Bread Corn Is Bruised
To become food for the world's hunger, we must be broken in Christ's hands and willing to suffer, just like the biblical characters who were 'bruised' and 'ground into bread' for the hungry.
Charles E. Cowman preaches on the concept that just like bread corn needs to be bruised to become food for the world's hunger, we too must go through trials and sorrows in Christ's hands to bless and touch the lives of others with benediction. He emphasizes that even though Christ's blessings may bring sorrow, the privilege of impacting others is worth the pain and tears we endure. Cowman highlights that many illustrious characters in the Bible, such as Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, and Paul, were bruised, threshed, and ground into bread for the hungry, showcasing that trials and hardships lead to moral heroism and spiritual greatness.
Text
"Bread corn is bruised" (Isa. 28:28).
Many of us cannot be used to become food for the world's hunger until we are broken in Christ's hands. "Bread corn is bruised." Christ's blessing ofttimes means sorrow, but even sorrow is not too great a price to pay for the privilege of touching other lives with benediction. The sweetest things in this world today have come to us through tears and pain. --J. R. Miller
God has made me bread for His elect, and if it be needful that the bread must be ground in the teeth of the lion to feed His children, blessed be the name of the Lord. --Ignatius
"We must burn out before we can give out. We cease to bless when we cease to bleed."
"Poverty, hardship and misfortune have pressed many a life to moral heroism and spiritual greatness. Difficulty challenges energy and perseverance. It calls into activity the strongest qualities of the soul. It was the weights on father's old clock that kept it going. Many a head wind has been utilized to make port. God has appointed opposition as an incentive to faith and holy activity.
"The most illustrious characters of the Bible were bruised and threshed and ground into bread for the hungry. Abraham's diploma styles him as 'the father of the faithful.' That was because he stood at the head of his class in affliction and obedience.
"Jacob suffered severe threshings and grindings. Joseph was bruised and beaten and had to go through Potiphar's kitchen and Egypt's prison to get to his throne.
"David, hunted like a partridge on the mountain, bruised, weary and footsore, was ground into bread for a kingdom. Paul never could have been bread for Caesar's household if he had not endured the bruising, whippings and stonings. He was ground into fine flour for the royal family."
"Like combat, like victory. If for you He has appointed special trials, be assured that in His heart He has kept for you a special place. A soul sorely bruised is a soul elect."
Sermon Outline
- I. The Necessity of Being Bruised
- A. To become food for the world's hunger
- B. To be broken in Christ's hands
- II. Christ's Blessing Through Sorrow
- A. Sorrow is not too great a price to pay
- B. The sweetest things come through tears and pain
- III. The Value of Suffering
- A. Poverty and hardship lead to moral heroism
- B. Difficulty challenges energy and perseverance
- IV. The Example of Biblical Characters
- A. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, and Paul
- B. They were all bruised and ground into bread
Key Quotes
“We must burn out before we can give out. We cease to bless when we cease to bleed.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Poverty, hardship and misfortune have pressed many a life to moral heroism and spiritual greatness.” — Charles E. Cowman
“A soul sorely bruised is a soul elect.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must be willing to suffer and be broken in Christ's hands in order to become food for the world's hunger.
- Suffering can lead to moral heroism and spiritual greatness, so we should not be afraid to face challenges.
- God has appointed special trials for us, and in His heart, He has kept for us a special place, so we can trust that He is working everything out for our good.