Jesus is still in the life changing business.

Matthew 12:20"A bruised reed shall he not break and smoking flax shall he not quench till he sends forth judgment (justice) unto victory."

 

When most people think of Jesus, especially Pentecostals, they generally seem to think on the spectacular. The miracles, the resurrection, raising the dead, the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that...sometimes we forget though that one of the main things we should think about is the fact that Jesus is STILL in the life changing business!

May I remind you of what the Apostle Peter said in his first epistle chapter 2 verse 9 when he said "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people that you should show forth the praises of him that called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light."

 

Our text is an OT prophecy that was spoken some 700 years before the birth of Christ. It speaks of a bruised reed that Jesus would not break and a smoking flax that he would not quench. Most, as I do, believe that this is speaking of people, and more specifically, people that have been hurt in this life, people that are about to give up, people that are about to throw in the towel.

When you think about it, there has never been a time like today where we see so many bruised, battered and broken lives. Everywhere we look we see all around us, shattered and torn lives. Remember Jesus said that "the thief comes not but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy!"

Whether it's abuse, divorce, alcohol, drugs, depression or oppression, and yes even Christians falling away from God, as we look around us we see Satan's destruction everywhere we look.

But praise God the devil may come to steal, kill and destroy, but that wasn't the end of that verse! Jesus said "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly!  I just came here to tell you tonight that Jesus Christ is still in the life changing business!

 

                                    Mephibosheth

In 2 Samuel 9 David had just ascended to the throne of Israel. He then says Is there any left of the house of Saul that I may show him kindness for Jonathans sake? In verse 3 he uses the term Kindness of God.

You see, this young man Mephibosheth was heir to the kingdom of Israel, he was the son of Jonathan, the grandson of King Saul........

David calls for him, Mephibosheth says "I am a dead dog."

But David, a type of Christ here, says "Fear not. For I will restore everything back to you that you‘ve lost.....

Mephibosheth had probably grown up thinking it was David's fault. He had probably heard all of his life, "you wouldn't be in this condition if it weren't for David! It's all David's fault!

That's how some look at God! They look at all of the brokenness in their lives and they think "this is God's fault!" They think if God was really a loving and good God he wouldn't have let these awful things happen in their lives!

But I'm here to tell you today that God is not the author of your misery! God is not the cause of your problems! God wants you to be the head and not the tail! God wants you to lend and not borrow, God wants you to be the victor and not the victim! God wants you to rise and up and declare that you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus!

 

If you are bruised and battered tonight I'm telling you Jesus Christ can heal your hurts and your pains, I'm telling you that you can CAST ALL YOUR CARES on him for he cares for you! I'm telling you tonight that just like Mephibosheth, Jesus Christ will restore everything to you that Satan has stolen and then some. Jesus is still in the Life Changing business!

 

When you look at the woman in the NT that was caught in adultery, she was a wreck, bound by sin and sinful desires and judgment had been set for her, but Jesus stepped in, Jesus stepped on the scene and gave her a new life for Jesus said in John 10:10

The thief comes to steal and to kill and to destroy, but I have come that you might have life and life more abundantly!

When you look at Mark 5 and see the demoniac, living in the tombs, naked, cutting himself with stones, screaming at the top of his lungs, bound by demonic power, COULD there be a more bruised and tragic life? A lost soul torn by a legion of demons! But then Jesus comes along! And when Jesus finishes with him he is found clothed, sitting, resting and in his right mind! I may not know a lot, but I know this, Jesus Christ has the power tonight to set you free! I don't care what chains of darkness have you bound, Jesus is still in the Life Changing business!

 

Is it any wonder that the prophecy from Isaiah 61 that Jesus read and fulfilled at the start of his ministry says the following.

That he would bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, open prison doors to them that are bound, give beauty for ashes, give the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness.

 

Have many here tonight have experienced the loving hand of this great Savior? How many know tonight what I'm talking about? You know what it's like to be so down you didn't know what to do then all of a sudden he starts taking the spirit of heaviness off of your shoulders and begins to robe you with the garment of praise.  Jesus is still picking up bruised reeds and with his loving care touching them and healing them. Let's praise him tonight!

 

Jesus also said a smoking flax would he not quench. I relate that to a struggling child of God.

I'm reminded of Peter. Jesus looked at Peter and said Satan desires to sift you as wheat.

I want to remind you that we are fighting a real enemy that has a real agenda, and that is to destroy your life.

Many times we go through these trials and feel like we've lost and that we're not going to make it. We were on fire before, just like Peter was. Peter was ready to die for Jesus and before you know it the fire in his life was nearly totally extinguished. But Jesus reached out to him with love, Jesus said "I'm not gonna let you go Peter, my love for you is to strong and my mercy is to great. A smoking flax will he not quench."

 

You may be here tonight and feel like there's nothing that can be done for you. You may feel that there's no hope for you! There are hurts inside you that you feel are going to tear you apart.

Or you may be here and you used to be on fire for God, but through trials and storms in your life, your just a smoking flax and a bruised reed!

 

If you will let him, Jesus Christ will heal your broken heart! If you will let him, Jesus will allow the fire of the Holy Ghost to burn in your life again! Will you come tonight and let him touch you?