Biblical Counseling Basics 2012

Biblical Counseling

Basics2012

Faith Baptist Church of Palm Bay

Biblical Counseling Basics Set #1

1. 08/08/2012 – The Origin & Purpose of BC2. 08/15/2012 – What Makes BC Unique?3. 08/22/2012 – Key Elements #1 and #24. 08/29/2012 – Key Elements #3 and #45. 09/05/2012 – Key Elements #5 and #66. 09/12/2012 – How To Grow and Change7. 09/19/2012 - Progressive Sanctification8. 09/26/2012 – Questions and Answers

Biblical Counseling Basics Set #2

NOVEMBER / JANUARY 2013 (allowing for holidays)

1. 11/14/2012 – Idols of the Heart2. 11/28/2012 – Video Example of Counseling3. 12/05/2012 – Counseling Video Discussion4. 12/12/2012 – The Purpose for Marriage5. 12/19/2012 – The Role of the Husband6. 01/09/2012 – The Role of the Wife7. 01/16/2012 - Biblical Principles of Sex8. 01/30/2012 – Questions and Answers

How Idolatry Drives Our Desires

Idols of the HeartWhy Can’t I Get What I Want?

Week 9

How Idolatry Drives Our Desires

Idols of the HeartWhy Can’t I Get What I Want?

Week 9

1. On of the Most Important subjects of the Bible2. Untapped Theme

(Grace of God, Love of God, Sovereignty etc.)

Idols of the Heart

I. Idolatry – Getting to the Heart of the Matter

David Powlison “Idolatry is by far the most frequently discussed problem in the Scriptures…

the relevance of massive .chunks of Scripture hangs .

on our understanding of .idolatry.”

Idols of the Heart

How Idolatry Drives Our Desires

Idols of the HeartWhy Can’t I Get What I Want?

Week 9

1. On of the Most Important subjects of the Bible2. Untapped Theme

(Grace of God, Love of God, Sovereignty etc.)3. Is it Old Testament only? (America? Self?)

Idols of the Heart

1 John 5:21

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Idols of the Heart

God’s Word is often like “smelling Salts” to wake us up!

How Idolatry Drives Our Desires

Idols of the HeartWhy Can’t I Get What I Want?

Week 9

1. On of the Most Important subjects of the Bible2. Untapped Theme

(Grace of God, Love of God, Sovereignty etc.)3. Is it Old Testament only? (America? Self?)4. Life Long Habit of detecting and

destroyingIdols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

A. Idolatry Flies in the Face of GodThe Heart is a Factory of Idols

Idols of the Heart

Matthew 22:37-38

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,

and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great

commandment.”

Idols of the Heart

Exodus 20:3

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

A. Idolatry Flies in the Face of God1. This is basic and foundational – so

idolatry strikes at the very foundation of our Christian walk.

What do you think about in your idle time?

Answer: Your idols!

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

A. Idolatry Flies in the Face of God1. This is basic and foundational – so

idolatry strikes at the very foundation of our Christian walk.

2. Remember – our God is a jealous God! And rightfully so.

Idols of the Heart

Isaiah 42:8

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to

another, neither my praise to graven images.”

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

A. Idolatry Flies in the Face of God1. This is basic and foundational – so

idolatry strikes at the very foundation of our Christian walk.

2. Remember – our God is a jealous God! And rightfully so.

3. He’s worthy of all praise –and He’s worthy of our undivided allegiance.

Idols of the Heart

Exodus 34:14

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is

Jealous, is a jealous God:”

Idols of the Heart

I. Idolatry – Getting to the Heart of the MatterOs Guiness

“Idolatry is the most discussed problem in the Bible and one of the most powerful spiritual and intellectual concepts in the believer’s arsenal. Yet for Christians today it is one of the least meaningful notions and is surrounded with ironies. Perhaps this is why many evangelicals are ignorant of the idols in their lives...Contemporary evangelicals are little better at recognizing and resisting idols than modern secular people are...There can be no believing communities without an unswerving eye to the detection and destruction of idols.” No God But God, Os Guiness & John Seel, p. 23-24, 28

Idols of the Heart

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who

can know it?”

