Daily Self-Examination: A Guide for the Soul
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

I. The Morning Commitment (Starting the Day)

* The Goal of Glory: Do I intend to do anything today, in soul or body, but what tends to the glory of God?
* The Urgency of Time: Am I resolved to "live with all my might" while I do live, not losing one moment of time to worthless activities?
* The Presence of God: Am I starting this day with a "recollected" spirit, staying aware of God's presence in every planned business?
*  

II. The Mid-Day Review (Walking in the World)

* The Master of My Members: Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am (hypocrisy)?
* The Tongue and Heart: Have I spoken evil of anyone today? Was my speech guided by "pure and simple truth" and benevolence?
* The Lure of the Old Master: Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits? Have I dallyed with any "occasions of sin" this afternoon?

III. The Nightly Inquiry (Reflecting Before Sleep)

* The Diagnosis of Sin: Where have I been negligent today? What specific sin have I committed that I must now "trace back to its original cause"?
* The Reality of Christ: Has the Bible "lived in me" today? Is Christ real to me right now, or have I merely gone through the motions?
* The Comfort of Grace: If I were to hear the "last trump sound" within the hour, would I be afraid to face the judgment with the actions I performed today?

V. The "Gift" Check: Motives of the Heart

* Unmerited Service: Did I serve God today for "wages" (to get something from Him) or for "love" (because of the gift He already gave me)?
* Assurance of Love: What is the "one thing in me" today that caused me to doubt the love of God, and how can I direct all my forces against it?

A Puritan Proverb for the Pocket:
"Be killing sin or it will be killing you." — John Owen

John Owen warns that attempting to kill sin without the Holy Spirit is not only ineffective but spiritually dangerous. He argues that apart from the Spirit, any "mortification" is merely a false religion of self-invention.

Owen highlights several specific warnings for those who fight sin in their own strength:

* The Trap of Legalism and Hypocrisy: Without the Spirit, efforts to kill sin often become "outside worship"—changing outward behavior while leaving the heart unchanged. This leads to becoming a "self-justiciary" or a hypocrite rather than a true Christian.

* Vain and Helpless Remedies: Owen bluntly states that "all other ways of mortification are vain; all helps leave us helpless". No amount of human diligence, watchfulness, or intention can heal a soul if it is not regenerate and led by the Spirit.

* Strengthening the "Old Man": Neglecting the Spirit’s power doesn't just fail to kill sin; it can actually "rot the new man" and renew the strength of your sinful nature.

* The Danger of False Peace: Those fighting without the Spirit often "speak peace" to themselves prematurely. They may feel a temporary sense of victory based on sheer willpower, which Owen warns is a "fatal mistake" because the sin will eventually revive and prove deadly.

* Spiritual Despair and Exhaustion: Attempting to "make brick without straw" (fighting without strength) leads to a burdensome, ensnared conscience. This eventually results in pride if you succeed outwardly, or deep despair when you inevitably fail.

In his groundbreaking work, The Mortification of Sin, John Owen provides timeless wisdom for the spiritual battle against indwelling sin. These key quotes capture the urgency and essence of his 9 steps we discussed yesterday.


The Urgency of the Battle

The Necessity of the Holy Spirit

THE "SHOVEL FOR THE SNAKE": 9 STEPS TO KILL SIN

The metaphor of the shovel for the snake refers to the proactive, aggressive way a believer must deal with sin: just as you would use a shovel to decapitate a venomous snake in your home, you must strike at the head of sin through "mortification". John Owen famously warned, "Be killing sin or it will be killing you".

Use these 9 directives from his classic work, The Mortification of Sin (1656), as the practical application for "living the Great Exchange".


* Diagnose the Severity: Not all sins are equal in their grip. A sin that has been "indulged for a long season" is a deep-rooted tree that requires more vigorous hacking.

* Grasp the Consequences: Remind yourself that even small sins "darken the soul" and "deprive it of its comfort". Owen warns that if you don't kill it, sin will "blind the mind" and "stupefy the affections".

* Load the Conscience with Guilt: Don't offer yourself easy excuses. "Bring the holy law of God into thy conscience" and see your sin in light of the cross. Ask: "Was my soul washed that there might be room for new defilements?".

* Earnestly Desire Deliverance: You will not be free until you hate the chains. Owen says, "Unless thou longest for deliverance, thou shalt not have it".

* Know Your Natural Temperament: Every person has "treacheries" in their natural makeup—some are prone to "hasty determinations" like David, or "repining" like Jonah. Identify your unique weak points.

* Avoid the "Occasions" of Sin: Stay away from the "slippery places." If you "dally with occasions of sin," you will soon "dare to sin".

* Rise Swiftly Against First Signs: Don't let the thought take root. Strike while the desire is small. "He who has once smitten a serpent, if he does not follow on his blow until he be slain, may repent that ever he began the quarrel".

* Meditate on God's Majesty: Fill your mind with the greatness of God. Sin struggles to flourish in a heart that is "in continual awe" of Divine glory.

* Don’t Rush to Self-Comfort: Beware of "speaking peace" to your soul before God does. If your peace is not attended by a "detestation and abhorrence" of the sin, it is a false, self-made peace.


