The Value of Brokenness (Part 1)

July 2, 2009 categories:  Christian Articles

by Vince Porchiazzo

We live in a world that doesn’t see value in broken things.  Our lives are full of brokenness and God wants to bring beauty out of your brokenness.

When a plant raises from a seed, the seed has to be broken first.

For a baby chick to be born the shell has to break.

As a young man, King David wasn’t ready for God to change his character because he didn’t recognize that it had defects.  He prayed, “Don’t let me suffer the fate of sinners….I am not like that; I live with integrity.  So redeem me and show me mercy” (Psalm 26:9-11).  He approached God on the basis of his own merit.

It wasn’t until later in his life when he was confronted with his sins of adultery and murder that he was able to say, “For I was born a sinner–yes, from the moment my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).  He also said, “You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one….The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.  You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God” (Psalm 51:16-17)

Jesus taught that “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).  God isn’t looking for evidence of how good we are or how hard we try.  He only wants us to mourn over our sins and admit our brokenness.  Then he will not ignore our needs but will forgive us, comfort us, and cleanse us.

The Life Recovery Bible, pg. 715

When we let our pride be broken, that’s when God’s light starts shining through.  What God is trying to teach us is that true brokenness is when he strips us of self sufficiency to the extent that we have no strength left to fix ourselves.  That is when God blocks every exit we try to take.  We find that we have nowhere to run and nowhere left to hide.  You are at rock bottom.  That is when God is all you have and He is all you need.  We have to learn to let God’s power fix our brokenness.

Paul writes, “May God sanctify you entirely.  May your spirit, soul, and body be without blame to our Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)  Sanctify means to be set apart.  For God’s purposes, to be sanctified means to be set apart for the high calling of God.  This happens from the inside out.  Our fleshly body must come last.  For example, the problem with a theif isn’t his hands.  The problem is in his mind or spirit which tell him stealing is ok.  His mind tells his hands what to do.  So if you transform his spirit his hands will follow suit and he won’t be a thief anymore.

We must press on.

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14)

…more next week

It Is Time To Establish Your Foothold On The Foundation Which Cannot Be Moved

June 30, 2009 categories:  Apostolic Perspectives

The times we are living in are full of uncertainty. Things are changing so rapidly that it is hard to stay abreast and informed. The institutions that we once had confidence in (media, politics, education, family - and even church)  all seem to be faltering in their efforts to insure trust and assurance which are necessary for peace. The result is a climate fear, suspicion, and hopelessness as people retreat into the familiar vices like entertainment and self-indulgence to either escape responsibility or deny their true sense of powerlessness.

For the “Kingdom-minded” individual, I see this as a positive thing. As awkward as it feels, we should be welcoming anything that challenges our ultimate trust - which of course should be in God.

“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” Everything that God is orchestrating in our lives is geared towards bringing us to a place where we can say this about ourselves.

Our internal reality will determine our external reality. The Kingdom transformations taking place within us are equipping us to be able to stand firmly in an unstable environment! Jesus impacted people, social systems, and even the weather because His internal reality was firmly established in the Father’s will.

The following  Scripture speaks of two distinct identities - “in Christ” or “in the world.”  Take some time to meditate on it and then make a determination to plant yourself in Him Who will give you the power to live above everything else that is going on around you.

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer! For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.” (John 16:33)

Expectation

June 4, 2009 categories:  Daily Bread

(by Sarah Lott)

If we read, worship, and live in expectation rather than out of obligation, our life will be a revelation and our days will be full of the mysteries of what God has planned for us. We will be full of peace and joy and we will see our mountains as God sees them — nothing more than a learning experience to bring us higher and closer to him.

We will begin to believe what God has planned for us, that “we can do all things through Him,” and that “we can ask anything in His name and it will be done.” Because, we will have found His heart and desire and the confidence that He gives.

John 14:12-14

Faithfulness

June 3, 2009 categories:  Daily Bread

(by Sarah Lott)

If we believe God’s Word that speaks to us and about us as wholeheartedly as we believe our circumstances and what the “world” says, we will be changed. Our lives will be transformed because we will see ourselves for who God created us to be and for who is inside of us.

We are made in His image — we are made beautiful like Him, only we have to believe and until we do we hold ourselves back. Throughout the Bible there are conditions to seeing in Him, His glory, and His power and part of the condition is always believe (with no doubt). Those are the people God changes and who see Him in amazing ways.

“And do not be weary in well doing because in due time you will see a reward.”

Don’t get discouraged because things don’t go like you want them, it will be better as you are faithful.

A Holy Spirit Lagniappe

categories:  Christian Articles

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11 (KJV)

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (KJV)

A Holy Spirit Lagniappe

(pronounced LAN yap)

When’s the last time you used that word in a sentence? The first time I heard it was when one of my college professors used it. It’s a mostly southern term that means ‘unexpected gift or benefit.’ For example, when you buy a dozen donuts and get a thirteenth one free. Or, say you’re a waitress expecting a $5 tip and it turns out to be $20. How about driving down the road and rolling down your windows to the brief but heavenly smell of honeysuckle or orange blossoms? All lagniappes. The Holy Spirit just treated me to one that I’d like to tell you about.

Riding in my car, I was enjoying (I mean really enjoying) some blue-grass music, belting out second- and third-part harmonies. I was on my way to work and I had already had my morning time with Jesus. I was not feeling emotional - particularly happy or sad. I was not experiencing one of those occasional doubtful moments where I unintentionally question the reality of the spiritual realm. (I’m sorry to admit that - I said occasional.)

The song came to a part about getting to heaven and searching for the face of Jesus and after a moment I realized I was sobbing - not just a little tear or two, but sobbing. Those of you who know me know that I am neither animated nor demonstrative so it was a very strange thing for me to act that way. I said to myself, “You weirdo.” The Holy Spirit said to me, “That had nothing to do with you. That was your spirit reacting and it caused a physical response [in my mortal body! see Romans 8:11 above!].” Glory!

Not only did God strengthen my belief in the Holy Spirit’s presence that morning, but He also encouraged me for being on the right track, walking in the spirit. This gentle lesson was especially refreshing because it seems I usually have to learn the hard way.

God is surely not required to prove the Holy Spirit’s authenticity but as a loving Father He can decide to give us an unexpected treat if He wants to. From time to time, our soulish part (our mind) might question spiritual matters. But our spirit has a direct connection to God’s spirit and sometimes the two communicate before we can get in on it. Next thing you know - we’re in on it. And when that happens, it’s an unexpected pleasure, a surprise benefit - a Holy Spirit lagniappe.