The Holy Spirits Involvement in Biblical Counseling
The goal of biblical counseling is spiritual, relational, and personal maturity as evidenced in desires, thoughts, motives, actions, and emotions that increasingly reflect Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:17-5:2). Such personal change must be centered on the person of Jesus Christ as directed by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. We are convinced that personal ministry centered on Jesus Christ through the inner working of the Holy Spirit, and anchored in Scripture offers the only lasting hope and loving help to a fallen and broken world.
As biblical counselors, we understand that we ourselves have not arrived. We comfort and counsel others only as we continue to receive ongoing comfort and counsel from the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures (2 Corinthians 1:3-11). We admit that we struggle to apply consistently all that we believe. We who counsel live in process, just like those we counsel, so we want to learn and grow in the wisdom and mercies of Jesus Christ.
As biblical counselors we believe that God’s Word is authoritative, sufficient, and relevant. Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.The inspired, inerrant, and preserved Scriptures, rightly interpreted and carefully applied by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, offer us God’s comprehensive wisdom. We learn to understand who God is, who we are, the problems we face, how people change, and God’s provision for that change in the Holy Spirit and the Word of God(John 8:31-32; 10:10; 17:17). No other source of power and knowledge thoroughly equips us to counsel in ways that transform the human heart (Psalm 19:7-14; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3). Other systems of counseling aim for other goals , self-centered goals and assume a different dynamic of change which is void of the involvement of the Holy Spirit and Scripture. The wisdom given by the Holy Spirit in His Word is distinctive, robust, and life changing. The Holy Spirit through the Word of God comprehensively addresses the sin and suffering of all people in all situations.
The Holy Spirit shows us that Scripture alone teaches a perspective and way of looking at life by which we can think biblically about and critically evaluate information and actions from any source (Colossians 2:2-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
As biblical counselors we believe that both genuine change of heart and transformation of lifestyle depend upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-16:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17-28). Biblical counselors know that it is impossible to speak wisely and lovingly to bring about true and lasting change apart from the decisive, compassionate, and convicting work of the Holy Spirit in the counselor and the counselee. We acknowledge the Holy Spirit as the One who illuminates our understanding of the Scriptures and empowers its application in everyday life. The Holy Spirit is the agent of change. We must have the involvement of the Holy Spirit in our counseling in order to develop Christlikeness in our counselee. Nothing of eternal value will transpire without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Wise biblical counselors serve in the truth that God reveals and by the strength that God supplies through His Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit’s work, God receives glory in all the good that takes place in people’s lives. Biblical counselors affirm the absolute necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower the counselor, the counselee, and the counseling relationship (therapeutic relationship). Dependent prayer is essential to the work of biblical counseling (Ephesians 6:18-20). Wise biblical counselors humbly request God’s intervention and direction, praise God for His work in people’s lives, and intercede for people that they would experience genuine life change to the glory of God (Philippians 4:6).
The Holy Spirit leads through the public ministry of the preaching of God’s Word. He changes lives through the gospel message along with the principles and percepts found in the Scriptures. Preaching of the Bible is a verbal, authoritative proclamation of God’s Word, which has an appeal for response…a changed life. Preaching of the Bible is one of the primary responsibilities of the pastor.
The Holy Spirit also leads through the private ministry of biblical counseling. The Holy Spirit uses biblical counseling to teach the counselee the Scriptures and how to properly apply them to their life circumstances, to exhort the counselee, and at times to confront and rebuke when necessary. In our counseling we ought not to rely on our own wisdom or ingenuity but on the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our sufficiency is not in ourselves but in our God and His Word. 2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God…
The Holy Spirit works in the counselee’s life by introducing conviction into their life. Jhn 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Jhn 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; Jhn 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Jhn 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. The Holy Spirit also produces a humility in our counselee. Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. The Holy Spirit gives them understanding in the Scriptures and provides the power to make eternal change in their life.
The Holy Spirit also works in the counselor’s life in many different ways. The Holy Spirit gives the ability to actively listening which is of foundational importance in establishing the therapeutic relationship. Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath… The Holy Spirit gives insight and understanding so that proper application of the Scriptures may be applied to the counselee’s life. The Holy Spirit indwells us as believers and prompts us and empowers us to walk in the Spirit so that our lives manifest the fruit of the Spirit. Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
As biblical counsellors we need to instruct our counselees in the Word of God and teach them to properly yield to the Holy Spirit’s promptings so that their lives would also demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit. Biblical counseling is not about us but all about Jesus Christ and His Word. As long as our counselees have their eyes on us and as long as they are impressed with us then there is very little room for them to be impressed with a crucified Savior.
