“Things Christians Should Bear”
Text: Romans 15:1-7
Intro:
The Word of God tells us that there are some things as Christians that we should bear.
Together this morning we want to look at Things Christians Should Bear.
We begin our study right here in verse 1 of Romans Chapter 15.
I. The Infirmities of the Weak – Romans 15:1
In the church two types of Christians.
Weak and Strong in the faith.
Characteristic of a weak brother:
Infirmities, without spiritual strength.
Prone to mess up in spiritual matters.
Problems are pushing them.
Instead of being on top of their problems they are constantly under them.
Their bad habits are overwhelming them.
Often their behavior is disappointing to a stronger believer.
Characteristic of a strong brother
Bear with others – longsuffering.
Self-denial
Self-sacrifice
Illustrations
The Apostle Paul included himself when he said that the “…strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,…”
Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:19,22, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.” “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
Father & son taking a walk.
The child seems always distracted, off the path, walking at a different pace.
The child might say, “Dad I have to take three steps to every one of yours.”
An impatient father might say things like, “Hurry up, catch up with me, get back over here now.”
A wise father slows his pace, teaches along the way, and enjoys that fact that they are together.
Stronger believers have the primary responsibility in the church to maintain harmony.
To not seek to just please themselves.
In every relationship we have with fellow believers we need to seek how we can:
Put joy in their lives; for his good.
Encourage them in the right direction in a manner to maintain a spirit of enthusiasm and harmony.
Don’t just give in to things that are bad for them and for the church to “please men” but we realize that unity in the body is something Jesus put at as high priority.
Build them up in their faith.
Our goal is to be, to bring them farther along in their walk with Christ.
II. One Another’s Burdens – Galatians 6:2
A Christian is to help another brother or sister in Christ with a burden.
The word JOY means Jesus – Others – Yourself.
As Christians we have a grave responsibility to help another brother or sister in need.
Having someone to talk to
A word of encouragement
Maybe a love gift of a few dollars to a brother or sister going through a trial.
These things are situations that we are often confronted with.
The question is what you do with the opportunity to be a blessing.
By doing so the Christian fulfills the law of Christ which is superior to Moses’ law (John 7:23) and goes beyond “God’s law” (Rom. 7:22-25).
The law of Christ is the law of love.
See John 15:12.
Helping others bear their loads is part of it.
The greatest burden bearer who ever lived was the Sin-bearer.
See Isa. 53:3-10
See 2 Cor. 5:21
Jesus Christ our Sin-bearer said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light”
The Psalmist tells us in Ps. 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD…” while we are helping others bear theirs.
Never should the Christian be guilty of “burden-loading” like the Pharisees of Matthew 23:4, “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”
III. His Own Burden
You may have a burden to carry that no one but the Lord knows about.
It may be an illness.
It may be in relation to a family member.
It may be that the Lord will not relieve you of that burden!
Paul had such a burden it is referred to as “a thorn in the flesh”
The Lord may answer you the same way he did the Apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9)
You never know what someone else has to bear either.
Do not envy another man’s circumstances, he may be bearing something you know nothing about.
IV. The Dying of the Lord Jesus – 2 Cor. 4:10
Practically speaking verse 10 is “exposure to the same kind of death” constantly in verse 11.
So, if someone is going to see Christ “in you” (“might be made manifest in our body”) the test will not be your dress or your conduct or your nice manner or clean cut face or your polite conversation or your handshake.
It is how well you take suffering and opposition and persecution.
A reenactment of Christ’s life for Paul meant bearing whip marks (Gal. 6:17), sustaining ridicule (2 Cor. 11) while praising God through the whole mess without complaining.
V. Temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13
The problem with most Christians instead of bearing temptation they give into it.
When temptation comes and it will come, the Lord has promised to provide a way to escape so we can bear it.
James reminds us of what are attitude should be about temptation.
See James 1:2 – “joy”
James reminds us of the reward of enduring temptation.
See James 1:12 – “Blessed” and “crown of life”
Conclusion:
We have seen this morning – “Things Christians Should Bear”
The Infirmities of the Weak
One Another’s Burdens
His Own Burden
The Dying of the Lord Jesus
Temptation
The Question is “How Are You Bearing Up?”
“Are you carrying your share of the load?”
