Looking at Lent
Selective verses
Prayer- For a mighty move of God in our hearts and a calling to be more like Jesus in our lives.
Introduction-
This morning we sprang forward one hour so that we can enjoy one more hour of sunlight. Everyone seems to like more sunlight but not everyone likes losing an hour of sleep to get it. Some woke up late and had to run a little faster to get here and some will not make it at all and some we will be saying hello to us as we are leaving this morning which happened a few year ago.
Seems to me like everything that appears good for us comes with challenges and sacrifices.
This morning as we begin the Lenten season is not different.
I did not grow up participating with the traditions of lent and all the different services leading up to Easter Sunday.
I think the season of lent is very important and can lead us to a deeper relationship with the Lord if we allow it.
As a kid for me, Easter was about finding an Easter basket and enjoying candy and chocolates.
As I grew and began my faith journey, I went to a church that did not even talk about Lent, only the powerful resurrection Sunday of Easter.
Maybe, this morning, you were like me and did not understand lent and now as we get older and journey farther in our faith, you would like to see what lent is and how it can help us journey as a Christian.
Quick overview of the Lenten season
Lent is the 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays where we march towards Calvary and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is a time that usually gets sucked up with pagan traditions.
A lot of people miss the deep Christian traditions that help us walk closer to the Lord.
Eggs and bunnies are fun, but remembering what Christ has done for us can change your life.
It begins on Ash Wednesday- The palm branches that were waved the year before on Palm Sunday are burnt and the ashes saved and used the following year. The minister or priest prays and makes the sign of the cross on your forehead with the ashes as you begin the most holy time.
Palm Sunday- The Sunday before Easter where Jesus came into Jerusalem and all shouted Hosanna with those palm leaves waving and cheering, and a few days later, the same people crying out Crucify Him!
Maundy Thursday- A quiet sober day as we remember the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
The day that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples.
His lesson on humility
The day He shared his last Passover meal before He went to the cross.
Luke 22:27-38 –
" When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
John 13:2-17 - "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
Philippians 2:1-11 - "Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...
Jesus words…
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34).
What about the New commandment?
Well, for one thing, it raised the definition of love to a new and higher standard.
Jesus sacrificially met His followers' deepest need---that of new spiritual life and the forgiveness of sins.
He even loved His enemies, and He calls us to show love to those who don't appear to deserve it. Just as Jesus loved sinners "to the end" (or "to the max" John 13:1) when He had nothing to gain from them, so must we. The Bible says that there was nothing attractive about sinful mankind that drew Him to love us. God loved us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). Salvation is not only a wonderful gift that protects us from the penalty that we deserve Romans 6:23, the work of Christ also gives new life.
Good Friday- The day they crucified Jesus and throw him into a tomb, sealed it and guarded so that what He said would happen could not happen.
For 3 days believers did not really understand what had happened.
Most Good Friday services are community oriented and sober at the end as we wait for our resurrected Lord.
The day that the centurion guard utters words… “Surely he was the Son of God”
Resurrection Sunday- Easter
The risen Savior witnessed by over 500 people that changed the world. Weather that changes you and I is determined by what we do with the risen savior…Amen.
I am one of those that ran to the cross as Jesus touched my heart and changed my life!
But at numerous times in my life have felt empty when I knew that I should be filled with Joy and happiness.
I know that some of it was very much my fault because I did not do what I knew the Lord was telling me and I paid a price for it.
I was too proud to surrender to Jesus and allow Him to do what He Himself wanted to do and it would have been a lot easier had I listened and not learned the hard way.
So what is Lent suppose to accomplish in our lives? (What of these 40 days)
Reminder of what Jesus did for us? Yes
Is it a time to reflect and examine where you and I are spiritually in our lives? Yes
It is corporate worship of Christ… yes. Is there more for each one of us individually? Yes
Lent is a time to reflect, a time to do some soul searching and a time to take stock of where you are at spiritually and where you want to be.
It is a time to make sure that you are not spiritually backsliding.
It is a time to examine your life and make sure that things are better with Jesus now than they were month ago. That we are moving forward not backward.
I have to admit that sometimes I struggle with Lent.
Lent usually involves us giving up something up for 40 days- candy, drinking, smoking, go on a diet, TV, movies, video games, FaceBook, cell phones, things that take up our time away from God.
I guarantee that most would not give up a cell phone, music
Catholics give up meat and eat fish on Fridays.
We tell people what we give up and wear it as a badge of honor.
Christ denied Himself and went to the cross
Christ sacrificed All!
Christ prayed to the Father until He sweat blood.
In order to prepare your heart for Easter- Would you be willing to do that?
Lent was designed to take God’s people to places they have not been yet! (Deeper)
Deeper in their walk with God!
A journey with God that involves adventure and risk.
We have no right to come to the Lord and say that we will take the bad things out of our life for 40 days and then allow them back.
He desires to remove them.
Somewhere along the way Lent became a portion of time instead of a journey with the Lord to the cross.
Somewhere we felt it was what we would do instead of what the Lord does through us and for us.
Somewhere we got comfortable in the darkness of this world and choose what we will do and what we will not.
Somewhere we stopped living for the Lord, living in love for one another, and wanting to be the reflection of Christ.
I think God is calling each one of us this morning to relearn what it means to be loved by God and love others.
To examine ourselves and make sure we are on track of what the Lord wants for our life.
To seek out the redeemer with our whole heart, and be willing to let Him do what He desires.
Each one of us is more than willing to tell of the problems we see in other people but very sensitive about what is going on in our lives.
Lent for each one of us has to be an attitude change- More of Jesus and less of self- “He must increase and I must decrease”
Daniel 9:3-
“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.”
Tearing of their clothes
Sitting down in ashes
It was a sign of repentance-
A sign of being sorrowful and wanting change.
Matthew 16:24-
“Then Jesus said unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
I have to tell you- if Jesus called it sin a 100 years ago, it is still sin. There is no discussion needed. Because we as a society have watered it down does not change the fact of what it is.
Closing,
You see, Jesus doesn’t simply call us to believe that He existed, or even to believe that He can save us. He calls on us to commit our whole lives to Him—to trust Him alone for our salvation, and then to follow Him as His disciples. He said, “Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).
Is Christ the master of your life? Have you put to death your own plans and committed yourself to His will for your life?
Don’t be satisfied with anything less, for there is no greater joy in life than following Christ every day.
Prayer
