The Bear Family - Part2 Series

The Bear Family- Part2

Romans 15:1 (KJV)

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Introduction

Do you know your weakness?

Your weakness can defeat you.

8848. Waterloo’s Dip In The Road

There is a modern picture by Stanley Berkley, entitled "The Hidden Danger," which deals with an interesting event at the Battle of Waterloo. This battle decided the fate of Napoleon; upon which issue hung the destinies of Europe, and there occurred in it a crucial moment. Throughout the day Napoleon kept his famous cavalry in reserve. They were the finest soldiers in the world, the "Old Guard," who had never known defeat, and impatiently they awaited the command to charge. Napoleon, seeing the issue going against him, gave at last the order, and hurled them against the thin British lines.

On they came in gallant neck-to-neck, seemingly invincible. But there was a dip in the road, a sunken part neither they nor Napoleon knew, but of which Wellington had taken advantage by filling it with his sharpshooters. As the thundering lines came on they were met by an unexpected and decimating volley. They wavered for a moment; then forming once more, came on at hand the gallop, but the fire was too deadly, and when the lines were reached their force was spent.

Waterloo was lost; the fate of Napoleon and Europe was decided by a dip in the road, by that hidden danger on which Napoleon had not counted. This one weak spot ruined him, and turned victory into defeat.

—James Burns

—Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations

Thought: Just one weakness can ruin your Christian Life.

Transition

Last week we talked about The Bear Family- Part 1

The Fruit Bear.

The Cross Bear.

The Witness Bear.

Today, we want to talk about The Bear Family- Part 2

The Weak Bear.

The Burden Bear.

The Image Bear.

I- The Weak Bear.

Romans 15:1 (KJV)

1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

What are the infirmities of the weak?

It could be physical are emotional weakness:

Sickness, Emotional problems, Family problems, Money problems, Marriage problems, Home problems, Children problems, and so on.

It could be spiritual weakness:

Sexual sins, Drunkenness, Drugs, Bad attitude, Murder, Unconfessed sin.

Dirty movies, Dirty books, Dirty internet, Gambling on the internet, Lottery

Not faithful at church, Not reading your Bible, Not praying, Not tithing, Not supporting the Lord’s work.

Thought: The little sins in your life will make you weak.

Song of Songs 2:15 (KJV)

15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Thought: You need to confront sins in your life.

11581. Billy Sunday Fights Sin

Billy Sunday, the baseball evangelist and reformer, never spared himself nor those he wanted to help in the vigor of his attacks on sin. He thundered against evil from the Gay Nineties through the Great Depression. He preached Christ as the only answer to man’s needs until his death in 1935.

"I’m against sin," he said. "I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth. When I’m old and fistless and footless and toothless, I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition."

—Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations

How do the strong bear the infirmities of the weak?

Not by defending the weak.

Not by giving in to their weakness.

By bearing the weak through their weakness.

Help and pray for the sick and emotional.

Teach the spiritual weak how to become strong

By helping them to see their weakness.

By showing them a better way.

Thought: The strong are to help the weak through their weakness.

14604. Man With Roped Blind Friends

A missionary physician in one of China’s hospitals cured a man of cataracts. A few later 48 blind men came to the doctor from one of China’s wilds, all holding on to a rope guided by the man who had been cured. He had led them in this way, walking in chain 250 miles to the hospital. The multitude may appear indifferent to their condition, but let not this discourage us, for many are fumbling blindly after light. It is our happy mission to tenderly and tirelessly seek them

—Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations

II- The Burden Bear

Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

What brings burdens into peoples lives?

Sins brings great burdens upon people.

Guilt, Shame, Worthless feeling, Not loved feeling, Unwanted feeling, God wont forgive me, Church people wont forgive me, God’s chastening hand.