Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and surprisingly is the third largest grossing day of chocolate sales. I am by no means an expert on chocolate but the site I looked at seemed to be. I say seemed because I did not do extensive research on the subject of chocolate, but a quick search showed their results plausible, plus their information works for our subject today. I was surprised by their findings that placed Valentine’s Day third on their list as I thought it would be number one. Their findings have Halloween as number one (3.1 billion sales -I believe these to be USA numbers) and Easter at number two (2.2 billion) with Christmas very close to Valentine’s Day (1.8 billion). Out of these four main events, two are from Christianity. Sadly, Halloween seems to be outpacing Christmas, even with decorations but that is another subject.
I really don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of pagan rituals that are intertwined with Christianity. It is like the calendar that we use where the days of the week are named after gods. When you think of Easter, there are two words that quickly come to mind – chocolate eggs and bunnies. I guess we can blame John Cadbury who made the chocolate Easter egg in 1875. You also have Easter egg hunts that are popular. One writer said, “Although eggs were a symbol of fertility and rebirth in pagan cultures, Easter eggs were used by early Christians to symbolize parts of the Easter story. Easter eggs represent the empty tomb from which Jesus resurrected. Although eggs were a symbol of fertility and rebirth in pagan cultures, Easter eggs were used by early Christians to symbolize parts of the Easter story. Easter eggs represent the empty tomb from which Jesus resurrected.” That seems ridiculous. Another writer said, “Modern symbols of Easter, such as the egg and the bunny, have their origins in paganism. Rabbits were the most potent symbol of fertility and the egg, the start of all life, was often thought to have magical powers.” It is surprising the effort that was made by Christians to adapt pagan rituals into Christianity. As I said the rabbit hole is extensive and there are many areas in Christianity that have been absorbed from pagan rituals.
This really isn’t about the condemnation of chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs. The Cadbury crème egg (1925) is very tasty. Once I saw a giant Easter bunny at a chocolate shop and you have to wonder if the bunny is actually a god that has turned many away from the true meaning of Easter. Picture the idol Nebuchadnezzar made in the form of a chocolate bunny. Today this is really about Easter losing its true meaning. I think this secular writer said it well. “Many people today associate Easter with a deluge of chocolate eggs rather than the Christian commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and many other religious festivals and customs. A sign maybe that religion plays a lesser part in our lives than once was or simply that the chocolate manufacturers and retailers see this as an opportunity to make further sales over the Easter period with chocolate easter eggs and gifts, which over time has become the trend. The historical intermingling of pagan, Christian and Jewish beliefs and practices has left its legacy in many of the things we maybe take for granted about Easter and its traditions today.” Today both Christmas and Easter have secularized and are big money-making events.
A while back I wrote a sermon titled “Easter is a Farce,” not because the Easter account is not true but most who call themselves Christians really don’t believe Jesus is alive. Sure, they say He is and every year the ritual of Easter is repeated but there is no power and most are content to be powerless and do not seek the available power we were clearly told we should have. If Jesus was alive, He is sitting on David’s throne, appointing disciples and empowering them with authority and power just as He had and then sending them to the ends of the earth. Peter said, Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Just before Peter said this, Jesus who was alive when He ascended into heaven, said, Acts 1:8 “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” If Jesus is alive, then this would be happening. Since it is not happening, Jesus must not have risen from the dead OR Jesus is very much alive, but the church has rejected His word and has lost the power and authority that came at Pentecost. The latter lines up with scripture. Since the word of God is truth, Jesus has risen, therefore the church has rebelled just as Israel and Judah had done and God has turned His face from the church. This is why the celebration of Easter is a farce because most refuse to repent and turn from their wicked ways and continue in desolation just as was prophesied by Daniel. Daniel 9:27 “And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him” Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Jesus after talking about the abomination that causes desolation told us how severe this was going to be. Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.” Paul said 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” The church has been decimated by this enemy already.
During the next 46 (40 plus the Sundays) days, starting on Ash Wednesday, we are taking a journey into repentance. Every year I use this time to focus on a theme. Our theme this year is waking up from our slumber. Paul said, Romans 13:11 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Mark 13:36 “If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Today the church is filled with people sleeping who are unfaithful, stubborn and obstinate and refuse to repent. Most seem to be unaware that the bridegroom is coming and they will be found unprepared and stubbornly following other gospels. Hosea 9:1 “Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God.” Ezekiel was told Ezekiel 2:4 “The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.” For the most part, most Christians falsely assume that everything is as it should be. Most have been told where they worship is the way, truth and life and by following that way they will spend eternity in heaven. Each group with completely different doctrines and theology say the same thing, but that is not possible. The problem is that most do not test the spirits and fall for lies that are being taught as truth. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Paul also said 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” The church is filled with false teachers, deception and delusion, yet most refuse to repent and turn from wicked ways.
