How to undo heavy burdens?

[SANTOSO]

Beloved ones, let us perceive and understand what our Lord have chosen.

This is what we have heard:

““Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness, TO UNDO THE HEAVY BURDENS, To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Beloved one, let focus on what the Lord have chosen, TO UNDO THE HEAVY BURDENS.

What the heavy burdens are, our Lord have spoken.

This is what our Lord said :

“For they bind HEAVY BURDENS, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Also, we heard:

“For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a HEAVY BURDEN they are too heavy for me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭38:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So heavy burdens, are burdens that are hard to bear, that are laid on men’s shoulders. This heavy burdens, they are too heavy for us, for the heavy burdens,— our iniquities that have gone over our heads or minds.

Who are they, that bind heavy burdens ?

This is what our Lord said earlier before Matthew 23:4, in Matthew 23:1-2 and also in Luke 11:46.

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Also, we heard our Lord said:

“And He said, “Woe to you ALSO, lawyers! For you load men with BURDENS HARD TO BEAR, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:46‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So they who bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders are the scribes and the Pharisees who sit in Moses’ seat, and also lawyers.

Then, how the Lord have chosen to undo the heavy burdens?

This is what we have heard our Lord said:

“COME TO ME, all you who labor and are HEAVY LADEN, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So who are those LADEN?

This is what we have heard:
“For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women LADEN with sins, led away with divers lusts,”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So those who are laden, laden with sins, so those who are heavy laden, those who are heavy with sins.

Did our Lord Jesus call only to those who are heavy laden with sins? No. Also, those who labor!

This is what we have heard:

“Do not LABOR for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.””
‭‭John‬ ‭6:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So our Lord also call those who labor for the the food which perishes and those who labor for the food which endures to everlasting life — that they come to Him, that He may give them rest.

Beloved ones, let our hearts perceive and understand, to COME TO HIM, will undo the heavy burdens.

Let us perceive and understand, to COME TO HIM, we will receive rest.

How we shall COME TO HIM ?

This is what we have heard:

“O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Beloved ones, we can express outwardly to kneel before the Lord our maker but let us perceive and understand that before kneeling, is spoken, that we worship, so with our hearts or spirits that we worship and bow down in reverence before the Lord our maker, who is Spirit. So kneeling, is also inward expression of the heart to our Lord, who is Spirit.

For we heard our Lord Jesus said:

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.””
‭‭John‬ ‭4:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Also, apostle Paul have said:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Beloved ones, let us COME to the Lord, who is Spirit, who gives us REST, for He has chosen to undo our heavy burdens.

For we also heard :

“For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So let us meditate to perceive and understand the Lord’s wisdom, that He said:

“COME TO ME, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For from the Lord’s mouth COME knowledge and understanding;”

So let us COME TO HIM, that knowledge and understanding may come to us, that we may receive knowledge and understanding of the Lord to undo the heavy burdens.

What knowledge and understanding, that the mouth of the Lord has spoken? This is what we have heard:

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him COME TO ME and drink.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.””
‭‭John‬ ‭7:37-38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
‭‭John‬ ‭7:39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For the Lord gives wisdom, this He spoke concerning the Spirit;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; from the Lord’s mouth come the Spirit of knowledge and the Spirit of understanding.

For we heard:

And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit OF WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of KNOWLEDGE and the fear of the LORD. -Isaiah 11:2

Beloved ones, Jesus has been glorified, the Holy Spirit has been given, so let those who believe Him receive the Holy Spirit, that we may COME TO HIM, and not be thirsty of God’s righteousness and drink the living waters.

Let us believes in Christ, as the Scripture has said, out of our hearts will flow rivers of living water, that is His Spirit.

Beloved ones, let us COME TO HIM, be where the Spirit is, for we will be liberated from the heavy burdens.

Beloved ones, consider what our Lord said again, that we may perceive His steadfast love and faithfulness:

“ON THE LAST DAY, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
‭‭John‬ ‭7:37‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Beloved ones, let our hearts perceive and understand that ON THE LAST DAY, that our Lord stood and cried that we COME TO HIM, that we may not be thirsty of God’s righteousness, and drink the living waters, that He spoke concerning His Spirit.

So let us wholeheartedly COME TO HIM, who has chosen to undo the heavy burdens.

To God the Father be glory and thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

 

[Mr. M]

So let us wholeheartedly COME TO HIM, who has chosen to undo the heavy burdens.

