THE BLESSINGS OF A BROKEN SPIRIT II Corinthians 4:16-18

As long as our hands are full we cannot be broken before God We have our own… interests appetites concerns work feelings hurts pain doubts questions

I. THE PRINCIPLE OF BROKENNESS John 12:23,24

A. THE PRINCIPLE OF DEATH AND BURIAL Jesus’ life on earth did not save us. Jesus’ death and resurrection saved us. Jesus said, “I must die in order that you might have life.” If we have love for the things of this world it’s because we have not died and buried it.

THE OUTWARD MAN Must die Inward part can not grow until the outward breaks open. By death of personal desire and personal ambition we become the servant of God. The principle is not how do we obtain life, but how to allow this life to come forth.

B. THE PRINCIPLE OF A BROKEN VESSEL Mary poured the ointment from her alabaster box, wiping Jesus’ feet. An act of worship “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.” Jeremiah 18:4

It is the reshaping of the vessel that improves its purpose. “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” John 12:23 Jesus Christ alone only received glory when man is freed from his own nature. Only then can the Holy Spirit flow freely.

THE PRINCIPLE OF BROKENNESS When the Holy Spirit flows we can’t fret over our trials and temptations, murmur and complain because we miss the blessing that God has intended for us. The Christian life is not something we do. The Christian life is a life of being and becoming.

II. THE PROCESS OF BROKENNESS

Brokenness in reverse is… becoming proud of our humility. becoming super spiritual in our public prayer. rationalizing our tithing as a replacement for the use of our time and talents. mistaking our natural gifts for our spiritual gifts.

A. PROCESS BEGINS WITH CONVICTIONS Brokenness is God’s way of dealing with our person. We are building character from the inside out. The broken process has to have times of conviction for change to take place.

A conviction is a sign God wants to make a change in us. We are afraid of conviction because… it means change. we lack security. we want to feel we are in control. We learn how to ignore the voice of God when we make up our minds that we are not going to give into our convictions.

B. PROCESS ENDS WITH RELEASING OUR WOUNDS Wounds are fair and unfair. Without a wound there would be no process of healing. God is after our… self-will self-reliance self-sufficiency

When we are wounded we fear… our needs will not be met. our desires won’t be fulfilled. we won’t be contented. God longs to give us contentment, peace, and joy in our lives. God knows the wounds we need to be able to achieve His will. God is not asking us to understand.

Paul said, “I am a bondslave of Jesus Christ.” “I have crucified this world to myself and the world to me.” “crucified” – “put to death” We are wounded before we can die.

III. THE PROBLEM OF BROKENNESS

A. OUR LACK OF RELEASING OUR SINS “All sin and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “We all miss the mark” A willingness to repent of our sins is the beginning of our healing, and joy. We cannot grow in areas of our Christian life until there is room, or a way for the Holy Spirit to get in.

B. OUR LACK OF RELEASING OUR SELF-LOVE Matthew 10:37-39 We must die to our self, our independence, and our relationships. Unbelievers live by their senses If it looks good, get it. If it feels good, do it. If it sounds good, keep listening.

Being broken means accepting from the heart We plan on how we are going to deliver ourselves instead of going through the cross. We seek our own solutions. We hear God’s love so often we tune it out. We rely on our own achievements.

If we give our lives totally, God will bless us totally. The blessings of brokenness depends on the… principle of death and burial and a broken vessels. process begins with convictions and ends with releasing our wounds. problem can be solved when we release our sins and self-love.