Idols of the Heart

Jeremiah 17:10“I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of

his doings.”

Idols of the Heart

James 4:1-3(1) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come

they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (2) The path of change goes through the heart and continues

on to the Gospel, where God chose to most fully reveal Himself in the death and resurrection of Christ.

(3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

Idolatry Flies in the Face of GodSay yes to God No to IdolsLove God, Lose the IdolsPut on God, Put off The IdolsStop thinking about / lusting after idols,

and start longing for / drinking in / hugering for …

GodIdols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

A. Idolatry Flies in the Face of God1. This is basic and foundational – so

idolatry strikes at the very foundation of our Christian walk.

2. Remember – our God is a jealous God! And rightfully so.

3. He’s worthy of all praise –and He’s worthy of our undivided allegiance.

4. Definition of Idolatry:

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

A. Idolatry Flies in the Face of God4. Definition of Idolatry:

An idol is anything or anyone that begins to capture our hearts and minds and affections more than God.

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

A. Idolatry Flies in the Face of GodWhat can be an idol?Who or what you worshipWhat’s on your mindWhat you long forWhat you wish forWhat you have your heart set onWhat you day dream aboutAnything!!!!!

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

B. Idolatry is at the Nerve Center of Why We Sin … the way we sin … when we sin … with whom we sin

This is not a one time problem

The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart!

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

The heart is like the hub of a bicycle wheel – where the spokes are specific sinful

desires spinning out of control

Idols of the Heart

I. Idolatry – Getting to the Heart of the MatterJohn Piper

“Sin is what we do when we’re not satisfied in God.” The corollary to that is “Sin is what we do when we’re chasing after something other than God – namely one of our idols”

Idols of the Heart

I. Idolatry – Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Richard Keyes If we as Christians today see idolatry only at life’s margins, we will be ill-equipped to use this powerful critical tool as the apostles and prophets did – to understand and challenge the surrounding world.” And to understand and start to win the battle that rages in our own heart. He goes on to say, “… overlooking idolatry makes us blind toward our own problems. Naivete about idolatry in Christian experience is like the price paid by the city of Troy as its people happily opened their city gates to welcome the Trojan horse (filled with enemy soldiers)… the Bible does not allow us to marginalize idolatry to the fringes of life. All too often it is found on center stage.” No God But God, Os Guiness & John Seel, p. 30-31

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

B. Idolatry is at the Nerve Center of Why We Sin … the way we sin … when we sin … with whom we sin

1. Idolatry is simply a metaphor for human lust… craving… yearning… and greedy demands..

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

B. Idolatry is at the Nerve Center of Why We Sin … the way we sin … when we sin … with whom we sin

1. Idolatry is simply a metaphor for human lust… craving… yearning… and greedy demands..

2. That’s what you see in both Eph. 5 and Col. 3.

Idols of the Heart

Ephesians 5:5

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

Idols of the Heart

Colossians 3:5“Mortify therefore your members which

are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil

concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:”

Idols of the Heart

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

B. Idolatry is at the Nerve Center of Why We Sin … the way we sin … when we sin … with whom we sin

1. Idolatry is simply a metaphor for human lust… craving… yearning… and greedy demands..

2. That’s what you see in both Eph. 5 and Col. 3.3. No one has to be taught idolatry: we figure it out all

by ourselves. How did this happen?

Idols of the Heart

Romans 1:21-23,25(21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not

as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

(22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,(23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an

image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

(25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed

for ever. Amen.

Idols of the Heart

Romans 2:15Which shew the work of the law written

in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the

mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Idols of the HeartConscience

I. Idolatry – Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Richard Keyes“The natural human response to the true God after the Fall is

rebellion and avoidance. Sin predisposes us to want to be independent of God, to be laws unto ourselves or autonomous, so that we can do what we want without bowing to His authority. At

the most basic level, idols are what we make out of the evidence for God within ourselves and in the world – if we do not want to face the face of God Himself in His majesty and holiness. Rather than

look to the Creator and have to deal with His lordship, we orient our lives toward the creation, where we can be more free to control and shape our lives in our desired directions… However, since we were

made to relate to God, but do not want to face Him, we forever inflate things in this world to religious proportions to fill the

vacuum left by God’s exclusion.”

