The Counselor
“For to 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, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah
9:6).
People spend thousands
of dollars a year to go to psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and other
advisors who can give them guidance concerning their lives. Many organizations
and individuals pay for motivational speakers, life coaches, talk show hosts
and the likes to help them sort through life’s problems in a desperate attempt
to seek answers and confirmation of who they are and their purpose. A numerous
amount of churches have become houses of motivation rather than houses of
worship because people’s ears are wanting to hear hope for today instead of
change for tomorrow. Money has been spent on both legal and illegal drugs,
alcohol, and other remedies to take away feelings of low self-esteem,
depression, guilt, and loneliness when the answer is in none of the above, but
in Jesus who is our Mighty Counselor. The Bible says, “Come
to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew
11:28-30).
If you noticed, Jesus
did not refer the people to a doctor, a bottle of pills, or a self-help guru,
but He referred them to Himself. Jesus wanted people to understand that He was
the only One who could give them peace of mind from all life’s worries and
anxieties. The Bible says, “Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25).
Pharmaceutical companies make millions of dollars on prescription drugs for
high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, strokes and other illnesses brought
on from people worrying about tomorrow.
They worry about keeping up with the rat race called LIFE. What will I
wear? What car will I drive? How will I pay the bills? Where will I go to
school? Will I make it to college? What if I fail? Will he divorce me? Will I
get that promotion? The list of questions goes on and on concerning life’s list
of uncertainties. This often sends people into panic mode when they need to
turn all these matters over to JESUS. The Bible says, “Do not be anxious about
anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:6-7).
Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman one day with whom the Jews would not
have even given a second glance. As she began to draw water from the well,
Jesus asked her for a drink. Surprised by this request, she thought it strange
that He, being a Jew, would even request anything from her for the Jews thought
that they were better than the Samaritans. Nevertheless, Jesus told her that He
could give her water where she would never thirst again because He was the Living
Water. The Bible says, “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift
of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he
would have given you living water” (John 4:10).
The lady thought that Jesus was speaking of natural water when Jesus was
actually speaking of water in the Spirit. He was speaking of eternal water
where she would never have to thirst again. Water that would solve all of her
life’s disappointments, hurt, grief, and feelings of being inadequate. Water
that could heal her pain, feelings of rejection and the side-effects from a
broken heart. The Bible says, “On the last and greatest day of the
festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come
to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of
living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37-38). Jesus went on
to ask the Samaritan woman to go get her husband, but the woman replied that
she had no husband.
The woman had indeed been with numerous men and the one that she was
currently with was not her husband as well. Nevertheless, Jesus did not bring
it up to shame her, but to let her know who HE was and what He could do for her
life. The Bible says, “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you
are a prophet” (John 4:19). Jesus was not only a prophet, but He was
the Counselor who would not charge her an hourly fee for His time but would give
her knowledge concerning the Kingdom of God. No amount of money could pay for
such a service.
Jesus helped her to see that she did not have to feel inadequate due to others’
opinions nor settle for ungodly companionship to make her happy. The true
contentment could only be found in God, for He alone could fill the emptiness
that she unknowingly had. The Bible says, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when
the true worshippers will worship the Father in the spirit and in truth, for
they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his
worshippers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24).
Jesus is the only Counselor that we need. This doesn’t mean that you cannot
get spiritual advice from a pastor, Christian counselor or someone who has
experience in God, but all roads should point directly to Christ. He is the
only one who can heal and make your life straight. All you have to do is to
trust in His guidance and your life will never be the same. The Bible says, “The
fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility”
(Proverbs 15:33).
The Prophet
“When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city
was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the
prophet from Nazareth in Galilee” (Matthew 21:10-11).
There were many prophets
during Biblical times who God used to direct His people in the right direction they
should go and to help turn their hearts towards Him. Prophets had the role of
giving messages sent directly from God to the people. If God gave a message to
His prophet, God expected it to be delivered just as He intended. The
Bible says, “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will
take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City,
which are described in this scroll” (Revelation 22:19). The role of a
prophet was a serious one, and unlike many self-proclaimed modern-day prophets,
the true prophets did not deliver messages of self-centered prosperity, greed,
and worldly gain. Instead, they called the people to repent, turn from their
idolatrous ways, and often gave words of warning should they decide to continue
in their rebellion. The prophet would then deliver to them a word of hope that
God had given as a condition once they turned from their rebellious ways. The
Bible says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah
29:11).
Jesus was no ordinary
prophet; He came to deliver a word straight from the Father for He and the
Father were One. God’s word did not have to be delivered in the same manner as
the prophets of old for He was and still is the Living Word. The Bible says, “In
the beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
(John 1:1). All things that had been prophesied concerning Salvation
was about Him for all things led directly to Him and without Him nothing would
come to be. Jesus had come to tell all who believed in Him that they would have
a heavenly future. The Bible says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You
believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that
were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for
you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to
be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3). Jesus gave a
promise that those who believe in God, his Father, and in Him would get to go
to the place that He was preparing for them.
As the prophets of old,
Jesus often gave rebukes to the religious rulers of the day who always sought
to find something wrong with His teachings. They placed burdens on others while
being religious zealots and full of hypocrisy themselves. The Bible says, “Then
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ‘The teachers of the law and the
Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell
you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach’”
(Matthew 23:1-3). Jesus sought to help people understand his Father and
not be bound by the constraints of legalism.
Jesus, however, gave
dire warnings concerning the destruction of the temple and the end times. These
warnings were not to fill His followers with fear, but they were to prepare
them for the times to come. The Bible says, “Do
you see all these things? He asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will
be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2). The
disciples marveled at the beauty of the temple, but Jesus let them know that
the temple would one day be destroyed. In 70 C.E., the Romans fulfilled that
prophecy, and the temple came to total ruin.
The Prophet, Jesus, gave
additional warnings that consisted of false messiahs, nations uprising and
toppling one another, wars and plans for war, famines, and natural disasters
would all take place in the end times. The Bible says, “For
many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah, and will deceive many.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not
alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will
rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and
earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:5-7). What Jesus foretold
centuries ago is taking place right now. We have seen those claiming to be
Jesus and even false prophets who have arisen only to deceive and take advantage
of the innocent. There are and have been threats of war from various countries
around the world, while peace is spoken of – only to be broken. Jesus’ words
are the top headlines of today, and prophecy is being fulfilled right before
our very eyes.
Jesus warned that those
who follow Him would be mistreated and persecuted for His name’s sake.
Dedication to Him would even cost many their lives. The Bible says, “Then
you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be
hated by all nations because of me” (Matthew 24:9). Jesus’ warnings
continued regarding a great fallen away from the faith that would take place in
the last days, betrayal, an increase of wickedness, and the lack of love. As we
see here today, Jesus’ words came true, and they are becoming more evident
today. Yet, He gave us hope that He would come back to take His children home
where we will never have to encounter anything that is wicked ever again. That
hope is the reason for our faith, and His prophetic teachings and warnings
should always stay in our hearts and minds. They were given to prepare us for
that glorious day when we will one day see Him in the clouds and be with Him
forever more. The Bible says, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man
in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son
of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will
send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from
the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:30-31).
No comments:
Post a Comment