Brokenness

BROKENNESS

deanstuyvesant , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BROKENNESS

There are several definitions of brokenness. I want to look at the Biblical reference of the subject.

Brokenness, in God’s eyes, is being so crushed by the sin darkness of the world that we recognize there is no place to turn but to God.

You may ask why should we go through brokenness? When we are broken, God transforms our sinful lives into something that gives Him glory. In other words, you give Him the ability to clean you up, He puts His righteousness in you, and gets you headed in the right direction.

You and I will never meet God in revival until we first meet Him in brokenness. 

Important examples of brokenness is where Jesus went through agony at Gethsemane as stated in Mark 14:32-42, Matthew 27:45-46, Also, in Hebrews 2:18, where it says that Jesus was broken and suffered so that could relate to our needs.

When God created man, He gave human beings the power to make choices regarding their destiny. He did so that He would not be dictating their lives. We now have the responsibility to make choices. So,  if you make a bad choice and things go bad, don’t blame God.

Some choices you will make or not are, believing and receiving Jesus as Savior or not? The choice is yours. Is my name written in the Book of Life or not? The choice is yours. Reading, studying, believing, and following what the Bible says or not? The choice is yours. Some choices may be easy, and some may be difficult. The  eternal road to God’s Kingdom will cause some unwilling to go off course and chose another eternal destiny.

It appears that the present generation has been programmed to pursue happiness in whatever form to satisfy their pleasures. I can assure you that God is not interested in this direction as that kind of happiness will not last. God is more interested in making us like His Son Jesus. That is the pathway to holiness with humility and brokenness. God’s eternal kingdom is the opposite of what we have here on earth where satan has access to our lives.

Brokenness is a choice. Brokenness is not a feeling; rather, it is a choice, an act of our will. In most cases it is not a one-time experience. It most likely is an ongoing process.

If you don’t make a choice, you have made a choice!

What does God say about choices? According to Galatians 6:7-9, whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. A man reaps what he sows.

God is urging us to make serious and deliberate choices toward the conclusion of His purpose. He requires us to commit and make decisions. Remaining neutral is not an option. His issues are plainly defined: obedience vs. disobedience, life vs. death, good vs. evil. Every one of us have a choice: we can make excuses or follow God’s instructions as outlined in the Bible. God created us so we are free to follow Jesus or free to follow satan. It is a choice you make. If you make the wrong choice, who is going to be your advocate?

Scripture tells us that Jesus is close to those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. In our brokenness, it is important to know that we are not alone and that there is great hope. You may think the Scriptures are all rules and regulations. That is far from the truth. They have many purposes; one is to help you overcome satan’s temptations and lies. The most important is to have Jesus and His gift of salvation.

Have you ever noticed that test and trials, tend to draw us closer to God? That’s because subconsciously we realize, we cannot overcome it, in it of yourselves. Our power or intellect cannot make our current struggle, pain, anxiety go away completely. It can only offer temporary relief.  

We need Jesus. Matthew 11:28-30 says “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Deuteronomy 30:15–20 NKJV 15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 rI announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 sI call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that tI have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your ulife and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers,


In our brokenness, it is important to know that we are not alone and that there is great hope. God has provided us with the  scriptures to encourage us when we have lost our way and to keep us going. 

The following paragraphs are some definitions of characteristics of broken people.

Broken people know that they can’t do anything of eternal value in their own strength. They understand only as they rest in Jesus Christ and allow Him to do His work in them and through them.

Broken people are Kingdom-oriented. They understand that what truly matters is getting to know God and getting to know who I am in Him as stated in Matthew 6:33.

Broken people have laid down their rights in front of God. They understand in reality that God is the giver of all good things. God has provided everything that sustains your life. They are grateful when important things occur in their lives but accept the fact that life does not turn out the way they would like it to be.

Broken people do not have to know everything, have a plan, being in control, and know everything that’s going on. They rest in Jesus Christ trusting Him to know and choose what they need to know.

Broken people cease doing things their way and learn to do them God’s way instead. Through their submissiveness, Atonement can take effect and true repentance can occur.

These are a few of the characteristics that God is making a difference through.

 God uses broken things and broken people to do great things. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are looking for those that will make a choice for them. Will you make the right choice or not?

I want to point out a couple especially important Bible verses that require a choice.

Acts 4:13 KJV says that, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus Christ) under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

There is only one name to whom God has given authority by which one can experience salvation and that is Jesus. No one else has that power or authority.

In Revelation 20:12 KJV, stated that: and I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the BOOK of LIFE: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

I would say that what is written in those verses are what choices people have made or did not make in their life here on earth. Again, I ask, Have you made the right choices or not? It is never too late as long as you are still breathing.

