Turning Point Sharptown Lent Devos 2021

  Sunday, February 28th Do you believe this? John 11:1-43 - Written by Emily Rosenberger   Read John:1-43 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this wo

  Saturday, February 27th An Uncommon Discipline Psalm 35:13 -  Written by Doug Smith “… I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.”   Psalm 35:13 Located on Sharptown’s website under the   resources tab is a link titled, ‘Top 10 Biblical    Purposes for Fasting.’ This resource was   created as a supplement for a sermon series    in 2012 as we studied the Old Testament book and life of Daniel and is worth reviewing today.   Check it out at Sharptown.org During Lent, followers around the world seek to mimic the dietary practice and actions of Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11) and to fast. The Bible lists several reasons: Strengthen Prayer Seek God’s Guidance Expression of grief Seek Deliverance and Protection Express Repentance Engage in Humility Express Concern for the Work of God Minister to the needs of Others Overcome Temptation Expression of Love and Worship Fasting is always purposeful. It is a time when followers are invited to

Friday, February 26th Our weakness; God's power 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 -  Written by Rhonda Cowan   But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,persecutions, and calamities, For when I am weak, then I am strong.   2 Corinthians 12:9-10 I received a text from Doug asking if I would write a daily devotional for church. My response was, ME, you obviously accidentally texted me! He said, no, I sent it on purpose.  With my heart pounding out of my chest, I can't make an excuse or lie to the pastor, so I said I would try. Doug sends me the verse. "Our weakness"...REALLY!  Now I'm facing one of mine head on. I'm feeling overwhelmed, unworthy, inadequate, anxious.... Then I read the verse again, this time hearing i

  Thursday, February 25th Repentance Luke 13:3 -  Written by Molly Tyler   I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too   will all perish.   Luke 13:3   Instant regret. Conviction swelled, as “I can’t believe I did that!” echoed in my mind over and over and over. As Satan grasped my ear and filled my mind with lies, I questioned if I could move forward in my walk with Christ. He tempted me to believe I ruined the life   God planned for me.   Painfully aware of my brokenness, I cried “Lord, I am shameful - I desperately beg of you to take my shame, my dirt, my   brokenness and make me whole.” My soul was withered, longing for restoration.      Repentance is more than saying I’m sorry to God, but an honest, authentic, and vulnerable acknowledgment to Christ you accept His free and gracious forgiveness, and working    intentionally with Him to banish sin, banish lies, and overcome the wreckage sin tries to bring. Through the Lord’s redemptive, perfect grace, my broken he

  Wednesday, February 24th I want you to know   Philippians 3:10-11 - Written by Cindy Dutton I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!    Philippians 3:10-11 These powerful verses speak to living in the victory of forgiven sin, changed life, and knowing Jesus in a personal way.   How do we get it?   Matthew 5:10, the start of Jesus’ sermon, states “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs, “ Realizing your need for a savior is where it has to start, then believing that the power of Christ‘s death and resurrection (Kingdom of Heaven) is yours.   How? Phil 3:10 says it all, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power.” The 40 days of lent helps me Remember my need for Jesus and what He chose to do for me, Reflect on how the powe

  Tuesday, February 23rd Genuine Humility , Matthew 6:1 -  Written by Sue Measel   Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.   Matthew 6:1 Look at me!! Look at what I’ve done!     We have become so self-absorbed in our culture today.   We take selfies; post on   Facebook, Instagram, etc; we give out   trophies and awards that aren’t based on merit.   You get it! But Jesus…not sure that He would do selfies, or post on social media about His miracles!   Look!   I healed blind a man; Look what I did to the Red Sea!     No, Jesus came to serve; to give and to love. He gave until there was nothing to give… to death. He laid down His life for us. That was His purpose. The King of Kings in the most noble of positions but chose to wash feet that He may be the humblest of servants.   Are we humble to serve? Or are we full of self?   Let us empty ourselves so that not I who lives

