regular needs. Under this later category, we could place the disciples who were growing in their faith.

If this is properly done, we have two advantages. Firstly, we are always praying for and focusing ont he needs of the those around us. We are trying to be alert to who the Spirit is desiring us to minister to. Secondly, we are trained by the normal difficulties in life rather than the bigger and serious cases which are in most cases more unusual. Thirdly, we see ourselves as one of the people being ministered to. This helps in eliminating the professional perspective and enhancing the brotherly compassion. We are not looking down but praying with.

We acknowledge that some people are expecting an air of professionalism because they connect this with knowledge. We will need the Holy Spirit to surprise them how He works through the unleashing of His truth into their lives for healing. Jesus' ministry developed not from degrees and a special office but of humble, God-dependent and compassionate service. We need not be ashame to follow in the steps of our great Master.

These pro

Followup:

1) Should we use forms to inquire about a person's past?
2) What legal protection should we take in speaking to others?
3) Who should we speak to?
4) Where should we meet?
5) What should we say to start our conversation?

Walking in the Spirit - Being God-dependent

No matter who might come into our paths needing ministry, we need to train ourselves to be sensitive to God's ways. Just from a brief study of Jesus' life, we will see that the method that He was governed by was by doing what His Father said. Many of us might dismiss this as overly spiritual, but in fact this was the backbone of His life and ministry. God's Spirit was free to flow through Christ's lips and hands because He was in constant communication and obedience to His Father's will.

Instead of despising this aspect of Christ's life, we as His disciples must resolutely learn how to do this. Modern problems are not that much different than in Jesus' time! Perhaps what complicates things the most is the tension between man-dependent and God-dependent knowledge. Man-dependent knowledge is developed through studies and can be held independent of a faith in God. It can be employed by the secular world as well as the Christian. But God-dependent ministry recognizes the truth of Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5,6, NASB).

We must not lean on our own understanding but fully acknowledge God's presence in our lives. He will guide us as to what to say and do. Isaiah 11:1-5 provides more understanding for this critical aspect of ministry. Note in Isaiah 11 where understanding and knowledge come from.

Many Christian counselors have no idea as to what is being said in these verses. They are still living by man-dependent knowledge. This is a shame and must be rejected. This approach is captured by the secular approach that essentially eliminates God's ministry through our lives. They believe we can know enough to minister to others. Jesus didn't think that. If anyone could have thought that way, Jesus would have, but He didn't.

Each day brought different challenges which the Spirit of God led Him through. We might consider ourselves to be beginners in this walk, but still when we are conscious of the means of God's work, we are relieved there is no magical formula. Nor do we need to insist on 'office lighting' to condition certain responses. The professional counselor faces a large extra burden of regulations that greatly limit their responses to people.

Much more can be said here. Our point at this path is to make aware of what God's servants need. I was liberated to talk to anyone once I knew that God was there working through me. This point is probably the most difficult for many to accept and learn. Secularism has literally killed our Spirit-dependence.

Follow-up
1) How can I train myself to be God-dependent?
2) What steps do I need to take to go from man-dependent to God-dependent?
3) What assurance do I have that I am following God and not just me? (love - other oriented)

Purpose of leading them to Christ

We have a goal. The goal is not healing of their problem as much as knowing Christ. They will by God's grace find healing but if that is our end goal, then we are setting them up for trouble. For in most cases, they will either fall back into it or develop another similar problem. It is like filling in a ditch so one does not fall into it by making another one right next to it!

This goal is true with our sermons and teaching too. We are leading people to know Christ more. As a person understands the love and holiness of God in greater depths, then we do more than patch up a problem, we bring him into an encounter with God. The way we speak and talk must all be to further this encounter. We must make them realize only He can heal them. It is not our methodology or words or experience or technique.

In fact most problems that are faced in life are centered around man's relationship with God. Does not Jesus' ministry teach this? Does He refer people out? We will acknowledge that we do not have the anointing Christ had upon His life. We are a little anointing. The problem is that we are satisfied with this. We are not looking for anything greater. We are not willing to get to that place in our spiritual life where we are glad to be perpetually needy before Him. "Blessed are the poor in spirit."

