The Sin of a Broken
Spirit
Proverbs 15:13 “A merry heart maketh a cheerful
countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” In this
verse, we find two things that are broken: a broken heart and a broken spirit.
There is a difference between the two. A broken heart is not sin, but a broken
spirit is sin.
countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” In this
verse, we find two things that are broken: a broken heart and a broken spirit.
There is a difference between the two. A broken heart is not sin, but a broken
spirit is sin.
Proverbs 17:22
shows, “A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
shows, “A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
In
Psalms 51:10 David said, “Create in
me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalms 51:10 David said, “Create in
me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 34:18
discloses, “The Lord is nigh unto them
that are of a broken heart….”
God is close to those who have burdens. If you have a broken heart, you are the object of God’s
special care and love.
discloses, “The Lord is nigh unto them
that are of a broken heart….”
God is close to those who have burdens. If you have a broken heart, you are the object of God’s
special care and love.
Psalm 51:17 tells
us that God will not despise those with a broken heart, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
us that God will not despise those with a broken heart, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
In Luke 4:18, we
read the account of Jesus’ first sermon. “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to…heal the
brokenhearted….” Someone once said that he who preaches to broken hearts
would never want for a congregation. In every church there are people with
broken hearts; parents whose children have broken their hearts, children with
their hearts broken, people whose hearts are broken because of a serious
illness, and many other people with broken hearts.
read the account of Jesus’ first sermon. “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to…heal the
brokenhearted….” Someone once said that he who preaches to broken hearts
would never want for a congregation. In every church there are people with
broken hearts; parents whose children have broken their hearts, children with
their hearts broken, people whose hearts are broken because of a serious
illness, and many other people with broken hearts.
According to our
text verse, the danger of a broken heart is that it can lead to a broken
spirit, which is sin. A broken-hearted
person can keep on going, but a broken-spirited person cannot keep going unless
he gets right with God. Why? Proverbs 18:14 says, “The spirit of a man will sustain his
infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” According to this verse, the spirit of a man sustains him,
or keeps him going.
text verse, the danger of a broken heart is that it can lead to a broken
spirit, which is sin. A broken-hearted
person can keep on going, but a broken-spirited person cannot keep going unless
he gets right with God. Why? Proverbs 18:14 says, “The spirit of a man will sustain his
infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” According to this verse, the spirit of a man sustains him,
or keeps him going.
In Proverbs 17:22
we read, “…a broken spirit drieth the
bones.” This verse tells us
that a broken spirit causes you to give up hope. A person with a broken spirit feels
he cannot keep going, while a person with a broken heart knows that times are
hard, but he can make it.
we read, “…a broken spirit drieth the
bones.” This verse tells us
that a broken spirit causes you to give up hope. A person with a broken spirit feels
he cannot keep going, while a person with a broken heart knows that times are
hard, but he can make it.
A broken spirit
says there is no way; a broken heart says he does not know the way, but he
knows there is one.
says there is no way; a broken heart says he does not know the way, but he
knows there is one.
A broken spirit
sees her husband gone and feels she cannot go on; a broken heart loses her
husband, but she keeps on going.
sees her husband gone and feels she cannot go on; a broken heart loses her
husband, but she keeps on going.
A broken spirit
says, “I can’t, so I won’t.” A
broken heart says, “I can’t, but I will.”
says, “I can’t, so I won’t.” A
broken heart says, “I can’t, but I will.”
A broken spirit
says, “I can’t do it,” but a broken heart says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
says, “I can’t do it,” but a broken heart says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
A broken spirit says, “There is no way
to win.” A broken heart says, “We are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.”
to win.” A broken heart says, “We are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.”
A broken spirit says, “I am a failure,”
while a broken heart says, “I’ve failed, but I’ll try again.”
while a broken heart says, “I’ve failed, but I’ll try again.”
Proverbs 18:14
promises, “The spirit of a man will
sustain his infirmity.” It is
not your heart that keeps you going, it is your spirit that keeps you going.
The spirit keeps you going when your heart is sick or broken.
promises, “The spirit of a man will
sustain his infirmity.” It is
not your heart that keeps you going, it is your spirit that keeps you going.
The spirit keeps you going when your heart is sick or broken.
A person with a
healthy spirit will not be stopped by sickness. A person with a healthy spirit
will not stop when he is criticized, or when people gossip about him. A person with a healthy spirit will not
stop when he is wounded, hurt, crushed, or forsaken.
healthy spirit will not be stopped by sickness. A person with a healthy spirit
will not stop when he is criticized, or when people gossip about him. A person with a healthy spirit will not
stop when he is wounded, hurt, crushed, or forsaken.
On the other hand,
a person with a broken spirit has nothing to keep him going. He needs a healthy
spirit to help him get back up, to help him find the way, and to keep him
going.
a person with a broken spirit has nothing to keep him going. He needs a healthy
spirit to help him get back up, to help him find the way, and to keep him
going.
You cannot avoid a
broken heart, but you can avoid a broken spirit. A broken spirit is a sin just as drinking is a sin. It is a sin just as cursing is a
sin. It is a sin just as smoking,
committing adultery, being a homosexual, committing idolatry, and looking at
pornography are sins.
broken heart, but you can avoid a broken spirit. A broken spirit is a sin just as drinking is a sin. It is a sin just as cursing is a
sin. It is a sin just as smoking,
committing adultery, being a homosexual, committing idolatry, and looking at
pornography are sins.
