Burden Bearing

Temple Baptist Church 1-13-2010

Galatians 6:1-5

Introduction:

A. In the same context as restoring a fallen brother, we find the mention of bearing one another’s burdens. What a burden to be shared! Helping our dear brother or sister when they are “down for the count” and ultimately bringing them back to a place of fellowship and usefulness.

B. I want to look at burdens in general though as I deal with these verses. In all of my 33 years of being saved, I have never seen such malicious attacks being made against God’s people. If God’s people ever need each other and the fellowship of the church, it is today. It is of no wonder that the Holy Spirit said, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching!” DON’T TELL ME THIS BIBLE I HOLD IN MY HAND IS MAN MADE; DON’T TELL ME THIS BIBLE I HOLD IN MY HAND IS INCORRECT; DON’T TELL ME THIS BIBLE I HOLD IN MY HAND IS INCORRECT!

C. Satan hates you; Satan hates the family; Satan hates this church! He does not worry about the liberal churches or the apostate churches. He controls those. He hates conservative, fundamental, bible believing, sin hating, soulwinning, straight preaching churches because, if he can destroy the church, he can destroy you. If he destroys you, he can destroy your family, and he can destroy the church.

D. I need you, you need me, we all need each other! That is why this portion of scripture is in the bible. Two different statements are found in the context concerning burden bearing. Verse two says that we are to bear one another’s burdens while verse 5 says that we are to bear our own burdens. No, there is no contradiction found here. I want to look at these two verses tonight and give all of us some help.

E. I do not have the power, in most instances, to take them away but I can help the burdened in bearing some of them. I heard this somewhere: “A burden shared is half a burden.” There are times though when I cannot help you, either because of the magnitude of the burden or because of the privacy of the burden.

1. There Are Burdens Of Sin

2. There Are Burdens Of Sickness

3. There Are Burdens Of Sorrow

4. There Are Burdens Of Poverty

F. We Have Been Called To Serve One Another - Galatians 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (We were not set at liberty so that we could fulfill the desires of the flesh.)

1. We Can Serve One Another By Having Compassion

2. We Can Serve One Another Through Prayerfulness

3. We Can Serve One Another By Giving Comfort

4. We Can Serve One Another Through Exhortation

5. We Can Serve One Another By Sustaining

6. We Can Serve One Another By Strengthening

7. We Can Serve One Another By Simply Listening

8. We Can Serve One Another By Weeping With Those Who Weep

1. Bear Ye One Another’s Burdens – This is a command. This is the fulfillment of the “Law of Christ.” “The Royal Law” mentioned in the Book of James is that we love one another.

a. There Are Some Burdens That I Can Bear With You – I can be there for you in them.

1) Through Fervent Prayer - James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (It is the best thing that I can do for you.)

2) Through Just Being There - 2 Corinthians 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

3) Through Our Experiences We Can Share - 2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

b. There Are Some Burdens That I Can Bear By Sharing With You – I can help relieve them.

1) Sometimes I Can Help The Physically - Isaiah 41:6-7 They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. 7 So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.

2) Sometimes I Can Help Financially - 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

2. Every Man Shall Bear His Own Burden

a. Be Careful Not To Be Burdensome - 2 Corinthians 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. (Some folks are always complaining to the point that you dare not ask them how they are doing! Some “poor mouth” all of the time hoping to gain something. Be a blessing, not a burden.)

b. Be Careful Not To Place Your Confidence In Man - Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (Man can help you to a great extend and we need to learn to lean upon one another but man also has his limitations!)

c. Be Careful To Place All Your Care Upon The Lord - 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

1) God Can Stabilize Us

2) God Can Strengthen Us

3) God Can Sustain Us