This sermon emphasizes the importance of brokenness before God, highlighting the need for contrition, faith, determination, and yielding to the Holy Spirit. It explores how brokenness leads to intimacy with the Savior, ministering to Him, and bearing much fruit for His glory. The message underscores that brokenness is indispensable for true service and spiritual growth, drawing examples from biblical stories like the colt, the woman with the alabaster box, and the feeding of the five thousand.

I let you unite together in prayer and seek the Lord. Our gracious Father, we come before thy throne of grace again this evening and draw nigh unto thee, Lord, through the precious, precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank thee, Lord, that we have been singing and reminded from experience that that blood avails for me, Lord, to know experimentally that that blood has cleansed. We have known the release, Lord, from the penalty of sin, and Lord, known what it was to be lifted from the guilt and shame that accompanied sin. O Father, we thank thee there's power, wonder-working power in the precious blood of the Lamb. And our Father, as we draw near to thee, we come, Lord, solely upon the merit of that blood. Nothing in our hand we bring, simply to the cross we cling. Naked come to thee for dress, helpless look to thee for grace. Foul we to the fountain fly. Wash us, Savior, or we die. We thank you, Lord, for the remedy for sin. We thank you, Father, that you didn't leave us, Father, in the darkness under the terrible tyranny of Satan. You didn't leave us, Lord, with the hopelessness of the ungodly to go out into a Christless eternity to be held in chains, Lord, O God, and thrown to the lake of fire. But in your great mercy, Lord, you stepped in and you provided, Lord, a sacrifice, a sacrifice that would, Lord, pain thee and yet please thee. For thy word says it pleased the Lord to bruise him, who was the very delight of thy heart, Lord, who was ever before thee and ever brought joy to thy heart. And O God, we thank thee that thou didst not spare him, but delivered him up for us all. And we thank you, Lord, how shall you not also freely with him? Give him, give us all things. We thank you, Lord, that you've given us an inheritance, incorruptible, undefiled, and feed us not away. Lord, we see men in the world running, striving, agonizing to get something, Lord, that will pass away, something that's fleeting, it's temporal, it's transient. But O God, we thank you that you have, Lord, supplied and granted something that is permanent, something that will endure whenever, Lord, all the earth and its treasures have melted and gone away. O Father, we thank you tonight, Lord, that you have redeemed us and the redemption is so great, so magnificent, so beyond our comprehension, Lord, that thou hast redeemed our soul, that thou hast, Lord, prepared a home in heaven. Thou hast things for us to do on earth and thou hast, Lord, a work for us in eternity. O God, we bless thee. Love so amazing, so divine, demands our soul, our life for all. We pray somehow, Lord, by the power of thy spirit, that thou would open us and open our understanding and open the understanding of our soul. Father, to grasp a little more of the wonder of God and his salvation. We pray, O God, that thou would warm our heart. We pray, Lord, that you'd melt the frost of our soul. And O God, that we would feel as, Lord, we remember it used to be sang, Lord, to bring back the springtime to the soul. O God, we pray tonight that thou would, Lord, remember us in this sanctuary. You know our needs, Lord, tonight. There's not one gathered, but you know us all together. You know, Lord, disappointments, discouragements, failures, Lord, victories, you know all about them. And Father, yet, despite where we may be, Lord, your arms are toward us. We thank you, Father, you want to draw us, Lord, with cords of love. You didn't bring us this far, Lord, to bury us. You didn't bring us over so much, Lord, to let us down and to abandon us when you've taken us over a sea of iniquity, to drop us, Lord, in some puddle somewhere. Oh, we bless you, Lord. And we pray that we might be recipients tonight of the grace of God. And Father, that we might sense that the Lord is here. Remember again our land, Father, again. Father, we pray it every week. We pray it, and we know many of the folk here pray it. And Lord, we thank you for many others in the land who pray it. And we believe in other continents who pray it. Lord, we pray for Ireland, Lord. We pray for the supernatural working of God, the Holy Ghost in Ireland. Father, we hold on to you afresh and remind you, Lord, of your covenants. Oh, Father, we dare to believe you, Lord, for multitudes of souls. Father, that you will bring them into your kingdom, not by might nor power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts, this mountain shall be removed. Father, we thank you, Lord. The alcoholic is not a problem to you. Lord, those who are engaging in various lifestyles that displease thee, Lord, Lord, by the might of your spirit, you can turn them, Lord. You can turn them. And Father, we dare to believe you tonight. For Lord Ireland, from Cork, Lord, right up to Coleraine. Father, from Dublin right across to Donegal. Father, that this island would become ablaze with the movings of the Spirit of God. That, oh, Father, this land, Father, would be, Lord, brought together in unity under the Spirit of God. Oh, God, we look to thee. It's our desire, it's our longing, Lord, you've put it in our soul. Nothing less will satisfy us but a movement of thy divine Spirit, Lord. Oh, God, so we bless thee and we look to thee that thou would usher in that day and prepare our lives, Lord, so that in some measure, Lord, we will be involved in the work of the kingdom. That we will become instruments in the hand of an almighty God. Oh, Father, hear us tonight. Hear us tonight. Grant us afresh, Lord, the renewal in our soul to know our calling in God. Father, whether it's a ministry in prayer or helping or