THE PROCESS OF BROKENNESS

WELCOME TO PASTOR DR. CARLOTTA'S COUNSELING CENTER.

The process of brokenness is divinely design, without any accidents committed. Peter and the other disciples were not the men of God that can start the New Testament church. To the instinctive eye, we would not have picked these men. Yet, God know their hearts. Did God selection these men for there abilities or for what they become? There is a cognitive process whereby we must die to self, so that God can glow forth through us. We are to bear witness of Him and not of ourselves Act. 1:8. For example, Peter was strong, confident, and proud. Jesus saw in Peter the potential to be a leader. The Lord was going to take Peter's qualities and bring them under command of the Holy Spirit.

Peter get a revelation from heaven and Jesus told Peter he was blessed Mt. 16:13-26. This verse 22, Peter took Jesus aside. The word took means to physical 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 argument. Peter's need was wrong, but Jesus saw dedication that could be used when Peter matured.

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

In verses 24 and 25, Jesus explained how to serve in the realm. There is a denying of self that must take place. When we refuse 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 operation of brokenness is continual. God 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 our faith... Hebrews 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 they had received from Jesus Matthew 14 22:23. In this incident, Peter is going to be taught by Jesus. Peter got out of the boat by faith verse 29, but when he saw the wind 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 maintain this walk of faith. The 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. What rights can we keep? Peter asked how many times we are to forget Matthew 18:21. Peter is actually expressing thoughts about his thinking that he has rights. In the process of brokenness we must give up our rights. When we are having a problem given up our rights, we ask questions such as, "How dare they?" Or "How long do I put up with this injustice?" Dying to self means that we give up our rights to hurt another person just because they have hurt us. As long as we have rights, self is still on the throne of our hearts.

We have not yet died Galatians 2:20. As we come in contact with people we have the chance to become offended. The chance to become offended will sometimes come on a day-to-day basis. The opportunity for Peter to become offended in the years to come would be many.

Owning up to the truth:

Peter was asked three times about his relationship with Jesus. First, he denied that he even knew Jesus. Secondly, Peter denied with an Oath, thinking that the oath would convince the crowd. Thirdly, Peter curses swears thinking that if he talks like the world, the world would believe him Matthews 26 69:75. When the cock crew, Peter instantly was reminded of Jesus words and was broken at his failure to own up to knowing Jesus and being a follower of his.

Brokenness is God's way of approval. Character is not built in time of pleasure and when everything is great with no problems. The natural man wants to spend his time in disruptive living, but he has got to go if we are going to be people of integrity. Qualities and strengths or God-given and are to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. Jesus taught the disciples about denying self Matthew 16:24. The grounds why we are to deny self is because of all the problems self causes us.

Charles Stanley's definition of brokenness.

"Brokenness is the condition whereby our will is brought into full submission to his will so that when he speaks, we put up no argument, make no rationalizations, offer no excuses, and register no blame, but instead, instantly obey the leading of the Holy Spirit as he guides us."

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."