The Hope of Christmas - Wonderful Counselor, Part 2

Can you imagine having Jesus as your therapist I mean is your personal Christian counselor will today. He counsels a woman feels overwhelmed, resentful, and life isn't fair jointly as Jesus helps her process what he says to her really can help you.

Thanks for joining us for this edition of living will be good with children Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry students what Christian worship series called the hope of Christmas in this program trip reveals what he calls for wisdom troubled in your personal life.

Tired of the upset.

These wisdom principles never have some good fellowship squarely with us after the teaching you talk a little bit more about each of these works are distinct to that. Okay, let's join ship now for part two of his message wonderful counselor from Luke chapter 10. Let's pick it up in Luke chapter 10 verse 38 now as they went on their way. Jesus entered a village and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house and she had a sister, Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listen to his teaching, but Martha was distracted with much serving, and she went up to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve all alone tell her to help me not know about you, and certainly she knows Jesus is a great rabbi and a great teacher, but sorta calling him out seems to be a little bit strong right don't you care look what's happening here so you got married who their sisters and Martha is realizing while I mean we need we need to prepare the cup.

We need to get it set up. Need to get the good dishes out and this is an important guest so we can't have like two or three dishes we need for five and everything's gonna be just perfect and what really matters is all the stuff we do for God right so she's active and she's busy. We pick up the story. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and so afterward Jesus said, Martha, Martha, your anxious and troubled about many things but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

His words are really interesting. He uses a general word you're distracted. It means an over preoccupation with the concern about future events and then the word here. He says you are troubled. It's it's a more specific word. It's kind of what happens to you emotionally. When you get locked up inside so she's preoccupied about. We gotta get this get to get this get to get this, we gotta get this and everything's can be terrible must get it all lined out and then she's not only anxious but she's troubled within and then use is an interesting word he says what Mary has chosen won't be snatched away or taken away from her is an interesting in both situations Jesus counsel. He says to the rich young ruler. He says you have one problem and he says to Martha only one thing is necessary and so I kind of look through my counseling profile and so the presenting problem is I have too much to do. I'm overwhelmed and as we say to one another.

I'm stressed out via diagnostic evaluation was. She believes that Jesus doesn't care.

And if other people would get with the program. Her life would really work out well. Anybody ever feel overwhelmed like a victim. And if God really cared, he would be helping you a lot more than he is right now and some of these other people if they would just pull their weight in your house or pull their weight at work or pull their weight here than things it really be better anyone ever felt that that's what I mean. I mean this is this is a lady whose frazzled and she's frazzled because her belief system.

Is that what really honors God is her activity per serving her doing and like most of us when doing is the focus. You can never do enough. Mary sat down and she had time for Jesus himself. Martha was doing things for him. Mary said I'm not sure when this opportunity is going to come but I want to be with him defined during the Christmas season that your time with Christ, get squeezed when you shop, eat, cook you go to these parties, Yala, but later it's hard to get up what will be your game plan this Christmas to say while if I have a supernatural counselor that wants to give me wisdom, put his arm around me coach me through this season and help me for my good. What what I need to hear from them. So the she believes Jesus is about how much she does the real issue is, she substitutes her relationship with him for activity for him and so he gives her a divine prescription and basically says your problem busyness root issue you don't, you don't get it. You don't understand what's its priorities. You have you have built in traditional expectations that when someone comes to your home you have to do one, two, three, four and five and actually two would've been fine for you to have time to be with me so I would encourage you to ask yourself what what are some things that you have always done that.

Take time and put you under pressure and just asked this ridiculous question should I even do that this year I me with the with the world fall apart if you said to a couple those parties.

I would really love to come but I'm just not able to make it. I have another very important priority in its you spent time with God or you know anymore. Now everyone makes their Christmas cards and then you get something printed from someone that you hear from once a year right and on the printing it says all I hope you have a blessed season. Rejoice let another law may be a verse of their Christian or or you get a four-page letter about how well all that, you know, this might by one sons of superstar the other ones in Oxford.

My daughter just want to beauty contest right you get those letters like I do like I really I don't I don't want to know that much about your life right and you get these and and then sorted at the at the very end all by the way, please pray for us because were little overwhelmed because were leaving seven Bible studies and I suspect felt. Don't get me wrong, I don't think is wrong to send out those letters, especially if there are well done, but I've met people that the weight of the whole season. Send those letters I got right out of this cards what and I'm not saying by the way, I'm not saying any of this is wrong, you may be led to do some things I just remember about 15 years ago I looked at everything I thought you know what, I'm just not doing the take a whole bunch of time trying to find all the addresses and I got to self I can text people and call people and have a genuine connection with the top 25 or 30% than doing all those cards and all that stuff but believe me for years. It was like a gun. How can you not send cards or for some of you we have to bake everything ourselves right. My grandmother, my mother, me, and it's you know it's nine days of making me take these ties and we put them over here never here and then it will get you five. I cannot really… I think what's all this crazy stuff we do.

