God Can Use The Broken.

 

Some things are useless or worthless when broken while others are useful only when broken.

 

I have two pair of posthole diggers.  I call them my PHD’s  One with handles and one without  handles.  If I have to use them I always choose the pair with handles.  You don’t have to ask why, do you.  It is clear.

 

If you have ever been around horses you know you would ride one that is broken, not broken down but broken to ride.  If you get a house dog you want one house broken.  Enough said.

 

God uses the broken and not always literally.

         

I.       John 19: 31 – 37  They came to brake the legs of Jesus to hurry his death.  He was already dead.

31 ¶ The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

          37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

          A.      Psa. 34: 20  It was prophesied his bones would not be broken.

                   20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

                   1.       John 19: 34 - 37  His flesh was broken with the nails and spear that pierced His side and blood and water flowed forth.

 

 

                  

                   John 19: 34

34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water…           

2.       1 Cor. 11: 23 – 26  Paul relates what happened the night Jesus instituted the Lord’s supper with them.  He says Jesus broke the bread and said it was his body that was broken for you.

          23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Had his precious body had not suffered, broken and died for our sins we would be without a savior.  How this memorial feast should effect us each Lord’s day as partake in remembrance of Him.

          B.      1 Peter 2: 24  “He bare our sins in his body”…He died that we might live.

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.      

Christ is the good shepherd that died for his sheep. We as sheep obey the shepherd.

II.      Eph. 2: 13 – 14  Christ has broken down the middle wall of partition.

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

A.      Eph. 3: 6 – 11  Without the braking down that wall of separation, God’s eternal purpose in His Son would not have been carried out to fulfill the prophecy.

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

B.      Romans 10: 12  Jesus broke down that distinction between Jew and Greek.

          12 ¶ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

          1.       Mark 16: 15  The gospel is for all.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

We have no right to limit the gospel from anyone.  We are not to rebuild the walls of division.

2.       1 Cor. 12: 13  Christ opened doors and tore down walls that all my hear and obey.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

III.    Mark 16: 14  The Hardness of Heart of Unbelief Must Be Broken.

14 ¶ Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

A.      Acts 2: 37 – 38  They were cut to the heart or their heart of sin was broken.

          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.

Their sinful hearts were broken and they knew they had to do something.  Peter told them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.

B.      Psa. 34: 18  The psalmist writes.

          18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite ( Very Sorrowful) spirit.

C.      2 Cor. 7: 10  The sinful heart must be broken to need repentance.

          10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Eph. 1: 5  It has been the will of Christ since the beginning that man be saved by obeying Christ will.

          5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

We must come to him and obey his will to obtain salvation and remain saved through obedience to his perfect will.  Will you accept Christ will? Will you obey Him?  

He was broken for you.  Can you continue to turn your back on the Savior that suffered and died for you?  We remember that great sacrifice by partaking of the Lords’ supper.

Do you remove yourself because you have not put on Christ in baptism?  You know you have not obeyed Him.  Why not brake that heart of sin and let Christ into your life.  Why do you reject the one who loves you most, Jesus Christ the Son of the living God?  It is his will that you obey him and have the gift of the Holy Spirit, eternal life in Heaven.

Why do you wait.  Time is passing and you are wasting valuable time.  The promise is to all who will obey Him.  One day it will be too late.  Will you come now?