With a broken
heart, Job passed by the caskets of his ten children. With a broken heart, he
watched his wealth obliterated in a matter of moments. With a broken heart, he
suffered a serious illness; then his wife urged him to curse God and die. His
friends turned on him, but his spirit was not broken, only his heart. Because
his spirit was not broken, he was able to say, in chapter 13 and verse 15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in
him….”
heart, Job passed by the caskets of his ten children. With a broken heart, he
watched his wealth obliterated in a matter of moments. With a broken heart, he
suffered a serious illness; then his wife urged him to curse God and die. His
friends turned on him, but his spirit was not broken, only his heart. Because
his spirit was not broken, he was able to say, in chapter 13 and verse 15, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in
him….”
A broken-hearted
Jeremiah became discouraged and quit the ministry. He bought some ground and built a cottage. However, he kept reading the Bible, and
his spirit regained its health. His spirit began to burn in his bones like a
fire. He realized that he could not quit, and he started serving God again!
Jeremiah became discouraged and quit the ministry. He bought some ground and built a cottage. However, he kept reading the Bible, and
his spirit regained its health. His spirit began to burn in his bones like a
fire. He realized that he could not quit, and he started serving God again!
A broken-hearted
Ezekiel watched his baby die. Then
he went home and found his beautiful wife dead. His heart was broken, but not his spirit; thus, he was able
to get up the next day and preach.
Ezekiel watched his baby die. Then
he went home and found his beautiful wife dead. His heart was broken, but not his spirit; thus, he was able
to get up the next day and preach.
With a broken
heart, David realized he had sinned.
He asked God to mend his spirit, and he continued serving God. Jonah’s
heart was broken, but his spirit was not broken. After he disobeyed God, he was
able to get back on his feet and go to Nineveh. Then he preached the greatest
revival in the history of mankind.
heart, David realized he had sinned.
He asked God to mend his spirit, and he continued serving God. Jonah’s
heart was broken, but his spirit was not broken. After he disobeyed God, he was
able to get back on his feet and go to Nineveh. Then he preached the greatest
revival in the history of mankind.
A broken-hearted
Peter, repentant of his betrayal of Christ, preached on the Day of Pentecost,
and three thousand people were saved and baptized. A broken-hearted Samson,
betrayed by Delilah, killed more men in his death than he had killed during his
lifetime. Adoniram Judson, broken-hearted
over the loss of his wife and children in Burma, kept on going and winning
souls.
Peter, repentant of his betrayal of Christ, preached on the Day of Pentecost,
and three thousand people were saved and baptized. A broken-hearted Samson,
betrayed by Delilah, killed more men in his death than he had killed during his
lifetime. Adoniram Judson, broken-hearted
over the loss of his wife and children in Burma, kept on going and winning
souls.
My heart has been
broken many times, and I have often felt like quitting. My wife’s health is
poor, my grandson, R.G., has many physical problems, and we have a baby
granddaughter in Heaven. However, my spirit has not been broken, so I have been
able to keep on going.
broken many times, and I have often felt like quitting. My wife’s health is
poor, my grandson, R.G., has many physical problems, and we have a baby
granddaughter in Heaven. However, my spirit has not been broken, so I have been
able to keep on going.
Your spirit
communicates with God. The more you communicate with God, the healthier your
spirit is. You cannot expect to have a healthy spirit if you ignore your Bible
and neglect to pray. Your spirit depends on your communication with God. Your
spirit will sustain you, give you strength, and bring victory to you. There is
no reason to have a broken spirit.
How can you keep your spirit healthy?
communicates with God. The more you communicate with God, the healthier your
spirit is. You cannot expect to have a healthy spirit if you ignore your Bible
and neglect to pray. Your spirit depends on your communication with God. Your
spirit will sustain you, give you strength, and bring victory to you. There is
no reason to have a broken spirit.
How can you keep your spirit healthy?
Talk with
God more than with man
God more than with man
Do you
rise early and talk to God? Do you tell Him that you love Him? Have you spent
time in His Word? Maybe you think you have too much to do to talk to God, but
you had better make time to talk with Him.
rise early and talk to God? Do you tell Him that you love Him? Have you spent
time in His Word? Maybe you think you have too much to do to talk to God, but
you had better make time to talk with Him.
Avoid
negative and critical people
negative and critical people
When someone tries to tell you that he does not like something at the
church, walk away from him. If someone gets angry with you and mistreats you,
let God take care of it.
church, walk away from him. If someone gets angry with you and mistreats you,
let God take care of it.
Run with
spiritual people
spiritual people
Do not spend
time with people who are disgruntled, who tell dirty jokes, etc. Spend time with soul winners, and
people who are separated from the world.
time with people who are disgruntled, who tell dirty jokes, etc. Spend time with soul winners, and
people who are separated from the world.
Protect
your spirit
your spirit
Learn to enjoy
life. Quit getting mad at your pastor. If there is someone in church who would
ruin the service for you by sitting beside you, then you need to get right with
God. Quit getting angry about things.
life. Quit getting mad at your pastor. If there is someone in church who would
ruin the service for you by sitting beside you, then you need to get right with
God. Quit getting angry about things.
Everyone will have
a broken heart at some point in their life, but it is not required you have a
broken spirit! You need to get right with God! Your husband or wife needs you,
and your children need you. Your Sunday school class and your bus route need
you. Your ministry needs you, and your converts need you.
a broken heart at some point in their life, but it is not required you have a
broken spirit! You need to get right with God! Your husband or wife needs you,
and your children need you. Your Sunday school class and your bus route need
you. Your ministry needs you, and your converts need you.
Make up your mind
that you cannot do anything about a broken heart, but you can avoid a broken
spirit.
that you cannot do anything about a broken heart, but you can avoid a broken
spirit.