Healing the Brokenness Within: A Journey to Wholeness
Summary
In our journey through life, we often encounter the profound brokenness that resides within us. This brokenness affects every aspect of our being—our spirit, mind, will, body, social interactions, and soul. When the Lord is not our shepherd, this brokenness manifests in various destructive ways. At the core of our being, the spirit, or heart, is often set on exalting oneself, leading to a state of vulnerability and fear. This self-centered will is a reflection of a deeper, pathetic condition where we strive to control everything around us, often leading to a life of invulnerability.
Our minds become cluttered with negative thoughts and fears about the future, influenced by the harsh realities we witness around us—death, violence, betrayal, and loneliness. These thoughts are intertwined with our feelings, creating a chaotic mental state. When our thoughts and feelings are in disarray, our will becomes incapacitated, unable to make sound decisions. This is what the scripture refers to as being "dead in trespasses and sin."
Our bodies, in turn, are predisposed to act in ways that are contrary to our well-being, often reacting impulsively before we even think. Socially, we engage in patterns of attack and withdrawal, driven by a mindset of "do unto others before they do unto you." This results in relationships that are marked by conflict and isolation.
The soul, which is meant to integrate all these aspects of our being, becomes fragmented. A broken soul leads to a life where our thoughts, feelings, and actions are misaligned, causing us to run in different directions without coherence. The soul is the deepest part of us, the part that holds everything together. When it is broken, our entire being is affected, and we struggle to function as a whole person.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Centrality of the Spirit: The spirit, synonymous with the heart or will, is central to our being. When it is set on self-exaltation, it leads to a life of fear and vulnerability. Recognizing this condition is the first step towards healing and aligning our will with God's purpose. [00:55]
2. The Mind's Influence: Our minds are often filled with negative thoughts and fears, influenced by the brokenness we see around us. These thoughts shape our feelings and, ultimately, our actions. Renewing our minds with God's truth is essential for overcoming this chaos. [02:03]
3. The Role of the Will: The will operates based on what we know and feel. When our knowledge and emotions are misaligned, our will becomes incapacitated, leading to sinful actions. Aligning our will with God's will requires a transformation of our thoughts and feelings. [03:06]
4. Social Dynamics of Brokenness: In our broken state, social interactions are often characterized by attack and withdrawal. This defensive posture stems from a lack of trust and fear of vulnerability. Embracing God's love allows us to engage in relationships with grace and openness. [03:28]
5. The Integration of the Soul: The soul is meant to integrate all aspects of our being, but when it is broken, we experience disconnection and incoherence. Healing the soul involves aligning our thoughts, feelings, and actions with God's truth, leading to a harmonious and whole life. [04:11]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:33] - Essential Parts of a Human Being
[00:55] - The Spirit and Self-Exaltation
[01:26] - The Fearful Condition of Control
[02:03] - The Mind's Negative Influence
[02:49] - The Will and Its Challenges
[03:06] - The Body's Predisposition
[03:28] - Social Dynamics: Attack and Withdrawal
[03:48] - The Fragmented Soul
[04:11] - The Role of the Soul
[04:50] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 23:1-3
- Romans 12:2
- Ephesians 2:1-5
---
Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the central role of the spirit or heart in our lives, and how does it affect our vulnerability and fear? [00:55]
2. How does the sermon describe the influence of negative thoughts and fears on our minds and actions? [02:03]
3. What are the social dynamics of brokenness mentioned in the sermon, and how do they manifest in our relationships? [03:28]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of a fragmented soul, and what are its effects on our overall being? [04:11]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that recognizing the condition of our spirit is the first step towards healing and aligning with God's purpose? [00:55]
2. In what ways does the sermon propose that renewing our minds with God's truth can help overcome chaos and negative influences? [02:03]
3. How does the sermon describe the transformation required for aligning our will with God's will, and what role do thoughts and feelings play in this process? [03:06]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of embracing God's love in transforming our social interactions from attack and withdrawal to grace and openness? [03:28]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your spirit was set on self-exaltation. How did it lead to fear and vulnerability, and what steps can you take to align your will with God's purpose? [00:55]
2. Identify a recurring negative thought or fear in your mind. How can you actively renew your mind with God's truth to overcome this chaos? [02:03]
3. Consider a decision you made recently where your knowledge and emotions were misaligned. How can you work towards aligning your will with God's will in future decisions? [03:06]
4. Think of a relationship where you often find yourself in a pattern of attack and withdrawal. How can embracing God's love help you engage with grace and openness in this relationship? [03:28]
5. Reflect on an area of your life where you feel fragmented or disconnected. What practical steps can you take to integrate your thoughts, feelings, and actions with God's truth? [04:11]
6. How can you create a daily practice that helps you focus on healing your soul and living a harmonious and whole life? [04:11]
7. Identify one aspect of your life where you feel the most broken. What specific action can you take this week to invite God's healing into that area? [04:50]
Devotional
Day 1: The Heart's Pursuit of Self-Exaltation
The spirit, often synonymous with the heart or will, is central to our being. When it is set on self-exaltation, it leads to a life of fear and vulnerability. This self-centeredness is a reflection of a deeper condition where we strive to control everything around us, often resulting in a life of invulnerability. Recognizing this condition is the first step towards healing and aligning our will with God's purpose. By acknowledging our tendency to exalt ourselves, we open the door to transformation and the possibility of living a life guided by God's love and wisdom. [00:55]
Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself striving for control and self-exaltation? How can you invite God to guide your heart towards humility and trust today?
