Wounded: Handle With Care<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pastor Don Carpenter \/ General<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matthew 12:20<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Richard L. Dunagin of Denton, Texas, writing in Leadership Journal, said that his children won four free goldfish at the school carnival, necessitating a Saturday morning family outing to find an aquarium. The first several they found were too expensive, but then he spotted a used one right in the middle of the aisle: A discarded ten-gallon tank complete with gravel and filter. It was five dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course, it was nasty dirty, but the savings made the two hours of cleanup a breeze. Those four new fish looked great in their new home, at least for the first day. But by Sunday one had died. Too bad, but three remained. Monday morning revealed a second casualty, and by Monday night a third goldfish had gone belly up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe called in an expert, a member of our church who had a 30-gallon tank. It didn\u2019t take him long to discover the problem: I had washed the tank with soap, an absolute no-no. My uninformed efforts had destroyed the very lives I was trying to protect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes in our zeal to clean up our own lives or the lives of others, we unfortunately use \u201ckiller soaps\u201d\u2014condemnation, criticism, nagging, fits of temper. We think we\u2019re doing right, but our harsh, self-righteous treatment is more than they can bear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a wonderful thing to be a blood-bought, born again Christian. There is nothing that the devil can do that will erase salvation! But\u2026 there are many Christians who feel that they are no longer useful to our Savior. We have been led to believe that God has sees our failure and has put us on the shelf, never to be used for his glory. It is a horrible feeling to believe that God has discarded you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our passage this evening is a quotation from Isaiah 42:1-4. The prophet is explaining how the messiah will be recognized. One distinct characteristic is that he will not get rid of the weak and broken. This morning let us meditate on this truth: Where there is life, there is hope\u2026 and we are not dead yet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Great Physician Will Not Break the Bruised <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 12:20<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A. Small stick with a crack or weak spot- not a mighty oak tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Not much good for building<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Still had life in it<\/p>\n\n\n\n B. Bruised= an outward sigh of an inward hurt<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Personal failure<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. The failure and hurt of others toward you<\/p>\n\n\n\n C. This bruise captivates the soul- Jesus sets you free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luke 4:18<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n D. David\u2019s soul was bruised after his sin<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Guilt<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 51:5<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 51:7<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Lost joy<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 51:12<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Broken heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 51:17<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n E. God heals the bruised heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. God is greater than your heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 John 3:20<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. God heals the broken heart<\/p>\n\n\n\n Psalm 147:3<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearts are flowers; they remain open to the softly falling dew, but shut up in the violent downpour of rain.\u2014Jean Paul Richter<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Great Physician Will Fan The Flicker of Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 12:20<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A. The picture<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. A little light<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. A little heat<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. A lot of irritating smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n B. Peter <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Proclaimed his loyalty to Christ <\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 26:33\u201335 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Peter denied Christ and wept bitterly<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 26:73\u201375 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Peter was greatly used after he was filled with the Holy Ghost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>Acts 2:41<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus will bring judgment to victory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 12:20<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A. Victory over emotions<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 John 3:20<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Corinthians 10:4\u20135<\/em> KJV<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n B. Victory over the flesh<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 6:6\u201311 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For he that is dead is freed from sin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n C. Victory over guilt<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:1 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:31 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romans 8:33 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God\u2019s elect? It is God that justifieth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n D. Victory over death<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 15:55\u201357 KJV<\/p>\n\n\n\n O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jerry Bridges suggests these five strategies for obeying the biblical injunctions about gentleness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Actively seek to make others feel at ease. Be sensitive to other\u2019s opinions and ideas, welcoming opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Show respect for the personal dignity of the other person. When you need to change a wrong opinion, do so with persuasion and kindness rather than domination or intimidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Avoid blunt speech and abrupt manner. Be sensitive to how others react to your words, considering how they may feel. When it is necessary to wound, also include encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Don\u2019t be threatened by opposition; gently instruct, asking God to dissolve the opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Do not belittle or degrade or gossip about a brother who has fallen\u2014instead grieve and pray for his repentance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Robert J. Morgan, Nelson\u2019s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 339.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What was cast away because of external circumstances had great value inside. Jesus not only sees our warn exterior, but also sees who we are and who we can become in Him. There is still life, there is still hope. Let us learn from our Great Physician. When we come upon the wounded, handle with care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:01 PM October 12, 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Wounded: Handle With Care Pastor Don Carpenter \/ General Matthew 12:20 Richard L. Dunagin of Denton, Texas, writing in Leadership Journal, said that his children won four free goldfish at the school carnival, necessitating a Saturday morning family outing to find an aquarium. The first several they found were too expensive, but then he spotted … Continue reading Wounded: Handle With Care<\/span>