SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2019 THEME: BURDEN BEARER.

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: SATURDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2019

THEME: BURDEN BEARER.

MEMORISE:
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4

READ: Isaiah 53:4-5
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, 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.

MESSAGE 
A burden is a heavy load that attaches itself to a person, whether the person likes it or not. Such a load accompanies its bearer wherever he or she goes, and cannot be freely given up. In essence, a burden is not willingly picked up, because any load picked up willingly can also be relinquished by choice.

Naaman was a man who knew what it feels like to have a burden in one’s life (2 Kings 5). Although he was famous, successful and prosperous, he was a leper and there was nothing he could do about it. All his possessions and achievement could not relieve him of the burden of leprosy he was carrying all around. Do you have a burden in your life like Naaman? Perhaps it is a problem that not even your own making and you have no solution for it. I have good news for you today: there is a person called the Burden Bearer and He is available to take all your burdens away from you. I therefore rejoice with you today because there is no burden too heavy for Him to bear.

To access the help of the Burden Bearer, you first need to admit that you have a burden. In Revelation 3:17, the Lord mentioned how some people thought everything was okay with them, but in reality, they were blind and naked. You have to acknowledge your problem before you can be helped. Also, you must be willing to be helped. Jesus Christ asked the man who had been sick for 38years if he was willing to be made whole (John 5:6). Furthermore, if you want your burden to be lifted, you have to cry to the Burden Bearer for help. Mark 10:46-52 tells of how Bartimaeus cried for Jesus’ help. He kept on crying till Jesus answered. Some people are too proud to ask for help; they just want to do everything themselves. If God helps such people, they might ascribe the glory of what He did to their own efforts. You must be willing to pay the price of persisting in the place of prayer till your burden is lifted.

Lastly, Mark 10:52 tells us that after Jesus took away the burden of Bartimaeus, he followed Jesus in the way. From his example, we understand that after the Burden Bearer has taken away our burdens, we must abide with Him. Many of us come to Jesus when we have a problem, but as soon as the problem is solved, we stop being committed to Him. It is laughable when mere mortals think they can outsmart God. When Jesus takes your burden away, please remain in Him and it will always be well with you.

ACTION POINT:
Cry to the Burden Bearer today about any burden in your life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicle 17-18
Revelation 14:1-13

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 8:  MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!