The Core Principle: "The Only Way"
Owen is clear that these steps are not "moral self-help." They are only effective when done "by the Spirit" (Romans 8:13). He famously stated:

Sermon Title: The Great Exchange: From Death’s Wages to Life’s Gift
Text: Romans 6:19–23

I. A Change of OWNERSHIP (v. 19-20)
“I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.” (Romans 6:19–20, LSB)

•The Premise: Neutrality is an illusion.
“Every man is a servant; the difference is only in the master.” — Thomas Manton

•The Nature of the Old Master: Sin is not a guest; it is a ruler.
“Sin is a tyrannizing thing... it is a master that will have all its work done, though it be to the soul’s undoing.” — Thomas Watson

•The Application:“I am no longer my own... I have given myself to the Lord.” — Michael Wigglesworth (from his diary). We must move from the "loathing" of our own excellence to the "yielding" of our members to God.

II. The WAGES of Sin (v. 21, 23a)
“Therefore what benefit were you then having from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” (Romans 6:21, LSB)




III. The GIFT of God (v. 22-23b)
“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit, leading to sanctification, and the end, eternal life.” (Romans 6:22, LSB)


“For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23)

“Until a man has faith, his best services are but glorious sins.” — John Bunyan

Romans 6:23 serves as the "final termination" or conclusion of two lifestyles:
one of sin leading to death, and one of holiness (sanctification) leading to life.

The contrast made in verse 23 reflects much of Romans:
The Master One May Serve----->Sin or God
The Outcome of That Service----->Death or Eternal Life
How That Outcome Is Obtained----->Wages Earned or a Gift Received


                       “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.” — John Owen



“Be as willing to die to sin as Christ was to die for sin, and as willing to live to Him as He was to die for you. Be as willing to be His, to serve Him, as that He should be yours to save you. Take Him on His own terms, give up yourself wholly to Him.” — Ralph Venning

Closing Thought:
Which master’s ‘paycheck’ do you want to hold on the Day of Judgment?

From Wax to Word: What Real Change Looks Like

We often talk about "believing" the Gospel, but Romans 6:17–18 suggests something much deeper than just mental agreement. Paul writes that we were once slaves to sin, but then something shifted: we "obeyed from the heart" the pattern of teaching we were given.

The Image: The Seal and the Wax
The Puritans had a beautiful way of explaining this. They compared the human heart to soft wax and the Word of God to a heavy metal seal. In the ancient world, to prove a document was authentic, you would pour hot wax on the paper and press a metal seal into it. The wax didn't just "look" at the seal; it was melted down and poured into the mold.

When the seal is lifted, the wax has been transformed. It now carries the same letters, the same image, and the same shape as the seal that pressed it.

Beyond Facts to Formation
This is the heart of Christianity. It is more than just knowing facts about Jesus; it is a work of the Holy Spirit melting our hearts and pressing the Scriptures into our very character.

The "pattern of teaching" Paul mentions isn't just a textbook; it’s a mold. When we surrender to Christ, we aren't just following a new set of rules—we are being reshaped until our lives reflect the "image" of the Word. We were lost, but now we are being found and formed into something new: "slaves of righteousness."

The Reflection
Are you holding the "seal" of Scripture at a distance, or are you letting it press into you? Today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts like warm wax, so that our lives might clearly bear the mark of the Gospel.

How can we as a community support one another in staying "soft" to the Spirit’s work this week?

Melted by the Word

"But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were given over, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." — Romans 6:17-18

"I once was lost, but now I am found..." We know the song, but do we realize the dramatic shift in ownership that happens when we are saved?

Paul tells us that Christianity is far more than just believing a set of facts about Jesus. It is a transformation of allegiance. We were once mastered by sin, but now we are "handed over" to a new master: righteousness.

The "Seal and the Wax"
To understand this better, the Puritans often used a beautiful illustration: the heart is like wax, and the Gospel is a heavy metal seal.

When we truly obey the "pattern of teaching"—the gospel—it is not merely an intellectual agreement. It is like placing hot, pliable wax under a heavy seal. The wax doesn’t just "follow" the seal; it takes on its exact image, its letters, and its shape.

Melted Down and Poured Into the Mold
Through the Holy Spirit, God melts down our old, hardened character and pours us into the mold of the Scriptures. The goal is that our lives eventually match the Word.
This isn't slavery as the world understands it; it is being freed from the tyranny of sin to serve the One who loves us. We are being molded, day by day, to bear the image of Christ.

Reflection:
Are you letting the Word "seal" your heart today? In what areas of your life is the Spirit "melting" you to fit His mold?

Thanks be to God that we are no longer slaves to sin!

From Sin to Sonship: What Paul Really Means by "Slave" in Romans 6

When we read Paul’s letters, we often see him introduce himself as a "servant" of Jesus Christ. It sounds humble, almost polite. However, in the original Greek, Paul uses a much stronger, more jarring word: Doulos.
In Romans 6, Paul uses doulos repeatedly to describe a radical shift in our identity. Understanding this word is key to unlocking the true meaning of Christian freedom.