Every year the seasons come faster and faster, which also means the rituals fly by just as fast. Christmas has come and gone, and Easter will be upon us in no time (April 5, 2026). This Wednesday the season of Lent will begin. Lent is supposed to be a time of preparation for Easter, but the reality is that could / should be anytime. Jesus said Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Hebrews 3:7 “So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” Today there is still great resistance to repentance. We do not want to be like those to whom Isaiah said Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” We are still being called to repent. Paul said Acts 20:20 “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
I brought up chocolate at the beginning because usually the first thing that comes to mind when you say Lent is giving up chocolate. So sandwiched between Valentine’s Day and Easter is this horrible season where there is no chocolate allowed (that is if you choose to do that), which is probably why the sale of chocolate is so high at Easter. Obviously, people do not just give up chocolate but that is really not what this season is about, but chocolate is so intertwined with this season it really says a lot about the demise of the church. Giving up something is supposed to symbolize repentance, self-sacrifice and discipline but the reality is that you are no closer to God when you gave up chocolate than you were when you ate it, especially when you are following a false gospel and another Jesus, of which most in the church are. Repentance is about turning to the truth and away from wicked ways. If you are comparing giving up a food item with Jesus fasting and being tempted by the devil for forty days, there is no comparison. Luke 4:1 “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.” Notice that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and defeated satan with the word of God. satan had the audacity to tempt Jesus with the world. Luke 4:7 “If you worship me, it will all be yours. 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Jesus is our example which is why this season of Lent is about returning to the word of God.
Before Jesus was betrayed, He said to the disciples, Matthew 26:31 “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.” They all disowned Jesus. 36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” After Pentecost these were different men. Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
I think most of us would say the same as Peter said, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you,” then fell asleep. Today most in the church are sleeping, completely unaware that the bridegroom is coming and they will not hear well done good and faithful servant but Matthew 25:41 “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Jesus gives us this example of being asleep and not prepared. Matthew 25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ 9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Mark 13:32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”
Ezekiel warned the people and said Ezekiel 7:2 “‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! 3 The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. 4 I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you.” Ezekiel 30:2 “Wail and say, “Alas for that day!” 3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near.” That day did come just as the end of all we know will come and eternity will begin. Romans 13:11 “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. 16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. 17 Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
The slumbering church sits powerless and desolate, all the while most think all is well with their souls. But like Israel and Judah there is a resistance to repentance as most will say what have I done? Jeremiah 8:6 “I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.” People think I go to church so there is no need to repent. God told Jeremiah to say Jeremiah 7:3 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.”
Today most Christians are saying this is the church, this is the church, when it looks nothing like the church was supposed to be. The Gospels were a prelude to what the church would be doing after Pentecost and Acts was the church doing as Jesus did. But that quickly changed when the church turned away from the word of God and following a different Jesus and other gospels. 2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” Ezekiel and Jeremiah spoke to a people who should have known better as they saw prophecy fulfilled with their own eyes. The Assyrians had already destroyed Samaria. 2 Kings 17:5 “The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years. 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the Israelites to Assyria.” The people of the land had already been exiled. Jeremiah continued to speak to Judah from the time of king Josiah to the last king Zedekiah but Jeremiah 37:2 “Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.” Ezekiel spoke to the exiles, and they even did not listen. Ezekiel 12:1 “The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” God had told Ezekiel, Ezekiel 2:4 “The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 3:4 “He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.”
Today the church is also hardened, obstinate and stubborn and refuses to turn from its wicked ways. This means turning from the manmade and powerless church and returning to the word of God. 1 Timothy 4:1 “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” That time is already here but there is still hope. God has given us His word, Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” So as Hezekiah told the people return, the church must do the same. 2 Chronicles 30:6 “People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”
Today it is not a war against flesh like the Assyrians or Babylonians, but a war against Ephesians 6:12 “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” that have defeated God’s people in their rebellion - the abomination that causes desolation. Only the power of God can defeat this enemy. The church will stay in captivity if it continues as it has been. The power that can defeat this enemy will return when the church returns to the word of God. Yes, this is the season of Lent, but the best time to return to God’s word is now. Then as Jesus said Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” When the kingdom of God comes near, then the church will once again do as Jesus did. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” No longer will the church need to hear these words Paul spoke to the Galatians. Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Do you believe the word of God or the words of man about the word of God. Test the spirits and make sure you are hearing truth because today most are not.