Galatians 6:
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one
in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We have been instructed to come to Him with our burdens. How are we to do so?
Is it not to turn to those who have proven to be spiritual, to fulfill the law of Christ?

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you
have shown toward His name, you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

The Father has so ordained that this is how we maintain balance and equality
in the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:
13 For not that others should be eased and you burdened;
14 but by an equality, now at this time your abundance may supply their lack,
that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality

 

[SANTOSO]

Galatians 6:
1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one
in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

We have been instructed to come to Him with our burdens. How are we to do so?
Is it not to turn to those who have proven to be spiritual, to fulfill the law of Christ?

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you
have shown toward His name, you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

The Father has so ordained that this is how we maintain balance and equality
in the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:
13 For not that others should be eased and you burdened;
14 but by an equality, now at this time your abundance may supply their lack,
that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality

Beloved one, didn’t we hear to BEAR one another’s burden, fulfilled the law of Christ?
You are asking how we should BEAR one another’s burden.

This is what we have heard:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; BEARS all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let our hearts perceive and understand that through the love of Christ, we BEAR all things, that we BEAR one another’s burden.

For the love of Christ, gave us the strength to forgive one another and also to bear one another.

For we heard:
Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel'he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! -Psalms 68:35

Christ is the one who gives power to us to live a holy life and strength to be His people.

What it means to be His people? This is what we have heard:

Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. -1 Peter 2:10

So we are God’s people who have received mercy that we may show mercy to those who wronged us. His mercy or steadfast love strengthens to forgive, to bear all things through Christ, that is, the love of Christ.

So through the love of Christ, we serve
one another, thus fulfilled the law of Christ.

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

 

[SANTOSO]

Beloved one, so we come to Christ, we come to the love of Christ, that we may serve one another through the love of Christ, bear one another’s burden.

Let us be encouraged with what we have heard:
Blessed be the Lord, who daily BEARS us up; God is our salvation. Selah -Psalms 68:19

Why we bless the Lord? For truly, as we bear one another’s burden, our God daily bears us up with His love, that daily bears us up. For He is God who saves us through His Son whom He loves, that we may be united with His love, His steadfast love.

Let us through the love of Christ, bear one another’s burden. For truly His love is with us. Amen

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen

 

[SANTOSO]

Beloved one, considering what we have heard:

“For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.””
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:13-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I heard you said,”The Father has so ordained that this is how we maintain balance and equality.”

Beloved one, what balance and equality, you are referring to ?

This is what we have heard prior ‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:13-15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬:

“I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So we must NOT consider what apostle Paul have spoken as the commandment of the Father but apostle Paul is concerned about the sincerity of our love, in comparison to the diligence of others love toward holy apostles and faithful ministers of God. So this fairness or balance is not about money and material possessions nor about equality of money and material possessions. This is about giving diligence to loving Christ and loving those who ministered to the saints.

For we heard:
“For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:3-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So what apostle Paul, other apostles and faithful ministers of God received were the gift of love of Christ, and the fellowship of love in Christ of ministering the saints.

For we heard:
“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you THE GRACE OF GOD BESTOWED ON the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So what abounded in the churches of Macedonia? This is what we have heard:

“But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—SEE that you abound in this grace also.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So we should SEE or PERCEIVE that we abound in THIS GRACE ALSO.

So those are are eased are eased with the grace of God, so those who are burdened because they lacked the grace of God; but by an equality that now at this time our abundance in the grace of God may supply their lack, that our abundance also may supply their lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.
So we who gathered much the grace of God or the love of Christ had nothing left over, and we who gathered little had no lack of the grace of God or the love of Christ.

For apostle Peter have spoken what we should abound:

“But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let us see or perceive this GRACE or Love of Christ, that we may not burdened.

Beloved ones, let us to come to Christ, that we may gather the love of Christ, not be burdened, for He bears us daily with His steadfast love. For we are blessed in union with His love.

To God the Father be thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

 

[Mr. M]

“I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So we must NOT consider what apostle Paul have spoken as the commandment of the Father but apostle Paul is concerned about the sincerity of our love, in comparison to the diligence of others love toward holy apostles and faithful ministers of God. So this fairness or balance is not about money and material possessions nor about equality of money and material possessions. This is about giving diligence to loving Christ and loving those who ministered to the saints.

