"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.
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Lesson 26: The broken and contrite heart:
Review
1.
In considering the covenant relationship God has with believer's, we
have seen a glimpse of the power of the Cross to set us free from the
curse and control of sin.
See Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are
not under law but under grace."
2. The ministry of the
Cross brought about the birth of the second man, the risen Christ, of
whose seed as believers we are.
3. We considered the
wholeness the God offers through the Cross which extends even to the
healing of our mortal bodies. See Romans 8:11 "But if
the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through His Spirit who dwells in you."
In this lesson, we will see...
1. That Father chooses a broken man
to do His works;
2. That a broken man
possesses a "servant heart";
3. That humility is the
mark of brokenness.
Our objective is...to understand how the Father works through available
believers and to see how He brings us to brokenness.
1. Father’s choice - the broken man.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the
wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame
the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the
things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not,
to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in
His presence.
Father's use of "nobodies" in history to accomplish His works. Note who
He chose for Judges in Israel. Ehud, Deborah, Jephthah, Shamgar
etc. Note who Jesus chose top be disciples - fishermen, tax-gatherer
etc.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live
by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
The essential factor is that the “I” in me be crucified.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
One has to humble “oneself”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is
made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in
my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in
persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak,
then I am strong.
In every situation where the “I” is challenged, there is sufficient
grace to overcome is.
“Grace” is the empowering of God to do that which is impossible in
normal, natural circumstances
2. Possessing a "servant-heart".
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you.
Matthew 20:26-28
Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great
among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to
be first among you, let him be your slave; just as the Son of Man did
not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many.”
Matthew 25:21
“”His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your lord.’”
Matthew 25:40
And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you,
inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you
did it to Me.’
Luke 9:23
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Acts 20:35
I have shown you in every way, by labouring 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.’
Luke 22:27
For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it
not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Ephesians 4:2
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one
another in love,
Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others.”
2 Timothy 2:4
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this
life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
3. Humility.
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil
way and the perverse mouth I hate.
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require
of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your
God?
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may
exalt you in due time,
Philippians 2:5-11
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal
with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a
bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found
in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the
point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God
also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.
Note: The example of Jesus.
a. He humbled himself;
Father highly exalted Him
b. He took upon Himself
humanity and servant hood: Father gave Him a name above every name.
c. He was made in a
man: Father causes every knee to bow to Him
d. He was found to be
entirely human: Father leads all heaven to acknowledge the Man.
e. He humbled Himself:
Father caused all on earth to own him as the Exalted One.
f. He was
obedient even to death: Father makes all the disobedient to submit to
Him.
g. He died on the
Cross: so every tongue will confess His Lordship.
Matthew 11:29-30
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy
and My burden is light."
Humility is not difficult to the born again believer.
Malcolm Vine, Cornerstone Ministries. September 2004.
To contact the Bible School email: bibleschool@cornerstoneministries.org.uk
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