How does the biblical model provide real hope and help? How does it work?
Philippians 2:13 tells: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
God provides the POWER to will – or, to want to do the right thing – and that same power provides the Christian with the ability to carry out that now righteous desire (to “work” it out!). It is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that provides the power.
A Christian has the power to say “no” to sin and to say “yes” to the Holy Spirit’s leading to do what is right in God’s eyes. Unbelievers have their own strength to lean on but it is often not strong enough to say “no” to sin for very long. Christians have the Lord’s strength to lean on. It is quite an advantage to be a Christian!
That’s why we’re so confident at TIL that God is going to do the work in the lives of the Christians we counsel.
If the person is not a Christian, then he or she must be “born again” to see the kingdom of God. It’s that simple.
The best news of our approach is that it offers real HOPE in that the counselee is told that he or she is likely dealing with sin issues that can be forgiven and overcome in Christ alone. It’s the grace of the Gospel.
It’s almost too simple, isn’t it? The Gospel is almost too good to be true. Thankfully, it is TRUE. God says it (the Gospel message) and He can be trusted.
-Mark (blown away at the simplicity of the Gospel message that I cannot earn nor do I deserve His grace)