Psalm 51-I’m Broken, Now What?

Gallery March 13, 1994 David

Dancing with Broken Bones-A Series on Psalm 51-I’m Broke, Now What?
March 13, 1994	Sermon by DRW	Passage Psalm 51.15-17

Theme: An encounter with Jesus is the cause for His life to be lived in our lives.

INTRODUCTION

In the Winter of 1944, the Allied forces and German forces were face to face in the freezing weather. The Allied forces thought the Germans wouldn’t dare attack during such a cold time so they dug in. The Germans decided it would be a great time to attack, so they did. The Allied forces were being soundly defeated. This was Hitler’s plan to confound the Allied offensive. And it was bloody.

These raw and seasoned recruits were being beaten and killed. We know this as the Battle of the Bulge. Things were not going well. The men didn’t need a lecture on courage or ten-steps to gain ground on the enemy; they needed an example to follow. Out from behind a desk, an eccentric General was called to the front to spur the people on. Instead of a speech, he was an example. Because of this one man’s presence the day was saved. This one General was George S Patton. He was their example to follow.

I. Example

A. Who is your example, the one who spurs you on in difficult times

* whether in spiritual warfare

* or our everyday battle over the bulge

1. I have already told you mine (Joe Muslin—pray for him as he prepares for the transplant)

2. Alcoholics Anonymous has this type of help system

a. The John Loroquette show features this

b. John is an alcoholic and his example is Mitch

(1) Mitch got drunk

(2) crushed John

(3) but because of Mitch’s unswerving (to that point) example John was able to help him recover.

This is the goal of looking to an example: that we might be examples for another.

B. who do you spur on to love and good works (Heb 10. )?

1. Brokenness is never an end in itself, but merely the means to an even greater end

a. being like Jesus

b. be heroic (Matthew 6.33)

(1) throwing your entire life into His kingdom work is an incredible risk in fighting the terrible foe

(a) you will address your sin (as David did), your friendships, your hobbies, your career, your failures, your ambitions, your life in light of the Kingdom

(b) you will address poverty, hunger, pollution

As Elton Trueblood said in The Company of the Committed:

A Christian is a person who confesses that, amidst the manifold and confusing voices heard in the world, there is one Voice which supremely wins his full assent, uniting all his powers, intellectual and emotional, into a single pattern of self-giving. That voice is Jesus Christ. . . . He believes in Him with all his heart and strength and mind. Christ appears to the Christian as the one stable point or fulcrum in all the relativities of history. Once the Christian has made this primary commitment he still has perplexities, but he begins to know the joy of being used for a might purpose by which his little life is dignified [and, I add, made heroic] (23).

(2) The heroic is allowing God’s life to be manifest through you.

(a) An interesting aspect of all history is how people have sought and still seek after a hero.

i) Israel’s literature seeks after the ultimate hero, is written of heroes by heroes

ii) Greek mythology is crowded with the heroic.

(b) those who have studied sociology or anthropology understand the concept of the heroic is embodied in Germany’s Übermann, or as he is called here, “Superman”.

* A god-like person with the possibility of failure (for superman it was kryptonite, some say it was also Lois Lane)

i) God can never be a hero, He would never have the chance of failure.

ii) Man without God could never be heroic, he’d fail all the time.

iii) It is only the one who is wrapped in God’s calling that can be truly called heroic

a) his or her life will never grow stale, nor dull because their eyes are always on Jesus

b) the ultimate satisfaction and purpose in life is knowing that in Jesus I have been called and equipped for the heroic

We were made for more exquisite things than trying to fill our empty days with our own thunder. But we must all choose. Will I go on tinkering on my own agenda and my own kingdom, which will pass away when I do? Or will I tie my life and destiny to His life, His cause, His Kingdom? Only Christ offers the calling whereby we can harness our lives to a source of purpose that lasts forever (96).

Seeking first His Kingdom restores the fervor of the heroic in our lives, knowing we must do the work of God that only a child of His could do. God’s children who follow after Him are always a hero. And a hero always has purpose, life and vigor when he is pursuing the Voice of his Master.

