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 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