In closing, I pray that everyone will really consider the relationship they have with Jesus Christ. God wants you to freely give yourself over to Him. He created you and wants you to be part of His eternal family. Many have ignored the Bible, Jesus’ invitation, due to their choice of what you think of what you will give up. What you will give up is nothing compared to what God offers you in exchanged. It is either what God offers or what the  devil offers you. I guarantee you won’t like the latter. It will be your choice or not.

Many people have said that they will make a choice tomorrow. Proverbs 27:1 NIV Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Do what you need to do today. Don’t wait to receive Jesus. Don’t put off doing the will of God.

Today, Jesus said, “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

Psalms 51 is a prayer that can help you along the way. It’s a choice!

Jesus loves you  and so do I.

Are You Willing To Change?

deanstuyvesant , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ARE YOU WILLING TO CHANGE?

Before I begin my post, I want to say that I am not out to condemn anyone regardless of your position regarding your beliefs on God, Jesus, or Christianity. You are free to believe whatever you want. You will stand before God on judgment day just as I will and answer for what you did with your life here on earth.

I am a sinner that God has shown His mercy upon. He has been with me even when I was not with Him. I have failed Him many, many times with my worldly and fleshly desires. Although I walked in my desires, I knew that there was something missing because of a nagging feeling that keep speaking to me. What is amazing is that God never stopped loving me nor did He ever leave me.

I was raised in a Christian environment. I went to Sunday School, Church, Youth Group meetings. I was baptized when I was 12 years old. I received Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was 19. Now, if you look at this picture, you will realize that something is not in order according to the Scriptures. Just out of High School, I started to follow my dreams. My life seemed to be going well. I meet my wife and we eloped to New York State as she was not of the legal age of 21 in Pennsylvania. We eventually had four daughters and life seemed to going well. By the way, we will be celebrating our 58th wedding anniversary this year.

I had become a journeyman carpenter and then life seemed to start having problems. It seemed that I was unemployed more than I was employed. I left Pennsylvania and traveled to New Mexico in search of work. I returned to PA and returned to NM within a 5 year time frame. While living in New Mexico I received a job offer to become a police officer in PA. I accepted and moved back to PA. I missed NM and decided I wanted to move back so I applied to the New Mexico State Police and was accepted to enter their Academy. I graduated and I thought life was going to get better. It did for a while and then it seemed that my life was falling apart.

I have to say that during all this time that God was with me and trying to persuade me to come back to Him. Because of my selfish ambitions I continued to ignore Him but not totally as I would go to Church occasionally. I guess that my little interest in God and Jesus that He stayed with me. I have to say that there was a lot more in my life of ups and downs that I will not go into at this time. 

Well, God let me have my way until I came to the conclusion that I needed to get right with my Savior Jesus Christ. One day I was home alone and God really spoke to me and convinced me that I needed to change my way of living. I got down on my knees and prayed and poured out my heart to Him asking that He forgive me of my sinful ways and for not following Him. I wept like a baby. At this time God took over my life and I found a Bible teaching Church and rededicated my life to Christ my Savior. I was baptized again and entered His service. I graduated from Bible College and became His servant..

Before I went into His service, I had another moving experience. I was listening to a cassette tape on brokenness while traveling in my car. At the end of the message the speaker ask if there was anyone who would consider the invitation to be broken. I asked God to break me. Well, He did and I began to cry out loud, asking God to take my life and do as He wished. I had to pull over to the side of the road as I did not have control of myself. This experience lasted about 45 minutes. This was a life changing time that I will forever cherish. Finally, I was back on the right road where God was and still is guiding my direction.

I want everyone to know that I still fall and stumble as I walk with my Lord and Savior. The joy I have now is that I know Jesus is with me in everything even though it may not be according to His way. He will correct the wrong way through His love for me and for you. I know that He took all my bad and took it to the cross so I may be made clean. What is so great, He will continue to do so until I join Him in His Kingdom. Because of sin in this world there will always be ups and downs. With Jesus in your life, let Him take care of it.

You see, I had to change and come to realize that there was no hope in the road of life that I choose to travel. The only hope anyone has lies with Jesus Christ. No one can enter God’s Kingdom except through the salvation of Jesus Christ. It is a free gift if you are willing to accept Him as your Savior and change your thinking and life to coincide with His. Don’t take my word for it, all you need to do is read the Bible and it is explained in great detail.

Are you willing to make a change in your life that is guaranteed to bring you peace and joy? I hope everyone does so that they will join me in Jesus’ Kingdom for eternity. Don’t let pride or misguided information cause you to miss the greatest opportunity to rest in God’s presence. Jesus loves you and so do I.