This is the first on this series. We had already defined brokenness as the painful process of training and discipline it takes to be totally kept under God and fully submitted to Him. They are those actions taken by God in order to produce character, self-control and habits of obedience in His child. God does not only deal with the visible habits but also the hidden thoughts, attitudes and intents of the heart.
We are going to see examples that illustrate brokenness so that we have better and broader understanding of the subject. They will be discussed exhaustively. Brokenness, no matter how painful it may be, is inevitable to every life that will be useful in God’s hand in bringing divine virtues to this broken world.
Shaping of costly stones in the Quarry for use in God’s building (1kgs 5: 17-18; 6:7)
“And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.” ( I Kings 5:17-18 KJV).
“And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.” ( I King 6:7
KJV)
A quarry is an open excavation from which stone is cut, usually for building purposes…while building stones were occasionally finished at the quarry, the final dressing was usually completed at the building site. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
The stones are cut into desired shapes. Rough edges are removed. If a piece of stone is taken to the site and it is discovered that it did not go through the quarry, the workmen will reject it and send it back. Why? Working on it in the building is going to cause noise and extra energy. This is because the tools for preparing the stones are in the quarry. The building site is for finished products to be fixed so as to bring out the beauty of the house. It shows that any stone that did not go to the quarry will be useless to the builders at the site.
From 1 Kings 5:17, we learn that the stones were great ones, costly and expensive, yet they had to go to the quarry. They had to go there if they would fit into the plan for the building.
Now, “we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” 1 Cor 3:9 (KJV)
“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Heb 3:6 (KJV)
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet 2:5 (KJV)
We are God’s building and at the same time God’s co-builders. We are the instruments God uses to build His house, the Church. God wants to make us able instruments in His hands. However, we must be willing to go to the quarry so that we can fit into God’s plan. All of us are raw materials but our usefulness depends on how we yield and consecrate our lives to God.
There is so much ‘noise, completion, confusion and quarrels’ today in the building site because men have refused training and discipline. We are all here giving reasons why our failures are legitimate and our weaknesses have no help. As we continually submit ourselves to God’s dealings, we grow everyday to become the kind of vessels He wants us to be fit for His use.
The next time you begin to pass through some difficult situation, ask God to help you see whether it is a ‘quarry experience’ for your training or not.
Download the study one guide here for use in small groups!
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
TOPIC: BROKENNESS
GENERAL INTRODUCTION ON BROKENNESS:
General Memory Verse “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” Rom.8: 28
To break means to subdue, keep under, train or discipline, be brought to a disciplined state, oftentimes by force, blow or strain. When a horse is broken for example, it means that it has accustomed itself to wearing harness and therefore trained and under control. A broken child is a child that has responded positively to training and discipline.
Brokenness is the painful process of training and discipline it takes to be totally kept under God and fully submitted to Him. They are those actions taken by God in order to produce character, self-control and habits of obedience in His child. God does not only deal with the visible habits but also the hidden thoughts, attitudes and intents of the heart. Men may ask questions and be confused when they see God subjecting His faithful child to training and discipline because they judge by appearance. However, God always knows what He is pursuing in every man’s life, though men do not often see it.
The devil does not discipline any of God’s children because he has no right to do so but he can be used by God to achieve His purpose. Each process of brokenness a child of God goes through is allowed by God with good intentions and purposes. Anything can be used instrumentally but God is behind it all. It is entirely the working of God, hooked to His sovereignty and accepted by our faith for His divine purposes. These purposes are oftentimes neither explained nor understood by us in the midst of the process but later. Faith accepts it by saying, “not what I want nor my way but your way and your purpose, Lord”
As we go through this series of studies, it is very important that you settle it in your heart that the devil’s activities are not dominant. It is God’s activities that are dominant and in control of your life as a child of God. The devil’s activities, as far as your life is concerned, are contained and controlled within the activities of God to work together for your good, to the glory of God and the total shame of the devil. Let’s pray and open our hearts unto God so that at the end of this series, He must have achieved the willingness and yieldedness in us to make us what He wants us to be.
General Memory Verse “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” Rom.8: 28
To break means to subdue, keep under, train or discipline, be brought to a disciplined state, oftentimes by force, blow or strain. When a horse is broken for example, it means that it has accustomed itself to wearing harness and therefore trained and under control. A broken child is a child that has responded positively to training and discipline.
