Brokenness

Brokenness

July 22, 2007

Introduction

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

All the kings horses, and all the kings men

Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again.

Humpty Dumpty. It is just a rhymn for children, or is it more? Is it the story of brokenness?

· Broken lives

· Broken dreams

· Broken relationships

What does the Bible say about all the Humpty Dumptys of the world? Obviously, Humpty Dumpty isn't mentioned by name in the Bible, but the idea of brokenness is.

Body

I. It is the broken heart of the Bible.

A. David spoke of the broken heart of being in trouble.

Psa 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. {18} The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. {19} Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

B. There is the broken heart because of sin.

(Psa 51:17 NKJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise.

C. Jesus was mindful of all the Humpty Dumpties of the world – the broken ones.

(Mat 12:18-21 NKJV) ""Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. {19} He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. {20} A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; {21} And in His name Gentiles will trust.""

1. He will not extinguish the smoking candle.

2. He will not destroy the bent.

C. What did Jesus do about the Humpty Dumpties of His day?

(Luke 4:18-21 NKJV) ""The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; {19} To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." {20} Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. {21} And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.""

II. How does Jesus take care of us and "fix" our problems?

A. One of the secrets is learning to give. Help others fix their problems.

(Acts 20:35 NKJV) ""I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'""

1. Being able to give is a blessing.

2. Having things to share is a blessing.

3. Giving is a spirit--it is an attitude--and there is much that we can give.

· A smile

· A warm greeting

· Greeting someone by name

· A sincere, "May I help you?" when appropriate.

· Your time to listen to someone who needs your attention.

· Just being kind and gracious

· How would Jesus act in this situation?

B. A second great secret to healing brokenness is to learn to be content.

(Phil 4:11-12 NKJV) "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: {12} I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

1. Paul was not in the best of circumstances--he was in prison as he wrote, but he had learned to be content.

2. Paul spoke of the need of contentment.

(1 Tim 6:6-10 NKJV) "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. {8} And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. {9} But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

3. John the Baptist had preached contentment as he prepared the way for Christ.

(Luke 3:14 NKJV) "Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.""

4. The Hebrew writer encouraged us to be content with what we have.

(Heb 13:5 NKJV) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.""

a, Some focus too much on what someone has who has more.

b. We need to learn to be thankful for what we have.

c. Can we ask for more or better?

(Phil 4:6-7 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; {7} and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

III. What are the two extremes of brokenness?

A. Solomon says it can't be fixed.

(Eccl 1:15 NKJV) "What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered."

B. But Isaiah says there is hope.

(Isa 40:4 NKJV) "Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;"

Conclusion

To be fixable, we need to be broken, and we need a broken, humble heart.

Only Jesus can give us a new heart and a new life?

Only Jesus can give us a new spirit--a spirit of joy and contentment.

Only Jesus can put Humpty Dumpty together again

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