MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/D5596AE8/soilofspiritualgrowth.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" The Soil of Spiritual Growth

The= Soil of Spiritual Growth

Brokenness That Produces Humility

 

The Parable o= f the Sower or Soils &= nbsp;         &= nbsp;   Matthew 13:1-9

 

   &nbs= p;        “Grace grows best in the soil of humility.”

 

        &= nbsp;   James 4:6  NASB-Upd.

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PR= OUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

 

1.     Pride Must Be Bro= ken for Humility To Exist

 

        &= nbsp;   Pride is:

 

        &= nbsp;   1)         = Self-Will

 

        &= nbsp;   2)         = Self-Sufficiency

 

        &= nbsp;   3)         = Self-Glory

 

   &nbs= p;        Isaiah 57:15  NASB-Upd.=

For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowl= y of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”

 

Psalm 34:18&nb= sp; NASB-Upd.=

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted <= span class=3DGramE>And saves those who are crushed in spirit.<= /span>

 

Psalm 51:17- NASB-Upd.<= o:p>

The sacrifices of God are a broken spir= it; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not des= pise.

 

Isaiah 66:2  NASB-Upd.=

"But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

 

2.     How Brokenness Pr= oduces Humility

 

        &= nbsp;   Humility is the opposite of pride:

 

   &nbs= p;        1)&nb= sp;        Submission<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'>     “Not my will but . . .”

 

   &nbs= p;        2)&nb= sp;        Importunity=    “Blessed are the poor in spirit”

 

        &= nbsp;   3)&nb= sp;        Directing All Glory to God &nb= sp; “Whatever you do . . .”

 

3.     The Powerful Resu= lts of Brokenness

 

   &nbs= p;        1)         = Brokenness releases the fragrance of worship and of Christ in my life= .

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Breaking of the Alabaster Flask –= ; Luke 7

 

        &= nbsp;   2)         = Brokenness allows Christ to shine out of my life in testimony.

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Gideon’s army – Judges 7

 

        &= nbsp;   3)         = Brokenness makes your praying powerful.

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Jacob at Peniel – Genesis 32

 

        &= nbsp;   4)         = Brokenness makes you fruitful in your life.

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Breaking up fallow ground – Hosea 10:12

 

        &= nbsp;   5)         = Brokenness releases God’s blessings to others through you.

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       The broken body of Christ – 1 Corinthians 11:24

 

4.     Brokenness and Hu= mility Are a Choice of Human Will

 

   &nbs= p;        James 4:10  NASB-Upd.

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

 

        &= nbsp;   1 Peter 5:5b-6  NASB-Upd.=

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROU= D, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.