Connect Lesson #33: Built for Beauty, Not Brutality by
Pastors Larry and Victoria Raftery
Scripture References: Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJV), Psalm 139:13-14
(NIV), Psalm 139:13-14 (MSG), Matthew 5:3-10
(NLT), Titus 1:15 (TPT)
Overview (5-7 Minutes)
Last week, we talked about how in
Christ Jesus you are built for blessings, not for blame. Stop blaming yourself
for things you have no control over. When we live within the limited boundaries
of blame, we become blind to the countless expressions of God’s love. Listen,
the Lord will save you and will not let you be defeated, blamed, or defined by
the bad you’re facing in life. You are blessed, not blamed! Our message before
that was “Built for Battle, Not Beaten”. In Christ Jesus, we are mighty
soldiers of the Lord, victoriously equipped for every battle. Anything you’re
fighting right now was placed on the cross and beaten by the blood of Jesus
into a glorious victory. That message taught us to let the battle build you,
not beat you! This week, we want to talk about how we are built for beauty, not
brutality. Brutality means: Curlily, viciously dismissively, harassingly,
furiously, demandingly, exhaustingly, irrationally, and unreasonably. God
didn’t build you for this! Read Isaiah
61:1-3 (NKJV).
Discussion Questions (20-25 Minutes)
Q#1: What are some ways we allow ourselves to bear unnecessary
burdens of “brutality”?
Q#2: What must we do to recognize that we were built for more?
Q#3: How can we encourage others to recognize that we are all
“built for beauty”?
We are all familiar with the story of
beauty and the beast. You had to “get beyond” the “brutality” of the beast to
see His beauty. There’s something beautiful on the other side of life’s
brutality. God says,”I will give you beauty, but you must give Me your ashes.
People at this time would sit in ashes or cover themselves with ashes to
express mourning or loss, such as grief over a distressing situation. Maybe
you’re covered with anger, unforgiveness, depression, denial or a phony
attitude. God will give you beauty, but you have to give Him your “ashes”. His
beauty is His holiness or (wholeness), His justice, mercy, glory, goodness, truth, dignity, reputation, and His
honor. God says, “I will give you the oil of joy, but you must give Me your
mourning, your tears, and your brokenness.” God says, “I will give you the
garment of praise, but you must give Me your spirit of heaviness, your sadness
and your rejection of others.” This is why life isn’t changing for you. You’re
holding on to “brutality” instead of reaching for “beauty”. You’re built for
“beauty” not “brutality”. People, at times, are unreasonable with us, including
our friends, our family, and the people we work with, but the worst is when we
are unreasonable with ourselves. So when you’ve done something “brutally
stupid” or been treated with brutality, give Him your ashes for “His beauty”,
mercy and justice. You are built for beauty, not brutality!
Final Thoughts (5-7 Minutes)
This message could also be titled
“Beauty or the Brute” serving as a representation for how our attitudes can
sometimes have an effect on how we see things with God. When we fail to recognize
our beauty, we can make an “ASH” out of ourselves. The appropriation of the
word is all about our attitude. Will we follow the Beatitudes or simply “Be” an
attitude? God has the ability to make beauty out of any brutal situation. He
can take unequally yoked marriages and create powerhouse couples for the
kingdom that can last a lifetime. We need to be adorned by the beatitudes. God
knows your measurements. He created us. He formed you! He didn’t require
certain measurements from you. Read
Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) You are fearfully and wonderfully made! God knows you
inside and out. God looks at the heart and destiny. We are built for beauty not
brutality. Read Psalm 139:13-14 (MSG) The True beauty is within. If you
don’t like how you look on the outside, if you’re unhappy with who you are,
remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God is the supreme designer
of everything. If God is well with it, we should be well with it also.
Everybody likes something different. Read
Psalm 139:13-14 (TPT). Ever think about how you were made and how much your
heavenly Father loves you? We need to Be the Attitudes of God. They are
antibiotics from God’s pharmacy. He’s the complex vitamin that keeps us sharp.
God has special plans for each of us. If we knew that, our lives would soar,
instead of fall. Read Matthew 5:3-10
(NLT)
The Kingdom of God belongs to us - We
need to be conscious of our need to depend on God. We’ve got to stop being
demanding and unreasonable, we’ve got to be kind. Are you sad? Be comforted by
the Spirit of God. Take time to minister to the broken. Do you need an
inheritance? A blessing? You’ve got to be humble. Leave the bragging rights
behind. Physical food cannot satisfy the longing we have within us. Everybody
needs grace and mercy, we need to show grace and mercy to others, not
condemnation. We all need God’s glory and God’s grace. When the world comes to
you and is unjust, know that God will be your avenger because of your pure
heart. Stay engaged with God’s Word. If they hated Christ, they’re going to
hate you. The spirit of Jezebel hates and doesn’t know why. You cannot give up
on people. You’ve got to fight with God until you win. Know that God is going to
turn things in your favor. If you’re pure in heart you will see right. We are
built for beauty not brutality, we’re going to be blessed! We are the
peacemakers, sons and daughters of God! Be the witness to those who speak out
against you. Read Titus 1:15 (TPT)