preaching or whatever it is, and yet, Father, we pray that if our hearts are not warm toward thee, Lord, all these ministries, they are nothing. They're vain, they're empty, they're useless. But oh, God, warm the heart. Warm the heart. Oh, Father, we pray tonight that your name would be glorified in our midst. Heavenly Father, we pray as we often hear it, but Lord, we really mean it, let none be seen. Save Jesus only. Father, in your own unique way, so eclipse the preacher and the message that the Lord will be seen and that each soul will revel in the wonder of Jesus. Oh, God, hear us. Again, Lord, we give you thanks for all your blessings. We pray again for those in the mission. We remember Gilbert and Margaret. We remember the active news tonight, Lord. So many that we know. Lord, it would take us all night to name them. We thank you for our brethren with us from the faith mission, and we pray that you will bless them in their labors, Lord, attempting to win the lost in a very difficult and trying, Lord, land and a climate that is ungodly. Father, we pray that you will minister to them and bless them in their souls. Oh, God, we ask again tonight that you receive our thanks for all your goodness to us, Lord. Blessings of food and clothing and family, health, Lord, you've been so good to us. Eyes to see and ears to hear. Lord, we bless you. We pray for those infirm tonight that you'll minister to them with illness in their body, concerned about their health. Oh, God, draw near to them and put an arm upon them, help them to know that thou art the Lord that heals, and thou art the comforter of their strengths, and thou art the giver of life. So, Father, we commit all to thee. Ask you your blessing and the deepening sense of your presence to be with us. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. We give you a very warm welcome in the Lord's name. We're grateful for you coming tonight. Can I give you the announcements briefly, Lord? Well, on Thursday night, prayer meeting is at 8pm, the open air at 2.30 on Saturday, and then next Lord's Day evening, I hope to be along to minister God's word. As far as I remember from the diary, there's a lady coming to give a little report about a labour. It's a new work that's commenced over in England, and it's relating to reaching children with the gospel. It integrates into Northern Ireland, and I've invited this lady to come along and give a short report on that work, how they're attempting to win the children through various means for the Lord. So, I trust that, I'm sorry I haven't written down her name, but she'll be here, God willing, next week to give a little word initially before I hope to bring the closing word. Now, can I say also, God willing, next Saturday, after the open air, for those who are at the open air, I have a little job for you. God willing, when the open air is concluded, we will be coming to do a little bit of work at the hall here and try and tidy it up and hoover and clean and so on. So, if you can remember that, please do. Also, for those who maybe would like to come along, and maybe not at the open air, but you want to help us with tidying up, we'll be here probably from about four o'clock around there onwards, so you'd be very welcome. But if you don't come, I don't know whether there's any point in telling you to pray for us for cleaning up, but nevertheless, you can remember us anyway at the open air. I think that's all the announcements. I'd like to say again, let me remind you there's a number of these here, videos, DVDs, that our brother Paul has given to us. There's one here, Hidden Dangers of Halloween in the Yacht Club, and it's by Clifford Wallace, and that one is five pounds. CD. And what's the, is there a DVD? Ten pounds. Five pounds for the Hidden Dangers of Halloween that Clifford Wallace, and then ten pounds for the DVD. And I'll also mention this one here. I've said on other occasions, but maybe you're new in tonight, but these are a set of tapes. This is a CD set, but you can get the DVD, is it 30 and 35? 30 and 35. 35 for CD set, and there's seven discs, and DVD is 35. And these are lectures by the late Jimmy Winning. Pastor Jimmy Winning was a unique character, and we have invited Jimmy to come and speak here in the hall, but that particular evening he wasn't able to come, and I didn't realise at that stage that cancer was right through his whole body virtually, and yet he was attempting with all his might to come, and that would have been the last meeting, but he wasn't able to make it, and he apologised profusely, but the Lord had a job done for Jimmy, and he was to go on to be with him. But he had amazing insight into the world of demonology and the occult, and these are seven lectures, much of a personal experience obviously, with a biblical base. Very misunderstood subject, and a subject today that is, some people get involved in it, and they shouldn't. They shouldn't be in it, and shouldn't be near it, because you really need to be called by the Lord to go specifically into it and deal with it on a full-time basis. But Brother Winning had a unique ministry, and it's most enlightening as to discover how God give insight, and how that God can help you and I. You know, sometimes when we read the scriptures, God says don't do a thing, and I often in my inquisitive nature say, I wonder why? I wonder why God says that? Why did I not do that? And well, often the reason why God says don't do it is because there's not only sometimes the natural implications that it could be harmful, but there's always a spiritual implication. And that comes through so clearly when we come to the realm of the demonic, because when we let sin into our lives, it opens an avenue for the enemy to come to our lives, and get a hold on them. And what starts as an innocent thing becomes a stronghold in the life, and only the power of the blood of Christ can break it and set us free. Wonderful ministry, and I commend it to you. Now, it's lovely to have our brethren from the Faith Mission with us, Alan and Andre, and I don't