The Privilege to Bear Burdens… for Others!

One of the greatest privileges as a member of the family of God is in bearing burdens for others.  In the past few weeks, I have been thinking much on this topic as so many of our church, our family, and ministry friends around the world are laboring under heavy burdens.  Burdens that range from financial difficulties, legal problems, job losses, injuries, sicknesses, pregnancy complications, persecution for the cause of Christ, discouragement, marital problems, wayward children, bereavement, language and culture challenges, and loneliness.

Every believer has been given the privilege to “bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).  There are many ways we can bear one another’s burdens, but I believe the most important way we can do this by bearing their burden to the Lord in prayer.  

Practical Ways to Bear the Burdens of Others in Prayer

Here are some practical ways we can bear burdens of others before the Lord in prayer:

• Even when I don’t know how to pray, God’s Spirit will help me to pray.  (“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27)

• As I pray for their burdens, I need to have faith to believe that God has a purpose even in this trial. (“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28)

• When I bear burdens in prayer, I must remember to surrender myself and the burden to the will of God.  (“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done” - Luke 22:42 – Jesus’ prayer before Calvary).

President Abraham Lincoln



I am reminded of the words of President Abraham Lincoln, who was reported to have said to his secretary, Noah Brooks, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go.”

The Ministry Privilege of Bearing Burdens

For those of us who are in ministry, we have the additional burden given to us of the Word of God.  It is not a light matter to prepare and proclaim the Word of God.  In fact, many of the Old Testament prophecies refer to the proclamation of the word of God as a “burden” that was given.

Example: “The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.” (Malachi 1:1)

Charles Spurgeon

“The prophets of old were no triflers. They did not run about as idle tellers of tales, but they carried a burden. Those who at this time speak in the name of the Lord, if they are indeed sent of God, dare not sport with their ministry or play with their message. They have a burden to bear- ‘the burden of the word of the Lord’” – C.H.Spurgeon  

Note also that when God gave to Moses the instructions regarding Aaron and the priestly order, he gave him a symbol to illustrate his duty to bear the burdens of God’s people before the Lord.



Old Testament Priest



  9 And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:

  10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.

11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.

12 And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a memorial. Ex 28:9-12

In the same manner, those of us called into ministry have been granted the privelege to bear the names of those to whom we minister before the Lord as a memorial.  The prophet Samuel understood this sober responsibility when he said, "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord  in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way" - 1 Sam 12:23.

Burden-Bearing is Hard Work – but it is worth it!

Yes, by it’s very definition, bearing a burden is work, but what a privilege!  When it seems like you can do nothing substantive to help that friend, loved one or missionary to bear their burden, can I encourage you to come alongside and slip up under their load by prayer.  It will sustain them more than you may ever know.  It can make a difference for them, and your faith will grow as you are strengthened by the labor of bearing one another’s burdens.

Will you join me in bearing burdens today?

Today, my heart is especially heavy with the burdens of several dear, dear families and servants of Christ.  Will you join me at the throne of God and help bear burdens before the Lord in prayer?

An Unplanned Conversation with the Lord

Note: This past week I taught on prayer in my Sunday School class.  I believe one of our greatest frustrations in prayer is wondering whether or not we are really reaching God's heart.  The following illustration of a conversation with God in prayer is a powerful reminder of what God wants and how we usually approach things. I don't know the original source or author, but it is a very stirring illustration.  

Take a couple minutes to read through this illustration, slow down enough to let it impact your heart, as it did mine.
 

 

Found on the internet, and sent to me by my mother….

THE LORDS PRAYER
Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
        YES?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.
         BUT -- YOU CALLED ME !!
Called you? No, I didn't call you. I'm praying.
Our Father who art in heaven.
         THERE -- YOU DID IT AGAIN
Did what?
         CALLED ME. YOU SAID, "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"
         WELL HERE I AM. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, kind of like
fulfilling a duty.
          WELL, ALL RIGHT. GO ON. Okay, Hallowed be Thy name...
          HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.
          WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? By what?
          BY "HALLOWED BE THY NAME"? It means, it means… good grief, I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean?
           IT MEANS HONORED, HOLY, WONDERFUL. Hey, that makes sense. I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.
           DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT? Sure, why not?
           WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? Doing? Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there. We're kinda in a mess down here you know.
           YES, I KNOW; BUT, HAVE I GOT CONTROL OF YOU? Well, I go to church..
           THAT ISN'T WHAT I ASKED YOU. WHAT ABOUT
           YOUR BAD TEMPER?
           YOU'VE REALLY GOT A PROBLEM THERE,
           YOU KNOW. AND THEN THERE'S THE WAY YOU
           SPEND YOUR MONEY --ALL ON YOURSELF.
           AND WHAT ABOUT
           THE KIND OF BOOKS YOU READ? Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest of those people at church!  
            EXCUSE ME. I THOUGHT YOU WERE PRAYING FOR MY WILL TO  

           BE DONE.
           IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN, IT WILL HAVE TO START WITH THE ONES   

           WHO ARE PRAYING FOR IT. LIKE YOU -- FOR EXAMPLE. Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
           SO COULD I. I haven't thought about it very much until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free.
          GOOD. NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE. WE'LL WORK