“I knew joy (peace, patience, et al) when I first became a Christian. However, the business of my daily routine caught up with me. I forgot about Christ. Eventually, I became thirsty and discouraged. I remember what other Christians promised would be mine if I became a Christian joy (peace, patience, et al). I don’t think they were telling me the truth. I kept going back to the church but it soon became a burden. Didn’t Jesus say He would ease that burden? After a while left the church because the people were phonies and I had more important things to do. If I were honest, it became disappointed with God, Christianity, and the church—they all promised things like joy (peace, patience, et al) that they didn’t deliver.”

2. If we are broken, it is merely the beginning of our usefulness for God

a. Unless a seed dies, it cannot sprout

b. we’ll explain “brokenness” in a moment

TRANSITION: Anyone who desires to be an example, a hero, must have a personal encounter with God.

II. Encounter

A. Anyone who has ever tried to explain an abstract idea would find it very difficult without an example to illustrate and illuminate it.

B. God is one of those abstracts

1. the only way to fully explain Him is by seeing Him (John 1.14) or having a personal encounter with Him (Acts 9)

2. You have to encounter Jesus (1 John 1.1-3)

C. Any man, woman, or child who has been broken has had an encounter with God, you can see the limp like Jacob or the tear stains like David.

1. I had one last night

* God has been dealing with me for sometime and last night we dealt with it

2. the breaking can be as basic as salvation where God breaks you of your pride ( ) or as harsh as adultery (Psalm 51).

3. in either case, repentance is required

a. my will becomes His

b. defined

(1) not remorse merely for the consequences

(a) Saul wept because

i) he knew his kingdom was to be taken away from him

ii) not because

a) he was sorrowful over attempted murder

b) and idolatry

2. Judas wept and committed suicide because

1. he felt pity for himself and was ashamed that Christ was to die;

2. not because he betrayed his Master and assisted in shedding innocent blood.

2. remorse for the sin itself and the deep rooted passion that set it aflame

To the one who has seen his sin, it is not a casual thing to encounter or write-off, but is intense. This intensity leads to repentance. Remember, its His kindness that leads to repentance and sometimes kindness is found at the end of a whipping post (Hebrews 12.4-11). David’s sorrow came not from a heaven to lose or a hell to gain—for he knew his God would not forsake him—but the sorrow came because in his heart he knew he had grieved God.

* Peter wept because

1. he knew he betrayed his Master

2. his was remorse for the sin and the passion that led to sin

3. this is true repentance

4. Each person who knows Jesus as Saviour has had an encounter with Him, and has been broken

TRANSITION: To answer the question posed in the title: “I’m broke, now what?” Each of us is an example in word and deed that others will follow and imitate

3. Exercise

One question: What type of an example are you?

* PCH house

1. eyesore

2. disgrace (even after it was finished)

3. too many non-believers have seen this picture of Christianity (stench of a burnt offering) and not enough of the broken and contrite

* Dr Battenfield

1. He is a work of God

2. He is a joy to God

3. He volunteers his help, going beyond what is expected just like Jesus

4. our God demands that a man’s life and heart stand plumb with his worship, not contrasting it

5. he walks with a limp from spiritual battles

From our passage we see two things God requires of His broken ones:

1. Teachability (broken and contrite)

2. Teaching (Examples-open my mouth)

2. Teachability

1. What does He want to teach us (Luke 6.40)

1. to be like Him

2. Jesus sole desire is for us to see Him in such a way that we imitate Him.

Sydney Sheldon wrote a classical piece of literature at the turn of the century called In His Steps. He wrote it from a verse in 1 Peter 2.21. He asked us to consider asking this question each time a crisis event came: “What would Jesus do?” But does this mean imitation of Christ? Not necessarily. To truly imitate Christ is to have His character working within you. Paul calls it being conformed to His image (Romans 8.29). It means knowing the Teacher so well that the question, “What would Jesus do?” need not be asked. This is the goal: to be like Jesus in all my ways that in every situation I will know His will for me.