What is a Doulos?
Doulos (δοῦλος) translates to slave or bondservant. In the first-century Roman world, a doulos was not a hired laborer (which was diakonos or servant) but a person whose person and service belonged wholly to another.

• Total Ownership: A slave did not make independent choices about their life because they belonged to a master.
• Voluntary Bondage: Often, a doulos is a "bondslave"—someone who was set free but chooses to stay with a loving master, voluntarily giving up their rights to serve them out of love.

The Argument in Romans 6
Paul uses this extreme term to describe our spiritual reality. He argues that we cannot be neutral. We are either a slave to one master or another:

1.Slaves of Sin: Before Christ, we were slaves to sin, enslaved to our own selfish desires, leading to spiritual death.

2.Slaves of Righteousness: Through Christ, we have been purchased—bought at the price of His blood—and are now enslaved to righteousness (Romans 6:18).
Paul tells us in Romans 6:17-18 that we were once slaves of sin, but we "became obedient from the heart" and have been "set free from sin, and have become slaves of God".


How does a 1st-century slave metaphor apply to us today?

• 1. Ownership Changes Everything: You are not your own. Your body, your time, your talents, and your money belong to Jesus. Living as a doulos means waking up and asking, "What does my Master want me to do today?" rather than "What do I want to do?".
• 2. A Change of Master, Not a Change of Bondage: We tend to value autonomy. But Paul says true freedom isn't doing whatever we want; true freedom is being enslaved to a Master who is loving, kind, and brings life.
• 3. Freedom Means Obedience: Doulos isn't about forced, grudging service. It is a voluntary, loving surrender to the Master who saved us. We obey God because we love Him, not just because we have to.

The Bottom Line:
Paul says that being a slave to Christ is the highest privilege of all. It is a life where we are set free from a tyrant (sin) to serve a loving King (Jesus). This week, consider one area of your life where you have been holding onto ownership and surrender it to your Master.

Choosing a New Master: The Power of DOULOS

In Romans 6, the Apostle Paul uses a word that often makes modern readers uncomfortable: doulos. While many of our English Bibles translate this as "servant," the literal Greek meaning is "slave"—someone who is owned by, and entirely at the disposal of, a master.

Why "Slave" Instead of "Servant"?
To Paul’s original audience, the distinction was massive. A servant was a hired worker who retained personal freedom and could quit at the end of the day. A doulos, however, was possessed by their master. In Romans 6:16–22, Paul argues that no human being is truly "free" in the way we often think. We are always in a state of spiritual bondage:
•Before Christ: We were slaves to sin, a cruel master that pays its workers in death.
•In Christ: We have been "redeemed"—bought out of that old slave market by the blood of Jesus—and transferred to a new Master.

Practical Insights for Today
Being a doulos of Christ isn't about drudgery; it’s about a total shift in our identity and loyalty. Here is how we can live this out:

• Surrender Your "Say-So": In a culture that prizes "living my truth," being a doulos means recognizing that we aren't the authors of our own lives. When we face a choice, the question isn't "What do I want?" but "What does my Master command?"
• Find Freedom in Obedience: Paradoxically, slavery to Christ is the only path to true freedom. By obeying Him, we are freed from the addictive, soul-crushing power of sin and enabled to live for righteousness.
• Rest in His Care: Unlike a human master, Jesus is a "compassionate Master" who provides for every need of His household. Our security doesn't depend on our performance, but on the fact that we belong to Him forever.

This week, as you go to work, interact with family, or face temptation, remember your new "calling card": you are a doulos of the most loving King in the universe.

A few folks asked for my notes from Sunday's sermon. Here they are with a few side helpings of what we will call, "Sunday Leftovers". These leftovers are extra thoughts, quotes, and recommended readings to consider. Please enjoy!

TITLE: YOU GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY
Theme: Grace is not a license to sin, but the empowering freedom to become slaves of God.

I. The Critical Question: Does Grace EXCUSE SIN? (v. 15)
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
Shall we sin -aorist tense…in essence: Can I Sin occasionally?
Illustration: Thomas Watson once compared the antinomian (the one who uses grace to sin) to a person who uses a physician’s medicine not to cure their fever, but to allow them to indulge in the very behaviors that caused the sickness.
Just as a man rescued from drowning doesn’t jump back into the sea to test his rescuer's strength, a Christian rescued from the depth of sin does not dive back in to test the depths of God’s grace.

II. The Universal Reality: Everyone SERVES A MASTER (v. 16)
16 Do you not know that when you go on presenting yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Every small act of "private" sin is an act of bowing the knee to the old master.

We are not our own; we are either slaves of the sin tyrant or slaves of the King.
Illustration: John Flavel used the "Tributary Stream" analogy. He noted that every stream must flow into an ocean. If your life’s daily habits flow toward worldliness, you are a tributary of the Kingdom of Darkness.

There is no "neutral" stream that leads nowhere.

• YOU WILL GET ENSLAVED.

