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148: Give Hope, Help, and Comfort
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148: Give Hope, Help, and Comfort
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It’s been said that in a nutshell the functional purpose of the church is to EDIFY AND MULTIPLY! Matt. 28:19; Acts 1:8; 1Cor. 14:26, 12:7; Eph. 4:29. Hope, help and comfort all build up the body of Christ so that we can stay in the race 1Cor.9:24 and finish well 2Tim.4:7. However, along the way, both God personally, and we as counselors of His Word, impart HIS hope, help and comfort by the power and guidance of His Holy Spirit 2Cor.1:3; Psalms 46:1; Rom. 15;13; Col. 1:27.
One of the greatest acts of love is to share the Hope we have in Jesus Christ. Ministering to inmates at the local jail the topic of “God could not forgive me for what I have done” often comes up. We’ll look at Romans 5:12-16 and we’ll look at some of the great names of the Bible they may have heard, (Moses, David, etc.). Usually, the verses I do share have a personal meaning and connection to me and I get to share that as well.
I did go back a rewind several times and wrote the verse down that was recommended.
Who or what we serve and seek after determines our hope or hopelessness. With God through His Son we have Salvation (hope for eternity). By seeking God in His Word, we gain wisdom through the Holy Spirit and know that all things are possible in Him. Knowing this, gives us hope in our journey here on earth. This hope is essential to share as we counsel others.
I agree Rick when we lose our focus on Him and we seek after the things of this world we can quickly fall in to despair and hopelessness. But when we focus our lives on Him we can serve and think of others as we share with others in counseling.
This was a very encouraging podcast. (As many of them are) This Podcast was a reminder that God, our God, is the God of hope. When hurting people come to us, we can tell them that our God and His Word are what can help them. Jeff, again, gave us scripture after scripture of where to show people what God’s Word says, so they can have hope and be encouraged. Jeff reminds us to depend on the Holy Sprit. To not forget about our relationship with Jesus. It’s not a formula or some doctrine, but the relationship that will help us to see what God has for us. His Word. That is what will come to mind to help others, as we have been studying. I feel so blessed to know God and His Word. It really is our only hope.
Completely agree. Great lesson. Fantastic reminder that counseling God’s way is not some kind of formula to follow but a relationship with the counselee, working through scripture and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
It wasn’t until I heard this podcast that I really stopped and thought of the biblical references I use almost subconsciously when I am talking to people who need hope. As I was listening to the podcast I realized on a conscious level I do this because these same verses bring me comfort. I am constantly using Job as a man who endured all types of pain and heartache but endured. Psalm 23 gives me a peace when I realize he is my Shepherd. Rev 21:1-4 are my ultimate hope during these very dark days. There will be no more tears, no more pain and God will dwell amongst us. You can’t find hope like this in the world it can only be found in the words God has given us so we can find hope.
Amen! I am reminded of 2 Cor. 1:3-5 where the God of ALL COMFORT comforts is in all our troubles….. SO THAT we may comfort others with the same comfort with which we’ve been comforted by God!…… Now there’s a mandate and equipping for biblical counseling if I’ve ever heard one!
To be a healer not an officer is a good analogy that I find to be helpful. Naturally I tend to root out the problem and squash it no matter what I am doing, it is difficult to not be a fixer. To go head hunting for problems and giving overly specific advise is not the way to go, God will take care of that I am supposed to just help out re-establishing the connection.
Dean I too was a police officer and sometimes I am quick to be a fixer. I need to remind myself daily to heal the connection not to fix the problem because the problem is simply a symptom due to the lack of a connection with God. Thanks for the reminder.
I am a fixer by trade, I have always been a mechanic of sorts either in the auto industry or a manufacturing plant. My wife helped me tremendously (mostly frustrating to her) with this role. She would tell she just needs mw to listen and fix things.
Something that I personally struggled with when I sought out counseling when I was younger and not a believer. I was scared, embarrassed and very fearful. Upon meeting my counselor, I constantly cancelled the appointment. Once I went, I always left feeling worse than before. Therefore, cancelling again and again. Looking back, I see how secular counseling gives no real hope but broken promises and a temporary “fix”
Jesus is our Healer and it is in HIM where we will begin to find the source of our problems, Where we can read HIS Word and develop a meaningful relationship with HIM and the one whom is help lead us to HIM. Accountability, Relationship , Fellowship and Agape Love.
I like that the hope we give is rooted in a person, not in coping mechanisms and humanistic ideas. Jesus is that living hope. In the midst of the many world chaotic situations, the pandemic, wars , uncertainty and many problems it it encouraging to know that this world is not our home. The promise of Jesus’s return is the blessed hope. He has gone to prepare a place for us and will come again and receive us unto Himself. May we never lose sight of this hope Jesus has given us. Additionally as 1st John 3:3 reminds us that all who have this hope in him purify himself as he is pure. The well known hymn also confirms what Pastor Jeff has shared on this podcast, which is the need for us to know the hope and have a personal relationship with Jesus the Living hope. The hymn is My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus Name. Amen!
