Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Bible Secrets of Communication

Based on Pastor Glenn Coon's book "The Art of Bible Counseling"


Humility

The Mind of Christ
“He humbled Himself“ Philippians 2:8

Be gentle and respectful, don't be demeaning
"Honor all people...." 1 Peter 2:1. "Speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men." Titus 3:2. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.“ Galatians 6:1 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (KJV) Philippians 2:3

Admit and own your past mistakes
"Confess your trespasses to one another..” James 5:16 

Show an interest in people, listen to them, ask questions 
“Look out.. for the interests of others.“ Philippians 2:4. “Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.” Luke 2:46. 

Don’t usurp the Holy Spirit’s role
"... [The Holy Spirit] will convict the world of sin..." John 16:8

Don’t be an accuser
"the accuser of our brethren.. has been cast down" Revelation 12:10

Choice

Let people make their own choices
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve" Joshua 24:15

Respect personal space
“Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.” Proverbs 25:17 (KJV)

Let people learn from their own mistakes 
"For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Galatians 6:7

Let them ask you for help or advice
"Ask, and it will be given to you..." Luke 11:9
“When your son asks you...“ Deuteronomy 6:20
"...ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you.." 1 Peter 3:15

Don’t overwhelm people, wait until they ask you
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” John 16:12. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6

“True education is not the forcing of instruction on an unready and unreceptive mind. The mental powers must be awakened, the interest aroused.” Education, p. 41

Jesus and Joy

Jesus is winsome, let Him be seen in you
"Therefore, behold, I will allure her... " Hosea 2:14
 
Let Jesus be seen as your the source of joy and strength
"... In Your presence is fullness of joy..." Psalm 16:11. " the joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" Galatians 2:20. Jesus said "Without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7. "Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24

Joy, Prayer, and Gratitude, No Complaining
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. "Do not grumble against one another" James 5:9 “It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing" Philippians 2:13-14. "Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness..." Psalm 107:8.. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits" Psalm 103:2. 
 
Repetition deepens impression, it becomes what you experience
"I will bless the Lord at all times" Psalm 34:1
"For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" Proverbs 23:7  
"According to your faith let it be to you.” Matthew 9:29    
 
Faith, Love, and Hope
 
We all need faith in God's love and to find our identity in Him
"I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me" Galatians 2:20. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him." 1 John 3:1. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18. "The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe." Proverbs 29:25.
 
It's that faith leads to having a victorious life
"This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" 1 John 5:4

Express faith in the sincerity of others even if you don't see it
"...God... calls those things which do not exist as though they did" Romans 4:17
 
We are purified by the hope
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:2-3 
 
Hope: God pours His love into our hearts
"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:5
 
Love awakens love
"We love Him because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19 

Faith, Hope, Love
" And now abide faith, hope, love, 
these three; but the greatest of these is love." 
1 Corinthians 13:13

Monday, February 22, 2021

Praying Promises As Gratitude Sandwiches

 


1. (1 John 5:14-15)
Thank You Lord that You answer prayers made according to Your will
I'm so glad I can come to God with confidence in prayer
Thank you Lord that you answer prayers made according to Your will

2. (Jeremiah 33:3, Isaiah 42:16)
Thank You Lord that You always answer, but not always as we expect
I'm so glad that that when God says no, He always has something better for me
Thank You Lord that You always answer, but not always as we expect

3.  (Numbers 23:19)
Thank You Lord that You are not a man that You should lie
I'm so glad that God is faithful and keeps His word
Thank You Lord that You are not a man that You should lie

4. (Psalm 32:1-2)
Thank You Lord for forgiving my past
I'm so glad I don't have to obsess over the past anymore
Thank You Lord for forgiving my past

5. (Romans 6:23)
Thank You Lord for giving me a new life
I'm so glad I don't have to live my old life anymore
Thank You Lord for giving me a new life

6. (Romans 5:8, Romans 8:1)
Thank You Lord for Your forgiving love and acceptance
I'm so glad I don't have to wallow in feelings of condemnation or rejection
Thank You Lord for Your forgiving love and acceptance

7. (1 John 3:1)
Thank You Lord for calling me Your child
I'm so glad I don't have to wallow in feelings of inferiority
Thank You Lord for calling me Your child

8. (1 John 1:7-9)
Thank You lord for forgiveness and cleansing from sin
I'm so glad I don't have to wallow in sin and guilt anymore
Thank You lord for forgiveness and cleansing from sin

9.  (Hebrews 4:16, 2 Timothy 2:22, Psalm 16:8)
Thank You Lord for that I can flee to you so that I'm not drawn to sin
I'm so glad that as long as I focus on Jesus, I can't be moved to sin
Thank You Lord for that I can flee to you so that I'm not drawn to sin

10. (Romans 1:16-17)
Thank You Lord for the power of Your salvation in my life
I'm so glad that I don't have to depend on my own strength anymore
Thank You Lord for the power of Your salvation in my life

