"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).

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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.

“Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, For His lovingkindness endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1, LSB)


Thankfulness begins with remembering who God is—not how we feel in the moment. Thepsalmist calls God’s people to give thanks because the Lord is good and His mercy neverstops. Gratitude becomes worship when we pause to acknowledge His character. Even onthe days when emotions run low or life feels confusing, His mercy has not dimmed. Hisgoodness hasn’t changed. Gratitude lifts our eyes from our situation to our Savior. When your heart learns to trace today’s blessings back to His never-ending mercy, worship becomes the natural response. You begin to see that every good thing—strength to wake up, breath in your lungs, a friend who encourages you, a church family that loves you—is an evidence of His steadfast care.

Prayer:
Lord, fix my eyes on Your goodness. Teach me to give thanks not because everything feelseasy, but because Your mercy endures forever. Shape my heart to worship You with athankful spirit today. Amen

The Bible has much to offer in light of our suffering:

* Suffering is inevitable in a fallen world (Job 5:7; 1 Corinthians 10:13).
* God’s grace towards us is not always the removal of pain. Oftentimes it is the sustaining through the pain (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).
* It is possible to be victorious amid suffering (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).
* Your suffering is always under God’s rule. He is, after all, the Sovereign one (Psalm 135:6; Psalm 115:3); Daniel 4:35); Exodus 4:11).
* God promises you grace, both now and in the future (2 Corinthians 12:9; John 14:1-3).

Remember God’s promise of assurance to the nation of Israel in Isaiah 41:10.
God had called the Israelites from Ur of the Chaldees to be His servant; they were assured of His presence, His relationship, His help, and His sustaining power in what must be one of the loveliest verses in Isaiah:

“‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” (Isaiah 41:10)

We, in Christ, can be encouraged by the facts that:
* God is WITH His own
* He is OUR God
* He will STRENGTHEN you
* He will HELP you
* He will UPHOLD you with His mighty right hand

Beloved, God doesn't promise to keep us from suffering. Rather, He promises to keep us through suffering.

PK

WHEN PAIN DOESN’T GO AWAY:
SEVEN BIBLICAL ANCHORS FOR THE LONG ROAD

from Ron Rhodes

Chronic pain is not a small battle. It wears on the mind, drains the emotions, and tests the spirit in ways that only those who live with it truly understand. Many Christians — yours truly included — walk this difficult path. And because the subject is so tender, I want to say clearly at the outset: a short devotional can easily sound trite, like a band-aid placed over a deep wound. That is not my intention. Scripture never trivializes suffering, and neither should we. What follows are not quick fixes, but biblical principles that have helped many believers endure the journey with hope.

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1. REMEMBER THAT GOD SEES YOUR PAIN

When pain becomes your daily companion, it’s easy to feel invisible. Yet Scripture says, “You have seen my trouble; You have known the distress of my soul” (Psalm 31:7). Your Father does not overlook your struggle. He sees it, He acknowledges it, and He holds you as you experience it.

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2. GOD WALKS WITH YOU IN THE PAIN

Isaiah reminds us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2). You never walk the long night alone.

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3. LEAN INTO GOD’S STRENGTH WHEN YOURS RUNS EMPTY

Chronic pain drains energy from the strongest saint. The apostle Paul understood this deeply: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

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4. LET THE WORD OF GOD STEADY YOUR MIND

Pain often comes with fear, anxiety, and discouragement. The psalmist said, “If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction” (Psalm 119:92). Scripture doesn’t remove pain, but it steadies the heart and the mind in the midst of it.

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5. GUARD AGAINST THE LIE THAT YOUR LIFE IS LESS VALUABLE

Chronic pain whispers falsehoods — you’re broken, you’re in the way, and you’re useless. But the truth stands firm: “We have this treasure in jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Your value is not diminished by weakness; if anything, God’s glory shines brighter through it.