2. How does He want to teach us?

* Study (learn) the Word of God (2 Timothy 2.15)

1. to know Him (John 17.3)

2. do the Word (James 1.21-25)

3. pray the Word (Daniel 9)

3. Teaching/Examples

1. How do we teach?

1. by words

2. by actions

1. You will bear fruit (much fruit) John 15.8;

1. Galatians 5.22,23

2. much fruit is a lifestyle of imitating Christ which causes (intensive learners, ie teachers) others to glorify God (Matthew 5.16)

2. Next quarter we will start a series on the disciplines of the Christian life that will help us in our endeavour to be more like Christ.

4. What is the test of our teaching

1. forgiveness (the most un-natural thing a fallen humanity could do)—the restoration of fellowship

1. accepting it from God and others

1. seeing our own sin as blacker than others

2. accepting that God in Christ has made even them whiter than snow

2. giving it to others

2. You will know you are imitating Him and being an example as you love your brothers on earth as you seek Jesus.

1. John 13.34-35 compare with 1 John 4

1. a love as Jesus loved

1. no greater love than to lay down your life

2. unselfish

2. a love that the world can see

1. glorify God

2. does the world see your love?

2. Accept them where they are (Phil 23.15-16; Romans 15.7)

3. make every effort to get to know your brothers and sisters through

1. Bible study

2. Prayer

3. fellowships

3. dealing with your character and letting God deal with your reputation

1. Neil Anderson

2. Me at EFCSB (?)

CONCLUSION

God has broken you in one manner or another throughout this series. We have one more message to complete our look at Dancing With Broken Bones: Revival. Today He is calling out for those rare lights that shine for Him. He is calling out for those whom He has touched, who have had an encounter with this living God, to be an example for others to follow. We have been designated as God’s ambassador’s on earth, His examples. Are you living up to that high calling?

MINISTRY

Jesus had called out twelve to imitate Him (and the millions of believers after them). He asked twelve to come and follow Him. They stood up and left all to follow Him. I want to ask you if you want to start now, today and do what they did: forget the past and press on as an example of Jesus to people who are dying to see Him.

He calls you to come and follow Him. To seek Him and benefit from your learning from Him. Benefits that will allow you to teach others to come and follow as-well.

I will ask you to come and follow Him today too. If you so desire to commit your every word and action and thought to Christ or to come to Him for the first time I ask you to come forward now for prayer and direction.

BENEDICTION

Jude 24, 25

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Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

Psalm 51-The Audience is Listening

Gallery March 6, 1994 David

Dancing with Broken Bones-A Series on Psalm 51-The Audience is Listening
March 06, 1994	Sermon by DRW	Passage Psalm 51.14-15

Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Outline:

Introduction

Tourist trap like “Jesus of the Ozarks” (The Ozark’s Passion Play). The parking lot looked like Disneyland’s (huge). I remember when I went there with a friend of mine. The year was 1984, the year of hair and tans. Well, I had both: long hair and beard and brown skin. Any how, when I got out of the car a woman came up to me and asked if I played Jesus in the play because I was so “swarthy” looking. It was a mad house of religiosity. People came in checked shorts and argyles; in flower hats and dresses. It was a spectacle to behold. The message was told but the meaning was gone, for most. Much like church in some parts of the world and in some people’s lives. A place where people come to see where God might have been. Much like the windows with Mary of Jesus face glowing through it, a religious shrine to be visited with Polaroids but not experienced with the heart.

Today we will look at two types of worship: The counterfeit and the Real

I. The Counterfeits

A. Dry as Dust

The lifeless assembly looking more like a wax museum than a place where the living God could and should be worshiped. Or as Paul wrote to Timothy: having the form of godliness but denying its power.

