Insolomonsporch's Blog

“For all those things My Hand has made, and all those things exist, say the Lord.  But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and he who trembles at My word.”  Isaiah 66:2 NKJV

“If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to HIs own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].  1Jn 1:9 AMP

“For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.” Rom 8:29 AMP

It is ignorance that causes us to resist Him…

Last post I shared with you how our understanding of sin can cause error and confusion if we think vaguely in terms of simply missing the mark.  We are very apt to excuse much of our thinking and being, and fail to see our sin because we do not define sin from the same perspective as the Lord.

I believe sin is more accurately described as: not conforming to the Lord’s will in purpose, thought, and action. And this is further supported by Scripture.

I want to develop that understanding here along the following precepts:

So we begin:

– In Matthew 21:44 we see that whoever falls on this Stone (which is Christ – the Cornerstone), he will be broken to pieces.

When we look at the word used above for “broken” it is the Greek pipto, and means to alight. Think of it as a butterfly alighting on a flower, or an airplane coming in for a landing. Unfortunately, neither of these examples convey the reality of what happens when we come to Christ in submission.  We are very different from Christ, and our coming to Him is as unique and individual as our fingerprints. The problem is that in being so different, even fleshly, we each must change. To be able to be part of the Body of Christ our salvation event sets in motion a series of changes that we are both unware of and perhaps unapproving of.  Salvation is bigger than we perceive or grasp.

That is the one who comes to Christ for salvation… he is broken.  In unpredictable ways and depths, he is broken: it is the only way to begin conforming him to the image and likeness of Christ.  As you can imagine, this is an internal conformance of your soul (your heart and mind, will, intellect, and emotions.)

The other person, not seeking Christ or salvation… if he remains in that posture of defiance and resistance… he will encounter the winnowing, crushing of the Lord. He will be scattered like dust.

Rather than dealing with the thoughts of readers at this time as far as either the fairness or unfairness of the above discussion on brokenness or crushing, let me move on to the next point.

– Brokenness draws the blessing and attention of the Lord: Isaiah 66:2.

Let me just backup to Isaiah 66:1 and then 2. The Lord is presenting a statement of fact, and then posing a question.  The fact: His deity: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.”  The question: “What kind of house would you build for Me? And what kind can be My resting place?”

In light of His fact: I am God, He asks, what kind of house can you provide?  It is not referring to a physical house, but rather the tent that is ourselves… and how insufficient that would be for Him (without modifications). He goes on to say, all these things (us), My hand has made and have come into being [by and for Me].

“But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard; he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word…” Isaiah 66:2.

The interlinear rendering of the words broken or wounded are actually, stricken or smitten, maimed, or dejected.

I had occasion to revisit this Scripture in Isaiah 66:2 and the meaning of “contrite” after my only daughter passed away. I thought it meant sorrowful or filled with regret.  When I saw “stricken”… it was exactly how I felt. Stricken by the loss, even stricken by the Lord.

But even in that season of being stricken or smitten, I could take comfort that my condition was drawing the attention of the Lord. He knew where I was, and how I was feeling. He was not remote or uninvolved.  On the contrary, He was Personally involved, although I could not sense it at the time.

When you find yourself wounded or broken, you are in gaining the Lord’s devoted attention, maybe like never before.  Contrary to all of your senses, He is listening and attentive to your needs, your heart, and your prayers.  He is not surprised by what you cry out, but He does expect that you will remain open to Him and not close your heart. He wants your trust! He wants you to believe He is present… because in His Presence is fullness of joy!  It is a soothing balm to your wounds! It is a lifter of your head!

– You are destined to be molded into the image of His son, and share inwardly His likeness.  You may not have understood this when you received Christ as your Savior.  You may have simply decided you needed a pain-free life, or His friendship … we all come to Christ for so many various reasons, but very few of us understand His purpose that gets underway to make us what He wants us to be…

Then we live for a time, plodding along as people unchanged.  But then we begin to see His hand and know His pressure in our life. Like the tide, it can be in and then out again, a filling up and a drawing down. Then something difficult ensues and we are challenged by the Holy Spirit to forgive, release, not be embittered, to reconcile, to pray… any number of things that would cause every worldly intention still operating in our heart to balk and stand firm.

Now you are in the tall grass of God! And He is working on you like a chiropractor adjusting and moving and straightening, not your limbs, but your very self! Your heart and your soul. Stretching you to line you up with Christ Himself so that you are submitting to His will and aligning with His own plans and desires. You are letting go and putting off self, and putting on Christ!

What is the blessing in this brokenness? You are becoming more and more His.  The fellowship that you have, which is a distinguishing mark of Christians, is growing and it is with the Father and His Son (1Jn 1:3)

It is here, from a place of brokenness, where self has been put off, and the New Man put on that the life of the Holy Spirit can minister out of us, like that Living Water that flows forth from us. When I am still full of self and selfish thinking, I often quench the ministry that the Holy Spirit would want. But the brokenness of self is like that alabaster perfume bottle being broken, so the unguent and fragrance of the Lord through the Holy Spirit can come forward…

Like Madame Jeanne Guyon says, “God gives us the cross, and the cross gives us God.”

Brokenness is a gift that keeps on giving, even through the pain. Because it is an agent of transformation. It is like the very pressure of the Father’s fingers working His plan within us, and upon us… And yes He is Good, all the time!