Brokenness: The Pathway to Divine Blessings
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound and often challenging concept of brokenness as a pathway to blessing. We began by reflecting on Psalm 32 and the importance of drawing close to God, seeking His presence, and being refreshed by His word. The central theme revolved around the idea that true blessings often come through brokenness, a concept that is counter-cultural but deeply rooted in biblical truth. We examined the story of Jacob, who wrestled with God and was permanently broken in his hip, symbolizing how God knows exactly where to break us to bring about His greater purpose.
We discussed the notion of praying "dangerous prayers," such as asking God to break our hearts for what breaks His. These prayers align us with God's will but also invite significant personal transformation and often pain. The sermon emphasized that all of us are broken to some degree and that this brokenness is not a sign of weakness but a divine opportunity for God to work powerfully in and through us.
We also looked at various biblical figures like Moses, Isaiah, Saul (Paul), and even Jesus, who were all broken in different ways before they could be used mightily by God. The message was clear: God prefers to use broken people because their weaknesses allow His strength to be made perfect. This is a call to embrace our brokenness, not as a curse, but as a divine setup for greater blessings and usefulness in God's kingdom.
The sermon concluded with a personal testimony of experiencing God's call to ministry and the subsequent journey of brokenness and blessing. It was a powerful reminder that saying "yes" to God often involves enduring significant trials, but these trials are purposeful, leading to a deeper relationship with Christ and a greater capacity to bless others.
### Key Takeaways
1. Embracing Brokenness as a Blessing: Brokenness is not a sign of failure but a divine opportunity for God to work in our lives. Just as Jacob was broken in his hip, God knows exactly where to break us to bring about His greater purpose. This brokenness positions us for greater blessings and usefulness in His kingdom. [44:30]
2. Praying Dangerous Prayers: Praying for God to break our hearts for what breaks His aligns us with His will but also invites significant personal transformation. These prayers are dangerous because they lead us into deeper levels of brokenness and dependence on God, ultimately resulting in greater blessings. [45:46]
3. Biblical Examples of Brokenness: Figures like Moses, Isaiah, Saul (Paul), and Jesus were all broken before they could be used mightily by God. This shows that God prefers to use broken people because their weaknesses allow His strength to be made perfect. Embracing our brokenness allows us to experience God's power in profound ways. [58:52]
4. Personal Testimony of Brokenness: The journey of brokenness is often long and painful, but it leads to a deeper relationship with Christ and a greater capacity to bless others. Personal experiences of brokenness, such as the call to ministry, reveal that God's plans often involve significant trials, but these trials are purposeful and transformative. [54:26]
5. The Ultimate Blessing is Christ: The ultimate blessing that comes from brokenness is a deeper relationship with Christ. While the process of being broken is painful, it leads to a greater experience of God's presence and power in our lives. This is the true blessing that surpasses all others. [01:08:45]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[41:35] - Introduction and Psalm 32
[42:12] - Opening Prayer
[42:49] - Drawing Close to God
[43:21] - Questions on Being a Blessing
[43:53] - Willingness to be Broken
[44:30] - Unpacking Brokenness
[45:46] - Dangerous Prayers
[47:32] - Biblical Context of Brokenness
[49:06] - Jacob's Story
[50:30] - Personal Testimony: Haiti
[51:45] - Spiritual Pride and Humility
[53:11] - Willingness to be Permanently Broken
[54:26] - Nose to the Carpet Experience
[56:00] - Journey of Brokenness
[57:16] - Biblical Examples of Brokenness
[58:52] - Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
[01:00:24] - Jesus' Brokenness
[01:01:49] - Dunamis Power and Pain
[01:03:25] - Invitation to Carry Our Cross
[01:06:03] - God's Purpose in Brokenness
[01:07:29] - Free Will and Brokenness
[01:08:45] - The Ultimate Blessing is Christ
[01:10:20] - God Uses Broken People
[01:11:54] - Restoration Through Brokenness
[01:13:28] - Willingness to be Permanently Broken
[01:14:54] - Pain as a Seed for Power
[01:16:23] - Jacob's Refusal to Let Go
[01:17:57] - David's Broken Spirit
[01:19:24] - Jesus' Teaching on Brokenness
[01:20:59] - Personal Testimony of Brokenness
[01:22:26] - Willingness to be Made Willing
[01:23:37] - Invitation to Personal Calvary
[01:25:15] - Closing Prayer
[01:27:11] - Altar Call
[01:32:43] - Final Reflections and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 32:1-5 - "Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin."