1. there is much visible but not much reality

a. lack of depth and fellowship

(1) the motto: “we are here to do, not to be”

(2) appearance of but not really

(a) seen in activities

(b) cordial but not deep

i) saying “hi” to new people but

ii) no depth with the old people

b. true depth and fellowship

(1) fellowship is a group of people with one goal: Jesus Christ

(a) He saved them—and they speak of it

i) Romans 8 He brought them into the family

ii) Ephesians 2 He brought them from darkness to light

iii) Rom 6.23 He brought them from death to life

(b) He is developing them—and they share the truth of what God is doing (as iron sharpens iron, so one friend another)

i) 2 Timothy 3.14-17

a) instruction

b) correction

c) reproof

d) training in righteous

ii) 2 Co 3.18 changed from glory to glory

iii) 2 Co 5.17 transforming into new creation

(2) example of reality in fellowship with Dave Chen and myself

i) spiritual conversations

a) what God is doing

b) what God desires to do

c) evaluation of our services to God

d) topics of import

e) laughter

f) tears

ii) iron sharpening iron

a) honing our beliefs

b) sharing and reshaping our wants and desires

c) sharing our joys and hurts

Another aspect of a dry, lifeless assembly of worship is:

2. conformity without understanding

If the first aspect is due because of the attenders this one comes because of the leadership.

a. lack of knowledge of the spiritual undercurrent of what we do, why we do what we do.

(1) content is done without understanding why

* look at the bulletin

i) why do we do the center page activities?

ii) why do we make a bookmark for you to take with you?

(2) An example: why do we praise—God is worthy

(a) it is because we know what God has done for others (either through His Word, biographies, or fellowship) and what He has done for us and what He promised He’ll do;

(b) more so, as we shall see, it is because of who He is.

(3) worship is not going through the motions of

(a) singing

(b) reading

(c) unless they are directed to our God with full knowledge of who He is and what He has done. Our praise is sweeter the deeper we know Him.

Another counterfeit is

B. That’s Entertainment

1. Intentionally focusing on size and spectacle

a. God isn’t opposed to this when His glory is the focus

(1) Solomon at the Temple

(2) David and the Ark (2 Samuel 6.12f)

(3) Year of Jubilee

b. But today, we leave bedazzled but not deepened in relationship with anybody

(1) when discussion changes with the last song to “where to for food” then worship probably didn’t happen

(2) When God comes in our worship, we don’t worry about what’s next for we are with the God of the universe.

2. WHILE CHURCHES PLAY GAMES, AMERICA DIES!
One author feels that American Christianity is ill, and preaching a shallow gospel to those who desperately need substance and help. Bigness has become a standard for success. Churches have become entertainment centers. Christianity and Christians have never been, and never will be, popular or in the majority. “The job of Christianity is to worship God by the winning of souls.” This does not allow for shallowness or frivolity. The answer to this situation is in the Gospel message (Wells, 1989).

. 1. True Love Outreach is a good example of worship in evangelism

2. Picnic-on-the-Green is a good example of worship in fellowship

We’ve seen the counterfeit, now let’s look at

2. The Real Thing

1. True worship

Far from being a religious ritual, true worship is an individual reflecting a proper value judgment about God. In fact, the English word “worship” comes directly from the word “worth.” Our God is worth praising.

1. It is being dwarfed but drawn to Him

1. Isaiah 6.1-5

1. Worship is not just personal introspection, or we would worship our feelings. Worship is not even a warm glow, or we would worship that. We worship One outside ourselves. We concentrate on Him, we praise Him, we adore Him, we hear his Word for He is announcing it to us. We listen in holy awe to the word of God.

2. It is seeing Him, knowing only in Him are we worthy (“weight”) to be in His presence, attracted to be with Him, even though it could be uncomfortable for us.

1. when we encounter the light our darkness is shown

2. whenever we come into contact with God He changes us

2. Revelation 1.12-17

1. In His holiness we see our shortcomings, our sins;

2. the closer we come to Him in worship, daily living, the more we’ll desire to change to be more like Him for He shines His light on our darkness.