The error that is introduced by trying to spiritualize this lesson and claim that this is not about
our material possessions is to miss the central point of 2 Corinthians, chapters 8 and 9, which is: Generosity is the place where material possessions and the spiritual meet.
Especially at this time of year, we hear often those who speak of "the spirit of giving".
This is also why in the original KJV, agape is translated "charity" 28 times.
1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these is charity.
Genesis 1:1 (KJV)

Paul had no need or place to speak by way of commandment, because they had already committed
to collecting a love offering to send to the saints in Judea as a gift. Paul claims that Macedonia's
offering was made from a place of poverty (2 Corinthians 8:2), which recalls the Lord's teaching
on the widows mites.
Mark 12:41-44
The Widow’s Two Mites
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

This will become even more evident as you continue into chapter 9.
2 Corinthians 9:
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time,
and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that
it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows
bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;
for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

They were not sending will wishes, they were sending money. The saints in Judea had
become impoverished due to the persecution that came against them. The new gentile
converts in Macedonia and Achaia were eager to help. Paul had already justified this in
his first letter to the Corinthians, which he supports with the scriptures.
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap
your material things?

Who among all in the churches would deny that caring for the poor and oppressed is
the will of God???
Furthermore, they had made the commitment the year before, so they were essentially
being asked to fulfill a vow, which is required by God's commandments, and spoken of
by David in Psalm 15: "He swears to his own hurt and does not change;"

This is precisely the point that James was making when he declared that
"faith without works is dead".
James 2:
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,”
but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body,
what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Ministering to the needs of other, less fortunate saints is the will of God in Christ for us.

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you
have shown toward His name, you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

The Father has so ordained that this is how we maintain balance and equality
in the body of Christ.
2 Corinthians 8:
13 For not that others should be eased and you burdened;
14 but by an equality, now at this time your abundance may supply their lack,
that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality

 

[SANTOSO]

Beloved one, why you are burdened with material possessions and not hear what the Spirit says.

Have we not heard:

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Beloved ones, what we gave the things that were seen were temporal but what we gave the things that are not seen are eternal.

For this is what we have heard:
“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Brethren, let us consider what the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia in great trial of affliction: abundance of joy and that they abounded in the riches of their liberality.

Didn’t we hear also David said?

“But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.”
‭‭I Chronicles‬ ‭29:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So what we have been given? Didn’t we hear the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia? For we are of the Lord, and we are His people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this because of the grace of God that has been bestowed in great trial of affliction.

Let us be reminded, that we heard:
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Beloved ones, the boasting is excluded by law of faith.

Let us consider what we gave the things that are not seen but eternal, for we gave the things that are eternal, that we may please God who bestowed us His grace in great trial of affliction.

Let us consider again what we have heard:
“For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:3-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So what we should give is to first gave ourselves to the Lord, and then to the saints by the will of God, that the saints may receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints — so let us complete this grace in ourselves, that we abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in our love for the saints —perceiving that we abound in this grace also.

To God be glory and thanksgiving through Christ. Amen.

 

[Mr. M]

Beloved one, why you are burdened with material possessions and not hear what the Spirit says.

I am not. Many do struggle. Are you truly hearing what the Spirit is saying?

This is precisely the point that James was making when he declared that
"faith without works is dead".
James 2:
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,”
but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body,
what does it profit?
17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Do really not know that true Christian giving is by grace, through faith?

But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.”
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭8:3-7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

How is it that you keep putting this in bold print:"see that you abound in this grace also.”
yet you cannot see that "this grace also", refers to the willing heart to give, even in our own
state of necessity. Yes brother! A cheerful giver parts with his belongings willingly by the
grace of God.
Romans 12:
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence;
he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

You are quoting from all over the Bible, but the discussion is of 2 Corinthians 8, and continues into chapter 9. Are you really unable to see that Paul is raising aid for the saints in Judea? Do you still
need more proof?
Romans 15:
25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for
the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers
of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

Your distaste for including money and material possessions in a discussion of God's grace
suggests that you have had some bad experiences perhaps, or simply a distaste for prosperity
preachers who use 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 to encourage the saints to give their money to them
as an "investment in the kingdom". Whatever the issue is, you should get past it, even as Barnabas,
and many other early saints. All thanks and praise we to God, who moves the hearts of men to give
to the church extravagantly!
Acts 4:
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands
or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

May we always be cheerful givers by the grace of God!
2 Corinthians 9:
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time,
and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised,
that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully.
7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;
for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.