2. Genesis 32:24-30 - "So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' The man asked him, 'What is your name?' 'Jacob,' he answered. Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.' Jacob said, 'Please tell me your name.' But he replied, 'Why do you ask my name?' Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.'"
3. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 - "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 32 say about the state of a person who acknowledges their sin to God? How does this relate to the concept of brokenness discussed in the sermon? [41:35]
2. In Genesis 32, what was the significance of Jacob wrestling with the man and being broken in his hip? How did this event change Jacob's life? [49:06]
3. According to 2 Corinthians 12:8-10, what is Paul's perspective on weaknesses and hardships? How does this align with the sermon’s message about brokenness? [58:52]
4. The sermon mentioned several biblical figures who were broken before being used by God. Can you name a few and describe how their brokenness led to their usefulness in God's kingdom? [57:16]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the acknowledgment of sin in Psalm 32 lead to a state of blessedness? What does this suggest about the relationship between brokenness and blessing? [41:35]
2. Jacob's wrestling with God resulted in a permanent physical injury. What might this symbolize about the nature of spiritual brokenness and its impact on our lives? [49:06]
3. Paul speaks of delighting in weaknesses because Christ’s power is made perfect in them. How can this perspective change the way we view our own struggles and weaknesses? [58:52]
4. The sermon emphasized praying "dangerous prayers" like asking God to break our hearts for what breaks His. What might be the risks and rewards of such prayers? [45:46]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced brokenness. How did this experience draw you closer to God or change your perspective on life? [54:26]
2. Are you willing to pray "dangerous prayers" such as asking God to break your heart for what breaks His? What might be holding you back from praying such prayers? [45:46]
3. How can you embrace your weaknesses and brokenness as opportunities for God to work powerfully in your life? What practical steps can you take to shift your perspective on your struggles? [58:52]
4. The sermon mentioned that God uses broken people because their weaknesses allow His strength to be made perfect. How can you allow God to use your brokenness for His greater purpose? [57:16]
5. Think about a specific area in your life where you feel strong. Are you willing to let God break you in that area if it means becoming more useful in His kingdom? Why or why not? [53:11]
6. How can you support others in your small group or community who are going through a season of brokenness? What practical actions can you take to be a blessing to them? [01:14:54]
7. The ultimate blessing from brokenness is a deeper relationship with Christ. What steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him, especially in areas where you feel broken? [01:08:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Brokenness as a Divine Opportunity
Description: Brokenness is often perceived as a sign of failure or weakness, but in God's kingdom, it is a divine opportunity for transformation and blessing. Just as Jacob was broken in his hip during his encounter with God, we too may experience moments of brokenness that position us for greater blessings and usefulness in God's kingdom. God knows exactly where to break us to bring about His greater purpose. This brokenness is not meant to harm us but to mold us into vessels that can carry His glory and fulfill His divine plans. Embracing our brokenness allows us to experience God's power in profound ways. [44:30]
Psalm 51:17 (ESV): "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt broken or defeated. How can you see that experience as an opportunity for God to work powerfully in your life today?
Day 2: Praying Dangerous Prayers
Description: Praying for God to break our hearts for what breaks His is a bold and dangerous prayer. It aligns us with His will but also invites significant personal transformation and often pain. These prayers lead us into deeper levels of brokenness and dependence on God, ultimately resulting in greater blessings. When we ask God to break our hearts, we are inviting Him to reshape our desires, priorities, and actions to reflect His heart. This process can be uncomfortable and challenging, but it is through this brokenness that we become more like Christ and are able to impact the world around us in meaningful ways. [45:46]
Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to pray a dangerous prayer? How can you ask God to break your heart for what breaks His in that specific area today?
Day 3: Biblical Examples of Brokenness
Description: Throughout the Bible, we see numerous examples of individuals who were broken before they could be used mightily by God. Figures like Moses, Isaiah, Saul (Paul), and even Jesus experienced significant brokenness that prepared them for their divine missions. This pattern shows that God prefers to use broken people because their weaknesses allow His strength to be made perfect. Embracing our brokenness allows us to experience God's power in profound ways and positions us to fulfill His purposes. When we acknowledge our brokenness, we open ourselves up to God's transformative work and become vessels through which His glory can shine. [58:52]
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Reflection: Reflect on a biblical figure who experienced brokenness. How does their story inspire you to embrace your own brokenness and allow God's strength to be made perfect in your life?
