On February 22, 2023, Singapore Immanuel Church members began the 40 days path of Lent with repentance and prayer through the morning service delivered on the meaning of Ash Wednesday.
In the morning service, Pastor Drew preached the message on Psalm 51:10, which was entitled, ‘Renew a Right Spirit within Me’. The message reminded all members of the meaning of Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent to know one’s mortality and limitations and lead each one to deeper repentance of their sins against God. As Job 42:6 speaks of repentance in dust and ashes, the symbolic practice of putting ashes on one’s head was to signify repentance. Furthermore, in Genesis 3:19, it was written that as each one is created from dust, so each one will return to dust while in their mortal bodies.
With sincere hearts desiring a clean heart and a renewed spirit, each member was called to meditate on their weaknesses and sins to not be discouraged but to fix their eyes on God who gives them eternal life and blessing.
Pastor Drew shared, “Let us prepare our hearts to receive great blessings from God. May we all be ready and know what God wants us to do – not living to please others but to please God. Repent and be prepared to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. We are like dust and we will return to dust. May we all take the main prayer topic of Lent to be repentance and acknowledging we are sinners, and therefore to seek God’s renewal for each of us. Let us have great hope for revival not only in Singapore but in Southeast Asia as well.”
May God lead more profound humility of all leaders and members through sincere repentance, and yearning to know the meaning of the Cross deeply and seek sincerely God’s forgiveness for their sins.