CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT BROKENNESS

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT - BROKENNESS


God Honors Our Brokenness Ps. 51:17
WELCOME TO PASTOR DR. CARLOTTA'S COUNSELNG CENTER.

We find in God's Word that there is a process of brokenness designed to bring out those Godly qualities that are in us. The purpose for brokenness is so that we decrease so He can increase. Jn. 3:30. God's purpose for us is to become "conformed to the image of His Son" Rom. 8:29. There are characteristics in our lives that must be dealth with or the ministry God gives us will not produce good fruit.

Like John the Baptist, we must decrease. The word decrease means to make less or inferior, in quality, position or dignity. The statement by John the Baptist indicated the special interest he showed in his own decrease in authority and popularity.

Most people do not want to lay down their position or dignity, and most especially their popularity. The human tendency is to want to see our name in bright lights. There is a dying to self that must take place so that Christ can increase in our lives. It is a dying to self that must take place so that Christ can increase in our lives.

If it does not take place, there will be no lasting fruit, for God will not share His glory with another. "Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." Ga. 2:20.

The process of brokenness is divinely planned, without any accident attached. Peter and the other disciples were not the men of God that could start the New Testament church. To the natural eye, we would not have picked these men. Yet, God know their hearts. Did God pick these men for their abilities or for what they become?

There is a process whereby we must die to self, so that God can shine forth through us. We are to bear witness of Him and not of ourselves, Acts. 1:8. For example, Peter was strong, confident, and proud. The Lord was going to take Peter's qualities and bring them under control of the Holy Spirit.

Peter get a revelation from Heaven and Jesus told Peter he was blessed. Matt. 16:L13-26. Then in vs. 22, Peter took Jesus aside. The word "took" means to physically move. Peter rebuked Jesus and says in essence to him, "As long as I'm around this won't happen." It looked and sounded good on the surface, but Jesus saw the flesh that was attached to Peter's statement. Peter's motive was wrong, but Jesus saw loyalty that could be used when Peter matured.

Also in vs. 22, Peter said "...this shall not be unto thee.." which shows determination, but Peter was not solid in his faith yet. Determination would be needed later in Peter's life. This loyalty and determination were just surface qualities right now. Later Peter scattered with the rest of the disciples when the trials of Jesus began.

In vs. 24 and 25, Jesus explains how to progress in the Kingdom. There is a denying of self that must take place. When we deny ourselves and take up our cross, then God can deal with our character. With God the way to win is to lose our lives; the way to get is to give; and the way to go up with God is to go down. It is just the opposite of the world's thinking.

God's process of brokenness is continual. His process never stops! As trials come at us, we learn more about God and ourselves. During trials we are to run to Jesus for He is "the author and finisher of faith.." He. 12:2.

Jesus always knows when we are in trouble. Jesus knew that the disciples were in trouble and He knew where they were. The disciples were acting on the last word that had received from Jesus. Matt. 14:22-23. In this incident, Peter is going to be taught by Jesus. Peter got out of the boat by faith. v. 29, but when he saw the winds and waves, he took his eyes off Jesus and he began to sink.

When we take our eyes off of Jesus to look at our trials, we will start to sink also. Peter stepped out in faith and went beyond the other disciples, but could not main this walk of faith. This boldness, perhaps even brashness in Peter was going to be necessary on the Day of Pentecost, but that maturity was not there yet.

Peter was still going through the process of brokenness. May the Word of God Bless YOU!

If you haven't accepted Christ as your Savior simply say in an audible voice, in all sincerity from the depths of your heart, "Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me of my sins and accept me as Your child. I accept You as my personal Savior and I promise to follow the instructions of Your Word from this day on. If I fail because I am human, please help pick me up so I can try again! Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from all my sins. AMEN."



Go with God and be Blessed!

Dr Pastor Carlotta Boles
Christian Music | Online Church

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