Post by Les Brewer on Feb 15, 2018 16:34:36 GMT
POINTS ABOUT LENT
I. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME OF PREPARATION
The Lenten season is intentionally set aside for examination, instruction, re-pentance and prayer. This season is one of preparation for all the people of God.
Galatians 6:3-5 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.
II. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME FOR PENITENCE AND DISCIPLINE
Lent is the time for mourning, solemnity and sadness. In the Lenten season, self-examination is crucial. An individual’s response to the call for purposeful reflection on one’s need for God is an important factor in choosing a disci-pline with which to actively observe Lent. For some, fasting is a means of self-examination and denial; yet, fasting is not an appropriate discipline for all people. The purpose of a Lenten discipline is to strip away those things which clutter one’s life or impede one from being in relationship with God. It is also a time for people to experience and reflect on the sufferings of Jesus, in light of personal sin and unrighteousness.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despis-ing the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your soul
III. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME FOR SPECIAL PRAYER
During Lent many people give extra time to personal and public prayer. The traditional symbol for these forms of Lenten prayer is the pretzel. In the fifth century, Christians were known to make dough of flour, salt and water, which they shaped into the form of two crossed arms to remind themselves to pray. Pretzels stem directly from Lent. The crossed arms of the pretzel were in-tended by German bakers to represent a Christian at prayer, with his palms on opposite shoulders, making a crisscross of his forearms. The product was called little arms or bracellae, which later was called brezel or pretzel. The pretzel was only eaten during the season of Lent, as a reminder to pray.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
IV. THE LENTEN SEASON CAN BE A TIME OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND GROWTH
As Christ fasted and prayed in the desert for forty days, we try to be mindful of Christ for the standards by which we live our lives, with goals of self-giving and suffering love. With such high goals, any programmatic response may seem to fall short, yet an attempt to incorporate prayer, meditation, and use-ful action in the path of Christ into our lives, is invaluable.
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
V. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME TO SHARE WITH OTHERS THE HOPE FOUND IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
I. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME OF PREPARATION
The Lenten season is intentionally set aside for examination, instruction, re-pentance and prayer. This season is one of preparation for all the people of God.
Galatians 6:3-5 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.
II. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME FOR PENITENCE AND DISCIPLINE
Lent is the time for mourning, solemnity and sadness. In the Lenten season, self-examination is crucial. An individual’s response to the call for purposeful reflection on one’s need for God is an important factor in choosing a disci-pline with which to actively observe Lent. For some, fasting is a means of self-examination and denial; yet, fasting is not an appropriate discipline for all people. The purpose of a Lenten discipline is to strip away those things which clutter one’s life or impede one from being in relationship with God. It is also a time for people to experience and reflect on the sufferings of Jesus, in light of personal sin and unrighteousness.
Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despis-ing the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your soul
III. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME FOR SPECIAL PRAYER
During Lent many people give extra time to personal and public prayer. The traditional symbol for these forms of Lenten prayer is the pretzel. In the fifth century, Christians were known to make dough of flour, salt and water, which they shaped into the form of two crossed arms to remind themselves to pray. Pretzels stem directly from Lent. The crossed arms of the pretzel were in-tended by German bakers to represent a Christian at prayer, with his palms on opposite shoulders, making a crisscross of his forearms. The product was called little arms or bracellae, which later was called brezel or pretzel. The pretzel was only eaten during the season of Lent, as a reminder to pray.
2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
IV. THE LENTEN SEASON CAN BE A TIME OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL AND GROWTH
As Christ fasted and prayed in the desert for forty days, we try to be mindful of Christ for the standards by which we live our lives, with goals of self-giving and suffering love. With such high goals, any programmatic response may seem to fall short, yet an attempt to incorporate prayer, meditation, and use-ful action in the path of Christ into our lives, is invaluable.
Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
V. THE LENTEN SEASON IS THE TIME TO SHARE WITH OTHERS THE HOPE FOUND IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
