40 Days - Lent

Would you be willing to spend some of that time in self examination?

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

As a pastor I do not always get to tell you what you want to hear. Some times I must say things that will leave you challenged, or guilt ridden, or just uncomfortable. This may be one of those times.

You need to spend time with God examining what manner of person you are! You need times of brutal honesty; you need to take stock of your true spirituality. You need to stop kidding yourself and take a look at how much you are really contributing, to your marriage, to your children, to the Body, and to the community.

One of the really tough things the Lord has been dealing with me on is how much of my self worth; my general sense of well being comes from ministry approval. I really find it tough not to lose all joy when someone doesn’t love me as a pastor. For years I have recognized this problem but just kind of tossed it off as “no big deal”. I am beginning to understand that it is a big deal to God.

Matthew 23:27

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

Christianity is about more than outward behavior, it is about the condition of the heart. We need to prepare our hearts for Easter by setting aside this time for self examination and then where necessary, repentance and change.

How can we use the 40 days of lent to prepare our hearts for Christendom’s most sacred holiday?

What do we do during the 40 days to shake ourselves from business as usual to a more spiritually attuned life?

3. Practice 40 days of selfless giving.

Jesus wants us to give ourselves to prayer.

Matthew 26: 39-41

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

Jesus wants us to give our lives for others.

Luke 14:12-14

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Next Week is the first Sunday in lent, I will preach a message entitled; “The Ongoing Temptation of Christ”.

Hear it Preached: www.dakotacommunitychurch.ca and click "Listen".

PowerPoint available (Free of charge) on request dcormie@mts.net