““No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” (Matthew 6:24, LSB)
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” (J 8:34)

• SIN PAYS AWFUL DIVIDENDS

“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will receive compassion.” (Proverbs 28:13, LSB)

• SIN LEADS TO DEATH

“Everyone who has been born of God does not sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9, LSB)


III. The Heart of Transformation: FROM-TO (vv. 17–18)
17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were given over, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

I once was lost BUT now I am found…Christianity is more than believing facts; it is being "melted down" by the Holy Spirit and "poured into" the mold of the Scriptures until your character matches the Word.

Illustration: The "Seal and the Wax." The Puritans often spoke of the heart as wax and the Gospel as a heavy metal seal. To be "delivered to the pattern of teaching" (v. 17) is like hot wax being pressed by the seal. The wax doesn't just "follow" the seal; it takes on its very image, its letters, and its shape.

IV. The Practical Command: OFFER YOURSELF to Righteousness (v. 19)
19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.

•Illustration: Paul notes how we once served sin with "ever-increasing" intensity. Thomas Watson would point to the zeal of a worldling—how a greedy man loses sleep for gold or a drunkard walks miles for a drink—and ask: “Shall the fire of lust burn hotter than the fire of our devotion?”

Sanctification requires at least the same level of energy you once used to rebel against God. If you were an "expert" at sin, labor now to be an "expert" at holiness.

Concluding Application: The "Evidence of New Ownership"
Paul has shown us that there is no "neutral" existence. If you are not actively presenting your life to God, you are, by default, drifting back into the service of your old, cruel master.
This week, be challenged to audit your allegiance using these two practical steps:

1. Audit the "SHOP SIGN" of Your Life
John Flavel once said, "The soul is the shop, but the life is the sign". If a neighbor or coworker looked at the "sign" of your daily conduct this week—your reactions to stress, your integrity in small things, your speech behind closed doors—whose name would be on the door?
•Action: Identify one area (perhaps your "tongue" or your "temper") and consciously "hand the keys" of that shop over to Christ tomorrow morning.

2. Embrace the "Magnificent OBSESSION"
The Puritans called this the "expulsive power of a new affection." You don't stop serving sin by trying harder to be "free"; you stop serving sin by becoming obsessed with your new Master.

As Thomas Watson put it, "The Word is a glass to show us our spots," but we must look at the glass of the Gospel to see the beauty of the One who bought us.  
•Action: Spend five minutes each morning this week reading Romans 6:22–23 aloud. Remind yourself: "I am no longer a slave to what I feel; I am a bondservant of the One who loves me.".


PRAYER:
Lord, we confess that we often try to "serve ourselves," only to find we have become slaves to our own lusts again. We thank You that through Christ, the contract with our old master has been shredded. Help us this week to not just talk about grace, but to walk in the joyful slavery of righteousness. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 
For Further Study
For further study on the doctrine of sanctification in Romans 6:15–19, these resources offer a blend of deep Puritan reflection and solid modern scholarship from a Reformed perspective.

•Thomas Watson, A Body of Practical Divinity
In the section "Of Sanctification," Watson provides a comprehensive treatment of how holiness is an "extensive thing" that spreads to the whole person. He famously argues that without sanctification, there is no evidence of our justification.

•John Flavel, The Method of Grace
Flavel outlines how the Holy Spirit applies the benefits of Christ’s death to the believer’s heart. His chapters on "

•John Flavel, Keeping the Heart
While focused on Proverbs 4:23, this is the definitive Puritan manual on the "heart work" mentioned in Romans 6:17—how to maintain a heart that is "obedient from the heart".

•John Owen, Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers
A dense but essential work that explains how the Spirit enables the believer to put to death the "members" of the body once offered to sin.

 

Puritan Quotes to Consider:
•"We borrow all our holiness from God. As the lights of the sanctuary were lighted from the middle lamp, so all the holiness of believers is lighted from Heaven: 'I am the Lord who sanctifies you.'" — Thomas Watson, Puritan Gems.

•"A heart that is truly set upon God will not be satisfied with anything less than God."— John Flavel.

•"Sin is a cruel master, but Christ is a sweet Master." — John Flavel (adapted).

•"Godliness is a spiritual queen, and whoever marries her, is sure of a large dowry with her." — Thomas Watson, The Godly Man's Picture.  

THINGS TO CONSIDER:
•Remember that this section is about sanctification, not justification.
•Obedience does not earn salvation; it proves it.
•Grace does not abolish the need for holiness; it provides the power for it.
•Note the heart-level desire to obey (v. 17) rather than mere legalistic rule-following.
•Trust in the finished work of Christ (Justification) and commit to the daily walk of obedience (Sanctification).
•You will serve a master. Sin pays in death, but God rewards with holiness and eternal life.
•Grace is not just the forgiveness of the past; it is the freedom to serve God in the present.

"The relationship between Israel of the Bible and the modern State of Israel is one of the most debated issues in contemporary Christian theology. Many Christians are trying to determine how present-day Israel relates to the Israel we read about in the pages of Scripture."

Dr Vlach has done the heavy lifting for us.
Read his work HERE.
Download PDF HERE.
Listen to Todd Friel discuss the work HERE.

