Brokenness is an essential quality for preachers sent by God because it allows them to be vessels through which God’s Spirit can work effectively. True spiritual work is not accomplished through human strength, wisdom, or talent but through the surrender and brokenness of the preacher’s heart. It is through brokenness that God’s power and life are revealed, making the preacher a channel of His eternal life. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”Brokenness is the process through which the outward man—the self—is dealt with and transformed. The outward man represents our self-will, self-reliance, and self-centeredness, which often hinder the work of the Spirit. When we are broken, these barriers are shattered, allowing God to work through us. As 2 Timothy 2:21 says, “If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” Brokenness prepares the preacher to be a vessel fit for God’s use.
This process is not easy. Brokenness requires the death of self—our self-strength, self-government, and self-sufficiency. These must be dealt a fatal blow by the cross of Christ. Galatians 2:20 captures this truth beautifully: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Only when the self is crucified can Christ fully live and work through us.
An example of this can be seen in the life of the Apostle Peter. Before Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter was self-confident and relied on his own strength. He boasted that he would never deny Christ, but when tested, he failed miserably (Matthew 26:33-35, 69-75). However, after experiencing the brokenness of his failure and being restored by Jesus, Peter became a powerful vessel for God’s work. On the day of Pentecost, it was through this broken and humbled Peter that God preached a sermon that brought 3,000 souls to salvation (Acts 2:14-41).
Brokenness also allows the Spirit of God to flow freely through the preacher. God communicates His eternal life through the Spirit, and when a preacher is broken, the Spirit is not hindered by self. In John 7:38, Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” This flow of living water—the life and power of the Spirit—is only possible when the preacher is broken and yielded to God. Through this brokenness, the spirits of those who hear the message are quickened, and they can receive the eternal life of God.
Moreover, brokenness is necessary because it keeps the preacher dependent on God. A preacher who relies on their own abilities will often fail to deliver the message of salvation with the power and anointing it requires. Paul recognized this truth and wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” God’s power is most evident in our weakness and brokenness.
As preachers embrace brokenness, they reflect the heart of Christ, whose ultimate brokenness on the cross brought salvation to the world. Let us remember the words of Jesus in John 12:24: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Through brokenness, God’s purpose is fulfilled.
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