The world is full of deep hurts and great needs. Unfortunately, so many people—including Christians—turn to insufficient sources to find relief and healing. 

At the same time, godly Christians who love God’s Word and love others feel ill-equipped to help meet people’s needs. Some believe that only “experts” can provide adequate counseling or that medical prescriptions are what is needed. While I do not deny that there are times specific areas of expertise are needed (I myself am a medical doctor), my experience is that Christians with a heart to help too often fail to recognize the incredible wisdom of God’s Word applied in the power of the Spirit to meet the deepest needs of the human heart. 

Ultimately, the goal of biblical counseling is spiritual, relational, and personal maturity, as evidenced by one’s desires, thoughts, motives, actions, and emotions increasingly reflecting Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:17–5:2). Such personal change must be centered on the person of Jesus Christ as directed by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. I am convinced that such ministry offers the only lasting hope and loving help to a fallen and broken world.

Of course, as a biblical counselor, I know that I myself have not arrived. We comfort and counsel others only as we continue to receive ongoing comfort and counsel from the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures (2 Corinthians 1:3–11). I admit that I struggle to apply consistently all that I believe. We who counsel live in process, just like those we counsel, so we want to learn and grow in the wisdom and mercies of Jesus Christ.

The Word Applied

As biblical counselors, we believe that God’s Word is authoritative, sufficient, and relevant. As Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” 

The inspired, inerrant, and preserved Scriptures, rightly interpreted and carefully applied by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, offer God’s comprehensive wisdom. We learn to understand who God is, who we are, the problems we face, how people change, and God’s provision for that change in the Holy Spirit and the Word of God (John 8:31–32; 10:10; 17:17).

No other source of power and knowledge thoroughly equips us to counsel in ways that transform the human heart (Psalm 19:7–14; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:3). Other systems of counseling aim for other goals—self-centered goals—and assume a different dynamic of change which is void of the involvement of the Holy Spirit and Scripture. The wisdom given by the Holy Spirit in His Word is distinct, robust, and life-changing. The Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, comprehensively addresses the sin and suffering of all people in all situations.

The Holy Spirit shows us that Scripture alone teaches a perspective and way of looking at life by which we can think biblically about and critically evaluate information and actions from any source (Colossians 2:2–10; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).

The Spirit’s Work

We know, however, that we are not competent to apply the wisdom of the Word in our own strength. Rather, we believe that both a genuine change of heart and transformation of lifestyle depend upon the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–16:16; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18). 

Biblical counselors know that it is impossible to speak wisely and lovingly to bring about true and lasting change apart from the decisive, compassionate, and convicting work of the Holy Spirit in the counselor and the counselee. We acknowledge the Holy Spirit as the One who illuminates our understanding of the Scriptures and empowers its application in everyday life. The Holy Spirit is the agent of change. We must have the involvement of the Holy Spirit in our counseling to develop Christlikeness in our counselee. Nothing of eternal value will transpire without the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Wise biblical counselors serve in the truth that God reveals and by the strength that God supplies through His Holy Spirit. By the Holy Spirit’s work, God receives glory in all the good that takes place in people’s lives. 

Biblical counselors affirm the absolute necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit to guide and empower the counselor, the counselee, and the counseling relationship. Dependent prayer is essential to the work of biblical counseling (Ephesians 6:18–20). Wise biblical counselors humbly request God’s intervention and direction, praise God for His work in people’s lives, and intercede for people to experience genuine life change to the glory of God (Philippians 4:6).

The Holy Spirit leads through the public ministry of the preaching of God’s Word. He transforms lives through the gospel and the new birth, and He has designed biblical preaching as an agent of change in the hearts of His people (1 Corinthians 1:21, Romans 10:17). The preaching of the Bible is a verbal, authoritative proclamation of God’s Word, which has an appeal for response—a changed life. For these reasons, preaching the Bible is one of the primary responsibilities of the pastor, and hearing preaching in a local church context is a necessity for growing Christians (2 Timothy 4:1–2).

The Holy Spirit also leads through the private ministry of biblical counseling. The Holy Spirit uses biblical counseling to teach the counselee how to apply Scripture to their life circumstances, to exhort the counselee, and at times to confront and rebuke when necessary. In our counseling, we ought not to rely on our own wisdom or ingenuity but on the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our sufficiency is not in ourselves but in our God and His Word (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Furthermore, the Holy Spirit works in the counselee’s life to bring conviction as needed (John 16:8–11). As the Holy Spirit convicts, He also extends His grace that the counselee might respond in humility. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). 

However, the Holy Spirit not only works in the counselee’s life, He also works in the counselor’s life in many ways. First, the Holy Spirit gives the ability to actively listen, which is of foundational importance in establishing a meaningful relationship. Again, in the book of James, we read, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Second, the Holy Spirit gives insight and understanding so proper application of the Scriptures may be applied to the counselee’s life. Finally, the Holy Spirit indwells us, prompts us, and empowers us to walk in the Spirit so that our lives manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).

If we wish to make a difference in the lives of those we counsel, we need absolute dependence on the Word and work of the Holy Spirit.