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THE THREE BEARS
(Galatians 6)
Introduction: 1. Far from a fairy tale, the three
"bears"
listed in Galatians 6 are vital to our security in Christ and our
salvation.
2. We need to spend some time thinking about these
"bears"
and evaluate what our response to them has been in the past.
3. Allow me to introduce these
"bears"
to you.
I.
"BEAR"
ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS
A. (Galatians 6:2). Bear one another's burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ
B. The burden bearing is present tense which denotes continuous action,
not simply a one time act.
C. In context, the burdens seem to relate to the sorrows, distresses,
and frailties brought about by sins.
D. When a brother sins, we must come to his aid.
E. (James 5:16) Confess your trespasses to
one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
We must make clear our own weaknesses, and that we do understand the
weaknesses in others.
F. Illustration of a man who comes to Christ from a horrible moral
background.
1. Some of it still clings to him.
2. He longs to be like others who "don't struggle".
3. To confess what he is personally ashamed of is hard enough, but to do
so to those who would be embarrassed by him or those who wouldn't
understand is too much.
4. So he withdraws and receives no help.
G. (I Peter 2:17). Honor all people. Love
the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
II.
"BEAR"
YOUR OWN BURDENS
A. (Galatians 6:5). For each one shall bear his
own load.
B. This passage teaches the need for personal responsibility that
another cannot carry for us.
C. (II Corinthians 5:10 For we must all
appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the
things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or
bad.
D. We have many responsibilities in regard to:
1. Sin.
4. Church.
2. God.
5.
World.
3.
Family.
6. Self.
E. (James 2:24). You see then that a man is
justified by works, and not by faith only.
III.
"BEAR"
THE MARKS OF CHRIST IN YOUR BODY
A. (Galatians 6:17).
B. Those marks in his body were "battle scars" obtained in warfare for
Christ.
C. (II Corinthians 11:23-33 Are they
ministers of Christ? — I speak as a fool — I am more: in labors more
abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in
deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus
one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three
times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26
in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils
of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city,
in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger
and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness — 28 besides the
other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the
churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and
I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my
infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is
blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor,
under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a
garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket
through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
D. (Philippians 1:20). according to my
earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but
with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my
body, whether by life or by death.
E. While we may never have to bear physical marks in our bodies, are we
willing to bear the marks that come from:
1. Ridicule.
2. Anger.
3. Misrepresentation.
4. Isolation.
Conclusion: 1. If we acquaint ourselves with these three bears, we will
be well pleasing in the sight of God.
2. Let us bear one anther's burdens, bear our own burdens, and bear in
our bodies the marks of Christ.
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