think they expected to be doing anything tonight other than just coming, but I'm going to ask Andre to come up and give a few minutes to tell us just what he's doing, and where he's laboring, and so on. So brother, come ahead. You're very welcome, both of you. Thank you very much, Alan, and it's nice to be along with you here this evening, and I promised Alan that I wouldn't take up much of his time. He said that he would soon get me over a few minutes, but we do appreciate your prayerful remembrance for us as we have been laboring, Alan MacDonald and myself, around the area over the past number of weeks. During the month of October, we had a three-week gospel campaign in Broomhedge. I'm sure you all know where that is out between Lisburn here and Moira, and we felt that it was quite a difficult and hard area, and a place certainly where there is great darkness, and there's a little sign in the middle of it that I saw one of the first days when we were going out visiting, and it simply said, Broomhedge still says no. Now that might be true in the political sense, but it certainly sadly was true in the spiritual realm, and many of the homes which we visited, and which we gave invitations to, they didn't respond to the gospel, and certainly as the scripture reminds us, they knew not the day of their visitation. But nonetheless, we trust the Lord that he will bless the seed which was sown for the unsaved who came to the meetings from the locality, a few of them, and those who received gospel tracts through their doors, that he might work and draw these souls to himself, and we pray on for that district, and we ask you to pray for us as we are currently engaged in preparing for a mission in Cunallan, starting now, God willing, this day week, for a fortnight. We are visiting for that, and Trevor Matthews will be the speaker at most of those meetings in Cunallan Mission Hall, running as I say from the 12th to the 26th of November. Pray for us as we go around the homes that we might have meaningful contacts with people, that hearts would be opened, as Lydia of Old had her heart opened to the gospel, that precious souls might come to find Christ, and even as the meetings are held night by night, that God by his spirit would bring in people and see them. Pray for us too, Alan and I, as we plan a week of Christian meetings up in Bally Hill the last week of November, that God would go before and lead and guide and bless the ministry of his word to his children there. So we do appreciate your prayers and ask you to continue to pray for us. Thanks, Alan. That was very good, Andrew, you kept well to time. We have been doing something in the open air. We've started, instead of just giving a free for all for everybody, we say we have five minutes to give your testimony. And some of them were saying, well, that's really hard to do that. I couldn't give my testimony in five minutes. In the fifth mission, we had to do it in two minutes. And I think one afternoon Colin was giving his testimony, I was saying to Stephen Haffey afterwards, whenever the five minutes was up, I said, he's only got a conviction at the minute. He should have been saved and the whole job over by now, but he's only on the conviction at the minute. So we try to get everybody to participate, and it's good. And well, we appreciate all those who are coming to share. We're going to turn in our hymn books again to hymn number 199. 199. I am thy whole Lord, I have heard thy voice, and it's all thy will. We're going to sing the first and second verse of 199. We'll rise to sing, please. For I long to rise in the arms of thee, and be closer unto thee. Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the prosper of thy sight. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious leading sight. Consecrate me now to thy service, Lord, by the power of praise divine. Where my soul will go, with thy stead I'll go, and my will be close in thine. Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the prosper of thy sight. Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to thy precious leading sight. Now we're turning together, please, to the book of Mark, the Gospel of Mark. Most of our readings are taken from this Gospel that's taken out. Mark chapter 11 and verse 1. Mark chapter 11 and verse 1. Thank you very much for praying for us. We were up this morning in Coleraine. And I was thinking of what Andrew said about the mission. I was asking the chief elder up there in the church, the Raphael Derby Church, if the mission made that recently. And he said we had a tremendous time, great sense of God in the services, and yet not a soul that they knew would come to the Lord. And in the church this morning, such a lovely sense of the presence of God in the church. And we live in lean times. I think we all realize and appreciate that. Mark chapter 11, verse 1. And when they came now to Jerusalem unto Bethpage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives he sent forth two of his disciples, and said unto them, Move your way into the village over against you, and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a cold tide whereon every man shall loose him and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Ye say that the Lord hath need of him, straightway he will send him together. And they went their way, and found the cold tide by the door, without any place for two ways in it, and they loosed him. