Opening Our Eyes
Notes
Transcript
Story meditation - when I hear that story, I hear the temptation, but hunger I can least relate too (the devil?)
Story meditation - when I hear that story, I hear the temptation, but hunger I can least relate too (the devil?)
transition - kicks off lent - a time of fasting, a time of...
Lenten is a time to take off in order to take on
Lenten is a time to take off in order to take on
e.g. fast sarcasm - take on edifying speech
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
take away something bad - replace it or the bad will come back; new e.g. every week - sarcasm, food, tv
sarcasm - roommate noticed the harm I caused with innocent but negative speech; biting my tongue, or redirecting it
Lent is about repentance - not just sorrow, display of emotion;
casting off something bad (attitude, action, consumption), replacing with something good
Overall Purpose - repent for not seeing; not getting involved; not being moved emotionally; not being generous with out lives
Sermon - repent for not seeing
Sermon - repent for not seeing
hard to see what you aren’t looking for
Passage Introduction - is fasting a joke? lots of temptation - focus on hunger; the one we can relate to the least (poor, but never starving)
Passage Introduction - is fasting a joke? lots of temptation - focus on hunger; the one we can relate to the least (poor, but never starving)
We must be hungry
The importance of fasting.
The importance of fasting.
e.g. ordination vows: great time, affirmation; one part bothers me
are you in debt so as to embarrass your work? we set a standard, create a value, assume it is impossible to do
fasting - Bible assumes it, not an exception; when you fast (not if you decide to fast) roll our eyes, smile; not realistic
why fast?
why fast?
health - blood pressure, cholestrol levels, control blood sugar
guidance
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
2. mourning
When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
3. raise the intensity of prayer
There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
disclaimer - some should not fast, or do a full fast - pray carefully;
to identify with the hungry, the poor…to help imagine; to see them
to identify with the hungry, the poor…to help imagine; to see them
deny the fleshly cravings
1. being hungry, with food right in front of you. e.g.
2. being weak - physical, mental, susceptible to temptation, evil
2. being weak - physical, mental,
3. psychological - hope?
to experience hunger (and all that goes with it) helps you see others who are experiencing hunger (and all that goes with it)
to experience hunger (and all that goes with it) helps you see others who are experiencing hunger (and all that goes with it)
e.g. mission trip report from Maine
saw it but didn’t see it - poverty porn; self flattering; self righteous; patting self on the back
e.g. mission trip report from Maine