Sunday Words of Encouragement April 30, 2017

Our Sunday School teacher continued from last week’s message with a good follow up titled “Do You Believe?” I look forward to sharing these on days when I am traveling and don’t have the sermon message. 😊.

Pastor continued with his message series: Broken. The first week discussed a broken world; the second week, broken dreams. Today he discussed
broken people.

You can look around you and see a world where all people are broken with sin. When we say “the world” is broken you are commenting in a broad, general way about 7 billion people. But when we look closer the broken people are more specific, more personal. We see complex issues that were rare and deemed an anomaly in the past, but now they abound and often the world says it’s acceptable and normal.

Suicide is sign of brokenness; as are rampant levels of sexual promiscuity, divorce, violence, sexual orientation, gender identity. Many of these are the result of broken identity. People are full of scary confusion, like patients of dementia who might remember themselves but don’t know you, their loved ones. Confusion is a prime weapon of the enemy. What can the church – what can we do—to help broken people?

Point: Broken people need time and safety in the presence of the Healer.

Man was made in the image of God. Genesis 1:27. But Satan attacked God's creation from the beginning, and continues to do so. Genesis 3:1-7. Repeatedly the attack of the enemy focuses largely on a person's identity and value. He confuses and belittles, always seeking to destroy by making them feel they cannot be redeemed.

We must remember that all sin (small or large doesn’t matter) separates people from God; creates a gap that we cannot cross over. But, Thanks be to God and Jesus, the cross created a bridge for all – those who accept and believe. No matter how far a person is from the perfect pure standard God set for us, God can redeem them. After all, none of us, not one, is pure without the redemption of Christ. We have no basis to condemn another.

Is the Church ready? Are we ready to love the stranger, no matter his condition? God loves you, no matter what. God loves them, no matter what. Our job is to show people love and give time to let the Holy Spirit work in their mind, heart and spirit.

Broken is broken but God's grace is bigger than brokenness. Jesus ministered to broken people in ways that made them feel valued. We must be prepared to:
Show Compassion. 2 Corinthians 4:4; Pray earnestly; be patient; invite them, not once but over and over. Be prepared to show everyone that in the dark place there is a light. 2 Corinthians 4:1-7.
1 John 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:7.

I started with one video but eight or so later I found this one!

Broken Girl

Verses for Today:
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NLT
3 If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.