Sermon notes

The Word declares: We are perfect in the sight of God - that is our spirit is perfect through the redemption of Christ’s body and blood. Our minds (soul) are being saved through sanctification and renewal by the Word & Spirit of God & our bodies will be saved by transformation into a glorious body with the return of our Lord. We as children of God have some brokenness, contriteness, perplexity in our lives (mind, thoughts, experience, reference, reasoning and humanity) though Christ the hope of Glory lives inside of us and we are now one spirit with the Lord! How can we make sense of this, experience God in this……?

· God receives unto himself the broken, he desires to heal the broken hearted-he is anointed for that.

We enter the manifest presence of God when we are humble and broken.

Revival comes to those who acknowledge their brokenness and need for their Saviour’s light of grace.

Such is it also with a nation or city!

The Hebrew word “YETSER,” which was translated “mind” here, means “conception (purpose)”. It was translated “imagination” four times

Emotions follow Thought.

Does the Word not say - as a man thinks in his heart, so is he?

This scripture is also in reference to a city and a nation.

Those who practice humility will find peace, but the proud will be resisted.

As we realize our lostness, sin and brokenness, by falling on Christ the rock of salvation we are broken so we can be sculpted into God’s image and purpose.

Those who reject him as the rock of salvation or chief cornerstone will sadly be fallen upon by the weightiness of His Glory and eventually end up crushed without sense or purpose to life.

We cannot have a Christ encounter and not be broken for that which breaks His heart, the broken and lost.

Fire demands a sacrifice!

We as the Body of Christ - individually and collectively are broken in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ (the head of the Church) so He may share us - so people may partake of Him by partaking of us as we share and live out His grace in our own unique brokenness.

Are we shareable, eatable - does our taste permeate grace or judgement or forgiveness or condemnation?

The word calls - come taste and see that the Lord is good - partake of the sweet koinonia of His body / family!

The treasure that Paul was speaking of is the light of God, shining in our hearts through Jesus Christ, as he spoke of in 2 Corinthians 4:6. Another way of defining this treasure is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.

Why didn’t the Lord change our vile bodies (Philippians 3:21) at salvation to mirror the wonderful transformation that took place in our hearts? This verse gives the answer. He didn’t want anyone mistaking the power that flows through us as being our own. He wanted full credit for this new life.

If you took your automobile to a mechanic who had all the latest computer equipment and robotics, you might leave there thinking about how fantastic that equipment was. However, if you took your car to a mechanic who only used the most basic tools and he fixed the problem, you would leave there impressed with the mechanic, not his tools. Likewise, it glorifies the Lord even more when His power is expressed through ordinary people. Those who notice have to say it’s God and not the person doing the works.

Infirmities is in reference here to inadequacies, shortcomings, weaknesses.

The Lord’s power delivers us from things such as sin, sickness and poverty.

That is not to say that we Christians never sin, never get sick, or never have financial problems. But the Lord’s power is always available to bring us victory over all these things.

However, concerning persecution and the many day-to-day problems that we encounter, the Lord hasn’t provided deliverance from these. Rather, He has given us the strength to endure.

We have to have the motivation to change the things that we can change, the strength of Christ to persevere through the things we can’t, and wisdom to know the difference.

Key Aspects:
Acknowledge your brokenness - bring it as a sacrifice.
Fix your mind on God - His Word = enter peace.
Surrender to the loving breaking of Christ.
Be available to be shared by Christ.
Let Grace encapsulate your weaknesses - to strengths.