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the coat? And they said unto them, Even as Jesus hath commanded. And they let them go. And they brought the coat to Jesus, and cast their garments on him. And he sat upon him, and many spread their garments in the way, and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna, blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Amen. The Lord be blessed. Let's unite in prayer together. Our gracious Father, we come to Thee tonight with a heart's desire to hear from Thee. To, Lord, hear Thy voice. To hear, Lord, Thee in our spirit. And Father, I realize I am unable to do that. So afresh I come to Thee, Lord, and I give Thee all that I am and have. And I claim Thy cleansing and sanctifying power on my spirit, soul, and body. I take authority in the name of Jesus over every demonic activity. Every wicked spirit. I pray that there would be such an anointing of your spirit upon the little gathering, that the enemy, Lord, will have no desire to be near it. I pray, Lord, that you would put a wall of fire round about, and Thy glory would reside in the midst. To this end, Lord, and for the extension of your eternal kingdom, I take the promised Holy Ghost, the blessed power of Pentecost. To fill me to the uttermost, I take, and I thank Thee that He, the Holy Spirit, will undertake in Jesus' name. Amen. The Lord Jesus, when Paul writing to the church at Corinth, he said, and I quote one of the verses in chapter 11, he said, The same night that the Lord was betrayed, He took bread and said, This is my body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of me. The Lord Jesus, when speaking to the disciples, said to them, Except a grain of wheat or a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. I want to speak to you for a little time this evening on the subject of brokenness. Is brokenness indispensable? Can you do without brokenness in your Christian life? Can you come to your full potential? Can the Spirit of God, who is ultimately the one who performs the work of God through a yielded vessel, can He perform that work through a non-broken vessel? Well, according to the example of the Lord Jesus, the answer is no. For Jesus, who was the Master and is the Master, said, This is my body which is broken for you. He said to the disciples of His day, He said, Unless the corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abideth alone. It is unproductive. When Jesus spoke of a broken body, when He spoke of the corn of wheat, He was speaking of death. He was speaking of brokenness. Brokenness. I believe with all my heart scripturally that brokenness is absolutely indispensable. It is one of the reasons why the church of Jesus Christ is so shallow. It is one of the reasons why in our sanctuaries our meetings are so dry and dead in our evangelical churches. It is one of the reasons why our prayer meetings are so mundane and repetitive. Because the beauty of brokenness has not been attained. It is an absolute necessity, brokenness. And I want to show you some instances of brokenness that the Lord has laid on my heart during the week. I was speaking to Brother Willie Honeyman. I know some of you pray for Willie as he does missions up around Toron. And Brother Willie was talking to me on the phone and he was reminding me of a sermon that was preached by the late Stanley Banks who was his mentor. And he said one little thing just about that sermon and it went right into my soul. And it has just been alive in there ever since. And so I come to you tonight with a message from the Lord. And the message is that brokenness is a necessity. You see in Mark 11 we have a colt. Now I want you to notice some things about the colt. First of all being a colt being held and retained by an owner this colt was not dying but quite the contrary. It was a healthy strong colt. The colt was useful that's the reason why it was owned. They didn't have tractors. They didn't have machinery. They had cattle colts for assisting them. It was a strong beast. It was a useful beast. It was a beast that had potential. It was gifted. But the Bible says in verse 2 that he said they entered into it the Lord said he shall find a colt tied. Listen to it. Where on never man sat. It was on broken. It was on broken. Never had a man sat on it. You know the colt or the ass or the mule is a stubborn thing. And you can only imagine the reaction would be whenever a person would put its leg over to subject this beast. The Lord specifically said that it's a beast that man has never sat on. It has never been broken. And you know brothers and sisters it is so often today as we've said before in the church of Christ. Men see other who's come to Christ and they say he's gifted. He's got music in him. He's got the gift of the God. He could be a preacher. He could be a teacher. He can think methodically. And they've got it all sussed out. And they're gifted and strong and useful and potential. But on broken. On broken. This colt as far as the Lord was concerned couldn't be used. With all its gift. With all its potential. Until it was brought to the Lord. The Lord sat on it. And when the Lord touched that colt I don't believe that that colt reacted the way it would have to any ordinary man. I believe that that colt instantly came under the subjection of its creator. Christ broken. Now I want to tell you tonight that brokenness is something that only Christ can do in the life of the Christian. It cannot be done merely by discipline. By the reading of scripture or saying prayers or attempting to be holy. It is something that God by his spirit does in the life and the spirit of an individual Christian. It's an absolute necessity. It was absolutely essential that this colt was broken by the Lord. What was the result? Well the result was that it exalted the Savior. You see the Lord Jesus was lifted up. And the people saw the Lord coming on this colt. Subjected to the Savior. And under submission to the Savior. And as it was coming the people were breaking the branches and crying Hosanna. And you see this old donkey was lifting up the Savior. And dear friend whenever your spirit has been broken by the Lord. The Holy Spirit through you will enable you by his power to lift up the Savior. And it's not something you will consciously do. It's not something that you are attempting to do. It is something that you are submitted and yielded to the Lord. That God does by his sanctifying grace. Wherein he lifts the Savior. The Bible says in John 16 and 14 that the Holy Spirit when the Lord spoke of him. He said he shall glorify me. There's so many today talk of experiences of the Holy Spirit. There's much emphasis today in the