Self Knowledge
When born from above, the human spirit is regenerated, and united with the Spirit of God. However, the soul remains the same as conditioned by life's experiences. Before we can advance in our spiritual life, we can advance only if we come to know ourselves as we really are, that is, as we appear before the almighty God. What we have done to others, what others have done to us - our sinful interpretations of and reactions to these and other issues - are to be dealt with from a biblical perspective.
Deliverance
One cannot go back and reform the 'old man', and redo what was said and done. But as a new creation, citizens of heaven, we look at life now from the spiritual realm to the earthly. Our primary concern is in our relationship with God the Father, nothing else should matter. As the Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father. We have been adopted as sons. As we are in Jesus, the sonship, we are to love as Jesus loves the Father. Participating and sharing in the triune love, our loving action becomes the means of our deliverance ( John 15:10 ; John 17:20-24,26 ).
The answer to healing the soul lies here: loving the Father by obeying His commands ( John 14:21 ). Accordingly, unresolved actions of the past are to be dealt with in the present, and in the spirit of repentance and reconciliation.
Sanctification
Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit; only He knows the heart and the motives. As a counselor, our basic function is to lead and encourage the disciple to rely on the bible as the sole authority and rule for living, and to hear from and to know the Person of the Holy Spirit ( John 16:13 ). To accomplish this, our aim is to work with the disciple to establish a standard from which he can work out his salvation.
To this effect, the following guidelines are provided to assist the disciple to work and abide within a biblical framework.
Loving God by Obeying His Commands
Our problem is not with Satan, not with people, not with circumstances. But our problem lies in our relationship with God the Father. No matter what one's life is at the moment, we must hold ourselves accountable. We cannot blame others or the circumstances of life. People and circumstances are not to direct our lives ( Ezek. 18:20 ). Reacting to life without reference to God's word, one becomes his own god. God is to be God. Allow God to have full command of your life. He will use the trials and tests of life to perfect you and conform you to His Son ( Rom. 8:28-29 ; James 1:2-4 ).
Judging Self
The starting point is to develop a keen sensitivity to sin by not taking life for granted. We are inclined to be critical of others, to blame shift, to be self-defensive, to retaliate, to be malicious, and similar sinful actions ( Matt. 7:5 ; Rom. 2:2 ).
How we respond to offenses and irritations of life reveals the spirit that is in us. Be aware, and ask God for His grace to be conscious of and sensitive to one's spirit. Then by His grace we establish plans to respond to offenses in a manner to restore ourselves and others ( Gal. 6:1-4 ; Eph. 4:22-24 ).
Forgiving and Reconciling
Many souls are wounded by bitter root judgments: parental/child relationships, abuses of all kinds, disappointments, betrayals, and such, which paralyzes and poisons the spirit. Put the offender and the offense in God's hands; let Him judge the situation. Get oneself free from the offender or offense by asking God for the grace to forgive and be reconciled. Forgiveness is an act of the will, to please the Father - it is not an option ( Matt. 5:23-24 ; Matt. 6:14-15 ; Heb. 12:15 ; 1 Pet. 2:23 ).
Daily Devotions
We are either in the flesh or the spirit: there is no gray area. We need the daily infusion of God's word to keep us in the Spirit moment to moment. We are to be God-conscious, practicing His Presence twenty-four hours a day ( Ps. 1:1-3 ; 2 Cor. 10:3-5 ).
Daily Meditations
Recollections of the past stimulates memories and unresolved issues which, in turn, prompts spontaneous mood swings. As we meditate on God's word, we participate in the purification process of regenerating our intellect, our memories, our emotions, and our wills to be integrated with God's will. By His grace, we are enabled to refashion the integrity of our inner life, preparing ourselves to be acutely sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit ( Josh. 1:8 ; 2 Cor. 7:1 ; James 1:21 ).
Objective
We begin a life of reversals.The issues of the past are dealt with in the present, in a biblical manner. The daily offenses and irritations of life are confronted and dealt with as directed by the Holy Spirit. The self is dethroned. God is enthroned. The stage is set for the drama of being conformed to the image of Christ. by practicing...
| ... loving God; |
| ... judging self; |
| ... forgiving/reconciling; |
| ... conducting daily devotions; |
| ... engaging in daily meditations. |
We trust that the proposed guidelines as amplified and elaborated upon in the manual may prove beneficial to equip the child of God: to walk out of darkness into His marvelous light; to establish God's kingdom and will on earth; to be a fit disciple of Christ ( 2 Cor. 3:18 ; Matt. 28:18-20 ).