Take Me, Break Me, Make Me

Pastor Jim Micheff

Midland SDA Church

February 3, 2018

Introduction: Early 70’s, 7^th or 8^th grade, lived in a small town in Wisconsin called Doylestown, population 200, it was dusk almost too dark to see, playing basketball at neighbors house, when … suddenly the whole sky seemed to light up all at once, we all stopped playing, there was a quiet uneasiness, the various things I had learned about Jesus 2^nd coming and the end of the world flooded my memory, leaving the game unfinished I excused myself and raced home, heart pounding, fearing Jesus was coming and I was not ready! Mom assured me Jesus was not coming yet, the next day the newspapers reported that a freight train pulling cars loaded with fuel and derailed and caused a terrible exposition.

You remember 9/11. The news media reported that on that day the world changed - as a result of a Terrorist attack. 4 hijacked airliners crash, 2 into the world trade centers – the symbol of America’s wealth, one into the pentagon – a symbol of America’s military strength. The last one was foiled crashing into a field.

The next week after 9/11 church attendance was incredible. But after several months the initial fear subsided and church attendence dropped below what it was before 9/11.

What motivates any of us to “come to Jesus”? Fear of death or the 2^nd Coming, or the desire for heavenly rewards? It should be…the conviction of sin and the realization of your need of a Savior.

Story: Lady (Nadine) afraid to die – she didn’t know Jesus

Sinners Prayer:

Rom 6:23 I recognize that I’m a sinner and deserve to die.

1 John 1:9 I confess my sin to you and accept your offer to become my sin bearer so that I can live forever.

James 4:7 I surrender my will to you knowing that my life is not my own but yours.

Take Me Accept Christ as Savior… Then what? Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him… You came forward as a sinner…Did you go back to your seat sinless and without the desire to sin? What was the difference? The difference is Jesus takes responsibility for you.

Phil 1:6 …that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Phil 2:13 for it is God who words in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure.

Example: Child falls into a fast moving river. The water is over their head and they can’t swim. Someone hears the cry of help and runs ahead to a bridge knowing the child will be carried under it. They shout as loud as they can telling the child to raise their arm. The child responds and the rescuer reachs down and grabs the child’s wrist. Is the child saved? Well they are saved from going down the river to ertain death, but are they out of danger? What are they dependent on? The strength of their rescuer. Is there enough strenght to pull the child out of the water and out of danger? Does the rescuer need our help? What about effort? Unsanctified effort only causes fustration…but when God Sanctifies our effort we are able to do those things that are pleasing in His sight. God doesn’t just grab us by the wrist…He has our hearts.

Brake Me Implies pain and discomfort

1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

James 12-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

What are you going through? Loss of a job, death in your family, divorce, family challenges.

Sometimes the very thing that will bring about the needed change in us we are asking God to remove.

Example: Health/sickness. We must understand that it is not God’s will to heal everyone. Sometimes through sickness we are brought to depend on God.

1 Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Story: Scottish shepherd – lamb with broken leg… independence, disobedience, and headed for disaster

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therfore, and repent.

Make Me Prodigal Son Luke 15:11-32 … from “give me” to “make me”. Before God can “give us” He must first “make us”

Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therwith to be content.