Broken

Jesus had just ascended unto heaven. The disciples were still questioning the coming of the kingdom of God. They still lacked true understanding in the heart. Before He ascended, he basically told them it was not for them to try to figure out in their own understanding. However, they were to “wait for the promise of the Father” in Jerusalem until they be overcome with power (Acts 1: 1-14).

The disciples remained obedient to this command. They continued in prayer in one accord … And then it happened! The kingdom of God was manifested just as Jesus said that it would. It was not a literal kingdom after all. It was spiritual (and still is spiritual). It’s coming came when the Holy Ghost came upon them. There was a great manifestation to all those that were in that place at that time. The disciples spoke in languages that were understood by all those that were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. And what they heard was God being glorified in their own languages or “tongues” (Acts 2: 4-13).

Then Peter, standing in the midst of them, began to speak and another amazing thing happen. All of the people who had come from different nations understood him in their own languages. There was no need for an interpreter. The Holy Ghost translated Peter’s exhortation in each one of their languages – at least 17 different dialects or languages. They were in one place … getting one understanding … through one Spirit!

Peter’s exhortation was so powerful that when those in attendance heard it, “they were pricked in their heart.” That term is essential to understanding what happened next. That term pricked in the Greek is kataponeo. It means to labor down; i.e. wear with toil (fig. harass); – to oppress, to vex. The thought being that what Peter was saying oppressed or vexed the hearts of those that heard him. His exhortation harassed their very souls. They were so under the oppressing power of the words and, most importantly, the Holy Ghost that they could not help but to cry out, “what shall we do?” The power of the Holy Ghost, coupled with Peter’s words, drove them to a point of decision where they had to make a choice. Peter had the answer … and that answer was Jesus Christ. Because of the vexation that they were under they gladly received Christ and his baptism (Holy Ghost) and about three thousand were saved that day; a change was made; and the kingdom was ushered in. They were broken and through their brokenness they found Jesus Christ!

I am made to wonder. Why we don’t see that same power today. Our youth and young adults are moving away from the “church.” in large numbers. Many are finding refuge in the world and the very things that it has to offer … and there are many offerings. In this day and age, the world has inoculated many with a numbness to the soul that dulls the senses to any form of spiritual awakening. Taking one aspect of the world, entertainment, let’s review the following statistics:

Picking the most relevant statistics from the list of 30 reveals that the entertainment industry is enormous and very lucrative. It is controlled by a very few behemoth companies. The artists themselves, while achieving some fortune, pale in comparison to the big corporations. The way that people obtain their entertainment is evolving from hard forms (i.e. records, DVD’s) and locations (i.e. Movie Theaters) to more real-time, on-demand services that are relatively inexpensive (i.e. Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, Apple Music, Disney, Pandora, etc.). The most enjoyable form of entertainment is based in fiction or altered forms of reality. Online access is now and the future, as access devices become increasingly mobile. And, I haven’t even including sports entertainment (A 70 billion dollar a year industry).

This has a major effect on today’s youth and young adults. It used to be the TV was deemed the “one-eyed monster.” It could captivate the attention of a generation. However, you had to go to it. Now, it comes to you with little or no costs. The danger comes, with respect to the soul, not only in the content that is being produced but also in the time and attention that it captivates. Peter stated in verse 40, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” The word untoward means unexpected and inappropriate. He knew that “the world”, even way back then, was and is a powerful antidote against spiritual wellness. The entertainment industry takes “the world” and brings it to you “in living color.” Every idea, every thought, every imagination that the world has to offer can be accessed and found on a handheld piece of equipment that started out as … a phone.

