Lent: The Test

DRAW NEAR

INTRO SERIES TITLE

READ JAMES 4:7-9

James 4:7–9 (NIV)

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Drawing near happens in the midst of submission and suffering.

The passage is a hyperlink to a time when Jesus was tested for 40 days by Satan in the wilderness.

This leads us to Lent.

WHAT IS LENT?

Lent is a Christian Holiday that lasts for 40 days

Prepares our hearts for The Passion Week/Resurrection Sunday/Easter through REPENTANCE and FASTING.

Where Lent comes from is not fully agreed upon

BUT since the first and second century of the Church there was a fast before Easter or Resurrection Sunday.

THIS IS A TOOL NOT A RULE

WHAT COULD CHANGE IN MY LIFE BY DRAWING NEAR TO GOD IN THIS SEASON?

REPENTANCE IS THE ROAD TO DRAWING NEAR

I’m not a salesman for Jesus, I’m a follower and I know that things WILL change as I choose to follow Him.

Perspective: who God is, what He’s like, what He wants

Direction: The aim/focus of my life

Thoughts: the shift from what I want right now to where I’m headed.

READ COLOSSIANS 1:24 (NIV)

Colossians 1:24 (NIV)

24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Jesus suffered for the joy that His suffering would produce.

If Jesus didn’t suffer and die then there is no resurrection.

One way we draw near to God is when we identify our suffering with his suffering.

40 DAYS, ARE YOU SERIOUS?

40 is a number in the Bible associated with testing.

TYPE AND SHADOW TEST:

When Israel was tested by Moses being on Sinai for 40 Days, they failed.

When Israel sent spies into Canaan they were there 40 days and came back divided and failed.

When Israel wandered for 40 years as a result of failing the previous test, they failed repeatedly.

HOWEVER, when Jesus goes into the wilderness for 40 days, He does not fail.

The one we’re interested in for Lent is Jesus in the Wilderness after His baptism.

THE TEST: WHAT DO I NEED TO REPENT OR FAST OF TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD?

APPETITE

AMBITIONS

AUTHORITY

APPETITES: READ MATTHEW 4:1-4

Matthew 4:1–4 (NIV)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

WHAT ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR?

What do you crave?

Good indicators: Calendar, Screen Time, Bank Account

We are more than eyes, a mouth, and a stomach!

Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy when the people were complaining of wanting more, or in their eyes, better than what they had even though God had provided their every need.

What about your appetite needs to submit to God to draw near?

AMBITIONS: READ MATTHEW 4:5-7

Matthew 4:5–7 (NIV)

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

WHAT AM I IN A HURRY TO ACHIEVE?

God’s timing, God’s way

Jesus submitted Himself to God’s timing and God’s way

What process are you trying to avoid?

A Note to Leaders: if you crush people to get to the top, the mountain on which you stand is founded on injustice and a lot of angry people. You might get to the top, but you won’t stay there.

AUTHORITY: READ MATTHEW 4:8-11

Matthew 4:8–11 (NIV)

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

WHO IS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IN YOUR LIFE?

You are not God

Who is your life ultimately submitted to?

Work?

Money?

Success?

LAND THE PLANE

REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE THAT IS CULTIVATED NOT JUST CONFESSED

WE DRAW NEAR BECAUSE OF GOD’S MERCY, NOT HIS ANGER.

MY SACRIFICES ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO SAVE ME.

INVITE MINISTRY TEAM FORWARD

IMPORTANT FINAL NOTE: VISIT ISRAEL TABLE TO WRITE A PRAYER FOR SOLDIERS