We often talk about spiritual growth as if it’s a personal DIY project—just you, your Bible, and maybe a good cup of coffee. But if we look closely at Scripture, a different picture emerges. Spiritual maturity isn't a solo climb; it’s a high-stakes, three-way collaboration.
When we understand that we aren't meant to grow in a vacuum, the pressure shifts. It’s not all on you, but you aren't a passive bystander either. Here is how the three-way partnership of spiritual growth works.

1. Your Part: Showing Up with Sincerity
The Apostle Paul writes, “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” (Philippians 2:12).
Notice he doesn’t say "work for" your salvation—Jesus already finished that work. Instead, we are called to "work out" what has already been worked in. This is your intentional commitment: the daily decision to pray, the discipline to study the Word, and the courage to obey even when it’s difficult. The "fear and trembling" isn't about being scared of God; it’s a deep reverence for the magnitude of what He is doing in your life.

2. God’s Part: The Power Within
The very next verse gives us the engine behind our effort: “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13).

This is the ultimate relief. Even the desire to grow comes from God. He doesn't just give you a list of rules and walk away; He resides within you, shaping your will and giving you the power to actually live out His purposes. Your "working out" is only possible because of His "working in".

3. The Leader’s Part: The Labor of Love
Finally, spiritual growth involves those God has placed over us. Paul describes his role with visceral intensity: “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…” (Galatians 4:19).
Healthy church leaders aren't just lecturers; they are spiritual parents who "labor" alongside you. Their job is to proclaim Christ, admonish, and teach so that every believer can be presented "complete in Christ" (Colossians 1:28). They provide the guardrails, the wisdom, and the encouragement needed when your own "working out" feels heavy.

The Bottom Line
Spiritual growth happens when these three forces converge:

* You provide the active participation.
* God provides the transformative power.
* Leaders provide the guidance and wisdom.

You weren't meant to do this alone. Lean into the power God provides, stay consistent in your disciplines, and don't be afraid to lean on the leaders God has placed in your life to help Christ be formed in you.

How can you more intentionally engage with one of these three partners this week?

Evidence of the Resurrection

The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is substantial.

    •   The circumstances at the tomb reveal a missing body. And the Roman guards had fled their guard duty—an act punishable by the death penalty.
    •   Jesus appeared first to a woman, Mary Magdalene (John 20:1). In ancient Jewish culture, no one would make up a resurrection account in this way, for a woman’s testimony was considered weightless.
    •   After the crucifixion, the disciples were full of doubt and fear. Suddenly they became willing to die for their claims. Only the resurrection explains the change.
    •   Only the resurrection explains the conversion of hardcore skeptics, such as the apostle Paul, James, and doubting Thomas.
    •   Only the resurrection explains the growth and survival of the Christian church amid Roman oppression.
    •   Too many appearances occurred over too many days to too many people for the resurrection to be easily dismissed (Acts 1:3).
    •   Jesus appeared to 500 people at one time, many of whom were still living and could have disputed Paul’s resurrection claims (1 Corinthians 15:6). They did not do this, however, because the appearance of Christ was well attested.


Rhodes, R. (2010). 5-minute apologetics for today. Harvest House Publishers.

Radical APPROPRIATION: Putting on the New

The Concept:
You can’t just stop a bad habit; you must replace it. This is "appropriating" the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word.

“to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:22–24, LSB)

We must learn to replace this previous sinful energy in pursuing our idolatry with pursuing the Lord.
“But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11, LSB)

Now, because of radical amputation this option is not available and we must learn to replace this previous sinful energy in pursuing our idolatry with pursuing the Lord (1 Timothy 6:11). We have previously been “feeding on ashes” (Isaiah 44:20) and our souls are starved for nutrition.

Practical tools: Scripture memory, prayer prompts, and "replacement" behaviors.

Action Step: Find one "Replacement Verse" for your primary struggle.

Radical Accountability: Opening the Blinds

We who have indulged in feeding the flesh through habitual sin have made sure that our lives are private so that nobody will discover our sin, and we have been accountable to no one. Now, when we seek to be free we need to learn how to invite accountability into our lives, as daily encouragement is an antidote to the power of sin:

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13).

Accountability does not mean a support group, though accountability can happen there. It means reporting in to someone as to how I am living, how my walk with the Lord is, how my sin struggles are going. As our indulging in sin was daily, so now accountability needs to be regular as well (Hebrews 3:13).

Additional Scripture helps...
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16)

“Brothers, even if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each of you looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1–2)

Discussion Points:
Be a good "friend" and offer accountability & "biblical counseling."

Ask specific questions: "Where did your mind wander today?" vs. "How are you?).

Action Step: Choose one person to share a specific struggle with by Tuesday.

A Good reminder from Pete:
Those who do not love the Lord will not help us serve the Lord.

The "Four Radical A's" in biblical counseling—Radical Amputation, Radical Accountability, Radical Appropriation, and Radical Adoration—provide a framework for actively fighting sin and pursuing holiness. These principles focus on aggressively removing sinful influences, submitting to community, applying biblical truth, and worshiping God to transform hearts.