I'm just saying like I'm just wondering whether Jesus would say when you can. Some of that stuff really dense, his words Jesus you're troubled about many things, but the only one thing is necessary if we didn't do anything in our heart was to spend time with him and express his love to other people and we didn't do any of the traditional stuff we might have this weird experience like while there wasn't much stress I had such joy. We have to help that family over here what would happen if you just took off things that unconsciously that her expectations that you think to be a good person, a good mom, good dad, a good single person that whatever you just you having thought about it, it's just the lid it's December what he just said I'm not ready.

What if you said okay if the child is born, to us that his name will be called supernatural counselor. What if you took your whole Christmas list and expectations and said oh wonderful counselor which ones of these do you want me to do and which ones you.I really don't need to do and is there anything maybe it's not on this long list that this year might really express love to people that you want on the list and then just kind of relax and do whatever he shows you about what he might give you a rich young ruler moment right to the rich young ruler who he was restless and dissatisfied. He had a hole in his soul, and Jesus gave him the answer. He says I think I could hear about you, Lord, I want to help. I still want that much of me.

I mean I want to be close to you but I want to keep my idols, I want to be in control. I want people to know I've got stuff I want to. And Jesus you know good counselors best ones I've ever had this times were you just want to get up and knock him out and and usually if you're that defensive. It's because you realize there really right your arrogant chip your workaholic chip you think you have to earn God's favor chip, you have to feel like you gotta do near crazy and right and then you you walk through a journey in the process with some friends and say I want to learn to be humble. I want to learn to be a servant. I want to learn to not care what other people think and you get some insight along the ways about your personality or were you picked up some of this stuff, but Grace is saying I am loved. Not because of anything I do not. If I do something and not to impress anyone. I am loved because the living God came to the planet, born of the virgin that would be a fool hundred percent man and a full hundred percent God the classical theology is true humanity undiminished deity without confusion and he died upon the cross after living a perfect life and he's covered and paid for my sins and I can receive that by faith and he will take up residence in the in the Christian life is him living his life through me, and I walk with him and I do good things and kind acts not to earn his favor already have it, but to express his love to other people and to give thanks for what is done and that just takes mountains of pressure off. That's why Jesus came. He didn't come see could check off the box. Okay, no adultery, no there's no there's no there's no there's no this know this, but I'm God noncontrol and income so you can say okay I'm going to do tons of things for God.

Some people do. So much for God. They miss a relationship with God. So you ready for the third counseling session counseling number one is a restless rich young successful moral person counseling number two is a harried stressed out woman and counselee number three is you and me, and I want to give you for little principles that I've drawn for this Christmas season for me and for you. I call them wisdom principles to follow this Christmas number one stuff will never satisfy given stuff to other people won't satisfy. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying don't give Christmas gift. I'm just saying. Ask what you given why what he going to do. You given what you can afford are given all these games we play like I hear people say stuff like, well, you know, I really can't afford it, and level of a lot but it's the Christmas season. Like all that's licensed to be stupid is the Christmas season I think will be responsible stuff won't satisfy so how do you Heidi how do you personally declare war on the stuff world. Second is being good is never good enough. Built into the driven this is being good but demonstrating other people. Your good being you, good teacher, Jesus, and who you calling good there's only one that's good.

This God, it's about a grace relationship is being forgiven. The performance orientation you have and I have is thinking someday, somehow good, I'll get good enough to earn God's favor earn people's favor.

I want you know you've got God's favor because what Christ did. Third, our activities for God and others can destroy our relationship with God and others suggest coming due. Do an inventory check on your activities, your good activities. What what Martha was doing was good, but her good activity for Jesus and the other guest actually ruined her relationship with Jesus and not just the other guest but her own sister. Fourth, if you're too busy to listen and pray you're too busy right if God Emmanuel what's it mean God is with us, God came near Jesus left heaven to be with you, and we celebrated by not having time to be with him. Does anybody see sorta something that doesn't make sense on that one. Maybe to read the book of Luke bidding and read the Christmas story.

How are you going to be with him to listen and to pray. What's that look like either in the morning or what's it look like in the family or what's that look I don't know but let me encourage you the wonderful counselor wants us to be an amazing Christmas of deep connection of great love toward you being listening to Chip's message counselor from one of his newest series of hope of Christmas 700 years before Jesus was born. The prophet Isaiah wrote to God's people to give them hope chip used a little bit about text for this series because the hope. Isaiah wrote about is for us to.

