Broken is Beautiful

A few weeks ago I was watching a guy change the brakes on our minivan. “We” got the brake pads, calipers, rotors and all that stuff off the vehicle. And while I was watching…I figured I’d make myself useful and begin cleaning some of this stuff up. So I asked where I should put these old worn-out parts. He opened up a garage door and said throw ‘em out there.

Out there was a pile of stuff 20 feet high; 40 feet wide. Old washing machines; Dishwashers; Bicycles; lawnmowers. All of these things had one thing in common - They were all broken. They had been ridden hard and put away wet.

And I’m going to let you in on a little secret...Broken things get thrown away. Damaged things are worthless. They’re good for nothing. No one wants a cracked up cell phone. No one wants a laptop that doesn’t boot up. No one wants a car that won’t run.

Broken things get thrown away. Broken things are worthless. They’re good for nothing.

Self awareness

We live in a “discard and buy new” society. So many things today instead of fixing them or having them repaired, it’s easier just to throw them away and buy new.

Godly sorrow

Well, here’s the challenge… When it comes to people…we are broken. Many of us don’t boot up like we used to. Some of us don’t exactly run like we once did. Some of us have cracks; some are warped; some are damaged; some are just limping along; But in some way, all of us are broken because of sin.

(NLT)

There is an epidemic going on in our season of life / this period of time which we live, and maybe to your surprise, the epidemic isn’t sin. It’s our acceptance of sin.

But let me be clear and get more specific. The problem that we face today isn’t the acceptance of sin in the world. The world is always going to be sinful. The world is always going to be littered with sinful behavior. The world is always - as long as it isn’t following Jesus - going to have a sin problem!

So the epidemic isn’t our acceptance of sin in the world... the epidemic that we face is the acceptance of sin in our hearts. It’s not that we aren’t doing enough calling out of sin in this world. It’s that we haven’t been willing enough to call it out in our own lives. And that makes us broken.

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.

1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. We want revival to break out because so many people around us need it. You know who needs it to break out…me…you…the church. You know how it’s going to break out? Repentence. A recognition of the brokenness in our lives and the need to be restored.

We want revival to break out because so many people around us need it. You know who needs it to break out…me…you…the church. You know how it’s going to break out? Repentance. Recognizing the brokenness in our lives and the need to change.

We want revival to break out because so many people around us need it. You know who needs it to break out…me…you…the church. You know how it’s going to break out? Repentence. A recognition of the brokenness in our lives and the need to be restored.

That’s the bad news… The bad news is that we’re broken… The good news is this...

God sent his Son, who was without sin, to be broken, so that we might be restored/healed/made new. The night Jesus was betrayed, when he was with his disciples, He broke the bread saying, “This is my body, which is broken for you.” He went all the way to the cross to die so that we could live. His death made it possible for broken, sinful humanity to be restored into a right relationship with God.

The good news is that God doesn’t throw away broken people. He doesn’t discard the broken. God doesn’t even give up on the broken. In fact...

God takes broken things and makes something better.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

God makes room in the Kingdom for broken people It’s almost as though God prefers broken people.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

“God blesses those who are poor (in spirit) and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

The Kingdom is for the broken.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

(NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Create in me

Why do the Gospels highlight so much of Jesus’ time with the broken of his time - prostitutes, tax collectors, unclean, poor, sick, & those who weren’t like him?

When Jesus was questioned as to why he was associating with people like this, He said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

God takes broken things and makes something better.

Renew within me

17When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

There’s something significant about those who realize their need for him. Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, Levi, the woman at the well, all realized that there was something missing in their lives. All realized that their lives were broken and messed up.

And when a receptive heart collides with a pursuing Savior… God makes broken beautiful!

God can make broken beautiful

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

11Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Do not banish

(NLT) The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Don’t take

12Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

Restore me

18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Make me

God creates something new. It’s not a new paint job on the same ole car. The old is gone; the new has begun.

13Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.

“To us, broken things are despised as worthless, but God can take what has been broken and remake it into something better, something that He can use for His glory. Broken things and broken people are the result of sin. Yet God sent his Son, who was without sin, to be broken so that we might be healed. On the night before He died, Jesus broke the bread and said, “This is my body, which is broken for you.” He went all the way to Calvary to die so that we can live. His death has made it possible for broken, sinful humanity to be reconciled to God and be healed. Without the broken body of Jesus, we could not be made whole. “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” ().”

I will

They will

14Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.

Forgive

Forgiveness

(NLT)

3He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

3“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

(NLT) O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!

(The Message) God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!

(NLT) The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

22The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.

What God puts back together is far greater than the original. What He creates new is better and stronger than what once was.

What God puts back together is far greater than the original. What He creates new is better and stronger than what once was.

23Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. What God puts back together is far greater than the original. What He creates new is better and stronger than what once was.

14God, pick up the pieces. Put me back together again. You are my praise!

14O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone! God wants to use your brokenness to help others

God wants to use your brokenness to help others

God wants to use your brokenness to help others

God doesn’t waste anything.

At the end of September, I’ve invited a close friend from high school up to share his story.

(NLT)

16You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.

A psalm of David.

17The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

1The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

2He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3He renews my strength (He refreshes/restores my soul), . He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

4Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

5You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Offertory - Shawn

Wrap-up - (Chris announcement)