Day 4: Personal Testimony of Brokenness
Description: The journey of brokenness is often long and painful, but it leads to a deeper relationship with Christ and a greater capacity to bless others. Personal experiences of brokenness, such as the call to ministry, reveal that God's plans often involve significant trials, but these trials are purposeful and transformative. When we say "yes" to God, we may endure significant trials, but these trials are designed to refine us and draw us closer to Him. Through our brokenness, we become more attuned to God's voice and more effective in our ministry to others. [54:26]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think about a trial you are currently facing. How can you see this trial as a purposeful part of God's plan to deepen your relationship with Christ and increase your capacity to bless others?
Day 5: The Ultimate Blessing is Christ
Description: The ultimate blessing that comes from brokenness is a deeper relationship with Christ. While the process of being broken is painful, it leads to a greater experience of God's presence and power in our lives. This is the true blessing that surpasses all others. When we embrace our brokenness and allow God to work in us, we experience a profound intimacy with Christ that transforms every aspect of our lives. This deeper relationship with Christ is the ultimate blessing, as it brings us into closer communion with Him and allows us to experience His love, grace, and power in new and transformative ways. [01:08:45]
Philippians 3:10 (ESV): "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death."
Reflection: In what ways can you seek a deeper relationship with Christ through your current experiences of brokenness? How can you invite Him into your pain and allow Him to transform it into a blessing?
Quotes
1. "How many of you want to be a blessing? Raise your hand. Some of you will pray for the rest of you. I'm going to ask you again. How many of you want to be a blessing? Okay. Here's my next question. How many of you want to be blessed? Is that less? How many of you want to be blessed? Okay." [43:21] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "How many of you are willing to allow God to permanently break you in order to make you a blessing? Praise God. Amen. He saw that hand. I saw that hand. But he sees it too. How many of you want and are willing to be permanently broken? In order to be blessed to be a blessing. Praise be to God." [43:53] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "All of us are broken to various degrees. Some of us have prayed those crazy prayers, those insane prayers to say God break me over what breaks you. Break my heart over what breaks your heart. Lord help me to feel as you do. But you know something? All of us are broken and we don't need a survey to tell us that. We don't need a survey to determine it to be true because it is true." [45:46] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Biblical brokenness positions us for God's blessings. Biblical brokenness positions us for God's blessing. As a matter of fact, the greater the brokenness, the greater the blessing. Or I could say even vice versa. The greater the blessing, the greater the brokenness." [47:32] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God knows exactly how to break us. He knows exactly where that personal point of personal strength, he knows where that is. Now here's the thing. What breaks you may not break me. What breaks me might not break you. It is different." [49:06] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Are you truly willing to be broken? Are you willing to allow the Lord to break you in the very areas where you think you are the strongest? But in actuality, that strength is a stumbling block to the level of blessing. The Lord wants to use you in." [53:11] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Before God could use Moses, he sent him to the back woods of the desert for 40 years. Before Isaiah, do you remember what happened to him? Before he said, woe is me in Isaiah 6, God brought the prophet to a place of profound heart horror. Woe is me. Heart horror. Let's think about Saul. Before he could turn Saul into Paul, he used a thorn in the flesh to do it, yet he promised his servant, do you remember what he said? My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." [58:52] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Could it be that God's people want the blessing, but they don't want the brokenness? That may be, not always, but may be very likely part of it. Instead, they want God's power in their lives, but they reject the pain that may be required to them for it fully to be released in and through their lives, to be broken, to be blessed, to be made a blessing." [01:03:25] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "God uses broken people. Who are in pain to do powerful things for his kingdom. And so here we go. You know, as a matter of fact, God, the scriptures actually strongly suggest that God prefers to use broken people over perfect people because there are no perfect people. Did you catch that? God actually delights in using broken, messed up people, the weak and foolish things of the world to confound the wise over the perfect people." [01:00:24] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When we bring to God our brokenness and our bondage to the foot of the cross, Christ releases his resurrection power upon us to restore us. And he turns that brokenness into a blessing for us and for others. Now, here's the question. You don't have to raise your hand because this is one that you need to bring before the Lord in your answer, just like I did all those years ago with my nose in the carpet. Are you willing to be permanently broken in order to be blessed so that you can be a blessing?" [01:13:28] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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