church upon gifts. Upon various wonderful experiences and so forth related to the Spirit. But primarily the very heart of it. The Lord Jesus didn't talk of these things that happen on the periphery of the Christian life. That are not actually the heart of it. But the Lord exclaimed the heart of it. He said the heart of a spiritual life. The heart of a person who is under the control of the Holy Ghost. Is that he shall glorify me. Life will glorify the Lord. Glorify the Lord in the home. Glorify the Lord in relationships. Glorify the Lord in private. Glorify the Lord in finances. He the Holy Spirit shall glorify the Savior. He lift up the Savior. But you see brokenness must take place. Because the problem that we have when we come to the Lord. And when we're saved. This is the general experience of the saint. Is that when we come to the Lord. A spark of grace is placed within. We are born again of the Spirit. But the flesh is there. And often in our naivety. We believe that because we are saved by the grace of God. That all areas where Satan could have touched us are all gone. That everything has just sorted itself out. That everything is clear and clean. And it's all sorted out. But often it's not. And many find that their lives are still plagued with great defeat. Find that they're involved in things secretly that they should not. Because this undercurrent of the old self and flesh is operating. You see in the scripture. We find that the method for God to bring the saint to brokenness. Is found in Psalm 51 and verse 17. A broken and a contrite spirit O God. Thou wilt not despise. Now that word contrition or contrite. Is closely related to brokenness. It actually means in the original Hebrew. It means broken or beaten to pieces. It means sorely broken. It means to be crouched. It's the picture of a person who has lost all confidence in self. You see I have said before. The late Leonard Ravenhill said. And many of his predecessors said. That it takes 20 years for the Holy Spirit to make a man. And prepare him for the ministry that God has shaped him for. 20 years approximately. Took 40 years for God to make Moses. The first 40 Moses is displaying his own ability. He's displaying what he can do by the power of Egypt the world. All that the world has poured into him. He has taught and learned in all the wisdom of Egypt. And the next 40 God takes that 40 years to strip him of it all. As one has said to deprogram him. And you know the more I go on with the Lord. I find that the more I go on and submit myself to God. And the teaching of God's spirit. And his word and to be taught by the Lord. Is that the Lord is constantly deprogramming me. The Lord is constantly arresting my mind. And saying you don't do it like that. In my economy we don't do it the way the church is doing it. We don't do it logically the way that the church thinks. That they imitate the world. And that's the way it's done to get people into the kingdom. God said there's a way. And my ways are not the world's ways. And we do well in the church. And we do well to let the church hear. And by the spirit of God. That the way to win the lost. Is by means of returning to the old fountains that were dug by our fathers. Whether people find them mundane or not. The point is the method that our fathers used. Were the methods that struck the spring and got the water. And we need to retrace those paths. We don't need to imitate those men. We don't need to do what they did. We don't need to try and capture their personalities. Or their styles or their methods of service. But what we do need to do. Is to capture the spiritual truths that they discovered. And they're very simple. Contrition. The Lord says in Isaiah 57. He said I. The most high. He said I dwell. In the high and holy place. And he said who do I dwell with. He said I dwell with them. In the high and holy place. With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit. Somehow this contrite. This broken spirit. Draws us up to God. God says I dwell in the high and holy place. With him. You see we are seated in Christ positionally. We are seated in heavenly places. In Christ Jesus. But the Lord said the holy one. The one who is humble and contrite. He said they dwell with me. And he said I with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit. To revive the spirit of the humble. And revive the heart of the contrite ones. God is attracted to contrition. There's something about true contrition. That draws the God of heaven. You see. This brokenness is so essential. Because like you. Even in the work of God. We can have our own will. We can have our own agenda. We can have our own plans. We can have our own desires. We can have our own ambitions. And you see God not only wears what we do. God wears the motives. The book of Proverbs. The motives God wears. And so as God examines our heart. And as God throws light in upon us. And we realize my motives are so impure. So wrong before God. Despite what I'm doing. Despite what people perceive me to be. My motives are wrong before God. You see God wants us to realize what we are. And where we are in relation to him. So that God can bring us to a nearer place with himself. God desires that the will. Which often becomes the great barrier to spiritual progress. Our own will. Our own desires. Our own agenda. Even in our spiritual life. Even in the doctrines we retain. Doctrines you know are good. They're essential. But sometimes you can get doctrines passed on from men. And the Lord never teaches you. And they can become hard old things. And rather than using them to get you further on to God. You can use them just to batter other sins. But when you're taught them by God. You never use them for that. Never. You see friends. The will which is the problem. God intends through brokenness to make it subject. To the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit indwells the spirit of the believer. That's where he comes primarily to reside. That's where he speaks to us. God speaks to us in our spirit. That's where we sense