Here's what he said for those who live in a land of deep darkness a light will shine and they will rejoice for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, the government will be upon his shoulders and he will be called wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of peace. Now that's hope that'll keep you going this Christmas season. God wants you to know he has a plan and it's a good one. You know this would be a great series to listen to every now and then with the chip and remap it's always handy if you like CDs take advantage of the current discounts online that LivingontheEdge.org remember the MP3s are always free before I come back and talk about some application to today's message.

I do understand we have been talking a lot about the match and how your gift doubles and what the ministries doing but I just want to pause for a moment and tell you may be a bit behind the scenes of why it's so important why I bleed what God is doing it.

Living on the Edge. This is the part that many of you won't see but this email that I'm going to read is the standard copy that we get in fact we pray every day as a staff for a half-hour all around the country, we come together and and we have Excel sheets of just literally scores and scores of people and I'm telling you it's painful what people are going through marriage is falling apart.

No jobs. People who have relatives of died of covert, 19 and this lady writes good morning, this message is for Chip Ingram. I wanted him to know what God is done in my life to the ministry. I'm a long-time believer who wandered far from God for many years after year and 1/2 of crisis divorce and struggle to find my purpose in my place.

I was searching for someone who would care for me, someone to whom I could belong. I reached the breaking point.

In August I had suicidal thoughts for about nine months and this day in August was the worst metal break I've ever had. I scared myself, my family, my friends had absolutely no hope, no way forward.

I could not see the love my family and my friends had for me. I felt alone and unloved, unwanted, and I despaired and was desperately crying out for help. I lashed out at everyone around me. I was defeated, discouraged and depressed and I thought I couldn't go on anymore.

She goes on to talk about something that came to her mind from years ago, about 106.9 the light and some guy named Chip she got on the Internet, found it, googled it and goes on to say, I've been listening every single day. Little by little God begin to speak to my heart.

Renew my mind and fill my spirit, and she says I was humbled and all by what God is done in my heart, my mind in my life I wanted Chip to know that his ministry has been used by God to save my life. That's why I do what I do and that's why were asking you to join. Yes, there's ministry, there's impact there's international. There's equipping there's discipling. I may not diamond all that but I can't tell you how many letters and emails I get of people whose lives are fallen apart and God promised his word would go forth and not return void without doing what he says it'll do.

Would you help us help so many who are hurting so deeply. Right now they would you give them kind of the information about how they can join us and why it's important here in December.

Thanks so much love to. Thanks to you know if you've ever wondered how you can make a difference. Chip just read should help you see that partnering with the ministry of Living on the Edge would be a great place to make a difference in the lives of people you'll never meet on your own right now. Your gift will go twice as far. Thanks to a small group of ministry partners. Every gift we received during the month of December will be doubled dollar for dollar to send a donation. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org Donate on the app or give us a call at triple late. 333-6003 that's AAA 333-6003.

You will make a difference as we close today's program I flew through those four wisdom principles really fast.

You know Jesus is a wonderful counselor and in the last couple broadcast.

We talked about him counseling, a rich young ruler, and then an overworked woman and then I wanted to take some of those principles for you and me Celine back for just a minute and I want you to think about these in their application for you. Number one is stuff will never satisfy. Be thoughtful with gifts, but just refused to overspend. Okay I'm in this for some of you that's going into your head. But let it sink in May. That'll be really a challenge. Spending more money on something, doesn't mean you love people more second being good is never good enough. Grace says you're good enough.

You don't have to earn it. When there is something about, especially this time a year of wanting to earn people's approval and I need to do this I need to do that in all those expectations. Being good is never good enough. You are loved and cherished by God. Just for who you are right where you're at number three, our activities for God and others can destroy our relationships with God and others. I'm going to say that again more slowly our activity for God and others hurry here, hurry there do this do that. Gotta get that done can actually destroy our relationships with God and others. I want you to know that the perfect meal the cleanest house the greatest rat present is never a substitute for looking into someone's eyes, listening from the heart. Having words of life and affirmation. If you could connect at the heart level with the people that you care about, and especially maybe those you have a little more trouble loving than others. We all have that in our families right it'll make it a far better Christmas than the perfect presentation. The most amazing meal and the gift that you just know is going to make a difference and unfortunately never does fourth principle is if you're too busy to listen and pray you're just too busy. God knows all the demands on your time, but he wants first place.

People love to spend time with you to enjoy time with you to speak to you to give you perspective and wisdom, and peace. I'd love you to get these message notes download them may be share with a few friends. Let's make this Christmas season filled with relationship and love and hope.

Not just stuff an activity. This can be a different Christmas. Let's do it. You'll find the message notes that you just mentioned a couple of places online.

Just go to LivingontheEdge.org and click the broadcasts tab Listeners will find it by tapping fill in notes, the wisdom principles is Scripture references and much more are all there to help you get the most out of each message will be sure to join us next time. When Chip continues his series, the hope of Christmas.

Till then this is the earliest thing.

Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge