The Three Bears, Part 1

A very nice special, "When He Was On The Cross," was brought to us by Christina Varner.

Our senior pastor, Dr. Larry Crawford, brought us our Sunday morning message: "The Three Bears."

"For almost everyone of us, the story of The Three Bears is a very dear story from our childhood. Today, I am not speaking of a fairy tale or some fable that appeals to just a certain age group. No, my three bears are for any age -- and their story contains a great truth. Today, and for the next two Sundays, I want US to practice what I will preach."

We stood for opening prayer and the reading of God's word taken from Galatians 6:1-2 and 4-5.

1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

"Today we examine the first bear. A burden is a heavy weight. To bear means to lift up or to lift off; the Greek word for this first bear is 'baros,' a burden too heavy to bear alone. The second bear, in Greek is 'phortion,' meaning a personal responsibility that should be borne by the individual. So you can plainly see, there is no contradiction between verses 2 and 5 as those that find fault with God's Holy Word would argue."

"As I look out on the pews today, I don't have to look very far down to see burdens of every kind. So we need to bear, lift up, sustain, someone else. Today, someone may not make it to next week without us. People we know are suffering with family crisis, financial needs, physical sickness, emotional strain, and spiritual problems."

John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

"There is nothing more Christ-like than to bear a sister or a brother's burdens, and this includes their trespasses. Love others as you love yourself. Christ has borne many of my burdens - beginning with Calvary.

Isaiah 53:4-6

4 Surely he hath borne our grief, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

"Since then, any burden, any load I've carried on my own has been my fault. Don't you fall into that trap."

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

"While it has been true Jesus is there always, it is also true so has been my church family. Sometimes they are very eager to help -- but sometimes we are totally oblivious to each other. Sometimes, sad to say, we get caught up in our own distractions...to the point that we fail to bear one another's burdens."

Matthew 10:38-39

38 And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

"For as the old hymn goes: 'The hairs on your head He has numbered; the fall of the sparrow He surely sees. The stars in the heavens He has measured, AND HE SEES YOU ON YOUR KNEES. Each leaf that falls He surely sees it, each leaf moved by the gentle breeze. He knows the end from the beginning, AND HE SEES YOU ON YOUR KNEES. He hears each cry of His children; His stumbling child He surely sees. His strong arms with love will sustain it, BECAUSE HE SEES YOU ON YOUR KNEES.'"

"Pray for each other this week. Bear each other's burdens both in your prayers and with your actions. And next Sunday, I will introduce you to the second bear."

All Bible verses quoted above are from the KJV, the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Remember you can hear a rebroadcast of one of Dr. Larry Crawford's services on KURM radio, 100.3 on the FM dial, at 8:30 a.m. Sunday mornings. Or listen to our pastors' services on our website at: http://www.firstbaptistchurchpineville.com/Sermons.html.

If you have no church home of your own, we would love for you to join us (off the N/E corner of Pineville square, just behind U.S. Bank) in ours. No friendlier, down home church can be found anywhere in the four-state area.