| Word of Faith Newsletter A Share The Word Ministry Production Evangelist Joseph Stieff Sr. |
| February 2010 Vol. 6 No.2 Word of Faith Bible Institute at First Church of God and Saints of Christ, Inc. 626 Lawson Street Pittsburgh. Pa. 15219 For correspondence studies, e-mail jstieff@gmail.com or write: Pastor Joseph Stieff Sr. D.D. P.O.Box 91153 Pittsburgh, Pa. 15221 We are fully accredited by the WORLD-WIDE ACCREDITATION COMMISSION OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (WWAC) Anyone wishing to contact them for verification may write to: The WWAC, Dr. Paul Richardson Executive President, 2800 Blendwell Rd. Richmond, Va. 23224. _______________________________________________________________________________ “Broken, Blessed and Multiplied” Matthew 14:15-21 Why are the broken blessed? I. God Hears the Cries of Those Who Seek Him A. Desperation and brokeness can bring us to a new dimension in God through which no other doors may lead. We can’t get there through faith- through victory. through praise…. B. It is often only when we become broken that God can change us. 1. brokeness is a feature of repentance 2. brokeness is the key to travail and overcoming prayer C. David is broken at the deathbed of his child (II Samuel 12:15-25) The child dies, and then David is blessed with a son named Solomon whom the prophet names ‘beloved of the Lord.’ (Exo 2:23 KJV) And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. (Exo 3:7 KJV) And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; Psalms 22: 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. (Mark 10:47 KJV) And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. (Psa 34:18 KJV) The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psa 51:8 KJV) Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. (Psa 51:17 KJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psa 147:3 KJV) He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. BREAKING THROUGH QUITTING POINTS Matt. 24:10, 12 Quitting point- When we reach a certain level of physical, emotional or mental pain, we reach a quitting point and our systems begin to shut down. Causes- This can be caused by several things here are just a few. Low tolerance for problems, for pain or it can be the result of past habits. It may simply be our predetermined expectations of how things should be. A- The enemy is shrewd. He knows our weak areas. He may be defeated, but he isn’t stupid. He always attacks us at our quitting points. He doesn’t mind if we continue to go to church as long as we have quit trying to be effective. ONE MEASURE OF A MAN OR A WOMAN IS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET HIM OR HER TO BAIL OUT OF A COMMITMENT. Prov. 4:23 “Watch over your heart with ALL diligence, for from it flows the SPRINGS of life.” Whether it is a marriage, a friendship or a faith. WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD OF YOUR QUITTING POINT? B- Build Character- Make a decision now to change. Increase your capacity to deal with problems and disappointments. The deeper our character, the easier it will be for us to develop an attitude of excellence. Heb.10:36 “For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.” Character doesn’t come cheap. There is a price to pay. Yet without character you will never be able to handle the blessings and the success that God want to bring into your life. C- How do you see the world? We receive much of our information about the world through our eyes. How we view the world around us affects our thoughts, and our thoughts affect our souls. Matt.6:22 “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.” D- What is in your heart? What makes a heart healthy is what we feed it. The bible calls this treasure-building |