Week 4: Broken and Obedient

1.     BROKEN AND OBEDIENT

 

When we carry out God's work or instructions our own way, we are being disobedient. Many Christians are born-again, read the Word, pray, and want their sins forgiven, but they don't want to do it God's way. In Acts 9, we read how Saul persecuted and killed the Christians, thinking he was working for God and living a holy life. He thought it was what God wanted him to do.

 

Throughout the New Testament, apostles called themselves bondservants of Jesus Christ because they were submissive and obedient to Him. Ephesians 2:2 and Colossians 3:6 says that we were children of disobedience until the Lord saved us and changed us. It’s only through the help of the Holy Spirit, the Blood of the Lamb, and the power of God that we get rid of our old nature. We must give ourselves completely over to Him.

 

 

2.    PREPARED TO SUFFER

 

• Paul said, “concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” Philippians 3:6 (NKJV)

 

• Before Saul became Paul, he was blameless in keeping the law, but his values and identity changed when he met Christ. Jesus told him how much he would have to suffer for His sake, and he prepared himself for it.

 

PRAY: Father, we repent for being disobedient and doing things our own way because we didn’t want to suffer. Change us so we can be willing and obedient bondservants of Christ. Amen.

 

 

3. BROKEN

 

Paul said, “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…” Philippians 3:8-9 (NKJV).

 

We must take a red pen and write in capital letters over everything that is fleshly—our accomplishments and priorities—the word: LOSS. Those things cannot bring us anywhere in the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is more valuable and glorious than all the things of the flesh. Our only goal must be to know Him. Everything else must go. 

 

We must allow God to use our suffering to make us more like Jesus. The USA will only see His power through our brokenness.

 

​

4. #PRAY4USA

 

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