Our goal must incorporate into them a fear of the Lord that will perpetually keep them before Him. Otherwise our counsel will be vain. John the Baptist clearly showed us how to direct people to the Lord. The disciples showed people how to look back to Christ. We may as well join them otherwise our works will be burnt up.

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, NASB).

How do we dare lay a foundation other than Christ?! Do we really think true healing is apart from knowing Christ? Yes, the text does speak about building upon that foundation, but we need to keep these things in mind. 1) People with serious personal problems have foundation problems. They have great misunderstandings of Christ, His work and ways. 2) We also must make sure that what is built on the foundation is consistent with it. In order to do this, we need to make sure there is a clear biblical and practical connection between the two. Imagine building a second and third floor without a stairways to get there!

The greatest problem with this goal is that many do not believe it is the most glorious goal. Few believe it is what the person who comes before us so desperately need. They do not see any connection between their problem and knowing Christ. John in the Book of Revelation had no qualms iwth the idea. He didn't even in the Gospel. His whole goal was to bring people deeper into a knowledge of Christ.

We must see this point of need that brings people our way is a God-orchestrated event in which that person is to know God better. All that we say must clarify and communicate this to them. What a privilege to be God's ambassador!

Follow-up
1) With what end goal do you have in your counseling?
2) What does it mean to have the purpose of bringing a person to know Christ more deeply?
3) Have you repented from thinking that solutions apart from Christ are missed opportunities in properly caring for people?
4) Will you pledge yourself by God's grace to preach 'Christ'?

Humility is God's Place of Anointing

This might seem oddly placed by some, but the counselor must be humble to be used of God to help others. Yes, we have seen that God has used some prideful people to help others to limited degree. We, however, are looking for God's anointing upon our ministry. We have come to the point where we realize we will never know enough. We will never have enough experience. In fact, we will realize that those things often gum up the mechanisms by which God works.

If God is not working there, then there is no good place to talk about anything. We need to be absolutely dependent upon God to work in and through our lives. This constant brokenness and neediness before Him enables us to be dependent upon Him, conscious of how He will be helping us know what to say, constantly praying, and being focused on helping the needs of our fellow man.

Humility before God enables us to seek Him for wisdom. It enables the other person to be more real with us. He can know our lives. We have nothing to protect; no image or reputation that needs lifting up. Instead we look at the whole world around us as our teaching resources from which the Lord might give us to speak and care for others.

The schools as a whole try to build ministers to be confident in their skills so that they will be self-confident. I suppose this seems the major goal of many schools today. God's servants are humble and even fearful of leaving God's approach. They see that pride and self-confidence will bring harm to others and themselves. They fear the Lord.

Follow-up
1) I never heard about the need for really being humble to effectively serve. What can help me in this pursuit.
2) I now realize I have been very confident in my deportment. What will happen if I change my approach?

Deep knowledge of God's Word

Some might wonder if this deep knowledge of God's Word will become confidence that will lead us into pride. The concern is good for in many cases our knowledge of God's Word is superficial. We know about God's Word. We know how to study GOd's Word. But have we been changed by God's Word? This is the true question.

In the end, we are not concerned about church history or book outlines or even the textual criticism of some passage. They can be helpful but if they do not lead to experiencing God through His Word, then it might as well be some other book. God's Word becomes our tutor and only then do we have things to tell others.

One problem is that we treat the Bible as a textbook. The second one is that we live off of past experience of God's Word. Sermons and messages, even words of counsel, spring from past encounters with God's Word. We then treat that as a static word. We do not doubt that one can do a lot through those messages, but God intends us to regularly, daily be changed by His Word.

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” (Matthew 4:4, NASB).

We need God's Word every day to know how to properly care and counsel people. On the one hand it is our life with God, but on the other hand it becomes a key resource in what He will have us share with others.

Follow-up
1) We need to repent from living from our past love for the Lord.
2) We need to repent from treating God's Word as a textbook. The way to know GOd's Word is not through studying about God's Word but by encountering it.