Broken to Be Fixed
By John Woodward
December 7, 1998
Recently I was listening to a taped message from Jack Taylor on the topic of "The Strength of Weakness". It is an honest, insightful exposition of our theme passage (2 Cor 12:9). He mentions that the Exchanged Life commences with brokenness . To cooperate with this phase of the discipleship process we need to perceive that God's providence includes all the circumstances that are causing us difficulty (although God is not the author of sin--James 1:13). Joseph could eventually tell his brothers who betrayed him and sold him into slavery, "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good. . ."(Gen 50:20).
Jack Taylor said "God has you in the circumstances of his own choosing so He can fix you".
How about this ditty--"God's fixing to fix you, but if you try to fix the fix He's fixing to fix you with, He will find another fix to fix you, until you let the fix He fixed for you fix you." whew! (try saying that three times fast!). So the "fix" we are in (the trials we encounter) are benevolently designed by God through His mysterious providence to "fix us" (by breaking our self-sufficiency and independent will).
Watchman Nee observed two basic barriers to brokenness in the life of the believer. The first is the lack of insight regarding God's providential design behind our difficult circumstances (our "fix"). The second barrier is self-love . Watchman cautioned,"Let us remember that the one reason for all misunderstanding, all fretfulness, all discontent, is that we secretly love ourselves. Many times problems arise due to our seeking a way of escape--an escape from the working of the cross." (Nee, The Release of the Spirit, p.16).
To remove this barrier to brokenness we should sincerely pray: "O my God, I have seen that all things come from You. All my ways these five years, ten years, or twenty years are of You. You have so worked to attain Your purpose, which is none other than that Your life may be lived out through me. But I have been foolish. I did not see. I did many things to deliver myself, thus delaying Your time. Today I see Your hand. I am willing to offer myself to You. Once again I place myself in Your hands." (Nee, p. 16).
Are we ready to roll up our sleeves and get specific about this topic? Reflect on these evidences of brokenness:
1. All rights surrendered
2. Willing to be rejected
3. Transparent - willing to share weakness
4. Vulnerable - willing to share failures
5. A sense of total inadequacy in self strength - 2 Cor 3:5
6. A sense of adequacy in Christ through His strength - Phil. 4:13, 2 Cor. 3:6
7. Trusting God whatever - resting even with external turmoil
8. Obedience out of a love motive because I want to, not because I have to
9. Recognizing the power in weakness
10. Willing to be weak
11. Willing to fail
12. A readiness to let others receive credit
13. Genuine humility
10. Placing value upon those who have little or no value to yourself
15. A readiness to affirm (build-up) others
16. Teachable
17. Willing to be out of control
18. Willing to be misunderstood
(from the Exchanged Life Conference).
As true believers in Christ we have the assurance that we are united with Him--He lives in us by His Spirit. Yet if we want the full blessing of Christ living in and through us, then we need to say "not I" (Gal 2:20).
May God remove every barrier from our hearts, so we can allow our fix to "fix us". Then we will have a greater capacity for Christ's resurrection life.
Our Father, we bow our head and bend our stubborn neck toYour design for brokenness. Turn our struggles into surrender. In Christ's name, amen.
JBW
Dec. 7,'98
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