Brokenness to Fullness – Part 3 | Sunday Service | July 12, 2020

Good Morning Church!

We welcome you all back to the house of the Lord.

We will continue learning from the ongoing ‘Brokenness‘ series. Today is the third part of “From Brokenness to Fullness!“

We believe that God is shaping up the world right now. There are good, bad, hard, sad times and that is a part of our life. Maybe few people are discouraged, but let me encourage you all by saying that God is with you. And that’s why we want to talk about Brokenness today.

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. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

During this time of test, we need to keep holding unto the Lord. If we specifically read the last verse from the set of verses above, we see that even it encourages us to “Ask Lord!” The verses from the book of James above suggest that there isn’t any doubt that these arent the testing times and the times of uncertainty.

And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

The followers of Christ were called disciples, that is, learners, scholars; but from that time they were called Christians. The proper meaning of this name is, a follower of Christ; it denotes one who, from serious thought, embraces the religion of Christ, believes his promises, and makes it his chief care to shape his life by Christ’s precepts and example. Hence it is plain that multitudes take the name of Christian to whom it does not rightly belong. But the name without the reality will only add to our guilt. While the bare profession will bestow neither profit nor delight, the possession of it will give both the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Grant, Lord, that Christians may forget other names and distinctions, and love one another as the followers of Christ ought to do. True Christians will feel for their brethren under afflictions. Thus will fruit be brought forth to the praise and glory of God. If all mankind were true Christians, how cheerfully would they help one another! The whole earth would be like one large family, every member of which would strive to be dutiful and kind.

I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let me share few points, in relation with Brokenness, i.e. How can we fix our eyes upon God?

Even Psalm 103 is also denoting that God is the one who redeems our lives, crowns our lives with His unconditional love and He is always at work in our lives.

Illustration: Many times children are observed to be reluctant to walk alone in the dark. However if his father is walking, Child finds courage to walk any alley. This is true in our walk of Christian life as well, the only difference is that our God is a greater father than our biological father. 

When we talk about brokenness, understand that He is like a potter, shaping our lives and we must thank Him for His continual work in our lives. He wants to bring us to a place where we can understand the brokenness in order to achieve the fullness.

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights. On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, they and every beast, according to its kind, and all the livestock according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, according to its kind, and every bird, according to its kind, every winged creature. They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life. And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the Lord shut him in.

Noah believed in God because of Brokenness. People mocked at him but Noah wasn’t bothered because in his heart, he knew what God has promised Noah, He is going to deliver.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

A sense of assurance is a genuine gift of God.

We know who God is for the promises He has fulfilled. The word of God says, “We are His children!” The Bible also affirms that we are saved and loved by God.

God has created us and we have assurances so let us promise ourselves to fix our eyes upon Him.

Joshua always knew that God has promised Him and Joshua kept on trusting in the Lord.

But now thus says the Lord , he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

We need to spend time with God and the best way to spend time with God is to read from His word as well as listen to His word. The word of God will strengthen you and beginning your day with the word of God will certainly add an exceptional blessing for your day to begin. People of God, you will know God, His intent, who He is, by fixing your eyes upon Him.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Every providence tends to the spiritual good of those that love God; in breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, and fitting them for heaven. When the saints act out of character, corrections will be employed to bring them back again. While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with holy boldness defy all the powers of darkness.

Do not focus on your circumstances, otherwise you will feel more weak. It can also overpower you and swallow you. Look unto Him who is going to strengthen you and let you finish the race. It is He who will give you peace. People of God, let us all fix our eyes upon Jesus Christ. Fixing our eyes upon Him will lead us to find brokenness and it won’t end there untill we reach fulness in Him. Noah listened to the Lord and He was blessed, so can you. All you need to do is to trust in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and fix your eyes upon Him.

Dear Church, we hope you are encouraged with today’s word and look forward to start your journey from Brokenness to Fullness in Christ Jesus. We look forward to see you again next Sunday, God bless!