2. Christian worship is no tourist trap, no Polaroid; no desire to leave, time ceases, words are unnecessary, if there are words they are words of praise.

“In a world so polluted with empty, foolish, and hurtful words, let’s fill our hearts and homes, our workplaces and worship houses with a cleansing current of praise.” (Hayford, 2003).

3. Too often we cheapen our praise to a gratuity, a tip. If God performs right we will praise Him. David calls this “bloodguiltiness” and he forsakes it desiring only to truly praise God.

How do we break from tipping God with our church attendance and praises: these three things we need to know and do:

2. Majesty

Def: reverent respect due the splendor of royalty.

1. the American disposition against royalty shows we have an inbred resentment to majesty and must really work on seeing and respecting His majesty

2. When you see God as King you will fall down in worship.

1. When people come to an earthly king, they do not strut in and place demands

2. they bow awaiting commands.

3. Only when the royalty says arise do we.

3. God has called us to come boldly into His throne room.

1. this doesn’t mean to strut in but to have the confidence that He wants us there

2. and if He wants us there, according to 1 John 5, He will speak to us and we with Him

4. We come before Him, willing to wait for His voice, then we respond.

our response is awe:

3. Awe

Def: struck speechless with wonder

1. TV takes it away

1. joy and tragedy are controlled with a push of a button

2. Bangladesh doesn’t matter until it come to Arcadia

1. I was speaking with one of our own the other day. He told me he had never seen a homeless person before

2. until he went to LA

3. no remote control button could remove this reality for him

2. Our “I want it yesterday” mentality is against awe.

1. Awe doesn’t explode but overtakes in time to the point we are soaked in it

2. John 1.16 (waves)

3. look and be awed

1. mountains

2. churning ocean

3. stars

1. I was asked on a personality typing test what I do when I look at the stars

2. to my amazement it had “Stand in wonder of who God is”

3. that was my choice

TRANSITION: I like natural phenomena like rain, thunder and earthquakes … One personal encounter with a power that before was only theoretical can make all the difference. You live differently after that. You respect the power. You live in awe of its presence and tremble to think of its potential. Above all, you live in profound humility because you recognize your inability to control it.

If all this for created phenomena, then what of the Almighty God? I am reminded of the quote from C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” where Mr Beaver describes the might and majesty of Aslan, the lion-God. When he finishes, Lucy asks, “Is-is he safe?” Replies Mr. Beaver: “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. but he’s good. He’s the King I tell you.” This is our God: hardly safe but thoroughly good. We cling to the King in fear, but much too afraid to let go (Ratzlaff, 1991).

Now that’s awe and that’s worship

4. Reverence

1. Mark 4.36-41

1. before the calming of the storm they feared death (natural)–36-38

2. after the calming of the storm they had a greater fear than the fear of death: the fear of the Author of life. (39-41)

2. Do not fear him who can kill just the body but fear Him who can destroy also the soul (Matthew 10.28)

CONCLUSION

Men have an inbred hunger to know God and see His greatness. Even though our more direct, personal glimpses of Him may be few, our response to Him should always be spontaneous and instinctive. David’s praise flowed freely. That’s the way it should be with all of us. The church does not have to wait to sample the exalting chorus of heaven. Rather, we must be willing to be transformed from lifeless assemblies and entertainment centers to the people of God, people who delight in praising the sublime, majestic Author of life. He simply refuses to be imprisoned either in color slides or in a one-hour time slot on Sundays. Rather, He wants our undivided attention, our entire being. When His people gather, He alone is the audience—the audience of One (p 129).

Let’s praise our God. Turn to your neighbour and praise God with them for who He is. I will ask the musicians to come and lead us in some praise songs before we give the closing word of encouragement.

Benediction

1 Chronicles 29.11-13

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, praise Your glorious name.

Be seated in prayer, then you are dismissed.

Sermons

Monthly Archives: March 1994

Psalm 51-I’m Broken, Now What?

Psalm 51-The Audience is Listening

Scriptural Truths for Today's World