Peculiar 7 – Blessed with a Burden
Peculiar 7
Blessed With A Burden
Many people pray, “God, please bless me.” And God wants to bless you. But the blessings of God are often more than a new car, a bigger salary, and a better lifestyle. In the series, “Blessed,” we’ll experience firsthand some of God’s unusual blessings.
GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH A BURDEN.
IDENTIFY YOUR DIVINE BURDEN
WHAT BREAKS YOUR HEART?
…The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:3-4
WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY?
…(Moses) saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
Exodus 2:11-12
WHAT DO YOU CARE ABOUT THAT OTHERS DON’T?
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:26
I’M BURDENED BY _____________________________.
“I can stands no more” – Popeye
WRONG WAYS TO APPROACH YOUR BURDEN
COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
IGNORE IT.
APPEASE IT.
THE RIGHT WAYS TO EMBRACE YOUR BURDEN
LET YOUR BURDEN RUIN YOU.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Isaiah 6:5
LET YOUR BURDEN MOVE YOU TO ACTION.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
Personal Reflection
Describe a time when you had a “Popeye moment” when something bothered you so deeply that you had to act.
Finish the sentence: My divine burden is…
(What angers you? What breaks your heart? What do you care about that others don’t?)
How can you expose yourself more to your burden? As God increases your burden, what are you going to do about it?