Father God, Lord Jesus, hallowed is Your holy name. We patiently wait for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We thank You, Lord, for calling us to Your Ministry of Reconciliation. Lord, we pray for a renewal in the spirit of everyone called by Your name. Thank you, Lord, for blessing those who thirst to hear your Word. Lord, strengthen us with the knowledge to speak for the widows, children, poor, oppressed, and all those who are marginalized. May the words of my mouth bear witness to my transformation as a new creation and my belief that You are all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-seeing. Lord, guide me to speak words pleasing to Your ears and food for Your people. Thank You for Your Son Jesus, who lived, died, and lived again so the people who believe and are called by Your name can claim eternal life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
This message is about freedom and bearing the burdens of others. These are not my words; caring for each other and bearing the burdens of others is God’s BIG IDEA. “It is for freedom Christ has set us free” (Gal. 5:1, NIV). By faith, we are free, not by the law. As you have seen in recent times, man’s laws can change on the whim of a human leader, and some changes do not serve anyone except the change agent. Humans change their minds; however, I am fully convinced that Christ is the same today, yesterday, and forever. So, I implore you not to take your freedom for granted and not base your freedom on man’s laws.
Freedom from Christ requires us to love our neighbors and enemies. Humans are born into families, and most of us have extended families. Even though there is evidence that the numbers are decreasing, many still attend church, giving us a church family, brothers and sisters in Christ. We live in a community, and most of us go further and serve that community. This process of family, church, and community is what God puts us through to prepare us to love one another and look out for the well-being and interests of others. This process is paramount for building each other up, especially in times like these. Believing that God lives and His Word is infallible in your heart, mind, and soul is also necessary for victory in Christ. Anyone can say they believe; remember, Scripture says even the devil believes. Do you believe in your heart, mind, and soul? Christian beliefs should be so deeply embedded in who you are that nobody can make you doubt Him.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, and I accept my mission to carry out the Great Commission and tell you what the Word of God says. I do this on His authority, not mine. Whether you listen or believe it is up to you. We can find various reasons not to listen to someone (skin color, gender, family background, etc.). However, I implore you to listen carefully when the Word of God is spoken because His truth provides profound wisdom for us in this world where corruption is out of control. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Before we can help someone, we must recognize when someone has fallen away or been placed in a compromising position; the Holy Spirit helps us with that. We live in a world where the weak are often preyed upon or they are overlooked and marginalized. Sometimes, they are even demonized, like the Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, the women in Afghanistan, and the innocent Palestinian people (Not talking about Hamas). Christians should be able to empathize with the horrible deaths of women and children without being accused of being terrorist sympathizers.
The God we serve says, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves” (Rom. 15:1, NASB). You are listening to me to come to the knowledge of truth concerning the Word of God, not to please yourself. Demonizing others may serve a purpose outside the Church but not inside the Church or God’s Kingdom. So, let us stop pretending that being unkind, mean-spirited, and just downright hateful is godly or normal.
When did it become normal to kill women and children? I am old enough to remember when no children were killed in movies. I remember the first movie I saw a child killed. When did it become normal to bully people? We teach our children not to bully other children. Can you imagine what they are thinking when they see grown men and women bullying people? When did it become normal to threaten people with revenge? God says, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” God instructs His followers to accept those who are weak without making thoughtless judgments and providing impulsive and irresponsible opinions that further divide the Body of Christ and add nothing to the Kingdom of God.
Paul told the Galatians, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2, NIV). Yes, Scripture says every person should bear their burdens. It also says if we need help, our brothers and sisters in Christ should be willing to help. God is pleased when we obey His commands and support each other. Most people can identify with having a bad day, week, month, or sometimes a year. There are some people who think they were born under a bad sign and have a lifetime of bad luck. They do not understand that sometimes things just happen, and often through no fault of their own. Children in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, North Africa, Congo, and other conflict zones around the world are dying, not for something they did. Their crime was being born into societies that will not accept the freedom the Lord offers.
Christ has given us this GREAT gift: FREEDOM! Christians in the United States of America should be praising His name. We are free to choose right from wrong, to take drugs or not, to have an abortion or not, to hate or love, to serve or be served, and to serve God or not. Christ died on the cross and not only paid the price for our sins but also set us free from the law of sin and death. However, some people, including some Christians, have used this freedom as a license to sin. The question of whether we should continue to sin so grace will abound has been asked and answered. And the answer is: “God forbid” (Rom. 6:2, KJB). I believe we can overcome temptation, resist the devil, and live righteous lives. But we must allow Christ to abide in us and the Holy Spirit to counsel us. Victory can be ours, even in this flawed human body.
We cannot achieve this victory using the power within us. We must enlist the Holy Spirit's power, knowledge, wisdom, and counsel. As we yield to the Holy Spirit, the Lord will order our steps and guide us to live a life that is pleasing to the Father. The Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out and allows us the freedom to be the new creation in Christ Jesus, which transforms hearts and renews minds.
As new creations, we no longer desire to do what we used to do. When we love God with all we are, we love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. This agape love gives us the power to serve others and bear one another burdens. Scripture says, “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification” (Rom. 15:2, NASB). In other words, please do it to help and build them up, not to exalt yourself.
There is much grandiose posturing and displays of self-importance today, even in the church. We have a problem adhering to the standards the Lord values, essential to entering God’s Kingdom, versus the norms and values lauded in American society. If what you say and do causes someone to feel less human, examine your words and actions. Do not boast about your private jet or Lamborghini if it causes your brother to doubt his worth to God because he does not have those things. Significant damage is done to the Gospel of Jesus Christ when we promote a wrong view of Christianity, such as the prosperity gospel.
We recognize that we live in a selfie, “Me, Me” world, but those called by His name are to be selfless and about something other than self. I don’t know about you because I can only speak for myself. I testify that I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and died for me.
The doors of His church are always open! Bring your Christian experience into the Church and become a Minister of Reconciliation.
