Bearing Burdens

Bearing Burdens

October 2, 2011

Introduction

Our topic this morning is “bearing burdens.” When we say bearing burdens, what comes to your mind? One of the things that came to my mind was the statement, “He’s not heavy, he’s my brother.”

This morning, our thoughts may first turn to Edith in the loss of Albert, and certainly the loss of a spouse or loved one is one kind of burden that many must bear, but there are many kinds of burdens. When we key in “burdens” in an electronic Bible, and do a search for all the different verses that deal with burdens of various kinds and forms of the word, we come up with 90 verses which use some form of the word burden with various endings in the New King James Version.

Having said that, where do we begin our study?

Body

I. The Bible speaks of bearing the spiritual burdens of a brother.

(Gal 6:1-2 NKJV) Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. {2} Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

A. What are the trespasses being referred to?

1. We often think of the sins of commission.

2. What about the sins of omission?

a. The most obvious is that of missing services.

b. Sometimes our sins may just be lack of involvement.

(Heb 10:24-25 NKJV) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, {25} not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

B. Restore a brother with gentleness.

1. Do to others as we would have them treat you.

(Mat 7:12 NKJV) "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

2. Remember that the judgment day is approaching.

II. Many passages have to do with bearing the burden of reaching those not right with God.?

A. It was a burden of the Old Testament prophets.

(Nahum 1:1-3 NKJV) The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite. {2} God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies; {3} The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.

1. God had a burden for Nineveh that Jonah did not share.

(Jonah 4:6-11 NKJV) And the LORD God prepared a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. {7} But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. {8} And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah's head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." {9} Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he said, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!" {10} But the LORD said, "You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. {11} "And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left; and much livestock?"

2. God wants us to go beyond what others would do.

(Mat 5:44-45 NKJV) "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, {45} "that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

B. Jesus had a compassion for the lost that He wants us to share.

1. It’s told in the story of Zacchaeus.

(Luke 19:8-10 NKJV) Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." {9} And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; {10} "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

2. Jesus could always see the need that most of us miss.

(John 4:35 NKJV) "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

III. Burdens can make us weary.

A. Paul encouraged us to keep on doing what is good.

(Gal 6:9 NKJV) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

B. Jesus said, bear up until the end.

(Mat 10:22 NKJV) "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

Conclusion

I. May we ask God to help us see the needs of those about us.

II. May we ask for His guidance to seek and save those who are lost.

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