Reflect Repentance Renewal
Notes
Transcript
The Season of Lent
The Season of Lent
In this season we join thousands of Christians in turning our attention to Jesus
We focus on Him, our need for Him, and hope in His victory over sin and death.
A Psalm of David. A Maskil.
1 How blessed is he whose wrongdoing is forgiven, Whose sin is covered!
2 How blessed is a person whose guilt the Lord does not take into account, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality failed as with the dry heat of summer. Selah
5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And I did not hide my guilt; I said, “I will confess my wrongdoings to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Certainly in a flood of great waters, they will not reach him.
7 You are my hiding place; You keep me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10 The sorrows of the wicked are many, But the one who trusts in the Lord, goodness will surround him.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
Why forty days? — Reflect
Why forty days? — Reflect
40 is significant in scripture:
Moses was 40 days on the mountain in the presence of God receiving the law
The children of Israel we 40 years wandering in the wilderness
Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days tempted by Satan
It is the these 40 days of Jesus that Christians walk through a season of repentance and renewal
Jesus was actually a type of Israel — Matthew 4 and Luke 4.
Jesus was actually a type of Israel — Matthew 4 and Luke 4.
Interesting that when Satan came Jesus responds with Scripture —
Deuteronomy 8:3.
Deuteronomy 6:16.
Deuteronomy 6:13.
Each passage underscores the analogy between Jesus’ temptations (40 days) and those Israel suffered (40 years)
Think about it Jesus hungered for bread in the desert, so did Israel — Deuteronomy 8:2-3.
Jesus was tested and so was Israel Deuteronomy 6:16.
Jesus was tempted to worship someone other than God, so too Israel — Deuteronomy 6:13-15.
I think so often we lose sight of the humanity of Jesus suffering through temptation just as we do — Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
Repentance
Repentance
When we reflect on the fact that Jesus endured suffering and temptation yet did not sin and three years went to the cross for me — lead me to repentance!
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
You can reach out for it!
19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
While we live there is always time to repent and return!
That is part of the preperation of this season — Resurrection Sunday!
Renewal
Renewal
If we follow Jesus then day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment, we allow the spirit to form us into Christlikeness — Living a life God can bless
This is the renewal of this season — the diabolical treadmill!
Allow this season to be one of renewal!
9 Do not lie to one another, since you stripped off the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it—
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all.
Don’t we all long for that renewal!
Conclusion
Imposition of the ashes
