Room With A View: Broken But Blessed
Today, we continue our series . . . Room With A View, Perspectives on Prayer. Last week we talked about the distractions that can keep us from getting into the room. They keep us from experiencing the very presence of God.
Our theme passage comes from a statement Jesus made in the middle of one of his teaching times with His Disciples (and others). In the middle of the Sermon on the Mount , Jesus instructed them about prayer:
Matthew 6:5-8 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
Of course the “room” is more than a physical location –it is about a relationship. We know, on this side of the cross, that it is about God’s invitation into the “holy of holies – by the blood of Christ” (Hebrews 10:19-22) It is about relationship. The “view” is all about our view of Christ – in a personal, life-transforming experience of his person, presence and power through prayer.
As we will see – we can experience this room privately in our walk with God, or we can experience it corporately with others, and as a church. In any case, we can now experience the Lord in the “secret place” of the heart – where the Lord sees the real – and often hidden things of our hearts.
Last week, we took a look around this room. I pointed out that we have a trophy case. We talked about getting past the trophies of our heart (or the distractions of our successes) . . . and into the presence of God. Today – we come to a mirror. This is significant because the Bible uses the idea of a “mirror” to describe our experience of His presence in prayer.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Just like a person looks in a mirror to see an image – we gaze upon the person of Christ as we pray – and through that experience we are literally transformed into the image of Christ. I am sure you have noticed that last week, the mirror was not broken . . . but this week it is. And even though it is broken, you can still see your reflection. When it comes to prayer, a broken mirror limits our view of, and experience of Christ – and keeps us from becoming like him – which has tragic and far-reaching consequences.
Isn’t that how life is? Almost ‘overnight’ our lives can change direction and challenges get inserted into our lives without notice or invitation – and we begin asking ourselves Why? & “When will it go away?” Or, “When will God heal me?” When our lives are broken, we can’t just keep going through the motions (attending church, trying harder, attempting to pray) but we need to hitting our knees and cry out to God for help & healing. We need Him to restore our vision and experience of Christ – and change our hearts.
Today, I want to invite you to focus on a few truths about God, His love, and His character that will put our minds in focus and align ourselves with God’s Word . . . so that our broken hearts and mirrors can be healed – and our experience of Christ in prayer restored. I want us to see God’s response to our Brokenness then look at how we can and should respond then the “mirror” or our life has been cracked or shattered.
I . God’s Response In Our Brokenness
1. God Cares About You! Period. No qualifiers. No disclaimers. The Bible states this in the simplest of terms in 1Pet. 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Now, let me tell you how you should interpret this verse. This is NOT saying, “Hey, let God know so He can only sympathize and cry with you. ANYONE can do that! Anyone can ‘care for you’ or ‘sympathize’ with you. BUT ONLY GOD cares for you AND has the ability to do something about it!!!
In addition, notice to what lengths His care goes: Notice this verse says “ALL” cares! This means “spiritual, physical, and emotional” needs. God is interested in all these areas that may be in need of healing.
2. God Has the Power to Heal – and in His word – he speaks clearly of his desire to do so – collectively and individually
A. He Can Heal Us Collectively – (As a nation, a church, a family)
II Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. As we do so in humility, repentance – then He will act to heal and restore our lives, our church, our nation, our homes. Of course, God restores a nation, a church, a home – one heart at a time.
B. He can Heal us INDIVIDUALLY -
Some of the most powerful verses that talk about God’s healing power are found in James 5:13-17 - Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
This passage speaks of :
1. Emotional Healing
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
2. Physical Healing
James 5:13 - Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
3. Spiritual Healing James 5:15 . . . And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Our Response to Brokenness: To Move Beyond Doubt to Trust
James 5:16-18 - The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
When our lives are shattered, . . it is natural to doubt God’s care and ability to meet our needs. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours,
We are sometime like Elijah – he loved God – was used of God – but had severe moments of doubt. Even after a great spiritual exploit on Mt. Carmel – he was overcome by fear of Queen Jezebel, who wanted him dead. He thought he was all alone – He literally sat under a tree and asked God to kill Him (1 Kings 19-4-21)
But as he rested and listened to the Lord – (the still small voice) – God restored Him, gave him hope, renewed his perspective, and drew him close to His heart. The Lord can do the same thing for you. BUT - he prayed earnestly, The Bible promises -- the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
QUOTE: Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
When we Doubt His Care, when we face storms, when we think we’ve been abandoned, when we are overcome by fears – and the mirror of our experience of God become cracked – we must ask God for the grace to pray earnestly. Just as Elijah, often with broken mirrors, we must continue to pray. I think of another illustration from the Gospels.
