Are you ready for a personal biblical meditation during this season of Lent ? .... Here is my slideshow that will surely edify you.

1. LENTEN SERVICE
Lady Doak College, Madurai
28th Feb. 2013

2. CONSIDER JESUS AND PUT ON CHRIST
HB.12:3 ; ROM. 13:14
Bible Lesson Matt.4:1-11
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3. What is it ?
Why 40 days ?
Should it be remembered ?
LENT IN PERSPECTIVE
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4. What is LENT ?.... In a nutshell
• Originated in A.D 313 with legalization of Christianity
• ‘Lent’ derived from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten
– Meaning : Springtide / March
• Time of prayer, penance, sacrifice , good works in
preparation for Easter celebration
• Special spiritual exercises emphasized
• Period of SIX weeks starting from Ash Wednesday
• Practices varied in different sections of the Church
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5. Why 40 days, significant number?
• Remembrance of the 40 days and 40 nights Lord Jesus
fasted prior to His public ministry
• Moses fasted 40 days and 40 nights on Mt.Sinai
before receiving God’s LAW
• Elijah, the PROPHET fasted for 40 days and 40 nights
walking to Mt.Horeb / Mt.Sinai
• Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mt.Tabor of
transfiguration to strengthen Jesus
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6. Why to remember these signs ?
• Gen 9: 13-15 Rainbow : God remembered His
covenant to Noah/ humankind
• Exo. 12 :14 Passover : Israelites remember
• Josh 4 : 20-22 12 stones at Gilgal : Parting of Jordan
• Lk 22: 19 Last Supper :Jesus asked disciples to
remember His sacrifice
• I Cor 11: 24,25 Eucharist : NT church remembers
• Book of Revelation Book of remembrance mentioned
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8. Jesus in the wilderness
• Matt. 4:1-11 Jesus defeated Satan in the TESTS
( not temptations)
• Adam and Eve lost in the garden… Jesus won in
the desert
• Israel lost 40 years in the desert … Jesus won in 40
days
– Prayer and fasting …. Focusing on God
– Same victory can be achieved by any believer in Jesus
Christ
• Tests came in THREE realms…. Body, soul , spirit
• Jesus came out victorious in all of them
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9. Joining Jesus in the wilderness
• Body realm…. Level 1
Physical test …. Biological need
• Soul Realm ….. Level 2
Publicity test….. Emotional / Social need
• Spirit Realm … Level 3
Power test …. Spiritual need
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10. Body realm…. Level 1
Physical test …. Biological need
• V.3 Challenge to God’s declaration … Mat.3:17
– V.2 Physical need used as Satan’s weapon Gen. 3:1
• V.4 Jesus wielded the sword of the spirit …….WORD
of God to defeat the enemy Deut 8:3
– Realign priorities of physical need in tune with the Scriptures
– Fight the good fight of Faith using the Word Eph. 6:17
– Use this season of Lent to meditate and memorize the Word more
Psa.119: 11
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11. Soul Realm ….. Level 2
Publicity test….. Social / emotional need
• V.5 Same challenge as in v.3
• Mind, will and emotions dragged in
– Gen.3:5,6 The Great Fall from God’s presence …. rebellion
• Jesus taken to the Jerusalem temple’s pinnacle
• V. 6 Scripture partially quoted by Satan…. show off
– Publicity test / acceptance by Jewish leaders and people who lived there
• v.7 Jesus said SUBMIT to God and won
– Israelites sin of insubordination to God’s Word
– I Pet.5:6,7 Stay put under the mighty hand of God and be exalted
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12. Spirit Realm … Level 3
Power test
• v.8 Satan camouflages as a ‘promoter’ .. compromise
• v.9 Short cut route to redemption … ‘no cross’….
‘joint venture’ with the Devil put forth
– We need NOT collaborate with Satanic agents at any point
– The ultimate authority lies only with God
• v.10 Jesus drove the Devil away …. Said WORSHIP the
Lord God …. Deut 6:13,14
– ‘you shall not have any other gods besides the LORD’ .
2/28/2013 kalaneethy.c .Exo. 20.3 12

13. vs
s
ge stio n utta
l
s su
g reb
Devil’ Je sus'
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14. ‘Jesus is the only way’
Resist the Devil and he will run
away
II Cor.5:6
Jas 4:7
I Pet 5:8,9
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15. Do away with the Devil
• James 4: 7
– Submit to God
– Resist the Devil
– Speak out your faith using the Word of God
• I Pet. 5 :8,9
– Be strong in faith in Christ
– Be vigilant
– Resist the Devil
• The Devil will flee away from the believer in Christ
– We walk by faith and NOT by sight II Cor. 5:6
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16. Final Word for us His children
• Devil asked Eve ….. ‘Has God TOLD you ?’
– Uncertainty in the Word Told
• Jesus spoke the WRITTEN WORD and won
• We have with us , the WORD made FLESH,
His Written Word and The inner Witness of
the Holy Spirit … ‘the resident teacher’
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17. To introspect….. To act
• Have I already started my walk with Jesus ?
• Am I walking in His Way everyday ?
• Am I prepared to use the season of Lent to
walk closely with Jesus Christ ?
• Will I walk in Him till I meet Him in glory ?
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