What is Lent?

Posted on February 16, 2015March 20, 2022 by Matthew Laker

Back in high school, some Christian friends asked me, “What are you giving up for Lent?” Then the same question was asked by my friends at evangelical bible college ? However, it never carried a lot of weight. I would hear about what they were giving up, but never saw how or understood how it helped in their spiritual formation.

Then I came to be a part of a local body of Jesus followers, who had the tradition of practising Lent. Perhaps the idea of Lent is a new one for you. As I was called on to give leadership, it meant a fast learning curve about Lent.

The church Calendar rotates around two main events: Advent, which is at the start, and then Lent and the high season of the Easter Celebration. For Christians, Easter Sunday evokes awe and wonder. Historically, this comes out of a 40 day time of reflection to get ready for celebration.

Over the years it has changed. For example, the Church Father Irenaeus of Lyons shares how it was only a two or three day observation. There are also some differences on how the 40 days have been calculated over the years. Today, it is practised over 40 days, and historically there was a connection to using it to disciple new believers.

Even though the practise has developed over the years, the purpose has always been the same. Time for self-examination, repentance and denial of self in preparation for Easter.

Dr. Michael Pasquarello sums up the purposes well, that Lent is an invitation to examine our desires and reorient them toward God.

Throughout the years three spiritual disciplines have been at the core, though many incorporate others. The three are prayer, fasting and alms giving.

What has been your experience with the season of Lent?

What helpful resources have you used over the years?

What questions do you have about Lent?

Stay tuned for more in the Series: Beginners Guide to Lent

Reflection from the Gathering 2015

Posted on January 19, 2015January 19, 2015 by Matthew Laker

I was able to get some time away and attend an event called the “Gathering 2015”. It is a gathering of Wesleyan church leaders from across North America. This was my first time attending such an event, and my hope was to use it as a time of reflection, sleep and to hear from God. As a bit of a personal reflection, I thought I would blog about some of what I took away with me.

First there are many take aways that I wrote down, but trying to narrow to the top few was hard. Here are my top three things I took away from the Gathering 2015 (Wesleyan Church). These are not in any particular order.

1. God is more concerned in making me new then the “formal” ministry I call my “day-job”. There is a lot more around this thought, but I really enjoyed Kyle Ray’s closing conference session, where he was able to sum up my thoughts. . He spoke to the “Made-new” theme and challenged us from the apostles’ Peter’s life. If God broke Peter of fear in order to work through him, and bring him to a place of ministry, then what will he break in me?”
“You have been made new and he is still making you new.” (Kyle Ray) This thought also implies there is the need to allow the gospel (Jesus) to transform my life. Do I really know Jesus? The more I do, the more I see how far I still have to go. Thank God for grace and mercy.

2. Laurel Buckingham led a short seminar on over- coming. He spoke of the reality and danger of insecurity. I could totally relate, how about you? He shared this great statement that will be with me for some time. “My success does not depend on others’ response to me, as it depends on my response to people’s response to me”

3. Ken Murphy shared about three places of inspiration. The short end of what he shared was a) Look to the father, b) Look to the team, c) Look to the possibility of what could be. When God gets involved anything is possible, the seeds planted are not in vain.

It was a good trip. As I get to know the Wesleyan tribe of Jesus followers better, I am excited about what I see taking place.

I am thankful for this time away, for the extra sleep, and for what God has planned ahead. Thanks to the Wesleyan church, Sunnyside Wesleyan Church and my wife and kids for allowing me to go.

Tips for Looking for God in My Life

Posted on January 14, 2015January 9, 2015 by Matthew Laker

Where is Jesus in my life? Do you find yourself wondering where God is in your journey? We all find our self in a season at times, where we struggle to see God leading us.

Looking for God in your life?

After service one day in the midst of a conversation someone shared with me. You know I really think the way God works today is in small ways. He shared we need to have eyes to see the small little L.E.D lights. The lights are God at work, and as you see them they start to light our path. They are God’s way of lighting your path. But you have have to have eyes to see.

This is some great wisdom from a fellow believer on the journey with us. So just where in your life have you seen the L.E.D lights? Over the last week, month, 3 months, six months, year, where have the L.E.D lights been found? Take a moment and write them down, where are you seeing God? Is it in that small conservation? Perhaps someone was able to give you the words to express yourself? Perhaps something unexpected? Still struggling to start a list, try writing out what you are thankful for. I am sure that will lead you to some L.E.D lights.

Here are four starting tips for looking for Jesus in our life.

