Weekly Update | July 20, 2023
Important Lessons from Coram Deo
Sergey Neagov
Greetings, beloved!
I want to share just a few useful biblical truths and principles that I learned from Coram Deo that have already positively influenced me. Firstly, however, I want to assure you that if any learning is done on the basis of God’s Word, it will be a blessing and will definitely bring forth fruit.
- Through ordinary people, God does extraordinary work in the lives of others.
Counseling is impossible without a relationship, which is based on competency, confidentiality, trust, and mutual understanding. Counseling is also impossible without compassion. People are different and they behave in different ways so it’s impossible to properly help without compassion. The teaching at Coram Deo brings one to the understanding that in counseling one must always think biblically, to not give hasty advice or even worse, rebuke a person without having understood the core of their problem. The illustration of the “destroyed house” is very helpful; I am also being built up and the Gospel is for everyone. This helps a person to sympathize with others’ problems and leads to a better building up of a relationship.
There are two types of treasures, earthly and heavenly, and the one we choose will rule over us. Every person is a worshiper and every person strives toward that which is valuable for them. Worship determines our words and actions and who we are and how we live. This is why the heart is the “target” of our ministry. There are no non-worshipers. All people are worshipers; the question is, of what or of whom? Being disappointed by the real world, a person creates their own world where everyone obeys their will. A person morally decays in the lusts of their own hearts. And because of this both they themselves and the people around them, whether nearby or not, suffer. Lusts beckon, attract, and captivate. Lusts demand satisfaction, rise up over the soul, and lead to war. This is a question not of suffering but what a person worships. To understand and determine the problem, it is necessary to aim at worship.
- We cannot serve the one whom we do not know.
It is probable that oftentimes our lack of desire to open ourselves up to others is that simply no one asks us to. The fast-paced rhythm of our lives does not allow us to get past surface-level relationships. If above all I value my achievements and strive for success, I may be happy, however I may not know true joy and my happiness may be fleeting. If I truly want to understand what a person wants, I must first understand the values they live by.
Circumstances reveal what fills a person’s heart. There is no neutral position. What’s inside will always be revealed. In order to properly and effectively do counseling, it is necessary to think about people and their problems biblically. Only in God’s light is it possible to see the true light. This course helps me and directs me to see God’s path in solving many problems, beginning with the heart and not behavior.
God takes care of us firstly by having become like us. He is always faithful, even when we’re not. He first understands a person and only then gives counsel. He has entered each individual’s world. He teaches us how to do counseling. And to do counseling one needs time. Only through time is the root of the problem dealt with in the heart, and only then is behavior altered.
- God always does the first step.
It became clear to me that when going through long-term counseling, it is important to not lose sight of the truth of “undeserved acceptance.” God has unconditionally accepted me, and in the same way I must accept the one I’m caring for. God has justified and sanctified me and called me to the continual process of sanctification. In the same way God will do the main work in the heart of the one I’m caring for by using me in that person’s sanctification.
What can I learn from other biblical counselors? To speak the truth in love. Secondly, I’ve been learning to not over-exaggerate a problem. And thirdly, I want to learn to listen and to hear. Out of Job’s four friends, Elihu was the youngest and spoke in the end after being quiet for a long time. And after hearing out everyone else, he gave an objective assessment of the problem, pointing to a corresponding solution. Suffering is not without purpose. God is not punishing you, He is simply teaching you. Elihu greatly impressed me. I want to be like him in intercession. To not be an arguer, but an intercessor.
Concluding and summarizing all of the above, I want to remind you how important is the care and fellowship that the Bible speaks about.
Every Christian fellowship must have a goal. It’s important for me to understand what kinds of things people strive toward. A Christian becomes a spiritually mature person when he grows spiritually, which becomes evident when earthly desires are given up for heavenly ones. The goal of a fellowship becomes evident by identifying wrong motives. People pursue various goals when gathering for fellowship. But the main goal should always be the pursuit of encouraging one another to love and good works.
These biblical truths and principles have not only greatly impressed me, but have had a fruitful influence on me. I pray that they may also be a blessing for you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine: gfchurch.com/ukraine/
The Scripture memory text :
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?
37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?
Mark 8:34-37
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
- Thursday (7:00 PM) – Bible study and prayer meeting
- Sunday services:
- Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM