Why Lent?

The series

Follows on a little from Jonathan’s talk last week about our reaction to temptation – who is really in control?

Easter in 5 weeks time – a series about:– Fasting– Giving– Prayer– Difficulty

In this talk we will be looking at the reasons why we fast, why we give sacrificially, why we pray and what we can learn from difficulty

But these are dangerous weapons so there are some issues to settle before we begin

The Outline

Who is in charge in our lives?

Why it should be Jesus The way we can ensure

that God is in charge The common mistakes

we make when trying to please God

The way that we can know we are succeeding

Who is in charge in our lives?

The world A love of the approval of others, a love of possessions and

riches, ambition, fashion Jn 15-18 If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me

first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

Ro 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Our family and friends Lk 12 vs 52 They will be divided, father against son and son

against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Fear and worry Lk 12:7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Why it should be Jesus

He is trustworthy I am the way and the truth

and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jn 14:6

The way that we can ensure that God is in charge

The means of grace

Works of Piety – (individual): fasting, prayer, bible study praise, witness (communal): communion, baptism, meeting together, preaching, praise, witness

Works of mercy – giving, doing good, seeking justice

The common mistakes we make when trying to please

God

To try and offer things to God and yet wish to remain in control, the harder we try, the harder we hang on

To offer sacrifice rather than obedience

To try and achieve it in our own strength

To see fasting, prayer, Bible study as works to please God rather than as means of getting closer to God

Trusting too much in God taking the initiative or spiritual laziness

Eph 5:8-10 Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

The way that we can know we are succeeding

A spiritual hunger Unexpected joy Changed behaviour, obvious

sins have less control The fruit of the Spirit Opposition and difficulty Endurance in adversity More understanding for

others A greater blessing to others Try this journey out over the

coming weeks