BROKENNESS IN OUR LIFE PRODUCES THE TRUE POWER

 “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So Peter went out and wept bitterly.’”—Luke 22:62

 

Sometimes we are so sure that we are too strong to be broken that we do not understand the purpose that brokenness can serve in our lives.  Peter, one of Jesus’ first disciples, was such a man.  He was so sure of himself that even when Jesus told all of the disciples that they would stumble Peter said, “…even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.  Jesus said to him, ‘assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And so said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:33-35). 

 

Scripture records that Peter did deny Jesus three times and yet through the brokenness that occurred in his life God was able to use his genuine repentance in a most powerful way.  God used this man who had denied His Son to preach the first sermon after Pentecost.  Peter was the disciple that received the revelation that salvation was not just for the Jews, but it included the Gentile world too.  God continues to use individual’s that have experienced true brokenness in their lives.

 

The Power of Brokenness is never Weakness.  It is coming to the end of one’s self-life.  Jesus said that the broken man is truly a blessed man, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).  Through brokenness we comprehend that we are finite people in tremendous need of a Savior.  A person will surrender herself or himself to the Redeemer only when she or he grasps the reality that she or he deserves divine judgment for sin and that the only hope is Christ’s mercy.  The life of brokenness begins when the individual is quick to repent.  Sin is not swept under the carpet, nor are excuses given; such as, time heals all things.  No, the broken soul rushes into the presence of God and cries out to Him saying, Lord, I have sinned.

The Power of Brokenness produces true Humility.  Until our pride is broken we will not humble ourselves before God or men.  Brokenness and humility are the results of a deep consciousness of personal guilt before God over sin, seeing our overwhelming need of a Savior, and then clinging to Christ as a result.  People who are in a right relationship with their Creator will grow in brokenness and humility until their dying day. “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the LORD require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah. 6:8).  Humility and brokenness are inseparably interwoven so as to bring a person to surrender, repentance and victory.

The Power of Brokenness causes true revival.  Revival is birthed through humble and broken saints who yearn to see the glory of God.  In many nations of the world, Christians are suffering tremendous persecution.  God is using the persecution to ignite revival.  Because the Christians have lost virtually everything, they have no other hope than to desperately seek God’s face. 

 

Where there is pride, there is no confession of sin and no forgiveness.  When you are broken, you have no pride.  When you are broken you are willing to ‘give in,’ you do not find your identity in always being right.

 
Brokenness heals relationships, pride and unforgiveness destroys them.  The splintered American church will find healing and anointing when brokenness defines her character.

Matthew 14:19 shows us a wonderful example of brokenness, “Then he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass.  And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.”   Until God breaks your will, He will never use you. You will remain only a nice loaf of bread.  The power of brokenness let’s us lay down our lives for people who are not perfect, but need the love of God in their lives.

 

Prayer—Father I repent of pride in my life.  Holy Spirit will You please shine Your light onto any areas of my heart where I harbor pride?  And I ask You Father to forgive me.  Lord will You please help me to walk in true humility in my life?  Father show me the people who need to know Your love and I ask You to use me in demonstrating Your love to them, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

SEEK GOD'S SOLUTION TO AN ANGER PROBLEM

 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him”—Colossians  3:8 -11

In our scripture reading for today, we find that Christians are called to put aside "anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech."   The command is clear, but the process of achieving and maintaining freedom from anger can seem confusing and overwhelming.

 

To deal with anger, the first step is to recognize anger in your heart.  For those who are readily able to express their feelings, this may seem unnecessary, but for those who have buried their anger deep within, an extended time of soul-searching before the Lord may be necessary.  Although hidden, the cancer of resentment will grow and slowly infest the heart.  This growth of anger has caused people to miss out on God’s plans and purpose for their life.  To remedy anger, allow the sharp sword of God's Word to do some surgery so that it can be cut off, “For the word of God powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

 

The next step is to confess unrighteous anger as sin and then begin to deal with it immediately. Because anger is often a response to hurt, care must be taken not to excuse or defend it in the name of justice.   According to Frank and Ida Mae Hammond, authors of Pigs in the Parlor, anger is linked to demon groupings of bitterness, resentment, hatred, unforgiveness, violence temper, retaliation and murder, and is associated with perfection, pride, vanity ego frustration, criticism, irritability, and intolerance; all which may need to be dealt with in deliverance.   Although someone may have sinned against you, holding onto anger in response is also a sin.   Scripture tells us to overcome evil with good, not to repay it, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17, 21).

 

Management of an irate lifestyle is not optional; anger must be put aside. We can not expect to live in the new nature Christ has created for us while retaining our "right" to be angry and hold grudges.

 

God's solution to an anger problem is a new Christ-like personality which He has created for us. Our responsibility is to put it on and seek deliverance when necessary.   He invites us to cooperate with Him in this process of transformation.  With each step of obedience, the peace of Christ will increase and anger will diminish.

 

Prayer—Father I ask You to help me deal with anger immediately when it comes, and please help me to walk in Your meekness, gentleness, and kindness.   Father I receive by faith all of Your capabilities in dealing with anger when it arises in m life, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.