16 July 2013 by Natasha Kim CM –
Jimmy Scroggins was the main speaker at the Connexion Conference held at First Baptist Church (FBC). There he talked about releasing brokenness, bitterness and hurts. Everyone wears a mask, they place barriers, and act like nothing hurts them but one thing is true, hurt really hurts! and God isn’t ignorant about it. He cares about our hurts.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Sin and Brokenness
Sin is defined as “estrangement from God”, and it has been building up from the beginning of time ever since the Garden of Eden. “Anytime we sin, Gods design gets distorted and we depart from Gods design of harmony, fellowship and relationship” said Jimmy. A little departure from God causes a little brokenness to be felt while a bigger the departure results in much more brokenness. However, just because we are saved doesn’t fix everything. There are always going to be choices whether it’s our own or the choices of others that will impact us.
He shared that the worst part of all is when your brokenness is caused by someone who has sinned against you whether it’s your family, friends, or the government. You might have had a horrid past but that does not mean that becoming a Christian takes away the horrible memories from their past. It is important to keep in the loop of God’s design so that you do not run astray and bring back the brokenness.
People who experience less corruption in their countries may feel a sense of righteousness just because they feel it less but feeling morally clean and superior in your own strength is just as much a tool of the devil as blatant immorality or alcohol abuse. “Our own sense of being a good person and our thinking that it will make us right with God is a real seduction… and it’s a real trap” said Jimmy. Do not depend on your ability, for anything that you depend on that isn’t Christ will lead to brokenness.
However, brokenness can also be a blessing for it leads us to repentance. “It is God trying to get our attention. People don’t repent because they’ve never really been broken in the heart and sense the need to pursue God’s design because they think they have it all” shared Jimmy.
God can transform the Bitterness in your Hearts
During the time spent as a pastor in his Church, Jimmy had met a number of broken people who were longing for approval and for friends. There are people who experience a terrible past who find themselves moving from relationship to relationship to make themselves complete but instead keep making decisions that make their life more difficult.
Bitterness was what these people had in common. “Bitterness always brings brokenness, it grows and gets worse” said Jimmy. Many find themselves feeling bitter about how people have mistreated them and in return find it difficult to forgive. This keeps them from moving forward in life. Learning is a process that everyone goes through and it is important to forgive as God forgave you for your sins.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21)
Throughout the Bible it shows that God cares about your hurts! And He knows about your enemies. “There really are people who will try to hurt you in your life but God in Heaven knows about it. He sees every act of child abuse, rape, men who are unjustly put in prison and every act of horrible sin. God is disgusted by them all and that is why the Bible says God has wrath and indignation every single day” said Jimmy.
“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.” (Psalm 7:11)
There’s a common saying that people say and that is, “I don’t get mad, I get even.” He added that, “The reason we’re afraid to forgive is because we’re afraid that God is not going to hurt them as bad as they hurt us, that Gods standard for justice isn’t severe enough.”
Christians have to forgive. “Do you really think that your standard for justice is higher than Gods standard? Gods’ standard for justice is the cross! His standard for justice is nails in the hands and feet of His son and a crown of thorns on the head of His son.” said Jimmy with full conviction.
Forgiveness is something that has to happen over and over again because God forgives us in Jesus. Constantly remind yourselves of the Gospel, and repent, change your minds and hearts and remember Jesus! Remember those things that other people have done evil to you, God will use it for your good. You need to forgive and trust God!
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:6-9)
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