Turning Point Sharptown Lent Devos 2021

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Sunday, March 28th Who Is This? Matthew 21:1-11 Written by Bryan Racey 10  When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11  The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”    Matthew 21:10-11 Read Matthew 21:1-11 Expectation...."a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.... a belief that someone will or should achieve something."   Three years of teaching, healing, serving, preaching but also challenging, confronting, upsetting, rebuking, redefining.  Crowds laying branches, palms and garments down to line his path.  Throngs shouting "Hosanna," "Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!"   King treatment.   "Who is this?" they asked.  At the beginning of the week commemorating liberation from slavery, the Son of David heads into the City of David.  The humble lamb o...

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Saturday, March 27th Denial , Luke 22:54-62  -  Written by Maddy (Wyshinski) Dutton Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”   Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before t...

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Friday, March 26th Arrested , Matthew 26:36-56  - Written by Marilyn LeFevre   “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”   Matthew 26:39   Read Matthew 26:36-56. In the garden, Jesus experienced ever emotion we can think of, and more, yet He told His Father, “Your will, not mine.”   Darkness surrounded Jesus, not just the darkness of the night, but the darkness He felt within. That darkness included not only knowing the physical agony that was ahead, but the agony of being separated from His Father.   In His grief, Jesus prayed to His Father, “If it is possible. . . . but no.” Jesus was arrested.   He was sentenced to a brutal death on a cross, not because the lawmakers had control, but because He was gripped by love, obedience, and surrender to...

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Thursday, March 25th He Cares for You , 1 Peter 5:7  -  Written by Dave Grasty   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.   1 Peter 5:7 Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worry, and fear. Is anyone of us immune from it? I find it interesting that this verse is less of a suggestion and more of a directive, which makes me consider God knew this would be a problem in our lives.   Because of God’s sovereignty, we become the beneficiary of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which has provided a remedy for our human anxiety as well as our spiritual fear.    This verse application reminds me of the lyrics to one of my mother’s favorite songs… “Lord don’t move that mountain, just give me strength to climb.”   In Him, Jesus has given us the strength to overcome. He wants to burden your anxiety, He is willing to bear your fear, and His journey to the cr...

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Wednesday, March 24th Mount of Olives , Luke 22:39-46 -  Written by Gail Clark Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.   On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”  He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”   An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.   When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.   “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them.  “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”   Luke 22:39-46 While Jesus was in the garden, He knew the agony He was about to face.   He ...

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Tuesday, March 23rd Remembrance , 1 Corinthians 11:24 -  Written by Lori Buckner And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat.   This is my body, which is broken for you.   Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.”   1 Corinthians 11:24 (AMP) After reading this passage I had to ask myself how many times have I heard this verse and really considered what it would mean to truly remember.   To affectionately remember what Jesus did for us.   We hear it every Communion Sunday, some churches, every Sunday.   The question I ask myself is “ Do I really consider the reasons I should remember?” When I think of what Jesus did for not just my brokenness and sin, but for all people... that His body was literally beaten, broken and nailed on a cross to die...then I must bring this to remembrance every day, not just during communion.   Communion gives us a physical as well as visual r...

  Lent 2021 - TURNING POINT Monday, March 22nd Here Comes Jesus, Riding…. Zechariah 9:9 Written by Joey Raine Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!   Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!   See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.   Zechariah 9:9 ♫ Hosanna!   Here comes Jesus riding on a donkey. ♫   It’s impossible to read this verse without the picture of Palm Sunday at Sharptown running through my head.   From children jumping and shouting to Pastor Jerry and Pastor Doug waving palms up front, it’s a time of celebration.   Jesus has returned to Jerusalem and is preparing the gift of salvation through his greatest miracle. It’s undeniable that this is a time of celebration for us as Christians.   This is our time to shout in the streets that the Lord has come.   It’s not the time to dread the family parties or continue to enjoy our spring break like any other wee...