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Complete Sermon Notes
The Blessing of Brokenness
INTRO: We return broken items; nothing is valuable if it’s broken; it doesn’t work if it’s broken; we get upset when something breaks.
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The opposite with God – He can only use a broken person – “soil, horse, glove.”
1. Leads to Spiritual Growth – God uses the painful seasons
RECAP – The Coming of the Holy Spirit – ACTS 2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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This was revival
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There is always ‘preparation’ – men and women prepared their hearts
2. Filled with the Spirit
The Crowd’s Response 2:5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And howis it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?… [9-11]…—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
Two responses 1. This is amazing. 2. Others mocked – they’re emotional; it’s of the devil.
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The very thing we need is the very thing we’re afraid of –
3. Openness to God’s will
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.’
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PROPHESY – Speaking God’s Truth Boldly
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VISIONS / DREAMS – God can warn and confirm His will
TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO MERGER TALKS A PASTOR EMAILED ME: I was overwhelmed by the presence of God with a strange sense of urgency. At the same time these words came from my mouth – “Pastor Shane will be leaving soon.” I knew it wasn’t because of a sin issue or anything negative. I felt as if it was an opportunity that needed an immediate answer. Similar to someone moving because of a business opportunity. The urgency I felt had to do with the people of the church. They were confused because of how sudden it was. It happened so quick there was very little warning. Again, I didn’t feel as if was a sin issue or anything like that. I felt it was a good thing but very quick.
4. It results in humility
Can you name one prideful person filled with GOD’S SPIRIT?
22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.
The word used to describe where the dead are is sheol in Hebrew. The Greek word is hades – “the place of the dead.”
The Greek word gehenna in the New Testament is for “hell”.
The righteous go directly into the presence of Christ—“paradise,” “heaven,” or “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23).”
32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’ 36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
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Both Lord and Christ – He is not a divided Savior.
Falling to make Him LORD means that you have NOT surrendered or you’re NOT saved.
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“Shane, go easy – it’s a process.” You will not find one scripture supporting the claim that Jesus doesn’t need to be LORD.
We cannot cling to sin and the Savior at the same time
GOT QUESTIONS.org “Is it possible to be a Christian and live in lifelong carnality, enjoying the pleasures of sin, and never seeking to glorify the Lord who bought him? Can a sinner spurn the lordship of Christ yet lay claim to Him as Savior? Can someone pray a “sinner’s prayer” and go about his life as if nothing had happened and still call himself a “Christian”?” NO!
5. Brokenness Leads to Salvation – A Broken Heart is a Repentant Heart
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RESTITUTION – “What must we do?”
THIS IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN: 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
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