Sometimes we are like the disciples caught in a storm, Mark 4:37-40 - The wind and waves were severe. Jesus was sleeping in the boat. The disciples were having a crisis of faith and were overcome with fear. Like the disciples, we can get overwhelmed with the trauma of the moment. Our mirror gets cracked. We doubt Christ – even though He is with us.
We can begin to doubt His presence, doubt his care – doubt His ability to help us.
QUOTE: Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength” Charles H. Spurgeon
Do you remember that the disciples cried out to Jesus in the midst of the storm? “Don’t you care if we perish?”
This was the only prayer they offered. It was plagued with doubt and fear – but it was desperate and passionate. You can ask “Why God?” “When God?” “I don’t understand, God?!”…but never get to the point to where you question His care for you. …But you will if we don’t pray & if we don’t have an intimate relationship with God. We will end up doubting His care for us.
We are reminded that in spite of our lack of faith, our overwhelming fears, our confusion – we must still cry out to Jesus. He is with us. He can calm the storms. He can heal our fears. He can give us a fresh understanding of His power. That is why we must pray, even in our brokenness.
So We Trust In Him . . .
2 Cor. 1:9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, We need to remember that however God responds to our requests for help & healing, God’s responses are always the best for us – because he knows best! He knows your next step. He knows what you’re going through. He knows the beginning from the end. He cares & He loves you.
Even when you feel like the mirror of your view of him is broken, and your heart is overwhelmed – CRY OUT TO HIM. So, knowing this, that “God knows you and God loves you. So, however God answers your prayer for healing is the best decision for you!”...I want to direct your attention to some of the ways that God responds to our prayers for Healing:
CONCLUSION:
Our Prayers In Brokeness!
Today, you may be sitting here – and you feel like this message is just for you. Your mirror is broken –You know the Lord is there – but your experience of Him is broken. Your mirror is shattered by fears, doubts, pain, and disappointment. You need His healing touch --- to restore you to Himself. To touch your emotions, your spirit, your body.
Maybe it’s broader that just you – you are broken over a family situation, a circle of relationships. Maybe you are burdened for a revival in our nation. You need renewed faith, trust and know you must cry out to Him today with “fervent believing prayer” – in spite of your circumstance.
1. Confess All Sin that is blocking (cracking) your intimacy with Christ -
Psalm 32: 5 - I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, " I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"; And You forgave the guilt of my sin
2. Ask Him for Stronger Faith
Mark 9:23-24 “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
I believe – I love you so much, Lord. Help my unbelief – I need your help as I walk through my day-to-day challenges, hurts, pains, and unanswered questions. Let me cry out to you.
3. Cry Out For Healing
Jer. 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
We beg God to take away the pain, the brokenness that is ruling our lives. We ask Him to heal our illnesses, our hurts. And, while God doesn’t always choose to heal. We know His plans are the best plans for our lives.
4. Pray for Peace
Grace comes when you are trusting Him, not yourself. Not your reason – your resolve – but Him. Peace comes through praying to God and knowing that you have laid it in His Hands…NOT just when the answer to the prayer comes. You see, it is not the resolving of our circumstances that will make all things better…it is our trust in God and dependence on Him that heals us, that restores a clear vision of Him, and gives us a power to go another day!!!
2 Corinthians 12:9 - And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Prayer changes things. More importantly – prayer changes us. . . . in the midst of broken lives and shattered dreams, our prayers help us make it through. This is the hope that is found in Christ. The world seeks for answers to all of their problems through things that truly don’t bring peace.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Come today – be transformed and you trust him to restore the mirror, draw you close – and make you like Jesus- to give you grace and peace, healing and hope --in the midst of your brokenness.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
