Embracing Brokenness: God's Path to Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Brokenness as a Path to Spiritual Growth

Brokenness is not merely about enduring hardship; it is a divine tool used by God to refine and draw us closer to Him. Through experiences of brokenness, we learn humility and dependence on God, allowing Him to remove pride and arrogance from our lives. This process is not meant to leave us shattered but to rebuild us into a stronger, more faithful version of ourselves. As we navigate through life's challenges, we must remember that God is actively working to shape us into His image, using our trials to deepen our relationship with Him. [20:17]

Isaiah 64:8 (ESV): "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."

Reflection: Identify a recent experience of brokenness in your life. How can you invite God to use this experience to refine and strengthen your faith today?

Day 2: The Perils of Prosperity and the Call to Earnest Seeking

While prosperity is a blessing, it can also lead to complacency and a gradual drifting away from God. In contrast, difficult times often drive us to seek Him more earnestly, reminding us of our need for His presence and guidance. It is crucial to remain vigilant in our spiritual walk, recognizing that prosperity should not lead us to forget our dependence on God. Instead, we should use times of abundance to deepen our gratitude and commitment to Him, ensuring that our hearts remain aligned with His will. [18:47]

Deuteronomy 8:11-14 (ESV): "Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery."

Reflection: In what ways might prosperity be leading you to complacency in your spiritual life? How can you actively seek God more earnestly during times of abundance?

Day 3: Distinguishing Between Life-Changing and Life-Maintaining Brokenness

Life-changing brokenness occurs when we reach a point of desperation and cry out to God for help, while life-maintaining brokenness involves staying humble and dependent on Him even after He has restored us. Both forms of brokenness are essential for spiritual growth, as they teach us to rely on God's strength and wisdom. It is important to recognize that brokenness is not a permanent state but a transformative process that God uses to mold us into His likeness. By embracing both life-changing and life-maintaining brokenness, we allow God to continually shape our character and deepen our faith. [21:19]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced life-changing brokenness. How can you maintain a posture of humility and dependence on God even after experiencing His restoration?

Day 4: Trusting the Potter's Hand in Our Trials

God is the Potter, and we are the clay. He breaks us to rebuild us, using trials to develop our character and deepen our relationship with Him. This process requires trust in His divine wisdom and timing, as He shapes us into His image. It is essential to remember that the trials we face are not meant to destroy us but to strengthen our faith and reliance on God. By trusting the Potter's hand, we allow Him to work all things for our good, knowing that He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us. [29:42]

Jeremiah 18:3-6 (ESV): "So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the Lord came to me: 'O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust God's process of shaping and molding you? How can you surrender these areas to His divine wisdom today?

Day 5: Proclaiming God's Faithfulness Through Our Testimonies

After God has brought us through brokenness, we are called to share our testimonies, proclaiming His faithfulness and the transformative work He has done in our lives. Our stories of God's grace and redemption serve as powerful witnesses to others, encouraging them to seek Him and trust in His promises. By openly sharing our experiences, we not only glorify God but also inspire others to embrace their own journeys of faith. Let us be bold in declaring, "Come and hear what God has done for me," as we testify to His goodness and love. [46:13]

Psalm 66:16-17 (ESV): "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear your testimony of God's faithfulness? How can you share your story with them this week in a way that points them to Christ?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound theme of brokenness and how God uses it to shape and mold us into His image. We began by reflecting on the life of Moses, who had to endure the wilderness before leading others through it. This journey of brokenness is not just about enduring hardship but about allowing God to use these experiences to refine us. Psalm 119:67 reminds us that before affliction, we often go astray, and it is through these trials that God draws us back to Him.

We discussed the difference between life-changing brokenness and life-maintaining brokenness. Life-changing brokenness occurs when we reach our wit's end and cry out to God, while life-maintaining brokenness is about staying humble and dependent on God even after He has restored us. It's crucial not to remain in a state of brokenness but to allow God to rebuild us, experiencing His joy and pleasure.

The message also highlighted the dangers of prosperity, which can lead to complacency and straying from God. In contrast, difficult times often drive us to seek Him more earnestly. We must embrace the brokenness God allows, understanding that it is a tool He uses to remove pride and arrogance from our lives.

We were reminded that God is the Potter, and we are the clay. He breaks us to rebuild us, and through this process, we learn to rely on His strength. The trials we face are not meant to destroy us but to develop our character and deepen our relationship with Him. As we navigate these challenges, we must seek wisdom, wait on God, and worship Him, trusting that He is working all things for our good.

Ultimately, the message encouraged us to embrace our brokenness, knowing that God uses it to draw us closer to Him and to prepare us for greater things. We are called to share our testimonies of God's faithfulness, proclaiming, "Come and hear what God has done for me."

Key Takeaways

1. tk4&t=1217s'>[20:17]
2. Prosperity Can Lead to Complacency: While prosperity is a blessing, it can also lead us away from God if we become complacent. Difficult times often drive us to seek God more earnestly, reminding us of our need for Him.

3. Life-Changing vs. Life-Maintaining Brokenness: Life-changing brokenness brings us to a point of desperation where we cry out to God, while life-maintaining brokenness keeps us humble and dependent on Him even after restoration.