  Monday, February 22nd 40 day Focus , Mark 1:12-13  - Written by Dawn Jeffers   At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.   Mark 1:12-13 The forty days of Lent is based upon the   forty days that Jesus was in the desert being tempted by Satan.   The Son of God endured and ultimately overcame these temptations by fasting and praying. We have the privilege to do the same.   Lent becomes a time for us to step aside from our regular routine and prepare our hearts and minds for   Easter. This can be done in many different ways - fasting from food or technology,    adding in additional devotion time, or   serving in other capacities.   The point is to repent, refocus and restore our relationship with our gracious and merciful God. Will Satan tempt you during those forty days?   Most definitely.   Anytime we give ourselves to the Lord, Satan becomes jealous an

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Sunday - February 21st High and lifted up - Written by Doug Smith   John 3:14, 16   “the son of man must be lifted up … For God so loved the world that he gave his one    and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall    not perish, but have eternal life.”   Nicodemus (nick-oh-deem-us) was a Pharisee …    part of an elite group of prominent Jewish leaders that gauged their spirituality based upon their       ability to follow Old Testament guidelines for   behavior and morality. Intrigued by Jesus and His message, Nicodemus secretly interviewed Jesus    under the cover of darkness. In conversation, Jesus patiently unwraps a life transforming explanation beginning with God and ending with eternal life. God loves. God gave.   We believe. We live.    The exchange with Jesus left Nicodemus confused and conflicted. Nicodemus could not grasp that   life-change was a God-thing, not something earned by performance   or following the rules. Nicodemus app

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Saturday, February 20th 40 Days, Lenten Sacrifice - Written by Ben Kraihanzel   Matthew 4:1,2   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. Matthew 3 ends on profound moment in the life of Christ, his baptism. This moment was significant because it not only gave us a glimpse of the humanity of Jesus, but also allowed Jesus to identify with sinners (us). Heading into Matthew 4:1-2, we see another moment of    identification as Jesus is led into severe   temptation by the devil. There is a   remarkable contrast between the imminent glory of Jesus’ baptism and the dark challenge to be tempted by the devil. The timing of 40 days and 40 nights is a callback to the nation of Israel   wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.  Jesus will succeed where Israel as a nation failed. Temptation is a certainty for everyone, even Jesus. Jesus did not need to be te

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Friday - February 19th Obedience, better than Sacrifice - Written by Dawn Jeffers   1 Samuel 15:22   “But Samuel replied:   ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and    sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to   heed is better than the fat of rams.’” King Saul lacked obedience. God gave Saul specific instructions to attack the Amalekites and destroy everything…and he fails to obey. He destroys some and decides he knows best and spares the Amalekite king and the best of their livestock. His lack of disobedience to the Lord leads to his rejection as the King. Samuel condemns him saying “to obey is better than      sacrifice.” You see, Saul was saving the best livestock for a sacrifice to the Lord, but in doing that was disobeying the Lord's command.    Sacrifices are important but what is more important is the condition of our hearts. Our obedience to the Lord speaks volumes to the condi

Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Thursday - February 18th Hosanna, Making Lent Meaningful - Written by Kristen Raine   Psalm 118 (CEV):23-27   2 3 The Lord has done this, and it is amazing to us. 24  This day belongs to the Lord!   Let’s celebrate and be glad today. 25 We’ll ask the Lord to save us! We’ll sincerely ask the Lord to let us win.   26  God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! We praise you from here in the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is our God, and he has given us light! Start the celebration! March with palm branches all the way to the altar.     The season of Lent can be some of the most life changing, perspective changing, hope filled days of the entire year!   We live with a post resurrection perspective and prefer the celebration and resurrection of Easter Sunday over the horror and sacrifice of Good Friday.   That seems natural as the words expressed in Psalm 118 say, “Let us Win!” and   “Start the Celebration.”   Just what is it that we cele