1. Faith in Jesus

This is not a cop out. Seriously, you have to believe and understand that God is at work. Do you believe that God is great? If he is, then you do not have to be in control of everything. If we do not have faith that God is good enough, then we will look elsewhere for satisfaction. In a way faith is what helps us get through the long waiting time. It is like the oil the virgins carried or did not carry with them in Matthew 25. Faith is about trusting that God is leading your life. Faith is about following that call of God in your life. Sometimes we struggle to see him because we allow the waves to be greater than he is. We put more faith in something other than Jesus.

Make the choice today to trust Jesus.

2. Look for him.

Take a moment and look back. Where do you see the little L.E.D lights that are the God moments in your life? There is a good chance it was small, a conversation here, an impression to go left instead of right. Do you see it, along your journey? A conversation with a person, who just opened doors that were not there. Perhaps it was physical doors or doors inside of you. This is about asking the question, “Where am I seeing God at work?” Where is the kingdom of God or God pushing into your life? Why are you seeing this happen? Why is this happening? What are you going to do now?

Take a moment and write it down. Write down the God moments in your life.

3. Gathering with God’s community for Worship

I have watched people as they are going through challenging times. They gather with God’s people, and as we pray, sing and teach, God’s spirit softens their hearts. There is something about gathering with a healthy community of God’s people that can help bring proper perspective. For many, this is the only time to pause, and be still and know God. Our eyes begin to be opened to the L.E.D lights and we see the light on our path. As we gather with God’s people we will listen to the stories of others, and through their journey God will speak to us about our journey. Transformation takes place in community.

4. Spend time in God’s word

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”

Let the Scriptures remind you about who God is and what he has done. As you understand and embrace that, you can then understand who you are and understand the path you are to walk.

Do you find yourself looking for Jesus in your life? Try these four rhythms to see the L.E.D. lights.

The Second Coming in 3 Parts – Do not Fear the Circumstances

Posted on January 9, 2015January 9, 2015 by Matthew Laker

Series: Matthew 24 – part 3
Text: Matthew 24:6-32

This is part 3 of a series of posts (part 1, part 2, part 3) that are looking at the Second Coming of Jesus. To help narrow the conversation for better reflection, this series of posts will be based on Jesus’ conversation in Matthew 24.

“False labour contractions are unpredictable. They come at irregular intervals and vary in length and intensity. Although true labour contractions may be irregular at first, over time they start coming at regular and shorter intervals, and become increasingly more intense, and last longer.”

In Matthew 24:8, Jesus says, “All these [signs] are the beginning of birth pains.” As one read Matthew 24, there is a feeling of the building of contractions getting greater and the intervals closer. Jesus starts with a short list of the beginning signs of his return in verses 6-7.

We will hear of wars and rumours of wars.
Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom.
famines
earthquakes

The challenge of this list is that realistically we have always had such things. How do we know if what we see today is part of a regular cycle or the first stage of birth pains? We do know that there are physical changes taking place in our world, which one could argue are leading to stronger storms. What is important to remember is the storms are not signs that the end is here, but it is coming. I would suggest that they are signs of our need for Jesus. The talk of rumours of war, and nations against nations, is hard because war is a part of our world. There is always one group going up against another.

Jesus continues with more signs

v. 9 – You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death

It should be noted that Jesus is talking about believers. In the build up to his Second Coming persecution will be part of the journey for followers of Jesus. It will continue as the birth pain increase, and it does not end till near the end (see v. 31). We also have the tension here that persecution is an experience of many believers today.

v. 10-11 – There is a rise of falling away and many false prophets appearing.

Each generation will have its falling away and false prophets. But there seems to be an increase above the norm. The challenge is,“What is the norm?” and so becomes very hard to measure. The church needs to be careful in saying one generation is more evil than another. We need to be reminded that as long as we follow Jesus, there will be temptations, and a battle to pull us away.

v. 14 -The gospel will be preached in the whole world.

What this will look like we simply do not know. Many have shared this means a church or at least missionary in every people group of the world. Tracking that may be hard, but we have the promise of the message going out even in the midst of challenging circumstance.

It is at this point we see an intensity of the birth pains taking place and perhaps closer together. In verse 15-22 there is talk about a third temple that has been built. It should be noted that as of 2014 this has not happened. There is more that can be said about this section that space does not allow for. You will have to look for future posts. These verses contain some big events. During this time there is a great desolation that takes place. Not much is shared what that will look like, but I expect one should pray they are not around during that time.

