FROM THE HEART OF  GOD
Minister  Dr. Rosalyn H. Berry
                                   
                                       “JESUS,  OUR WONDERFUL COUNSELOR”
 
Isaiah 9:6 
For unto us a child is born, to us a  son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.


Jesus, our Wonderful  Counselor.  This word wonderful means “beyond  understanding”.   Jesus is a Counselor that is greater  than we can begin to understand!  Why do we need a
“Wonderful Counselor”?  For one, the world is a confusing  and overwhelming place.  We need someone to help us get  through the fog.  Also, we have a sin problem that we cannot
handle by ourselves.  We may try to be good but we  fail.  We need someone who can do for us what we cannot do for  ourselves, someone to lead us to salvation and new life.  We
yearn for a relationship with God.  Some people don’t realize  it but they are searching for meaning and purpose in their life.   We need someone to lead us to Him.  That someone is
Jesus!  Why is Jesus a “Wonderful Counselor”?


The first characteristic of a good  counselor is someone who is able to rightly identify the problem in the one they  are counseling.  We have all had experience with people who
try to counsel us but didn’t have any idea what we were going  through.  But Jesus understands and sympathize with our  weakness because He has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet without  sin (Hebrews 4:15).  He became man to face what we face, to  walk in our shoes.  He knew what it was like to be tempted and  suffer. He understood the desire to strike back, to give up, and to despair.  Jesus got through it without sin but not without struggle. Jesus understands the  hurts, the needs, our tears, and the rebellion of man.   Take your best friend, the person who listens when no one else will, the  person who understands your deepest need, the person who will not jump on you  when you make a mistake but will help you get back up….Jesus is like that, only extraordinarily better!  HALLELUJAH!


A good counselor is not just  sympathetic but must also know how to help and give the appropriate prescription  for the problem. Jesus is the wisest Counselor because His wisdom is from the  Throne room of Heaven.  He never sought the counsel of  man.  “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been  His counselor?” (Romans 11:34).  Our Lord does several things  when we turn to Him.  First, He tells us the  truth.  He tells us what’s really wrong with our lives.  He points out that we are really rebelling against God and we need to repent of   our sins.  Secondly, Jesus tells us to trust what He  has done for us. He knew that we could not save ourselves so He provided the  help that we needed by paying the penalty for our sin.   Thirdly, He gives us the prescription for life that will help us live a  spiritually healthy life.  This is the Bible – the Word of   God.  The counsel of Jesus is superb!  He  understands our situation and has addressed with love and wisdom.   Give His counsel a chance!


The best test of a good counselor is  whether the people who go to that counselor are helped.  Jesus is the most effective counselor that ever lived and is still changing lives  today!   As we go through this holiday season. I  hope we see that Jesus – the Wonderful Counselor was
born!  He is the One:  we have been  looking for all our lives; who understands when no one else does; who stands by  us when everyone else turns away; who really can help us confront the past and  begin again; who can help us find the God we knew was present but couldn’t reach  him.  But even the “Wonderful Counselor” cannot help  us unless we are willing to be helped.  It’s time to stop  hiding from the things that haunt our life and take our hurts, fears, and  failures to Jesus.  We don’t have to hide the truth about our  self and what we’re going through.  He already knows and still  loves us anyway!  GLORY TO GOD!


When Jesus was born to Mary and  Joseph in Bethlehem it was God’s way of sending us the help we  needed.  It was God, getting off the throne of Heaven to  become a baby, so that He might come into our world, take our hand, and lead us  home!  HALLELUJAH! WHAT A WONDERFUL  COUNSELOR!    
 
HAPPY HOLY HOLIDAYS ENJOYING  JESUS!!


Dr.  Rosalyn H. Berry, LPC
bveros56@aol.com

CBBC  –COUNSELING BLOG


FROM THE HEART OF GOD


MINISTER DR. ROSALYN H. BERRY


“DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE  WHOLE?”


John 5:1-16


    There  were a multitude of impotent folk – feeble, sick, weak, blind, waiting by a pool called Bethesda (which means House of Mercy or kindness) seeking healing.  One man in particular had been there with an infirmity for thirty eight years.   By now he was feeble in mind and body.  He was frail and without strength.  Jesus took notice of this man and asked  him a life changing question.  He  asked the man, “Wilt thou be made whole?”  Jesus wanted to know if the man had even considered or desired to become  healed in his body, well in his mind, and sound in true doctrine.  Jesus wanted to know the man’s intentions because He was there to offer him wholeness immediately.  (Jesus may be asking you that question right now!)


    The  man responded by saying, I have no man to help me.  As a matter of fact as I lie at this pool called Bethesda (House of Mercy  or kindness) in mud, mire, shame, disgrace and dishonor man pass by me, step  down before me and seek healing for himself.  So I just lie here stuck in this condition.  After hearing that  pitiful story and seeing the condition this man was in Jesus said to the man, rise, take up your bed, and walk.  Jesus was saying awaken from lying, sitting, obscurity, inactivity, ruin,  disease, death; lift yourself up loose the excuses; and live!  (Do you feel stuck and hopeless today? Jesus is ready to free you so you can live!)


    Only  Jesus, the Son of the Living God could give this man what he really needed. He  was looking to man to give him the healing that only Jesus could give.  Without knowing who Jesus was the man  still accepted the offer of being made whole. Later on Jesus made himself known to the man while they were in the temple.  Jesus told the man in admiration to take a good look at My marvelous work in you.  You are no longer impotent and infirmed but you are whole in your mind, body, and soul.  I did that for you because I am HE who came from God to offer you Hope.  Henceforth, sin no more or a worst  thing will come upon you. (Jesus came to offer you Hope in your hopeless state right now!)



    If  you are in a state of brokenness today and you have waited at the house of mercy  for man to make you whole I offer you a better way – JESUS!   Jesus has the authority to make us whole because HE was wounded for our  transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace  was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).  Accept HIS finished work on the cross for the ultimate healing – ETERNAL  LIFE!  Meanwhile we can enjoy
wholeness today as we allow Jesus to see HIS marvelous work being manifested in  us for HIS glory! (The decision is yours – Jesus responds according to your response!)