We no longer are sensitive enough to be “pricked in our hearts” because, partially, worldly entertainment desensitizes us to our spiritual conditions. On the day of Pentecost, there were no distractions. Peter preached the word and the Holy Ghost had receptive hearts to do His work. Today, entertainment not only tells us that Christianity is foolish (when practiced correctly). It promotes the false hope that anyone can be saved without much of a commitment and much of a change. The industry is full of “born-again” Christians who partake in all manner of worldly evils. Drinking is fine, as long as you say Amen; fornication is justified, as long as you attend the church of your choice; Lying is acceptable as a way of doing business; Cheating happens in the course of life … just say that you are sorry; Doing weed helps in artistic expression. God understands. Not to mention all of the drinking, sex, drugs, violence and abuse that is portrayed by individuals who profess Christianity. They either sing about or actually do these things on stage, on TV and in movies. It’s no wonder that our youth, almost in masse, have no interest in real spirituality. Jesus Christ is being marginalized.

However, todays youth, just like youth of all ages, are searching for something that is beyond them. They sense that there is a void. However, they oftentimes don’t know how to fill it. The real danger comes when these same youth, who are still searching, try to fill it in religion only to find that religion itself has allowed worldliness to creep into the Sunday services. Instead of an environment that lifts up Jesus Christ, allows the word to go forth and promotes the power of the Holy Spirit, religion has been reduced to multimedia presentations and praise and worship that is theatrically appealing but not spirit lead. Our preaching has been reduced to Ted-talk type inspirational presentations all while having your favorite latte to order. Young people who are used to being entertained are flocking to these environments because they are familiar (entertaining) and they are comfortable (no commitment required). Don’t get me wrong “church services” should not be cold, boring and without life. However, if we have to bring the spirit of “Hollywood” into our services just to keep a crowd, it is not sustainable and souls will not be truly pricked at heart.

On the other hand, we have to be careful not to rely on tradition for tradition sake. “This is the way that we have always done it” is not effective. Fighting change, especially in our services, by staunchly holding onto the past with no explanations is not effective in soul winning. Dead, dry services that have no life in them are repelling today’s youth who are seeking answers. I am not suggesting that everything has to change because of societal changes. I am just suggesting that if we are not willing to examine ourselves and allow the Spirit of God to help us understand how to deal with the changes around us, we will eventually shrivel up and die; and our way of christian living will become a thing of the past. It will be like going to a museum. It will just be an experience or lesson on the past with no life or relevance for the present or the future.

So what is the answer? The same as it was in the day of the “morning-time” church – that church in Peter and Paul’s day. Jesus remains the answer! On the day of Pentecost, the main focus of the message was Jesus. The disciples spoke “the wonderful works of God” and Peter preached Jesus. Those that were pricked in their hearts were focused on Christ and how they wronged Him. The service was quite simple. Yes there was praise … and yes there was the word of God. Most importantly, however, there was the presence of the Holy Ghost! Jesus said in one place, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” This did signify his crucifixion. But He also rose and is lifted on His throne that men might be drawn unto him.

The church needs to be a place where Jesus Christ is lifted up; a place where He is the main focus. Those that know Christ must be willing to give an account of the hope that lies within them through Christ. Young people and adults, as stated before, are seeking answers. We need to able to answer questions and build trust and not rely on “this is the way that we have always done it.” We have a great opportunity to help them get acquainted to the One who gives us the answers of life. Ultimately, they will have to make a choice in their direction in life. The same way that it happened in Peter’s day, they must come to a place where they are pricked in their hearts and desire to know what they must do … in other words be broken. How does that happen? By lifting up the Word and allowing the Holy Ghost to do the work. How does that happen? By believers being obedient to Christ and waiting (being still) until we become endued with power … in other word getting serious and surrendering to God through the power of the Holy Ghost.

In our own strength, we are no match against the world and what it has to offer. We are not fighting against flesh and blood but “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.” We are battling for the souls of men and women. We have to be equipped for the battle. The devil may try to win their hearts through worldliness. We have to fight, with God’s help, to help them to break through and find that place of brokenness. They must see sin as exceeding sinful. As long as their eyes are on the world, seeing sin as exceeding sinful will not happen. We have to help them turn their eyes upon Jesus much like Peter did on the day of Pentecost. Once they truly see Him then they can see their condition. Jesus is the only one who can truly break the power that this world has on the souls of men (and women). The choice can be made and a true change can take place… much like happened to the early Christians. They were broken, they changed and they turned the world upside down (Acts 17: 6).