Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
4 16 2025

Audio Version

HOLY WEEK…What is it really?
 
Most Christians do not realize what they should be feeling or reflecting on during the darkest week in human history. 2nd Corinthians 1:8–10: “God has his wise and holy purposes for bringing his loved ones to the brink of despair”.
 
The Bible commands in James 4:9, “Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. “  The aim is not to stay there.  Look at the next verse, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” 2nd Corinthians 7:10: “For Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” The goal of broken-hearted repentance is the blessing of a humble, Christ-exulting joy.
 
James 4:9 calls us to cry, to mourn, and to set aside our laughter… Why? 
For a season of repentance, to recognize our own sin.  Don’t we know as Christians, we ought to feel the shame and sadness of our sins, at least temporarily? Shouldn’t we be provoked to grieve the lost hours, days, and years spent in pursuit of worthless things? 

We are in Holy Week.  Easter is Sunday.  Isn’t this week observed with special solemnity as a time of the passion of Christ?  It is called the Great Week because great deeds were done by God during this week.   In fact, I think many spend more time deciding what they will be wearing for Easter than reflecting on the saddest week in human history and hitting their knees in repentance to a Righteous Holy God who sacrificed His only son to die the most horrible heinous death, so we could live. 

I saw the movie “Passion of Christ” once.  I could not bear to watch it again. It was just too painful, heart-wrenching, gut-wrenching.  I broke down uncontrollably. But the truth of it is, that is what this Holy Week is about.  Beating our breast, chanting Mea culpa, Mea culpa, Mea maxima culpa.  Through my fault, through my fault, through “my own” most grievous fault! And what is your answer, sweet brother and sister, to that?
 
Have you ever done something and knew it was wrong and knew you should apologize and finally did, but it wasn’t 100% your fault?   I know they were more than words, but did they carry the depth of real pain, hurt, and yes…even repentance?  Do most people even really know what gut-wrenching grief really is?  If so, would you mind recalling it within yourself to get some basis of understanding and heartfelt sorrow that God the Holy Spirit is calling us to this week?   PLEASE. 
 
So, what is the answer to Mea Maxima Culpa?  How about, I’M GUILTY!  Isn’t it time we own up and take responsibility and fall on the sword?  I   AM   GUILTY!  100% — Not a little bit wrong.  Not a little bit lost without Christ our Lord.  Not, I live a pretty good life, go to church, give money to the church, I’m even a helper at church, type of response. 

                        WE ARE ALL GUILTY OF BEING SINNERS.  
BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD.  BUT FOR THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.  BUT WITHOUT THE SACRIFICE FOR ALL ETERNITY, I AM LOST FOREVER TO THE PITS OF HELL.

Through my fault, through my fault,, through “my own” most grievous fault! 

 How about a prayer like this? “I have prayed for God to break my heart for what breaks his.”  A heart broken of pride…envy…my lack of commitment to God, my marriage, and my children. When was the last time your heart was broken…over anything?

How about being heartbroken over not living in the Joy of our Salvation? 
The Joy of Christ himself living in us?

Honestly, who gets heartbroken over that? 

 
John Piper asked, “How do we fight for joy when our desires languish and we have no inclination for the word of God? The answer is prayer.

The key to joy in God is God‘s omnipotent transforming Grace,
bought by his son, applied by his spirit, wakened by his word,
and laid hold of by faith through prayer.”

Will you not stop and pray with us and your family for one hour this week?
He listens!

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HOSANNA: BREAK MY HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdQB9iOpBp4

Excerpts taken from John Piper’s  Life as a Vapor