11.  (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:4)
Thank You Lord for drawing sinners like me with Your love
I'm so glad that guilt or fear is not God's approach toward me or others
Thank You Lord for drawing sinners like me with Your love

12. (1 John 4:18)
Thank You Lord for Your love that overcomes my fears
I'm so glad I don't have to live in fear anymore
Thank You Lord for Your love that overcomes my fears

13. (Psalm 32:8)
Thank You Lord for Your guidance in my life
I'm so glad I don't have to worry about not knowing what to do
Thank You Lord for Your guidance in my life

14. (Malachi 3:10)
Thank You Lord for helping me with finances
I'm so glad I don't have to worry about financial problems
Thank You Lord for helping me with finances

15. (Isaiah 49:24-25)
Thank You Lord for Your intervention in the salvation of souls
I'm so glad that God does everything possible to save me and others too
Thank You Lord for Your intervention in the salvation of others 

16.  (John 5:39)
Thank You Lord that I can find bright pictures of You and Your love in all the bible
I'm so glad I don't have to be left wondering if God really loves me
Thank You Lord that I can find bright pictures of You and Your love in all the bible

17.  (Isaiah 26:3, 2 Corinthians 3:18)
Thank You Lord for your peace and transforming my character as I behold You
I'm so glad I don't have let anything disturb me or make me react in an unchristlike way
Thank You Lord for your peace and transforming my character as I behold You

18.  (1 John 3:2-3)
Thank You Lord for purifying me as I hope for Your likeness to be seen in me
I’m so glad I don’t have to obsess over anything impure or unchristlike
Thank You Lord for how you're transforming me as I keep my eyes on You

19. (Job 23:10, Romans 8:28)
Thank You Lord that trials don't happen to me, but for me so that I may shine like gold
I'm so glad that that no trial in my life is ever wasted
Thank You Lord that trials don't happen to me, but for me so that I may shine like gold

20. (Nehemiah 8:10)
Thank You Lord for Your joy which gives me strength to go on
I'm so glad that I don't have to give up in to discouragements
Thank You Lord for Your joy which gives me strength to go on

21 (Psalm 73:24)
Thank You Lord for the promise of being received into glory
I'm so glad that this world is not my final home
Thank You Lord for the promise of being received into glory

Monday, February 15, 2021

Promises To Reassure Your Faith In God's Word


Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Psalm 89:34 My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

Joshua 21:45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.

Isaiah 46:11
Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.

Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

Isaiah 42:16
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

Keep away from Satan's magnetic field

 

 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

1 Timothy 6:10-11 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

James 1:13-14 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  

James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.


How To Experience Joy and Peace Through God's Promises

Ask, believe, and Receive
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name.
Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Prayer must be based on God's word
John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Thank God before you see a promise fulfilled
John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying.
And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

Try This Gratitude Exercise: Write the following list of promises down and say "Thank you Lord.." for each promise. Also try the sandwich approach of saying thanks twice for the same promise, but in between say "I'm so glad I don't have to worry about _____________ ". Fill in the blank with whatever problem that the bible promise solves.

1. A Forgiven Past (Psalm 32:1-2)
2. A New Life (Romans 6:23)
3. Forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:7-9)
4. Acceptance as you are (Romans 8:1)
5. Power of Salvation (Romans 1:16-17)
6. Guidance (Psalm 32:8)
7. Help With Finances (Malachi 3:10)
8. Solutions To Problems (Philippians 4:19
9. Salvation of others (Isaiah 49:24-25)
10. The promise of being received into glory (Psalm 73:24)

God wants you to have joy and thankfulness
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
God fills you with joy and peace by faith
Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord's Joy Brings Healing and Strength
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart does good, like medicine...
Nehemiah 8:10 “…..the joy of the Lord is your strength”

Joy In Knowing That Trials Produce Perseverance
Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance

Hope in God's glory shining through you
Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Colossians 1:27 ... God willed to make known what are
the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles:
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

God will make everything work out for your good
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things
work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Related posts:

 
 

What keeping your eyes on Jesus looks like

 Who is the bible all about?
John 5:39
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

Why pray for God's Spirit before studying the bible?
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Who does the Holy Spirit glorify?
John 16:14 He will glorify Me [Jesus], for He will take of what is Mine [of Jesus] and declare it to you.

What happens when Jesus is lifted up?
John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.

What happens when you stay your mind on Jesus by faith?
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

You are to live by faith in what Jesus did for you, what did He do?
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

What dies when our lives are hidden in Christ?
Colossians 3:2, 5
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God... Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

How does Jesus teach us to live?
Ephesians 4:21-24 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

What happens as we behold the glory of Jesus?
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord

Setting the Lord always before you keeps what from happening?
Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

 Jesus' Invitation: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30  

 

Also see how to be drawn to Jesus

Sunday, February 14, 2021

How God’s love changes you

God’s draws you to Him with His love
Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

God pours His love into your heart by His Spirit
Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
 
God’s love drives away fear
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
 
God’s love replaces guilt with forgiveness
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God’s love replaces inferiority with identity
1 John 3:1 
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Nothing Can Separate You From God’s love
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.