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6. LET SUFFERING DRIVE YOU TOWARD COMPASSION, NOT BITTERNESS

Scripture calls us to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Those who suffer often become the most tenderhearted encouragers of others. Your struggle equips you to bless someone else in profound ways. We can comfort others with the same comfort with which God has comforted us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

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7. FIX YOUR HOPE ON THE COMING RESTORATION

Chronic pain reminds us daily that this world is not yet what it will be. But Scripture assures us: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes… neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Revelation 21:4). That promise does not erase today’s pain, but it infuses it with hope — a hope rooted not in wishful thinking, but in the guaranteed future Christ has secured for us. At the rapture, every believer will receive a body upgrade (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). The perishable will become imperishable and the mortal will become immortal (1 Corinthians 15:53).

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A CLOSING WORD

Nothing here is meant to minimize your suffering or to offer quick, simplistic answers. Chronic pain is heavy. But God’s faithfulness is heavier still. These seven truths are not clichés — they are anchors. Hold them close. Pray them. Lean on them. And remember: the One who carried His own cross also carries you through every moment of pain.

A CLOSING PRAYER

Father, You see me. You know every place in my body that hurts, every night I struggle to sleep, every morning I wake already exhausted. You know the quiet tears, the unspoken frustrations, and the questions I don’t always have the strength to voice.

Lord, I confess that some days are harder than others. Pain can wear down my courage and cloud my clarity. But today, I bring every bit of it to You. I refuse to pretend it’s small; I also refuse to believe You are distant. Thank You that You walk with me in the fire, and that Your presence is not dependent on my strength.

When my endurance runs thin, be my power. When discouragement whispers lies, let Your truth be louder. Guard my heart from bitterness and remind me that even in weakness, Your glory shines through “jars of clay.” Shape my suffering into compassion, patience, and deeper faith.

Father, steady my mind with Your Word. Let the promises of Scripture soothe my fears, quiet my anxiety, and give me strength to face the day in front of me. Surround me with people who understand, encourage, and lift me up — just as I seek to encourage others who walk this hard road.

And above all, Lord, fix my eyes on the hope that is sure: a future where You will wipe away every tear, and pain will be no more. Until that day, hold me close, carry me often, and remind me daily that I am loved, valued, and never alone.

In the name of Jesus — my Healer, my Sustainer, and my ever-present strength — I pray. Amen.

1. A zeal for the commandments of Christ: Matthew 5:19; 1 Corinthians 7:19.

2. A ministry that teaches others to follow Christ in obedience: Matthew 28:20; 1 Thes.4:1-2.

3. Strong personal convictions (as long as they are not required of others): Romans 14:2, 5.

4. Man-made restrictions for personal protection from sinful habits (as long as we do not begin to view them as binding on others): Romans 13:14; 1 Corinthians 6:12.

5. A zeal for good works: Eph.2:10; Titus 1:16, 2:7, 14, 3:8, 14.

6. Limiting our liberty for the benefit of others: Romans 14:15, 21, 15:2; Acts 16:1-3.

7. Obedience: John 14:15, 23, 15:10; 1 John 2:3-5, 5:2-4.

Legalism is:

1. Distorting the gospel by adding conditions to free grace: Acts 15:1, 7-11; Gal.1:6-7, 2:11-16, 4:8-11, Gal. 5:2-4; Col. 2:16-17.

2. Substituting man-made regulations for the Word of God: Matthew 15:1-3.

3. Majoring on the minors and neglecting the more important issues: Luke 11:42.

4. Over concern with the externals while disregarding matters of the heart: Matthew 23:27.

5. Regarding with contempt or judging a brother based on matters of personal conviction: Romans 14:1-5.

6. Trusting in ourselves that we are righteous based on religious performance: Luke 18:9-14.

7. Hypocrisy, the leaven of the Pharisees: Luke 11:53-12:1.

A Prayer for One Another
Philippians 1:9-11

May we be a people that pray for one another in the body of Christ. When you pray for one another, pray for a love that is ever-growing!

Here is a prayer from the apostle Paul for the Christians in Philippi that we can use in our prayers...

