Natalie's powerful message about HOW TO STAND -
Isaiah 54:17, Ephesians 6:10-18 and Matthew 4 (Jesus' Temptation)

In this message, I look at the issue of dying to self and living a life of humility.

I begin by comparing two very different Christians - Kanye and the Roman Catholic nun Frances Cabrini (1850-1917). Clearly, they were given two different "Sign-Up Sheets" for the Christian life. Frances finished well. Kanye is currently very confused calling himself "god".

Many Christians today are not getting THIS MESSAGE. They are not being told that we must die to ourselves to begin the Christian life, and they are not being told that the Christian life is a life of ongoing humility.

This is a radical departure from the way Christians have viewed the Christian life since the beginning. Going forward, we must get this right. We must repent from the self-focused messages that many pastors and leaders have tragically given and continue to give modern Christians.

#deathtoself #selfdeath #humility #dyingtoself #pride #grace #kanye #cabrini #kanyewest

As Holy Week is about to begin, I start my message by slaying some of the 'internet myths' that many Christians have heard about Easter. (back in December it was all the Christmas is pagan propaganda and now that we are nearing Easter, it is the same mantra, "Easter is pagan").

So we settle these issues by answer these questions:

Isn't Easter pagan?
What about the word "Easter"?
Wasn't Jesus crucified on Wednesday?
Did Jesus rise on the Sabbath?

After this, I look at the Biblical events of Holy Week and why we call certain days by certain names - Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.

What happened on each of the days - and how can we reflect on these events devotionally as we approach Easter.

I shared a PLAN for Holy Week that I found online produced by Backcountry Church - https://www.backcountry.church/trail2victory

I get into the practice of fasting before Easter which was the universal practice of ALL Christians in the Early Church. The length of time varied, but it was clearly something that came down from Apostolic times. When Jesus said, "then my disciples will fast", the ENTIRE ANCIENT CHURCH believed that fasting before the celebration of His Resurrection was one of those times. No exceptions.

I end the message by giving a corporate charge for pressing into to Holy Week and fasting before Resurrection Sunday.

For such a time as this...