          TOGETHER -- YOU AND ME. I'M PROUD OF YOU. Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread.
          YOU NEED TO CUT OUT THE BREAD.
          YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT AS IT IS.
Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
           PRAYING IS A DANGEROUS THING. YOU JUST MIGHT GET WHAT

           YOU ASK FOR.
            REMEMBER, YOU CALLED ME -- AND HERE I AM.
            IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW. KEEP PRAYING. ..pause...
           WELL, GO ON. I'm scared to.
            SCARED? OF WHAT?
I know what you'll say.
            TRY ME. Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
            WHAT ABOUT CAROL? See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her!
            BUT -- YOUR PRAYER -- WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRAYER? I didn't -- mean it.
            WELL, AT LEAST YOU'RE HONEST.
            BUT, IT'S QUITE A LOAD CARRYING AROUND ALL THAT

            BITTERNESS AND
            RESENTMENT ISN'T IT? Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born.
           NO, YOU WON'T FEEL ANY BETTER. YOU'LL FEEL
           WORSE. REVENGE ISN'T SWEET.
           YOU KNOW HOW UNHAPPY YOU ARE –

           WELL, I CAN CHANGE THAT. You can? How?
            FORGIVE CAROL. THEN, I'LL FORGIVE YOU;

            AND THE HATE AND SIN WILL BE CAROL'S PROBLEM –

            NOT YOURS.
            YOU WILL HAVE SETTLED THE PROBLEM AS FAR AS YOU ARE

            CONCERNED. Oh, you know, you're right. You always are.
And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You..., (sigh).
All right...all right...I forgive her.
            THERE NOW! WONDERFUL! HOW DO YOU FEEL? Hmmmm. Well, not bad.. Not bad at all! In fact,
I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll Go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest,  you know.
             YEAH, I KNOW. BUT, YOU'RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOUR

             PRAYER ARE YOU? GO ON. Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
             GOOD! GOOD! I'LL DO THAT. JUST DON'T PUT
             YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE TEMPTED. What do you mean by that?
             YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.. Yeah. I know.
             OKAY. GO AHEAD. FINISH YOUR PRAYER.
For Thine is the kingdom,  and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
             DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY -- 
             WHAT WOULD REALLY MAKE ME HAPPY? No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now.
I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly follow you. I can see now
how great that would be. So, tell me. how do I make you happy?
             YOU JUST DID
HAVE YOU HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH GOD LATELY ???

“He Did Run Well!” – Steven Curington (1965-2010)

Steven Curington, founder of Reformers Unanimous, a Bible-based, local church addiction recovery program, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday afternoon of an apparent heart attack.  He was 46 years old.

I first met Brother Curington at the Spiritual Leadership Conference in Lancaster, California about seven years ago. And while I was blessed by his personal testimony and passion for the Lord, it was while he was talking about the curriculum men and women in his program go through that caught my ear. He talked about how the greatest thing needed in the lives of men and women to live victorious Christian lives was to have a personal, vibrant prayer life. 

Sadly, I confess that up to that point, my prayer life was not very meaningful.  Prayer was something I would do in spurts and starts, usually gaining momentum in time of crisis, or to grow into long cumbersome lists that sounded little like prayer, and more like reading names out of a phone book.  Through the years I have read many books on prayer, tried many systems of lists and chart making to help in prayer, but ultimately, I felt that while some of my prayers were answered, it was mostly ineffective.  My prayer life was primarily me telling God what I thought He should do on my behalf and for others, and in asking forgiveness for my failures.

Brother Curington and I ate lunch together that day, and I began asking him questions, not so much about his recovery program, but about his prayer life.  Out of that conversation, he gave to me a copy of his message, It’s Personal.  He challenged me to listen to it and to begin following the pattern of prayer that Jesus taught in Matthew 6.  As I listened to that message, I began to weep.  It resonated with my spirit like nothing I had ever heard on prayer.  And I began to pray, following the pattern he had taught based on Jesus’ teaching in what we call The Lord’s Prayer.

Prayer has changed my life.  Now, instead of being tied to a list (which for me becomes a dry recitation of names), or random thoughts in prayer that results in my mind wandering and not praying at all, I now pray regularly in praise, in lifting up of needs, in receiving forgiveness and seeking God’s protection, knowing that I am praying for what God wants for me to pray, and truly meeting with God in prayer.  It is humbling to see when prayers are answered, and comforting to know my time in prayer has truly been a time to meet with God.

As I began to apply the principles I was learning in my own life, I then began to teach them in my Sunday School class.  And, this coming Sunday, in the Connecting Pointe Sunday School class at Greater Portland Baptist Church, I plan again to teach the lesson  How to Pray Effectively. 

Thank you, Steve Curington, for your passion for the Lord, for your burden to help addicted men and women to find victory in Jesus Christ, and for helping me to learn how to pray.  As my friend, Evangelist Kurt LaBouve, wrote in song, “He did run well!”   

(If you would like to learn more about Reformers Unanimous or to get more information about the home-going of Steven Curington, go to http://www.reformu.com/ )