The Wonderful Counselor
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3
Jesus quoted the first part of this passage in Isaiah when He stood up in a synagogue to read from God’s Word on the Sabbath (see Luke 4:14-22). Jesus stopped reading in the middle of verse 2 after the word “favor,” emphasizing what He would accomplish in His first advent. When He comes again, He will fulfill verses 2 and 3. Judgment will come for unbelievers, but a garment of praise will come for those who trust in Him.
During this Church Age, God has committed Himself to work through His children as they minister one to another. So when we minister to the spiritual captive and the brokenhearted, we can be assured that Jesus is present and that He wants to set them free and bind up their broken hearts. Discipleship counselors are encouragers who acknowledge God’s presence and recognize that apart from Christ, they can do nothing.
Discipleship counseling is the process of building the life of Christ into one another. It is a relational experience centered on the Word of God in the presence of Christ and each another. Think of the setting as a triangle:
God
Encourager Inquirer
Every side of the triangle represents a relationship. For discipleship counselors, the most important relationship is the one they have with God. They cannot impart to others what they themselves do not possess. It is also important how the encourager relates to the inquirer. Sadly, that is the only relationship that is considered in secular counseling.
Now ask yourself the question: Who is responsible for what? Have you ever usurped God’s role and tried to play the role of the Holy Spirit in your spouse’s life? In an inquirer’s life? How well did that work? Have you ever tried to assume the responsibility of the one you are trying to help? How well did that work? Can you really help inquirers who won’t assume responsibility for their own attitudes and actions? Can you forgive others for them? Can you believe for them? Can you think for them? Can you repent for them?
What are we actually trying to accomplish in the above diagram? We are trying to help inquirers establish a righteous relationship with God. It is a ministry of reconciliation that cannot happen without the presence of the Wonderful Counselor. He is the one who grants repentance. He is the One who will convict them of their sin. He is the One who knows every minute detail of the inquirers’ lives, who just happen to be His children.
The encourager takes the time to listen to the inquirer’s story and then asks, “Would you like to resolve these issues?” Nobody ever says no. After that commitment, the encourager says, “With your permission, I will lead you through these Steps to Freedom. If anything good happens today, it is because of what you choose to believe and do. We will be looking at several issues that may be affecting your relationship with God. We will start each step by having you pray, asking your heavenly Father to reveal to your mind what issues are keeping you from having an intimate relationship with Him. He is the One who will grant you repentance and set you free.”
questions to consider:
Why do you think Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-3?
Why is it so important to know who is responsible for what?
How does discipleship counseling differ from professional counseling?
Do you react differently when God convicts you of sin as opposed to someone else pointing out your sin? Why?
We worship God to keep His divine attributes clearly embedded in our minds. Why have so many church “ministries” functioned as though God isn’t even present?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.