Brokenness is the painful process of training and discipline it takes to be totally kept under God and fully submitted to Him. They are those actions taken by God in order to produce character, self-control and habits of obedience in His child. God does not only deal with the visible habits but also the hidden thoughts, attitudes and intents of the heart. Men may ask questions and be confused when they see God subjecting His faithful child to training and discipline because they judge by appearance. However, God always knows what He is pursuing in every man’s life, though men do not often see it.
The devil does not discipline any of God’s children because he has no right to do so but he can be used by God to achieve His purpose. Each process of brokenness a child of God goes through is allowed by God with good intentions and purposes. Anything can be used instrumentally but God is behind it all. It is entirely the working of God, hooked to His sovereignty and accepted by our faith for His divine purposes. These purposes are oftentimes neither explained nor understood by us in the midst of the process but later. Faith accepts it by saying, “not what I want nor my way but your way and your purpose, Lord”
As we go through this series of studies, it is very important that you settle it in your heart that the devil’s activities are not dominant. It is God’s activities that are dominant and in control of your life as a child of God. The devil’s activities, as far as your life is concerned, are contained and controlled within the activities of God to work together for your good, to the glory of God and the total shame of the devil. Let’s pray and open our hearts unto God so that at the end of this series, He must have achieved the willingness and yieldedness in us to make us what He wants us to be.
Monday, 4 August 2008
Series on Brokenness
This is new.
I'll be doing a series of teachings on this very important matter: Brokenness. I'll provide a downloadable study guide in Adode Reader format for small groups in churches and fellowship groups. You only need to write me to let me know you downloaded the material: evergreenword@gmail.com
I'll be doing a series of teachings on this very important matter: Brokenness. I'll provide a downloadable study guide in Adode Reader format for small groups in churches and fellowship groups. You only need to write me to let me know you downloaded the material: evergreenword@gmail.com
Son of top Hamas leader converts to Christianity
God is doing great things these days. This testimony yet again confirms the authenticity of the gospel which we preach.
For every souls that is transformed by the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus, the further it is confirmed the efficacy of the Word of God to change lives.
The son of a Hamas leader gives his life to Christ, calls his father and family to receive Jesus.
By Aaron Klein
WND FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
WorldNetDaily
Son of top Hamas leader converts to Christianity
'I hope my father and family open their eyes to Jesus and the Kingdom of God'
Posted: July 31, 2008
1:35 pm Eastern
JERUSALEM – The son of one of the most popular leaders in the Hamas terrorist organization has moved to the U.S. and converted to Christianity, it has emerged.
In an exclusive interview with Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Masab Yousuf, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, slammed Hamas, praised Israel and said he hoped his terrorist father will open his eyes to Jesus and to Christianity.
"I know that I'm endangering my life and am even liable to lose my father, but I hope that he'll understand this and that God will give him and my family patience and willingness to open their eyes to Jesus and to Christianity. Maybe one day I'll be able to return to Palestine and to Ramallah with Jesus, in the Kingdom of God," Masab said.
Read it all here
For every souls that is transformed by the power of the gospel of the Lord Jesus, the further it is confirmed the efficacy of the Word of God to change lives.
The son of a Hamas leader gives his life to Christ, calls his father and family to receive Jesus.
By Aaron Klein
WND FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU
WorldNetDaily
Son of top Hamas leader converts to Christianity
'I hope my father and family open their eyes to Jesus and the Kingdom of God'
Posted: July 31, 2008
1:35 pm Eastern
JERUSALEM – The son of one of the most popular leaders in the Hamas terrorist organization has moved to the U.S. and converted to Christianity, it has emerged.
In an exclusive interview with Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Masab Yousuf, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, slammed Hamas, praised Israel and said he hoped his terrorist father will open his eyes to Jesus and to Christianity.
"I know that I'm endangering my life and am even liable to lose my father, but I hope that he'll understand this and that God will give him and my family patience and willingness to open their eyes to Jesus and to Christianity. Maybe one day I'll be able to return to Palestine and to Ramallah with Jesus, in the Kingdom of God," Masab said.
Read it all here
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