Day 2: The Mind's Battle with Negativity
Our minds are often filled with negative thoughts and fears, influenced by the brokenness we see around us. These thoughts shape our feelings and, ultimately, our actions. The chaos in our minds can lead to a state of confusion and disarray, making it difficult to make sound decisions. Renewing our minds with God's truth is essential for overcoming this chaos. By focusing on God's promises and truths, we can transform our thought patterns and align our actions with His will. [02:03]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: What negative thoughts or fears are currently occupying your mind? How can you replace them with God's truth today?
Day 3: The Will's Alignment with God's Purpose
The will operates based on what we know and feel. When our knowledge and emotions are misaligned, our will becomes incapacitated, leading to sinful actions. Aligning our will with God's will requires a transformation of our thoughts and feelings. This transformation is a process that involves surrendering our desires and seeking God's guidance in every decision we make. By doing so, we can live a life that reflects His love and purpose. [03:06]
Philippians 2:13 (ESV): "For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
Reflection: Is there a decision you are currently facing where your will is misaligned with God's purpose? How can you seek His guidance to align your will with His today?
Day 4: Embracing Vulnerability in Social Interactions
In our broken state, social interactions are often characterized by attack and withdrawal. This defensive posture stems from a lack of trust and fear of vulnerability. Embracing God's love allows us to engage in relationships with grace and openness. By trusting in His love, we can overcome the fear of being hurt and build meaningful connections with others. This involves being willing to be vulnerable and extending grace to those around us. [03:28]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of a relationship where you tend to be defensive or withdrawn. How can you practice vulnerability and extend grace in that relationship today?
Day 5: The Soul's Journey to Wholeness
The soul is meant to integrate all aspects of our being, but when it is broken, we experience disconnection and incoherence. Healing the soul involves aligning our thoughts, feelings, and actions with God's truth, leading to a harmonious and whole life. This journey to wholeness requires intentional effort and a commitment to seeking God's presence in every aspect of our lives. By doing so, we can experience the peace and fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with His will. [04:11]
Psalm 23:3 (ESV): "He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel fragmented or disconnected? How can you invite God to restore your soul and lead you towards wholeness today?
Quotes
The Spirit is actually the same thing as the heart or the will and for the person who's living in human brokenness the central fact is my will is set to exalt myself and I think it's a rather it is a pathetic condition I think really you have to understand that a person who comes into this world and sees everything that's going on and it's a tough scene it's enough to scare the Wits at Wits out of you and to make you say hey I've got to get in from control of this thing. [00:01:00]
The effort is to make oneself invulnerable and that's what's in there and then the mind is full of all sorts of bad stuff what's going to happen to me terrible things are going to happen to me look around you see people dying people killing one another people wishing they could die bad stuff people losing their business being deserted by their lovers their children by their friends and winding up alone thinking about that see what's gonna happen to me. [00:01:49]
The feelings go with the mine too you have thoughts and feelings and they make up the mind and the will has to work off of those so if your feelings and your thoughts are in the mess your wills in trouble you can only will what you know and what you have a feeling toward so if you know the wrong things and your feelings are messed up your will is what the scripture calls dead in trespasses and sin. [00:02:40]
Your body is going to be all set to do the wrong things that's why you do the wrong thing before you think about it's because it's in your body and your social situation is going to be one that is governed by the processes of attack and withdrawal attack and withdrawal are the true two primary forms of social relations in broken humanity it's called do unto others before they do unto you. [00:03:13]
Your soul is going to be so disconnected and broken that your body your mind and your feelings have no coherence they don't work together the soul is primarily what integrates all the aspects of your life and makes it one person but who is really one person the normal broken person is running in all sorts of different directions their feelings don't match their thoughts and thoughts don't match their will and their bodies grunting some other direction. [00:03:55]
The mind is full of all sorts of bad stuff what's going to happen to me terrible things are going to happen to me look around you see people dying people killing one another people wishing they could die bad stuff people losing their business being deserted by their lovers their children by their friends and winding up alone thinking about that see what's gonna happen to me and then of course the feelings go with the mine too. [00:02:00]
You have thoughts and feelings and they make up the mind and the will has to work off of those so if your feelings and your thoughts are in the mess your wills in trouble you can only will what you know and what you have a feeling toward so if you know the wrong things and your feelings are messed up your will is what the scripture calls dead in trespasses and sin. [00:02:40]
Your body is going to be all set to do the wrong things that's why you do the wrong thing before you think about it's because it's in your body and your social situation is going to be one that is governed by the processes of attack and withdrawal attack and withdrawal are the true two primary forms of social relations in broken humanity it's called do unto others before they do unto you. [00:03:13]
Your soul is going to be so disconnected and broken that your body your mind and your feelings have no coherence they don't work together the soul is primarily what integrates all the aspects of your life and makes it one person but who is really one person the normal broken person is running in all sorts of different directions their feelings don't match their thoughts and thoughts don't match their will and their bodies grunting some other direction. [00:03:55]
The soul is primarily what integrates all the aspects of your life and makes it one person but who is really one person the normal broken person is running in all sorts of different directions their feelings don't match their thoughts and thoughts don't match their will and their bodies grunting some other direction and maybe it has affected their very physiology maybe it hasn't other things are at work there so that's a broken soul. [00:04:11]
The soul is the deepest part of you it's the part that makes the whole thing work and when it's broken the whole thing doesn't work. [00:04:50]
The Spirit is actually the same thing as the heart or the will and for the person who's living in human brokenness the central fact is my will is set to exalt myself and I think it's a rather it is a pathetic condition I think really you have to understand that a person who comes into this world and sees everything that's going on and it's a tough scene it's enough to scare the Wits at Wits out of you and to make you say hey I've got to get in from control of this thing. [00:01:00]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Jan 11, 2020. Do you have any questions about it?