Other books by the author Pearls: Scriptures To Live By Mental health Bible concordance. Over 2,500 Scriptures for counsel and guidance. Compiled under 172 mental health topics. Christlike: Walking The Walk A Scripture-based description of what it means to be a mentally healthy Christian, and how to become more Christlike. Visit the author at Counseling4Christians.com The #1 Christian Counseling Internet Site on the Web To schedule a presentation at your church or organization, please email us at: Counseling4Christians@gmail.com
Personal Study Version GODLY COUNSEL Scriptures For Today s World Written by Dr. Brian Campbell In Collaboration with Rev. Jim Angelakos
Acknowledgements A special thanks to Rev. Jim Angelakos for his help and encouragement throughout this project. To my father and mother, who dedicated their lives to me, and who raised my brother and me in a Godly household. Copyright Copyright 2010, by Dr. Brian Campbell (All Rights Reserved (Revised Edition)) Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com Note: In this book, the words of Christ are printed in italics. Consistent with modern editing practices, beginning and ending ellipses have been omitted when only partial quotes of Scriptures have been utilized. Also, quotation marks have been omitted except where they were necessary for clarity. Because of these editing practices, please always consult the original biblical text before quoting any Scriptures in this book.
Contents Foreword: This Book is About God s Word 7 Lesson: 1. Abortion 9 2. Addictions 15 3. Adolescent Rebellion 24 4. Anger 31 5. Anxiety/Worry/Fear 39 6. Backsliding 43 7. Belief/Salvation 53 8. Christ, Who He Is 62 9. Citizenship 66 10. Communication 70 11. Death and Dying 83 12. Depression 91 13. Divorce 104 14. Forgive/Forgiveness 108 15. Grief 112 16. Judgmental 116 17. Love 121 18. Marriage 132 19. Money/Riches 136 20. Parenting 140 21. Persecution 146 22. Prayer 151 23. Pride 167 24. Self-Esteem, Low 171 25. Sexual Sin 181 26. Sin 188 27. Suffering 197 28. Temptation 204 29. Thinking, Healthy 214 30. Trouble/Hardship 219 31. Truth 223 32. Unemployment 229 33. Weak/Tired 235 Topical Index: 239
For our children and grandchildren, Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed. (Robert Schuller) Pass it on. (9-12.15.22.5-25.15.21: 13.1.3.11.5.14.26.9.5; 3.1.12.5.2; 8.5.14.18.25; 2.1.2.25)
Foreword This Book Is About God s Word The Word of God is living and active and relevant to today s world and to today s problems. There is no greater authority for Christian living than God s Holy Word. Whatever your problem, concern, or question may be, God has provided valuable guidance and counsel in the Bible. This book is a follow-up and companion to a previous book authored by Dr. Campbell entitled: Pearls: Scriptures To Live By. Pearls grew out of Dr. Campbell s work as a Christian psychologist. It consists of over 2,500 Scriptures for counsel and guidance, compiled under 172 topics relevant to Christian mental health. The idea for the current work, Godly Counsel, was first suggested by Rev. Jim Angelakos, who saw a need for a Synopsis (summary) of topics covered in Pearls. Many of the subjects covered in Pearls are synthesized and subsumed under the major headings in Godly Counsel. Focus On The Scriptures This book is primarily about Scriptures how they speak to mental health issues prevalent in our society. As you read the Synopsis for each chapter, take time to read the Scriptures that relate to the summary text. The Scriptures are conveniently located at the bottom of each page. Please take time to read the Scriptures supporting the text. The Scriptures will change your thinking, and ultimately change your life. Topical Index If you do not see your problem/concern among the major Lessons included in this book, please consult the Topical Index (p. 239).
8 Persecution
Persecution 9
10 Persecution Lesson 21 Persecution If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16) Persecute: to oppress, subjugate, or harass a specific group of people. Christians are under attack throughout the world. In some countries, they are not permitted to practice their faith. In other countries, Christians are actively persecuted or tortured because of their beliefs, even to the point of death. Many Christians are surprised or dismayed at the persecution they suffer. However, God s Word tells us that Christians should not expect to live trouble free lives and that they should view persecution as a blessing for those who believe in Jesus Christ and who suffer for their faith. Synopsis Modern day persecution of Christians has its origins in the suffering endured by the earliest followers of Christ. Jesus disciples were hated, rejected, falsely accused, and insulted because of their belief in Him and because they followed His teachings. Christ was sensitive to their pain and took time to comfort them. He told His followers to be glad and rejoice that they were suffering in His name. 1 He called them blessed when they were hated, insulted, space Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you, because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12) 1
and rejected for His sake. 2 He promised them that after they had suffered a little while on this earth, they would be rewarded greatly in heaven. 1,3 Jesus was familiar with persecution because He Himself suffered at the hands of others throughout His ministry. 4 Because He was hated by many of His contemporaries, He knew that His followers would also be hated. 5,6 In the end, Jesus endured the ultimate persecution when He was unjustly crucified on the cross. 7-9 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. (Luke 6:22) 2 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mark 13:13) 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. (Isaiah 53:3) 4 No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will persecute you also. (John 15:20) 5 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. (John 15:18) 6 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) 7 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16:21) 8 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. Hail, king of the Jews! they said. (Matthew 27:28-29) 9
After His crucifixion, Christ s followers and all of the original disciples (except Judas) continued to be persecuted for their faith as they spread the word about Jesus throughout the world. 10,11 Many of the disciples wrote about their suffering and pointed to the positive aspects of persecution. God s Guidance If you suffer because you are a Christian, do not to be ashamed. 12 If you suffer because you are doing good, this is commendable in the sight of God. 13 Commit yourself to God s work, and keep doing good. 14,15 It was about this time that Kind Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. (Acts 12:2-3) 10 They [the Jews] stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from the region. (Acts 13:50) 11 If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. (1 Peter 4:16) 12 If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. (1 Peter 2:2) 13 So then, those who suffer according to God s will should commit themselves to the faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Peter 4:19) 14 It is better, if it is God s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17) 15
Persecution 13 If you have been insulted because you are a Christian, consider yourself blessed. 16 You should never fear the fact that men put you down or insult you because of your beliefs. 17 If you are a Christian, you should not be surprised that you are being persecuted. 18,19 If you are living a Godly life in Christ Jesus, you should expect to be persecuted. 20 Remember that Christ was persecuted and suffered for us and left us an example that we should all follow. 21,22 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. (1 Peter 4:14) 16 Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. (Isaiah 51:7) 17 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:13) 18 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4:12-13) 19 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:12-13) 20 Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21) 21 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. (Philippians 1:29) 22
Finally, despite the fact that Christians are often persecuted for their faith, take comfort in the fact that the Holy Scriptures promise us that nothing (including persecution) will ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 23 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39) 23