if God is present or absent. That is where intuition comes from. Where we know God supernaturally speaking to us. Just as I believe it to you. And getting a message from the Lord. And preparing it. So God can come and insert something. That is attained by the spirit. The spirit reads it. It is not something that is done in the soul. That is in your intellect. Or your emotions. Or your own will. So the Lord talking of brokenness. Is speaking of the spirit. The Holy Spirit. Residing in our spirit. He can be held there. He can be prevented from breaking out. The Bible says. Out of your innermost being shall flow. Rivers of living water. This speak he of the spirit. But there are many Christians. And there is no river. And there is no river flowing. Because of the simple reason. That within their spirit. They have never been broken. There has never been the breaking of the will. To let the spirit through. Find any man or woman. On the face of the earth. Through whom the Holy Spirit. Is mightily ministering. And coming through. And you will find brokenness. You will find brokenness. You see. Whenever you are contrite. Whenever you are brought to a place of contrition. It undermines all spiritual legal struggles. What do you mean by that? What I've said about these tapes. There are many Christians. Who have come to a genuine saving knowledge of the Lord. But their hearts are dominated by jealousy. Pride. Hatred. Prejudice. Past things in their life. That were never ever broken. And there are strongholds. Legal strongholds. They have never earnestly repented over these issues. They have never seen them before God. And the light has never got in upon them sufficiently. They have never waited on God. They have never called on God. They have never humbled themselves before God sufficiently. For the Spirit of God to throw light in on that area. For them to repent. And therefore there are legal in the spirit world. It is a legal world. And so the devil has the right. To keep control of that area. Of the life of that Christian. And he creates a stronghold. It becomes an area of his spiritual advance. In preventing the Christian. Being anything like what God had saved him to be. To never enjoy liberty or freedom in the gospel. To never experience the fullness and the freedom. That the Holy Ghost gives. You see it is an absolute necessity brokenness. Listen. There is a price involved. Turn with me to Mark chapter 1. Mark chapter 14. Mark chapter 14. And verse 4. Now we have looked at this before together. You remember the story. Mark chapter 14 and verse 3. And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. Jesus sat at meat and there came a woman. Having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard. Very precious. And she broke the box. And poured it on his head. And there were some that had indignation within themselves. And said what was the waste of the ointment made. For it might have been sold in more than 300 pence. And have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. And Jesus said let her alone. Why trouble you or her. She hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always. And when so ever ye will die. Ye will ye may do good them. But me ye have not always. She hath done what she could. She is come beforehand. To anoint my body to the burying. This is an instance where she broke. The Lord broke the ass. But she broke the box. You see there is a wonderful truth again. And there is a great danger in going down to extremes. In any doctrine. And that is that yes the Lord does a wonderful work. In breaking that donkey. But listen the woman had to break the box. There has to be the cooperation. Of both. If God's spirit is to control the life. And the blessings to flow. The alabaster box was costly. It was valuable. It was precious. Picture of our lives. Our lives are very valuable. We'll give everything for them you know. Our lives are costly. They only last for a certain period. Invaluable. Only one life to have soon be passed. This little box you know. It sat maybe under her bed. But under the bed it was unbroken. It was unbroken. Oh yes it was very valuable. Very precious. But unbroken. She broke it. She broke it. She willed it broken. It was in her heart. She broke it. You see brothers and sisters. If you want what God has saved you for. If you want all that heaven brought you into the kingdom for. Then you must will. You must will that God will do in and through you. Whatever pleases him. You must have no holds barred. You must have no room where he cannot go to. It must be a complete and honest. And a yielded surrender to the Lord. That the Lord can do as it pleases him. It was costly. What was the result? Well it ministered to the saviour. What a unique privilege was given to her. She got ministering to the saviour. You know sometimes we are so taken up about ministering to the saints. And that's good. And ministering to the unsaved. And that's good. But you know the Lord rebuked all the men around him. And he said listen. She has done this. He says she has done it for me. He has brought a good work on me. I was thinking about Thursday night in the prayer meeting. I tapped it about 20 times to try and pray. And every time I did the Lord seemed to just close my mouth. I don't think it was hardly a prayer offering. But just silence. And worship. And as I was meditating on this. I was saying to the Lord afterwards. What was going on? And the Lord said you are ministering to me. To me. Minister to me. Do something to me. The Bible talks about Simeon and Anna that they ministered to the Lord. To the Lord. And friends isn't it a great privilege that a sinner is saved by the grace of God. That we can come in by the spirit of God. And that we can minister to our blessed, wonderful, glorious saviour. That's a wonderful thing. Oswald Chambers, that great author said. Service, listen to it. To the Lord. Service is the overflow of a super abounding devotion. I used to go out. I've maybe said this before. Remember we used to go to Sunday morning services in the