GE: February Prayer Meeting Message Summary: by Joseph George and family

 

Summary of the 2/17/07 Speech

 

Achen's speech on February 17, 2007 was based on 2^nd Corinthians 13:5-6, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified." Achen compared lent to the fasting before a doctor's visit. If we are asked to not eat twelve hours before a medical visit, we heed the doctor's advice. We should follow this same structure for the lent so we can cleanse ourselves from our past transgressions. We should imagine ourselves in a doctor's office sharing all our problems and short comings with God. Achen talked about Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday", the day before Ash Wednesday the start of the Catholic Great Lent. Mardi Gras is a big celebration, a day where people say "good-bye to meat". But really the Great Lenten time is a time to examine the relationship as well.

The Great Lenten time is the…

1.      Time for Preparation:

Galatians 6:3-5 "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load." The Bible verse is teaching us about the pride of man. Pride is the oldest sin in the world. One can have pride in appearance or pride in position. Pride will destroy relationship. We should use this Lenten time to keep our relationships with others by keeping the pride away.

2.      Time for Discipline:

During this Lenten time we should try to give something away regularly, live for others and less for ourselves, invest more in heaven than in retirement, read more of the Bible and watch less television, and make Sunday the day of worship.

3.      Time for Spiritual Activities:

This is the time to spend in quality praying. We should set aside more time each day than we normally do to praise and worship properly and wholeheartedly.

4.      Time for Spiritual Renewal and Growth:

We should use this time wisely and spend it more on fasting, praying, and meditating.

5.      Time to Share:

      We should share the hope found in a relationship found with Jesus.

 

The Josephs'