Week Seventeen-Day Four: End of Day

In our church, we used to sing a chorus that went like this: “Brokenness is what I long for, brokenness is what I need.”

I honestly don’t know if I can go that far. I know brokenness is what I need, but don’t know that it’s what I really long for. I’m too much of a spiritual wimp. So, I remind myself that this is always the beginning of any new spiritual work for me. And sometimes …

Tonight and tomorrow night I want to give you some handles on brokenness. Nancy Lee DeMoss has created a magnificent list of characteristics of “broken people” as compared to “proud people”. It is an irritatingly convicting list and well worth your time. Take a look at the first half tonight. This is really a lot to take in if you do any real work with it. My hope is that tonight we be a brief exposure to this list and you will take some time in the coming days to really examine yourself in light of its observations.

Proud people …

(1). Focus on the failure of others

(2). Are self righteous; have a critical, fault finding spirit; look at own life/faults with a telescope but others with a microscope.

(3). Look down, in a condescending spirit, at others

(4). Are independent; have desires for everyone else to meet their personal needs.

(5). Always manipulate circumstances to maintain control; must have everyone do it their way.

(6). Have to prove they are always right

(7). Claiming personal rights

(8). Display a demanding spirit

(9). Self-protective of time, rights, reputation

(10). Desire to be served

(11). Desire to be a success

(12). Desire for self-advancement

(13). Are driven to be recognized and appreciated

(14). Cringe when others in the same field are praised, wishing it was them

Broken people

(1). Are overwhelmed with their own spiritual need (Matthew 5:3, 7:3-5, Luke 18:9-14)
(2) Are compassionate; have a forgiving spirit; look for the best in others (Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12)

(3) Esteem all others as better than self (Phil. 2:3, Rom. 12:10)

(4). Are dependent on God and His grace; recognize others' needs and seek to meet them (2 Cor. 3:4-6, Phil. 2:4)

(5). Surrenders control by giving freedom for others to do or see things differently (Rom. 12:1-2)

(6). Are willing to yield to the possibility that they could be wrong, and thus, yield the need to always prove they are right (Rom. 15:2)
(7). Yielding personal rights (Eph. 5:21)

(8). Have a giving spirit (Rom. 12:13)

(9). Are self-denying (Luke 9:23)

(10). Are motivated to serve others (Matt. 20:26-28, Phil. 2:20-21)

(11). Desire to be faithful to make others a success (John 3:30)

(12) Desire to promote others (John 3:3)).
(13) Have a sense of unworthiness; are thrilled to be used at all; eager for others to get credit, honors and awards (I Tim. 1:12-16)
(14). Rejoice when others are lifted up (Rom. 12:15)