SERMON | Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11 | LENT: LEARNING TO LIVE INSIDE OUT - 1. "If We Fall Down" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, Indiana.

SERMON | Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11 | LENT: LEARNING TO LIVE INSIDE OUT - 1. "If We Fall Down" by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Sellersburg United Methodist Church in Sellersburg, Indiana.

LENT: The Season of journeying to the cross.

Similar to Advent—Advent is not Christmas, but preparation for it—Lent is NOT Easter.

But first…before the resurrection…we must journey to the cross.

We must spend 40 days in the wilderness alongside our Messiah.

We must keep our eyes focused on the cross and then prepare to stop there…

to take it all in…

to understand there is a mystery to it all…

there is the love and grace of God…

there is the discipline and willingness of Jesus…

there is a purpose behind this journey…and it must be completed.

We will also be learning to live inside-out these 40 days: to think about how we live the faith of our hearts in our world—faith in action

These 40 days of Lent,

we have the opportunity to journey into the wilderness with Jesus.

We have the chance to journey with him to the cross.

An important part of this journey is fasting.

—How you fast is up to you, but it is important that you DO fast.

You may be thinking, “No, that’s silly ritual that I don’t need.”

But I wonder, can you really face yourself and temptation without allowing yourself to be tested like Jesus did?

To fast from something is to say I will maintain control over my head and heart for 40 days. I will journey with Jesus in this unique way…and I’ll make it.

Because telling yourself and/or the tempter that you have what it takes to abstain just stokes the fire of temptation.

Can you handle the heat?

Can you withstand the burning desire to satisfy your wants?

We know our story involves a great deal of falling down…

but it also involves following the one who didn’t.

And He invites us to follow him

and He empowers us so that we won’t fall down either.

Will you accept that invitation in this unique way during Lent?

Will you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you into a time of testing to see what there is for you to learn in the wilderness of these 40 days?

You don’t need to tell me whether you do or not; this fast isn’t between you and I.

And a fast could be giving up a favorite daily food of your…

it could be giving up a daily habit—like social media

   or giving up coffee

   or not watching media that focuses on the wrong 

   things: politics, violence, distorted ideas of 

   relationships

it could be picking up a daily habit—like reading 10 chapters in your Bible

    or spending 10 minutes in silent prayer

    or walking a mile in silence

Join in the journey of Lent.

Follow our savior to the very source of our salvation: the cross.

It will be hard, no doubt.

You may stumble…

you will wrestle with the voices of temptation…

but, with the Holy Spirit in our head and hearts, and our eyes fixed on Jesus, and our will devoted to the dream of God…we will not fall.

Let this season be a part of your faith journey.

See where the Holy Spirit leads you on your journey with Jesus towards the cross.