What a beautiful way to share your thoughts on giving hope, help and comfort. I love being to rest in the truth that HE does prepare a place for us. So much so that it is freely available to all, but allowing God to use us for HIS glory and to bring others that same hope truly is our deep relationship with Christ and how we do as HE calls us to do with whom HE calls us to. Allowing others to truly see what a walk with The Lord looks like, coming out of decay and into new life.
Thank you, Joycelyn, for reminding us of that song. I often use songs to remind me of the Word of God. It helps me learn. I also, agree with your other comments about this world not being our home. Great reminder!
It’s interesting how Pastor Jeff mentions the church of Laodicea when considering the culture of today…selfish. The focus on self certainly does breed despair, and it is just as much an issue in the church as it is in the world. Our hope is in the Lord, and until we are willing to die to self, we cannot rest in that hope. Pastor Jeff also mentioned that people seeking counsel often have a misconception about God, which I believe comes from a lack of relationship with Jesus. I know people who have an intellectual knowledge of God, but have no relationship with Him. They believe that reading the Bible and/or praying is enough (it’s a formula) for them, yet they struggle because they don’t have a personal relationship with The Author.
Ilene you mentioned that people have a misconception of God, which comes from a lack of relationship with Jesus. I have a friend that goes to church where they are encouraged not to read the Bible—only the pastor can interpret and many of her struggles come from a lack of knowledge of God, and truly being in relationship with Him.
Angela I would be very concerned being in a church that discourages Bible reading.There is a big red flag at that door I hope your friend sees it. Pray her eyes will be open to the truth of Scripture
Wow! Angela, I have not ever heard of that, my heart hurts for your friend. To not be able to find the beautiful treasures within the Word of God for them to explore. Gods Word says to “Write these words on the tablets of your heart” Proverbs 7:3
Proverbs 3:3 also talks about binding HIS word on our fingers and on the tablets of our hearts. So yes, having that deep relationship with HIM, as HIS word fills us, moves us, and speaks to us.
Yes, Selfishness, is a very old problem. I struggle in all instances to remember I must love. I want to be served, but I should be serving. I want to take the front seat of the car, but I should let someone else. I want to be the first in line at the at the church buffet, but I should wait. I want all of my chocolate, but I must offer it to others first. I want what I want, but what is Jesus nudging me to do. Are my desires, His desires?
Yes, I can see how building hope is foundational to counseling. Building hope brings the anticipation of a good ending, so the counselee will hang on through the counseling process as Jesus brings healing through the process of sanctification.
I love the acknowledgement that was made that people typically are embarrassed to seek counseling. It takes a large amount of courage to get to the point of actually speaking with a counselor and seeking help. This should help us to have an extra amount of grace when encouraging and directing those who come to us. In addition, an important shift in focus that we should be facilitating is to reinstate God as the source of our hope, as He is the only true source of hope for our lives.
A comment that really stuck out to me was that these verses of hope that are in the Bible are not meant to be a formula, but it is about relationship. When I really ponder that sentence, it brings to mind that how offensive it would be to me if people thought there was a “formula” to get to know me, so that they could get what they want from me, when what I really want with others is a true relationship. So many times people do this to God. They think if they pray a certain prayer over their lives, or focus on very specific verses, that God is going to give them what they want. What the Lord really wants is a relationship, and because of what Christ did on that cross, being buried for three days and coming to life, we have that relationship. The hope that we give others needs to be rooted in Christ, and helping others to build their relationship with Him–it is then that they can find the true peace and joy that they have been searching for, no matter what situation they face.
So true, and and probably the most important part of our role as counselors. To be reminded, and remind others, that without a relationship with Jesus, there is no hope or salvation.
You’re absolutely correct Angela! Relationship with Christ is the key to hope!
Relationship with Jesus and not a formula. I love that point as well Angela.
I agree that there is often false expectations amongst Christians – I was one – around the Christian life and what it will be like.
When the truth is we are all moving along the path of sanctification as we learn to submit to the authority of God’s word. Oftentimes that is messy, but we don’t want to admit that.
However, increasingly I’m beginning to see these crisis points in my own walk or others as “entry points” as opportunities to bring hope and point people towards greater sanctification through the word [the washing of the word]. Or opportunities for evangelism. Opportunities to serve others who are struggling.
It’s not a formula!
I agree with you Ann on the false expectations. For so long I was one of those that believed if I just pleased the Lord enough that my life would become perfect and that I would get what I had always dreamed of. It does nothing but make the load heavier to carry, and brings even more despair. It is in the submission to the authority of God that we find hope despite anything we might have to go through.