Radical Amputation: Cutting the Cord
The manner of being free from habitual sin is to radically amputate every avenue through which it enters, and to be radical in cutting it off at the source: Matthew 5:29-30

Jesus is not teaching here the dismembering of our bodies, rather He is teaching the need to be radical in cutting out those avenues through which sin enters. In other words, He is saying to make it so that it is practically impossible to get to your sin or to gratify your flesh in the same way you’ve been doing. We who truly want victory will not allow any provision for our flesh, to gratify the lusts thereof (Romans 13:14), for we recognize that if it is available we might turn to it in a weak moment.

God the Father dealt with sin in this radical manner. Jesus was “cut of!” from the land of the living after God placed our sins on Him (Isaiah 53:8).

The story of Achan in Joshua 7 teaches that hidden defilement weakens the ability to fight. Only as the Israelites “radically amputated” Achan and his entire family did they have victory over their enemies.

Purity precedes power.
This does not mean that radical amputation is the entire answer to overcoming sin. It is an important step in the change process, but it is not the whole process itself. This step can’t be overlooked, but it must be accompanied with ongoing seeking of the Lord and growth in grace if we really want to be free.

If you want to be free consider every avenue through which you have fallen, and set out to make it so that you have zero access to it in the future. The devil lies and says that real victory would be to have the way to gratify ourselves and then to refuse it. There does come a time when this victory can indeed happen, but initially the way to freedom is through a radical removal of the source of temptation. “Pluck out the eye, cut off the hand.”

As we are radical in amputation we find freedom (Matthew I 8:8-9).

PK

GPEH Church is a Bible Believing and Christ Centered Church that is Committed to the foundational distinctives of the Christian faith. Our Mission is to glorify God as we make fully devoted disciples of Jesus.

What is a fully devoted disciple of Jesus?
A fully devoted disciple of Jesus is someone who:
KNOWS Jesus as Savior & Lord.
GROWS in relationship with Christ & Other Christians.
GOES for Jesus in Service & Sharing of the Gospel.

“And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”” (Mark 1:17)

“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28)

We Glorify God as we make disciples of Jesus.
We EVANGELIZE the lost.
We ENFOLD the converted into the church as disciples.
We EQUIP the disciples to serve others & to share Christ with others.
We EXALT the LORD our God as a way of life.

We Strive to help other people…
ENTER into a Saving Relationship with Jesus by Grace through Faith.
Jesus calls us to begin life with Him: "Believe in God; believe also in me." John 14:1

ENJOY a growing relationship with Jesus & Others in the Church.
Jesus calls you to abide in life with Him: "Abide in me, and l in you." John 15:4

EXPRESS heartfelt worship as a way of life in serving God & others.
Jesus calls you to show His life through love:
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15

Sorrow Is Lighter than Sin

Psalm 25
   
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
        for I am lonely and afflicted.
    The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
        bring me out of my distresses.
    Consider my affliction and my trouble,
        and forgive all my sins. (Psalm 25:16–18)

It is good for us when prayers about our sorrows are linked with pleas concerning our sins—when, being under God’s hand, we do not focus exclusively on our pain, but remember our sins against God. It is also good to take both sorrow and sin to the same place. It was to God that David carried his sorrow: It was to God that David confessed his sin. Notice, then, we must take our sorrows to God. Even your little sorrows you may cast upon God, for He counts the hairs of your head; and your great sorrows you may commit to Him, for He holds the ocean in the hollow of His hand. Go to Him, whatever your present trouble may be, and you will find Him able and willing to relieve you. But we must take our sins to God too. We must carry them to the cross, that the blood may fall upon them, to purge away their guilt and to destroy their defiling power.

The special lesson of the text is this:—we are to go to the Lord with sorrows and with sins in the right spirit. Note that all David asks concerning his sorrow is, “Consider my affliction and my trouble”; but the next petition is vastly more explicit, definite, decided, plain—“Forgive all my sins.” Many sufferers would have reversed it: “Remove my affliction and my pain, and consider my sins.” But David does not; he cries, “Lord, when it comes to my affliction and my pain, I will not dictate to Your wisdom. Lord, look at them—I will leave them to You. I would like to have my pain removed, but do as You will. But as for my sins, Lord, I know what needs to happen—I must have them forgiven; I cannot endure to live under their curse for a moment.” A Christian counts sorrow lighter in the scale than sin; he can bear to have troubles continue, but he cannot bear the burden of his transgressions.
 Charles H. Spurgeon (1834–1892) was an English Baptist pastor at New Park Street Chapel, London (which later became the Metropolitan Tabernacle) for thirty-eight years. As the nineteenth century’s most prolific preacher and writer, his ministry legacy continues today.

BRYAN GAINES

If true and lasting happiness depends upon good health, we are all doomed! In contrast, if true and lasting happiness comes through dependence upon the Lord, we can flourish even while our flesh fades. Psalm 73:25–26 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

The experience of illness is a reminder of our frailty and our need to embrace God’s sovereignty (in His preparing us for eternity). Whether through something like an acute illness (such as pneumonia), a chronic illness (such as lupus), or a terminal illness (like advanced cancer), we must all deal with the reality of suffering in a fallen world. Given such a hard reality, how can we “consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18)?