Like birth pains coming on quicker, this moment will not last as long. There is a quick transition into the 3rd stage of signs. This next phase of the birth pains comes in verse 28-31. This is the final stage as the birth takes place. During this final phase we see events take place in space, among the sun and moon with stars going out. Then the crowning of the head begins in the birthing. The sign of Jesus will appear in the sky.

We do not know what this sign is, but I expect we will know it when it comes. Then we will see Jesus.

Then in Verse 31, God will gather his followers.

There are two important thoughts Jesus wants us to take away from this conversation. These two things are related to the signs, but the signs are not the main point. The first point is that:

1. God is sovereign

God is a God involved in history. In the midst of the choices of people and the power of sin in our world, God is at work to bring about his will. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but his words will never pass away”

The second thing we need to take away is:

2. Be not alarmed.

In the midst of all these signs Jesus has shared, this is not even what he wants us to understand. Like the anxious husband, waiting for his wife to go into labour, wondering if it is time, so we too run the risk of doing the very same thing in our life. Jesus on the other hand, shares in verse 8 and 13 what he is concerned about.

Be not alarmed.

This does not mean we have to understand the time line of everything. It does mean that we do not have to fear the circumstance and events taking place around us.

Stand firm in God and do not be alarmed.

Help to Get more out of your Christmas Season

Posted on November 27, 2014November 26, 2014 by Matthew Laker

Christmas for many can feel like a burden, lonely, and be a stressed-filled season. In the West, there is great pressure to live up to an image that, let’s face it, no one can. The author “Ann” of “aholyexperience.com” shares, “Whenever Christmas begins to burden, it’s a sign that I’ve take on something of the world and not of Christ. ”

This is why I have come to appreciate the value of the Advent season. This tradition over the years has been practiced in different ways with different purposes, but similar purposes. However, at its core has always been a call back to spiritual disciplines and reflection upon Jesus. It does not matter if it was a 40 day experience or a 4 week experience, it has been about preparing, pausing, reflecting and seeking Jesus.

This is an opportunity to develop a different spiritual discipline in order to understand God more deeply. It is a season to let go of the world and grab Jesus. In the world of weight lifting, if you are going to grow you muscles you need to stress and relax the muscle. You lift heavy weights then give them rest. Advent is a season to lift some weights to grow your spiritual muscle.

Help To get more out of the Season of Christmas

1. Make a choice to lift weights.

ok not physical weights, though that may help with the extra eating we do at this time of year. But choose to practice some extra or different spiritual disciplines over this season.

2. Find a community to do this with.

This could be Christian friends, small group or family. Having people to do this with will only increase your opportunity to grow and God will use others to help shape your spiritual formation.

3. Bible meditation, Pray, Fast, Serve

Perhaps you are already doing some of this, but change it up this month. In my local church setting we try to provide a bible reading plan for the current advent season. If you would like the current one, email matthew@matthewlaker.com. You could meet with a group this season to read scripture and talk about it.

Continue to develop your prayer life, perhaps add a prayer walk or community prayer time. Perhaps, find an advent devotional to guide this process.

I would encourage you in the midst of a season full of food in the west. Consider fasting as a way to be reminded of the Lordship of Jesus and your need for him.

Serving is increased in our Canadian culture at this time of year, but consider how you may impact one person or a group of persons this advent season. You just may find Jesus there.

Ok, so you are saying is this not what we are already called to do as followers of Jesus? Yes, many of us struggle to do it, so this is a great time to refocus. In my own life I practice most of the basic spiritual disciplines. However, this time of year I try to add a few extra or change in order to seek him more. It is a set time to be still and know God.

Things in my house we do or have done.

a. We light a candle each night that has a count-down to Christmas day on it.As part of that time we have prayers.

b. We watch a movie about the first coming of Jesus, and then my wife and I often sit and talk about it.

c. Join in with church advent traditions. This often includes lighting of candles, extra reading, Christmas Eve service.

d. Personally I often pick up an extra advent/Christmas devotional to read.

e. Engage in spiritual conversation with others over a meal . The last number of years this is often with our kids, as we talk about what is Christmas all about.

f. We try to find ways to invite people into our life to share the experience. For example, host an evening with people who do not know Jesus in your house. Serve dessert and drinks and be intentional about hearing their stories about this time of year. You will have opportunity to shares yours.

g. When my wife was growing up, each week they used to put out a new person to the nativity scene that would end with Jesus on Christmas morning. We have not done this yet but keep talking about it each year.

This season take on Jesus and not the burden of the world. What traditions do you have?