church. And one of the elders would get up and he used to say. Lord extract the praise from us. I thought it was an awful. It's an awful expression. But I didn't understand at that stage how unbiblical it was. Extract. Worship. God's not going to put a syringe into you and I and pull it out. What God intends is that we yield ourselves to him. And the Holy Ghost fills us. And our hearts share abroad with the love of God. And then it just has to go out. That's the way it happens. And that's why in a time of revival. In a time of the movings of the spirit. You cannot contain the people of God. They cannot be quiet. That's why meetings have to go on until 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the morning. That's why when God comes on an individual in their own life. Preparing them for ministry. Often you find that they can't restrict their praise of God. They can't restrict the times of prayer. They can't restrict their devotion to the scripture. Because God is coming upon them. And exploding out of them. That's a wonderful thing when that happens. Wonderful. You see. There is no service like his. Who serves because he loves. Why are you serving? Why are you doing what you're doing? Why are you involved in the work of God where you're involved? What is the motive? Is it love? Because I love him. Because he has saved me. Because he has filled me. It's been said of old. A preacher. He said. You know I remember. I think it was. A man said to George Newton on one occasion. He said. If you can do anything else other than preach. He said. Go do it. The only time you should do it. Is when there is absolutely nothing else you can do. God so has put you aside. You cannot but do it. Come over with me to chapter 2. Mark chapter 2. And verse 4. Let's start from verse 1. And again he entered into Capernaum after some days. And it was noise that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together. In so much that there was no room to receive them. No not so much as about the door. And he preached the word unto them. And they came unto him. Or come unto him bringing one sick of the palsy. Which was born of four. Born of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press. They uncovered the roof where he was. And when they had broken it up. They let him down in the bed. And they were in the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith. He said unto the sick of the palsy. Son thy sins be forgiven thee. There is a price. Broke the box. But there is faith. In brokenness. There is faith in it. You see. I can't do this work. I can't prepare me. For the work of God's kingdom. Such an eternal kingdom. And a kingdom that has always existed in eternity past. A kingdom that will extend into the ages to come. Infinity. That somehow I am inserted into the perfection of this kingdom. That my little labor on earth somehow links to that great kingdom. I cannot attain to that. No you cannot. You need God. You need God to break into your life. You need God to do something. To break. To break that stubborn will. To break those areas where it's preventing God working. You see not only was there faith. But there was determination with these men. You see they not only got up on that roof. Because the crowd were in the road. And you see friends. When you go the route that God wants you to go. When you go determinedly to obey God. Whatever the cost. I want to tell you that you're going to be misunderstood. By the vast majority of God's people. I want to tell you that it will be a lonely road. I want to say to you tonight dear friends. That whenever you take that route. That God will put you in situations. Where your reputation will go down as it were. And men will think ill of you. Where men will think you're doing foolish things. And where men's opinions of you will go down. And God will so do it. Until you die to the opinion of men. Until your heart is so welded. And so drawn out after God. That you will say I do not care what men think. My only passion is to do the will of God. And there's a lovely freedom in being released from your reputation. It's a lovely freedom. You see friends. These men had faith. But listen. They broke the roof. The roof was awkward. The roof was difficult. The roof was a barrier. To get into the Lord. It was a barrier. But you know faith made the way. There was so many obstacles to prevent them. You say but listen. What you're presenting tonight is way beyond me. That's where God wants you to see. If you can do everything that you think God has called you to do. God didn't call you. God always in preparing men. Sets men and women in positions where he presents them with impossibilities. And he says you can't do it. And you discover you can't do it. And then God educates you in his school. And he says but if you yield to me. And you trust in me. Watch me do it. And that's what happened. Because they dropped in unity those four ropes and down came the man. And when he came down in front of the Savior. The Lord healed him. But you know friends as long as that roof was unbroken. Not only was that man unhealed. But there was no way they were going to ever be intimate with the Savior. No way. Who's in the house? Jesus. What's he like? Lovely. Saying all types of wonderful things. You know there's a lot of Christians like that that went to church today. And the minister told them something about Jesus. What he was like and said. That's okay. They went back home. But then there's some that have a desire. In the heart of your God. And they're not content to get it second hand. So they climb up and they break the roof down. And they use their faith to get right down to the Savior themselves. And they got so near to him. So near to him. And brokenness will always bring you near to the Savior. Always. You see it was said about one saint. You will never get far for God. Unless you get far with God. One old saint said to an old Puritan. He said I can afford to lose everything. But the touch of God on my hand. That's what he used to say. I can afford to lose everything. But