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in full knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and without fault until the day of Christ, having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9–11, LSB)

1. Pray for ABOUNDING Love (v. 9a)

2. Pray for DISCERNING Love (v. 9b)

3. Pray for VITAL Love (v. 10a)

4. Pray for ENDURING Love (v. 10b)

5. Pray for FRUITFUL Love (v. 11a)

6. Pray for GOD-GLORIFYING Love (v. 11b)

Pray!

One of the most striking features of the apostle Paul’s letters is how often he pauses to give thanks. Whether writing from a prison cell, dealing with church problems, or facing personal hardship, Paul’s heart overflows with gratitude. His circumstances may have changed, but his thankfulness never did.

Why was Paul so consistently thankful? Here are two reasons, among many:  


1. PAUL WAS THANKFUL BECAUSE HE NEVER GOT OVER THE AMAZING GRACE OF GOD

Before anything else, Paul knew he was a man rescued by grace. Once a persecutor of the church, he never forgot how Christ reached into his darkness, forgave his sins, and called him into the ministry.

He writes with amazement,
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord… because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service… the grace of our Lord overflowed for me” (1 Timothy 1:12, 14).

Paul’s gratitude sprang from the deep awareness that everything he had — salvation, calling, strength, hope — was a grace-gift. The memory of God’s mercy kept his heart warm with thanksgiving. When you remember the grace that saved you, complaints evaporate and gratitude rises.


2. PAUL WAS THANKFUL BECAUSE HE SAW GOD’S HAND IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE

Paul’s thankfulness did not depend on pleasant surroundings. In fact, some of his greatest words of gratitude were penned from prison or written in seasons of severe trial. He believed wholeheartedly in God’s providence — that the Lord works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), even when life feels hurtful or confusing.

This is why he could write,
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Paul wasn’t thankful FOR everything, but he was thankful IN everything because he trusted that God was weaving every detail into His wise and loving plan. Gratitude flowed from confidence that God never wastes a tear, a trial, or a moment of suffering.

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A CLOSING PRAYER

Father, thank You for the example of the apostle Paul, who lived with a heart overflowing with gratitude. Help us never to lose the wonder of Your saving grace. Teach us to trust Your hand in every circumstance, knowing You work all things for our good. May our lives be marked by the same joyful thanksgiving that filled Paul’s heart.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thankfulness is a prominent Bible theme. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Did you catch that? Give thanks in all circumstances. Thankfulness should be a way of life for us, naturally flowing from our hearts and mouths.

Digging into the Scriptures a little more deeply, we understand why we should be thankful and also how to have gratitude in different circumstances.

Psalm 136:6 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Here we have two reasons to be thankful: God’s constant goodness and His steadfast love. When we recognize the nature of our depravity and understand that, apart from God, there is only death (John 10:10; Romans 7:5), our natural response is to be grateful for the life He gives.

Psalm 30 gives praise to God for His deliverance. David writes, “I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. . . . You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever” (Psalm 30:1-12). Here David gives thanks to God following an obviously difficult circumstance. This psalm of thanksgiving not only praises God in the moment but remembers God’s past faithfulness. It is a statement of God’s character, which is so wonderful that praise is the only appropriate response.

We also have examples of being thankful in the midst of hard circumstances. Psalm 28, for example, depicts David’s distress. It is a cry to God for mercy, protection, and justice. After David cries out to God, he writes, “Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song” (Psalm 28:6-7). In the midst of hardship, David remembers who God is and, as a result of knowing and trusting God, gives thanks. Job had a similar attitude of praise, even in the face of death: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21).

There are examples of believers’ thankfulness in the New Testament as well. Paul was heavily persecuted, yet he wrote, “Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him” (2 Corinthians 2:14). The writer of Hebrews says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). Peter gives a reason to be thankful for “grief and all kinds of trials,” saying that, through the hardships, our faith “may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

The people of God are thankful people, for they realize how much they have been given. One of the characteristics of the last days is a lack of thanksgiving, according to 2 Timothy 3:2. Wicked people will be “ungrateful.”

