My Epic Journey

Though I have a lot of my plate right now, EPIC, Grad class, family, etc., I have been reading, just for personal development, the book, Discipleship Counseling by Neil Anderson.  I have been a student of Dr. Anderson for quite some time and have always enjoyed his biblical approach to the counseling process.  In this recent book a quote caught my attention om relation to how we, in the church, often use secular reasoning to deal with spiritual issues,

Have we taken into account the reality of the spiritual world?  In other words, do we have a biblical worldview?   Are our struggles against flesh and blood?  Are we trying to accomplish God’s will without the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit?  Is the person mentally ill, or is there a spiritual battle going on for this individual’s mind?  Do we us the same message and methods with believers as we do with non-believers? Are we trying to help people establish their identities, find purpose and meaning in life, and see to meet their needs without Christ?  Isn’t that what the devil is doing?  Sobering!

I have had a lot of opportunities to meet with students and parents recently over a number of different issues and yet, almost every time, I find myself reverting to secular practices to deal with spiritual issues.  I have tried so hard to make my psychological schooling match my spiritual needs.   This is not going to work.  Though I see to help others, there is no one outside of the Holy Spirit, that can change their life–no one!!!  Not even me!  I am not, nor can I be, anyone’s Savior.  All I can do is point that person to Jesus Christ and help encourage them to be open to the Holy Spirit.  I am thankful for this reminder.  My desire is that this would continue to be at the forefront of my mind.

Here is the teaching outline for Week 2 in our series, ATTACHED:

INTRO:

We are all attached to something.

We attach ourselves to things that will create an identity for us.

TENSION:

The most crucial question is, “Who am I?”

In our attempts to answer this big question, we all try to attach ourselves to something that will help define us.

TRUTH:

To know who you are, you have to go to the One who knows you.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

(1 John 3:1 NIV).

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17 NIV).

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).

APPLICATION:

Our identity is in God because He created us.

In God’s eyes we are worthy of being loved all the time because He sees us as redeemed in Christ.

CONCLUSION:

You are loved by God unconditionally.

Psalm 139:1-18 MSG

You are God’s beloved, the One He sees and is pleased with.

NOTE:  A great book to pick up for you and your student is, Who I Am In Christ by Neil Anderson.  It is a quick devotional read that will help the reader discover their TRUE identity!