the touch of God on my hand. Finally let's turn over. John chapter 6 verse 6. John chapter 6 verse 6. And this he said to prove him for he himself. Jesus knew what he would do. Philip answered him. Two hundred penny worth of bread is not sufficient for them. That every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples Andrew Simon Peter's brother said unto him. There is a lab here. Which is five barley loaves and two small fishes. But what are they amongst the men? Jesus said make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the case. So the men sat down. The number of about five thousand. Jesus took the loaves. And when he had given thanks. He distributed to the disciples. And the disciples to them that were set down. And likewise to the fishes as much as they would. And when they were filled. He said unto the disciples. Gather up the fragments that remain. That nothing be lost. In Mark's gospel the same story is told. And Jesus said. He breathed the breath. Jesus broke it on this occasion. Just look at him. He broke it. But he brought it up to heaven. And it was broken before heaven. There is something so sacred. So holy. So divine. About a yielded contrite soul. Broken. Before God. I'm not aware of anything that gives such pleasure. To the heart of God. Don't be going home and saying this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to be broken then. You can't do it. I remember times whenever I was in the faith mission bible college. Often previously before. But frequently. I remember getting up during the night. God would wake me during the night. And I would run down to the common room. And there I knew. I knew God would break me. I knew that the spirit of God would come on me. I knew it was going to happen. And I would go and I would fall on my knees before the Lord. And the Lord would come. And my dear friend. He would break. Break my spirit. He would break into my spirit. And the release of God's spirit was so consciously evident. And I tell you. There is much sorrow. And yet there is much joy. It's one of the mysteries. One of the mysteries. Of the Christian life. How that God through brokenness can bring you into intense pain. Where you may weep profusely. You may not. But you may weep profusely. But you are moved. In a way that humanly is impossible. But as the divine comes. You are moved. And melted by God. And God as it were thrusts. His blessed spirit and his will in and upon. And through you. You pray to him in the spirit. Such pain and yet such joy. I never experienced any joy. Whether in preaching or soul winning. Or even in any other form of prayer. I never experienced such joy. Such a nearness of Jesus. And during seasons like that. Can you create them? No I cannot. I often look back with such thankfulness to God. And yet I say oh God. Again. Come again. You see friends this little boy had fish and loaves. Unbroken. In his little basket. There's nobody going to be fed. Nobody's going to be fed. And the disciples just like the evangelical church today. Thought with a secular mind. They said we have but a couple of hundred pence here. Here it all worked out. But the Lord knew. He knew. You see the disciples didn't realize. That they were dealing with one. Who worked in the realm of the supernatural. Didn't understand that. And so as the little boy. They handed over his little lunch box. Oh friend listen listen. He gave over that which was despised. That which was little. That which was worthless. Maybe you feel like that. It's not to do with your abilities or your gifts. They can often be an obstacle to you. It's your availability. That's the key. The Savior broke it. Right before heaven. And you know friends listen. Do you know the result? It bore much fruit for the Savior. I tell you multitudes were fed. Multitudes. And I'm one of those people. I'm one of those people that believe. Even in a day of immense darkness which we're in. That in little gatherings. Where maybe one person comes. And they give their little basket to God. That God can take that. And God out of the little despised thing. Can feed a multitude. Well you see on what grounds do you believe? I believe that on biblical grounds. And historical grounds. You see there was a man called Seth Joshua. In Wales. And he was a great evangelist. But Seth knew that the land was going down. And he was burdened. He was the old style broken hearted preacher. And he prayed and he wept to God. That God would somehow get a hold of some lad in the mines. That's what he asked for. A lad from the mines. Not some theological giant. Not some man who was greatly gifted as an orator. Just a lad from the mines of Wales. And that God would take him up and use him. And he did it. God got a hold of Evan Roberts. And in the very meeting where Seth Joshua preached. It was there that Evan Roberts cried as God's spirit came on him. Lord bend me. Lord bend me. And God bent him. And God broke him. And a hundred thousand souls came into the kingdom. The little and despised. I was reading before I came out. God can do wonders. With a broken heart. If you give him all the pieces. Is brokenness indispensable? Absolutely. Absolutely. God help me. God help me. And God help you. Let's bow in prayer. Our gracious Father. We thank you Lord for the help of your Holy Spirit. Father it's one thing to teach and preach about this. But Lord Jesus as you came and broke that old coat. So Lord it's only you that can do this in us Lord. There's something Lord mysterious about it. We don't fully understand it. But we know that it's necessary Lord. For you to be glorified. So I ask Lord that by your Holy Spirit. That you would so work in every life. Lord those that you have here tonight. Lord there's someone. Someone. That you have especially prepared this message for them. You're so good to us. And I pray that you will continue to work on now. Give us that yieldedness that's necessary. That contrition that heaven gives to the soul. So that your great purposes. In your eternal kingdom. Can be fulfilled. In Jesus name. Amen.