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.
Failure to do good can bring burdens.
James 4:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Failure feeling, Worthless, No good, Can’t be dependable, Can’t be trusted, Belittle self.
How can you bear one another’s burdens?
You can’t take their sin upon yourself.
You can help them to be restored.
Galatians 6:1 (KJV)
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
You can bring them to one who can lift burdens.
2177. Explaining "My Yoke is Easy"
I had finished my sermon on Christ’s invitation to the labored and heavy laden, and a good man came to me, saying: "Do you know why Christ’s yoke is light, sir?" "Well," I said, "because the good Lord helps us to carry it, I suppose."
"No," said he, shaking his head, "I think I know better than that. You see, when I was a boy at home I used to drive the oxen, and the yoke was never made to balance—as you said. Father’s yokes were always made heavier on one side than the other. Then we would put a weak bullock alongside a strong bullock; and the light end would come on the weak ox, the heavier end on the stronger one.
"That’s why the Lord’s yoke is easy and His burden light, because His yoke is made after the same pattern, and the heavy end is upon His shoulder." (cf. Matthew 11:29-30)
—Mark Guy Pearse
—Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations
Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29 (KJV)
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:30 (KJV)
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
III- The Image Bear
We are created in the image of God, Christ, and Holy Spirit.
Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Genesis 1:27 (KJV)
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
We are to bear His image here on earth.
Eternal life- Man will live on in Heaven or Hell.
Eternal soul- Mans feelings will live eternal.
Eternal spirit- Man has God’s eternal Spirit.
1352. Self In Mirror, Or Christ
J. Sidlow Baxter tells of an incident that occurred in his home. It so happened that directly in line with a picture of Christ was a mirror. If one were to stand a certain way, the person’s image would blot out the picture. Dr. Baxter’s little daughter was one day standing before the mirror and happened to stand directly in line with the picture. When she moved, the picture again appeared.
She ran excitedly to her Daddy and said, "Daddy, I can see Jesus when I am looking at myself."
—Al Bryant
—Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations
We will bear the heavenly image one day.
1 Corinthians 15:49 (KJV)
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Conclusion:
Are you in the Bear Family?
To help the weak through their infirmities.
To help those who are burdened to find rest.
To bear the image of God on earth.
Are you a good image of Christ?
Invitation:
Come to Christ, He is the answer to sin.
Come to Christ, He is the answer to burdens.
Come to Christ, He is the answer to bear His image.
Here on earth
There in Heaven one day.