As an apostle who came to know the powerful working of God’s grace in his ongoing affliction (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), Paul wrote:

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)
Could it be that the fading of good health is a means God uses to prepare us for blessings far greater than the gift of good health? In 2 Corinthians 4:16–18, Paul indicates that the wasting away of our temporal bodies is used of the Lord in the present to prepare us for an incomparable, glorious future in His presence! To that end, Philip Yancy, in his book The Gift of Pain, wrote:  

Who would complain if God allowed one hour of suffering in an entire lifetime of comfort? Yet we bitterly complain about a lifetime that includes suffering when that lifetime is a mere hour of eternity . . . let the orchestra scratch out its last mournful warm-up note of discord before it bursts into the symphony.
In referring to 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, A.W. Pink gives this encouragement:

Afflictions are light when compared with what we really deserve. They are light when compared with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus. But perhaps their real lightness is best seen by comparing them with the weight of glory which is awaiting us.
With an eye on eternity in the midst of his own struggle with physical illness, David Van Vleit wrote: “God promises to release me from my depraved, decrepit, and made-of-dirt corpus and to change it into a brand-spanking-new, perfect, eternal body to house my holy, redeemed-in-Christ spirit.”

Until that glorious day when we take possession of our resurrected bodies in the presence of Christ (and experience “the eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”), we must continue to look to the Lord in the midst of our sufferings. In his own affliction, David models this for us in Psalm 13:2 as he cries out: “How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?” As David laments his affliction, he then pleads with God in Psalm 13:3: “Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death…”

In personalizing these words of David, Brad Brandt wrote: “More than relief, we need light. We need the Lord to give light to our eyes so we will not miss what He is up to in our pain for His glory and our eternal good.” Rather than choosing to focus on the suffering, David, in Psalm 34:5–6, reminds himself of God’s goodness and thus chooses to praise the Lord—even in his hardship. “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” It is interesting to note in Psalm 13 that David’s circumstances had not changed for the good, but his perspective on his circumstances had changed as he recalled God’s steadfast love toward him.

As David’s trust was in the Lord in his affliction, so must our trust be in the Lord through physical illness. What does such trust look like? Concerning trusting God in adversity, Jerry Bridges wrote:  

We are responsible to trust him in times of adversity but we are dependent upon the Holy Spirit to enable us to do so. Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.
We can trust God because He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). In His infinite power and immanent presence, God sovereignly orchestrates blessing through affliction. Craig Svennson, in his decades of struggling with severe chronic pain, wrote:  

The pulverizing impact of a sculptor’s hammer and chisel ultimately reveals a beauty none but the artist could perceive in advance. The scorching heat of a refiner’s fire burns away dross to produce purer medal. Similarly, believers who understand that heart work accomplished by trials will see their refining work as a gift from God. In bringing the trial, he is not doing something to us, but he is doing something in us and through us. And what he does brings blessing.
The greatest blessing in this life is the experiential knowledge of Christ and conformity unto Him (Romans 8:28–29). From her wheelchair as a quadriplegic, Joni Eareckson Tada testifies to God’s good purpose in conforming us to Christ through afflictions:

While the devil’s motive in my disability was to shipwreck my faith by throwing a wheelchair in my way, I’m convinced that God’s motive was to thwart the devil and use the wheelchair to change me and make me more like Christ through it all.
In his recent book, John Newton’s Theology of Suffering and Its Application to Pastoral Care, Keith Palmer noted: “The first and primary way God utilizes suffering, according to Newton, is by making believers feel their weaknesses, inadequacy, and utter dependence so that they lean solely and continually on Christ.” Leaning solely and continually on Christ is our greatest need. Therefore, if in His infinite wisdom and steadfast love, God chooses to orchestrate our drawing nearer to Christ through the fading of our flesh. Therefore, will you trust in God’s steadfast love for you and praise Him according, as did David in Psalm 13:5–6?  

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,

because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Original Post found HERE.

How Well Do You Know Christmas?

Here's a great little quiz to go over with your family on Christmas Day.



1.How long after the angel appeared to Joseph did he take Mary to be his wife? (Matt. 1:24)

2.How far did Joseph and Mary travel for the census registration while she was with child?

3.On what did Mary ride to travel to Bethlehem while she was with child?

4.What does Scripture indicate that the innkeeper told Joseph and Mary?

5.How soon after Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem was Jesus born? (Luke 2:6-7)

6.In what type of structure was Jesus born?

7.Since Elizabeth and Mary were cousins, why didn’t Joseph and Mary stay with Elizabeth and Zacharias after traveling to Bethlehem, rather than seeking shelter in the inn? (Luke 2:4, Luke 1:5)

8.What was Zacharias’ punishment for not believing the angel’s message? (Luke 1:20, 62)

9.An angel invited the shepherds to worship the newborn king. How would you describe the angel, and the heavenly host that accompanied him? (Luke 2:13)

10.What animals were present when Jesus was born?

11.Joseph and Mary presented two doves or pigeons at the temple. For whom were these sacrifices made? (Luke 2:21-24, see Lev. 12:6-7)

12.Jesus’ parents offered the lesser sacrifice (for the poor) when they offered the sacrifice after the days for purification had been completed. How then might they have afforded the long and expensive trip from Bethlehem to Egypt (a traditional place of asylum for Jews in political danger)?