4. God is the Potter, We are the Clay: God breaks us to rebuild us, using trials to develop our character and deepen our relationship with Him. We must trust His process and allow Him to shape us into His image.

5. Share Your Testimony of God's Faithfulness: After God has brought us through brokenness, we are called to share our testimonies, proclaiming His faithfulness and the work He has done in our lives.

** [20:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:31] - Moses and the Wilderness
[17:19] - The Role of Affliction
[18:47] - Prosperity and Complacency
[20:17] - Life-Changing Brokenness
[21:19] - Life-Maintaining Brokenness
[23:32] - Pressure and Seeking God
[25:00] - Embracing Brokenness
[29:42] - The Potter and the Clay
[32:50] - Wisdom in Trials
[36:20] - The Value of Brokenness
[38:36] - God's Purpose in Breaking
[42:13] - God's Promise to the Humble
[46:13] - Sharing Your Testimony
[57:10] - The Shepherd of the Shattered

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Psalm 119:67 - "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word."
Isaiah 57:15 - "For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"
Jeremiah 18:6 - "He said, 'Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?' declares the Lord. 'Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.'"

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Observation Questions:

What does Psalm 119:67 suggest about the relationship between affliction and obedience to God? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about brokenness? [17:19]
In the sermon, how is the concept of God as the Potter and us as the clay used to explain the process of brokenness and rebuilding? [29:42]
What examples from the sermon illustrate the dangers of prosperity leading to complacency and straying from God? [18:47]
How does the sermon differentiate between life-changing brokenness and life-maintaining brokenness? [21:19]

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Interpretation Questions:

How might the process of being broken and rebuilt by God, as described in Jeremiah 18:6, impact a person's spiritual growth and relationship with God? [29:42]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that prosperity can lead to spiritual complacency, and how can believers guard against this? [18:47]
How does the sermon explain the role of brokenness in removing pride and arrogance from our lives? What are the implications for personal humility? [20:17]
What does the sermon suggest about the importance of sharing personal testimonies of God's faithfulness after experiencing brokenness? [46:13]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you experienced brokenness. How did it shape your relationship with God, and what did you learn from that experience? [20:17]
In what areas of your life might prosperity be leading to complacency? How can you actively seek God more earnestly in those areas? [18:47]
How can you maintain a posture of humility and dependence on God even after experiencing restoration? What practical steps can you take to stay humble? [21:19]
Consider the metaphor of God as the Potter and you as the clay. What areas of your life do you feel God is currently reshaping, and how can you cooperate with His process? [29:42]
Think of a specific testimony of God's faithfulness in your life. How can you share this story with others to encourage them in their faith journey? [46:13]
Identify a situation where you might be resisting God's breaking process. What steps can you take to embrace this process and trust in His plan for your growth? [25:00]
How can you ensure that your experiences of brokenness lead to joy and spiritual growth rather than bitterness and stagnation? What role does worship and community play in this process? [21:35]

Sermon Clips

Before I was afflicted I went astray you could say before the police got involved how how real do you guys want me to be this morning before the police got involved I was cocky I was doing my own thing before I got home and I saw that letter on the table I'm leaving and I'm taking the kids before before I was afflicted I went astray and I I don't like this about us but that's the truth God has to keep us back to come back here come because we're like all excited and we get now we do now we start to stray and we're every time the children of Israel strayed from the Lord it was because of prosperity. [00:17:31]

There are moments where life changes and you are thrown into the situation and you could say God is breaking you or he's using because people say are you are you saying that God caused my divorce no but he used it he used it to to bring that that allowed it I should say as well to bring you to that spot so there's life changing Brokenness where you're just at your Wit's End and you finally cry out to God but there's also life maintaining Brokenness cuz once you get there when God broke me around 199 99 2000 when he broke me I didn't stay there naturally right again everything's going good doing this and you start to get prideful arrogant God say I'm going to have to slap him again. [00:19:46]

God doesn't break us so we stay broken and bitter and unproductive and walk around like this right can't think of a good word gloomy Louie you know just always broken broken by there's there's there's something about God's pleasure too God wants us to experience his pleasure I just I just heard this guy in focus on the family this week and I posted on my Facebook page his book I'm just starting to read it so I can't endorse it because I haven't got through you know because they'll hold you to everything you say on camera um I don't even know the title but he talked about and and for those truth people again you can you can drift to this you know can't have fun side the do don't do this don't do this don't do this don't do this don't do this I'm the don't go and I'm I'm obeying God's word. [00:21:48]

God uses difficult times to pressure us could it be that he loves America so much that he is allowing some pressure only when our hand is forced do we yield when our back is to the wall and our fleshly attempts at Deliverance are all washed away Michael cat he goes on to say the blessing of God cannot come without the wrestling if there is no willingness to yield there will never be willingness for God to rule Brokenness breaks Brazen attitudes it pumbloom thank you for broken goodness thank you for humbling me thank you Lord that I'm able to to to now look back and say oh God use those turning points in my life so don't necessarily look for Brokenness but if God breaks you embrace it. [00:24:21]