I. Why is Idolatry such a ‘Big Deal?

B. Idolatry is at the Nerve Center of Why We Sin … the way we sin … when we sin … with whom we sin

1. Idolatry is simply a metaphor for human lust… craving… yearning… and greedy demands..

2. That’s what you see in both Eph. 5 and Col. 3.3. No one has to be taught idolatry: we figure it out all

by ourselves. How did this happen?4. This same thought was expressed by G.K.

Chesterton,

Idols of the Heart

I. Idolatry – Getting to the Heart of the MatterG.K. Chesterton

“When we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything.” By nature we don’t just want to eliminate God – we erect God-substitutes – and the Bible calls these counterfeits ‘Idols’. Idols of the Heart

II. How Would I Start to Deal with Idolatry in My Own Life?

A. Pray for God to Search Your Heart1. Our hearts tend to be hidden – like the

bottom of a well…. or the roots of trees… and so it’s hard to ever fully know the depth of even your own heart. But you don’t have to be a master analyst. You don’t have to have the keenest insights. All you need is a willingness to say and pray…

Idols of the Heart

Psalm 139:23-24“23-Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24-And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Idols of the HeartShow me the sins I can’t see!

II. How Would I Start to Deal with Idolatry in My Own Life?

A. Pray for God to Search Your Heart2. Guess what? God loves to answer that prayer!

a. It may not be some gross obvious idol leering at you from the throne of your heart. (Most often it’s not).

b. Most often we do not readily recognize it in ourselves.

c. We think we’re doing the right thing for the right reason –as Christians we even give biblical references to support the way we’re behaving.

Idols of the Heart

II. How Would I Start to Deal with Idolatry in My Own Life?

A. Pray for God to Search Your Heart3. Is Something - even a good thing –ruling your

life more than God Himself?a. to have a godly marriage… slips into demanding a

godly marriage – I won’t be happy unless…b. to raise godly children… slips into demanding from

God that you get the exact results you want from following biblical principles and working so hard

Idols of the Heart

II. How Would I Start to Deal with Idolatry in My Own Life?

A. Pray for God to Search Your Heart3. Is Something - even a good thing –ruling your

life more than God Himself?c. to do your job well… slips into working to please

men and wanting to be well thought of by everyone at work

d. to keep a clear conscience before God and man… slips into living to try to please everyone and never wanted to be misunderstood or have a broken relationship with anyone

Idols of the Heart

II. How Would I Start to Deal with Idolatry in My Own Life?

B. Focus on Christ and the Gospel1. Don’t obsess over your heart and

ignore your Savior!  2. You should spend more time looking

at Christ than inspecting your own heart… always.

Idols of the Heart

Ephesians 1:17“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you

the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”

Idols of the Heart

Ephesians 3:17-19“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that

ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be

filled with all the fulness of God.”

Idols of the Heart

I. Idolatry – Getting to the Heart of the MatterEd Welch

“The path of change goes through the heart and continues on to the Gospel, where God chose to most fully reveal Himself in the death and resurrection of Christ.”

Idols of the Heart

Questions

Biblical Counseling

Basics

2012

Faith Baptist Church of Palm Bay

Biblical Counseling Basics Set #2

NOVEMBER / JANUARY 2013 (allowing for holidays)

1. 11/14/2012 – Idols of the Heart2. 11/28/2012 – Video Example of Counseling3. 12/05/2012 – Counseling Video Discussion4. 12/12/2012 – The Purpose for Marriage5. 12/19/2012 – The Role of the Husband6. 01/09/2012 – The Role of the Wife7. 01/16/2012 - Biblical Principles of Sex8. 01/30/2012 – Questions and Answers

How Idolatry Drives Our Desires

Idols of the HeartWhy Can’t I Get What I Want?

Week 9