Week 5: Broken and Blessed

1. BROKEN & BLESSED

 

“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:14 (NKJV)

 

God’s Spirit and glory will rest on those who suffer for His name. One of the purposes of our suffering is to deepen our relationship with God, making it more real and intimate instead of superficial.

 

When we become broken vessels, the life of Christ takes over and His holiness, and love flow through us, and we have intimacy with Him. When that happens, we don’t seek recognition, glory, or honor from people—we just want to be in our inner room and pray to our Heavenly Father.

 

 

2. REST & PEACE

 

• “‘…They shall not enter My rest.’ Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience…” Hebrews 4:5-6 (NKJV)

 

• “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15 (NKJV)

 

• We cannot enter the Father's rest if we have hardness, bitterness, rejection, or pride. If we don't deal with self, we will be in constant worry, and we won't have peace.

 

PRAY: Heavenly Father, we desire to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with You. Please make our hearts soft and pliable so we will hear Your voice and experience Your peace. Amen.

 

 

3. BROKEN

 

In Exodus 12, God instructed His people to put blood on the doorposts to protect them the night that death came over the Egyptians. Then He led them out to the Promised Land. 

 

God wants to lead us out of the flesh into the spirit, out of darkness into His resurrection power, from death to life. But that can only happen when we partake in His brokenness and suffering—when we are broken like He was broken.

 

“My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17 (AMPC)

 

 

4. #PRAY4THEWORLD

 

Set time aside and pray that the nations will see God’s power through our brokenness.