God is often the Potter and we are the clay correct but this Potter actually breaks the clay and then softens it to rebuild it there's three tests during a trial when God is breaking you that you need to be aware of we give up sometimes and we quit it's either too hard too long or too slow anybody relate Lord this is too hard so I'm doing something that God's called me to do and I become bitter and I run from my calling or what he's called you to do it could be a marriage could be anything think about if Pastor did that this this is too hard I don't need to put up with this let me go get a 9 to-5 and and have an easy life too hard too long Lord please please what's taking so long. [00:29:48]

Wisdom I keep encountering this a lot when I'm giving counsel to people you know we're waiting we do you like when God writes the answer up in the sky maybe with a chemtrail right don't give me but oh if he would just tell me he would just tell me and I tell a lot of people you know God gives us wisdom for a reason God gives us Pastor I don't know if I need to fast well you know you have a lot of health issues I don't know you you might need to make some changes wisdom I don't know if I should buy that car they're $80,000 now and I really like these electric cars uh you're not going to be able to pay that wisdom wisdom so through the Brokenness and through these trials what is wise what is the right thing to do wisdom is the principal thing prover says therefore get wisdom and in all your understanding get more wisdom she will exalt you she will promote you. [00:32:50]

Some things are better broken some things are better broken correct so be encouraged if God is breaking you some things are better broken broken crowns still color weather gloves still catch and broken up soil must happen in order for plants to be planted that's why God told one of the prophets either Hosea or Amos or one of them break up your follow ground it is time to seek the Lord break up that follow ground they knew what it meant the the ground had had grown hard and Stony and nothing can penetrate the water would hit it and just kind of Flow Away in order to grow something in order for God to do something in that Harvest they had to go and take these tools and break up that follow ground and then he paralleled that to their heart break up the follow ground to your heart. [00:36:20]

God knows how to break a man he knows how to break a person and get that person to the point of desperation because when you come out of that desperation you begin to seek him like never before the fullness of the spirit begins to dwell inside of you joy and peace with the that that that you can't explain comes into your heart God bless a broken road that led me straight to you broken broken broken he rebuilds the broken and he elevates The Humble don't stay broken don't stay battered and don't stay bitter maybe some of you need to hear that don't stay broken battered and bitter I know people in this church who that applies to and I pray for them their Brokenness and what they've went through in life has caused them to become bitter and angry and frustrated I'm not minimizing what people go through but if you don't get on your face before God and repent and say God please get me back up on the right I want the joy of the Lord to return. [00:38:36]

I do want to encourage all of you the making of a man of God or even a woman of God of course God often uses a limp and a thorn a limp and a thorn doesn't he remember Jacob after his name was changed he said now you're going to be called Israel Israel don't and he was wrestling Richard Andrew sings that song I'm not going to go until you bless me a lot of people don't understand but the the the lyrics are powerful because talking about wrestling with God and Jacob says I'm not going to go until you bless me he's not talking about Alexis get that out if God said Shane you're not going to make much money but I'm going to bless you I would take that over any other thing on planet Earth would you not God's going to walk with me walk and bless you I'm not going to let go until you bless me okay I'm going to and now your name has changed to Israel. [00:46:13]

God permits what he hates to accomplish what he loves let that sink in God permits what he hates something going on in your life something breaking you something happens he permits it because he wants to accomplish what he loves in other words he wants to help you he wants to get you through it he wants to develop you Matthew 21:44 Jesus said whoever falls on this Stone meaning himself will be broken in a good way but whoever it falls it will grind him to powder so Jesus is saying calling them to repentance fall on this Stone fall on me let it break you let it humble you because when I come back and I judge the world if this Stone has to fall on you it's going to grind you to powder. [00:57:10]

Repent and return repent and return too many people think lightly of sin and therefore lightly of their savior don't minimize sin guys in a culture now that minimizes sin we need to put it in its Right light it is Disobedience against God he call calls us to repentance I'm going to leave you with this um takeaway from John 5 John 5 in John 5 Jesus heals this man and the man is laying on a bed and he heals the man and then he says okay take the bed with you take this bed and go so he's walking around with this bed and the Pharisees see him and go why are you carrying a bed on the Sabbath like well these guys man unbelievable right Jesus just heals the guy and shows the hardness of the heart so he's carrying around this bed with him after Jesus healed him. [01:01:40]

Oh God bless the broken road that led me stay to the cross I don't know about you but without that broken road I might not be looking to the cross I might not be leaning on the cross I might not have ever repented it's in God's love and grace that he breaks us and he humbles us if you're if you're young and you laugh at this message now trust me you will remember it 10 years from now the mocking tones God will break out of you as. [01:02:40]

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Embracing Brokenness: God's Path to Transformation

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Brokenness as a Path to Spiritual Growth

Day 2: The Perils of Prosperity and the Call to Earnest Seeking

Day 3: Distinguishing Between Life-Changing and Life-Maintaining Brokenness

Day 4: Trusting the Potter's Hand in Our Trials

Day 5: Proclaiming God's Faithfulness Through Our Testimonies

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Brokenness: God's Path to Transformation

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