Sermon by Pastor Duane Gidney
10 Questions to Diagnose Your Spiritual Health
Do I thirst for God? Do I have a growing, burning desire for God? Do I want to know him more deeply, serve him wholeheartedly?
Am I governed increasingly by God’s Word? Do I submit to God’s Word? Even to the parts I don’t like? Like when Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Am I more loving? Am I more loving now than I once was? More loving toward my spouse, my children, my coworkers, and my neighbors?
Am I sensitive to God’s presence and leading? When I’m faced with a tough decision—Which school? Which job? Should I get married? Should I call this relationship quits?—do I find myself pausing and listening carefully for the Spirit’s leading?
Do I have a growing concern for the needs of others? Do I think of others consistently? Do I give to the work of gospel ministry regularly, systematically?
Do I delight in the church? Do I love the church or loathe the church? Jesus refers to the church as his bride. He protects the church. Loves the church. Delights in the church. Shouldn’t I?
Are habits of faith increasingly important to me? Studying God’s Word, prayer, corporate worship: do I prioritize these practices?
Do I grieve over my sin? Does my sin bother me? My pride? My impurity? My dishonesty?
Am I a quicker forgiver? When someone wrongs me, do I tend to hold a grudge? Am I slow to forgive because of my pride: “How dare they do that to me? Don’t they know who I am?”
Do I long for heaven and the presence of Jesus? Or is my grip on the things of this world so tight that I never think of being present with Christ?