In just a few short weeks, we will celebrate our reason for living...the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many people in Christendom view this holiday as the "Super Bowl of Christianity". I suppose that moniker is somewhat deserving (though I am certain some would say sacrilegious). Easter weekend typically boasts the greatest church attendance of any weekend throughout the year.
Indeed it is an incredible opportunity to bring people in to hear the Gospel message of Christ. It is an opportunity to have the doors of the church wide open to love on people who may be somewhat reserved when it comes to this whole Jesus thing.
Beginning this coming Wednesday (at least for some) is a period of fasting called "Lent". I will not go into a complete history of the Lenten Holy Days because the history and various observances are too vast to include in a short blog. If you would like more detailed information about the observance, check out Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent . For simplicity's sake here is a quick definition: "Lent in the Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."
I grew up in South Central Kentucky. In my hometown, there was one Catholic Church (which most people associate with Lent). For the most part, if you lived in Russell Springs or Jamestown, Kentucky you fit into one of three categories....Baptist (of all kinds), Methodist, or Pentecostal. Granted many of our Methodist brethren (and sistrens too...)practiced the tradition of Lent, but most of us had never even heard of it.
My first experience with Lent came through a girl I dated in high school. Not knowing much about Catholic practices, I was very inquisitive because of my ignorance. I found the practice of Lent to be both interesting and fruitful for one's spirit. The idea of "preparing" the believer for the Holy Week, while somewhat alien to me, was refreshing.
Over the years, I have learned more and more about this period of "fasting". I have seen people give up many things for Lent; things like chocolate or sodas, TV or video games; things like meat or bread. My favorite of all time though was someone who gave up cursing. CURSING? Come on, shouldn't you give that up anyway.....lol
Regardless of what was given up, the purpose should have been the same, to sacrifice something and replace it with increased focus on God. The sad thing is, that often the observance of Lent has become less of a spiritual discipline and more of a tradition lacking the true purpose behind the act.
Allow me to share this thought with you. If you are fasting without prayer and focus...you are just making your life miserable. In fact, it is just stupid because there is no benefit for either you or the Kingdom. That's what I have seen more times than not, not only during the Lent fast, but during any fast. It is not the act of fasting that is spiritual. It is the increased focus and prayer that helps the believer be prepared for what God has in store.
This Lenten season I want to challenge all believers (especially those in my Skyline family) to use this time to focus on what God has in store for our churches. Regardless of your denominational affiliation, use this time as a time of fasting and prayer for God's move. No matter what you choose to give up, let that sacrifice be a catalyst for your prayer life. Don't just starve yourself of food or entertainment, make room for the nourishment God desires to provide for you as you fast. Multiple times throughout the Bible it is quoted that man does not live by bread alone. That spiritual nourishment that awaits gives you the strength to do what God has called you to do.
Let me close with a challenge specific to the people of Skyline Church. We have been laying the foundation for God's move over the last few weeks. We are fast approaching the seed planting season and while we have been planting seeds along the way...the time is now to begin planting them in vast numbers. As you fast through the season of Lent, let your prayers focus on the soil that these seeds are being planted in...that they are fertile and ready for growth. Pray that the growing season will be rich and fruitful for those hearts in which the seeds are planted, that God will prepare a harvest that we can not handle if were not for the intervention of the Lord Himself.
Greater things have yet to come!!! I believe that without question. Do you?
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