13.How many kings were present when the magi visited Jesus and Mary? (1 Tim. 6:15)

14.True or false: The wise men followed His star as it moved toward Jerusalem (Matt. 2:2, 9)

15.Who besides the wise men saw His star?

16.What was the name of the angel who commanded Joseph to take Mary as his wife?

17.In what city was Joseph when the angel told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife? (Luke 2:5)

18.What sign did the angel tell the shepherds to look for? (Luke 2:12)

19.Who told Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem? (Luke 2:1-4)

20.Why would magi from the East know about, care about, and come to worship the Hebrew Messiah?

a.A Hebrew prophet (Daniel) probably ________ their father’s lives (Dan 2:24)

b.A Babylonian prophet (__________) prophesied about Christ (Num 24:17)

c.A prophet in Babylon (Daniel) saw visions of __________ (Dan 10:4-6)

21.How much time elapsed between the last verse of Luke chapter 2 and the first verse of Luke chapter 3?

22.Why did Christmas happen?

a.Who named Jesus? Luke 1:31, Matt. 1:21

i.What does His name signify?

ii.______________ – Someone to save you

b.Why did He become a man? Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16

i.________________

ii.Intercession – Someone to ________ you

c.What do we learn from His example? Phil. 2:3-11

i._____________

ii.Example – Someone to _____________

Scientists recently uncovered a remarkable strategy hidden in the tiny world of ants. After gathering seeds and grains for food, ants carry them underground and deliberately split them in two.

Why? Because a seed cut in half cannot sprout, even under perfect growing conditions. The ants are preventing their food supply from turning into plants.

But the real shock came with coriander seeds. Researchers watched ants break them, not into two pieces, but into four. Further testing revealed why.

Coriander can still germinate if divided in half, but it cannot sprout once split into four parts. The ants somehow “knew” exactly what was required for that specific seed.

No trial and error. No evolutionary guesswork. No blind chance. This is precise, purposeful behavior built into these creatures from the beginning.

As Proverbs 6:6 declares, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” Even the smallest creatures testify of their Creator’s wisdom.

C — Celebrate Christ the King Together

Christmas is not private sentiment but public celebration: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come.” Gathering with the church magnifies Christ’s incarnation and reign (Luke 2:10–11; Ps. 95:1–3).

H — Hear God’s Word Clearly Proclaimed

The Christmas message is God’s revealed truth, not nostalgia. God feeds and reforms His people through the preached Word (Rom. 10:14–17; 2 Tim. 4:2).

U — Unite With God’s People in Worship

Christ came to redeem a people, not merely individuals (Titus 2:14). Christmas worship reminds us we belong to a body, strengthening faith through shared praise and presence (Heb. 10:24–25).

R — Receive God’s Appointed Means of Grace

Through Scripture, prayer, and the ordinances, God strengthens faith and repentance (Acts 2:42). Christmas gatherings place us where God has promised to work.

C — Conform Your Heart to Christ’s Rule

“He rules the world with truth and grace.”
Corporate worship reorders loves, confronts sin, and trains the heart toward obedience (Rom. 12:1–2; Col. 3:15–16).

H — Hold Fast to Hope in the Coming King

Christmas looks forward as well as back. The church gathers to proclaim Christ’s victory over the curse and His coming restoration of all things (Rev. 21:1–5).

⸻

C - Celebrate
H - Hear
U - Unite
R - Receive
C - Conform
H - Hold Fast

FIGURING OUT THE FIGURATIVE
(From Living by the Book, by Howard Hendricks)

1. Use the literal sense unless there is some good reason not to.

2. Use the figurative sense when the passage tells you to do so.

3. Use the figurative sense if a literal meaning is impossible or absurd.

4. Use the figurative sense if a literal meaning would involve something immoral.

5. Use the figurative sense if the expression is an obvious figure of speech.

6. Use the figurative sense if a literal interpretation goes contrary to the context and scope of the passage.

7. Use the figurative if a literal interpretation goes contrary to the general character and style of the book.

8. Use the figurative sense if a literal interpretation goes contrary to the plan and purpose of the author.

9. Use the figurative sense if a literal interpretation involves a contradiction of other Scripture.

10. Use the figurative sense if a literal interpretation would involve a contradiction in doctrine.

“The lovingkindnesses of Yahweh indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22–23, LSB)

Jeremiah wrote these words in a season of deep sorrow, yet his heart turned toward hope byremembering the Lord’s unwavering faithfulness. Gratitude grows when we look back and see how the Lord has carried us—times when He strengthened us, corrected us, provided for us, or comforted us through His people.

Every sunrise is a reminder that God has not forgotten you.

His compassions are reset for the day as surely as the morning light reaches the horizon.

When you start your day with thanksgiving, you’re choosing worship over worry and trust over fear.

Gratitude redirects your thoughts from what feels uncertain to what is eternally sure—His great faithfulness.

Prayer: 
Father, thank You for being faithful again today. Help me remember Your mercies in my pastand trust You with my future. Let my thankfulness rise like worship before You. Amen.