We should be thankful because God is worthy of our thanksgiving. It is only right to credit Him for “every good and perfect gift” He gives (James 1:17). When we are thankful, our focus moves off selfish desires and off the pain of current circumstances. Expressing thankfulness helps us remember that God is in control. Thankfulness, then, is not only appropriate; it is actually healthy and beneficial to us. It reminds us of the bigger picture, that we belong to God, and that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). Truly, we have an abundant life (John 10:10), and gratefulness is fitting.

35 “One Anothers” in New Testament

1.Love one another (John 13:34).
2.Depend on one another (Romans 12:5).
3.Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10).
4.Wash each other’s feet (John 13:14).
5.Rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15; 1 Corinthians 12:26).
6.Weep with one another (Romans 12:15).
7.Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16).
8.Don’t wrongly judge one another (Romans 14:13).
9.Accept one another (Romans 15:7).
10.Admonish one another (Colossians 3:16).
11.Greet one another (Romans 16:16).
12.Wait for one another (1 Corinthians 11:33).
13.Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25).
14.Serve one another (Galatians 5:13).
15.Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
16.Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13).
17.Be compassionate toward one another (Ephesians 4:32).
18.Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
19.Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21).
20.Bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13).
21.Stimulate love in one another (Hebrews 10:24).
22.Offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9).
23.Minister gifts to one another (1 Peter 4:10).
24.Be clothed in humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5).
25.Don’t slander one another (James 4:11).
26.Don’t grumble against one another (James 5:9).
27.Confess your sins to one another (James 5:16).
28.Pray for one another (James 5:16).
29.Fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).
30.Don’t be puffed up against one another (1 Corinthians 4:6).
31.Carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2).
32.Honor one another (Romans 12:10).
33.Instruct one another (Romans 15:14).
34.Prefer one another (Romans 12:10).
35.Comfort one another (2 Corinthians 1:4).

How are you doing with these?

Matthew 1:21, "She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."

Here we stand on holy ground. This verse is the first explicit announcement of the mission and purpose of the incarnate Son. Before He speaks a word, works a miracle, or calls a disciple--Heaven unveils His identity in one radiant sentence. He is Jesus, which means Savior. Not counselor, not social reformer, not moral example, but Savior. He does not come to assist men in saving themselves, but to save them altogether. He enters this fallen world, not to improve sinners, but to  rescue them from their sins and damnation.

The name Jesus, reveals the very heart of God toward sinners.
The Father ordains salvation,
the Son accomplishes salvation,
and the Spirit applies salvation.
Jesus is God coming down from Heaven to earth, to save His people from their sins. His very name announces His office: He WILL save. Not might save, or try to save, but WILL save His people from their sins. His saving purpose cannot fail, because it rests upon His divine nature and His sin-atoning death.

Sin is man's greatest plague. Sin . . .
  alienates from the thrice holy God,
  blinds the mind,
  hardens the heart,
  corrupts the will,
  and damns the soul forever!
All misery in time and eternity, flows from sin!

Yet here is the good news: Jesus rescues His people . . .
  from sin's penalty by His sacrifice,
  from sin's power by His Spirit,
  and from sin's presence when He returns.
Being a Divine work, this salvation is complete, eternal, and irrevocable.

How sweet this name is to sin-wearied hearts.
His righteousness satisfies the law which we broke.
His sin-atoning death pays the full punishment for our sins.
His intercession secures the eternal glory of every soul He redeems.
None for whom He died, shall ever be lost.

Mark the objects of His salvation: His people.
Jesus did not come to make salvation a possibility, but to save an actual people whom the Father gave Him before the foundation of the world. He . . .
  purchased them,
  effectually calls them,
  sanctifies them, and
  will one day present them faultless before His glory with great joy.

Their salvation does not depend upon their hold on Him--but upon His hold on them.

Here, then, is the essence of the gospel: Jesus will save His people from their sins!
To utter His name with faith, is to confess both our ruin, and His remedy; both our sin, and His salvation. His name is His promise: Jesus will save His people from their sins. Eternally blessed are all who trust in Him.