Jesus one day came across a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years.

38 years laying on a mat.

38 years held down by Satan on a mat.

38 years in bondage to this mat.

John 5: 8-9 – Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and

walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.”

Our goal is to help move believers to EMPOWERED stage of spiritual life.

Psa. 8:6 – “You have made [man] to have dominion over the works of

Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.”

Divine Burden Bearers

Faithful people who stay with you through difficulty until you prosper.

Loyal people who help you navigate through the storms of life.

Burden bearers are not looking for your crown but for your cross to help you carry it.

There are times in your life when you will need people who stay.

Prv. 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

The Future Glory of Zion

54 “Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,”

says the Lord.

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back;

lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.

The Future Glory of Zion

54 

“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;

because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.

Matt. 2: 1-12

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king,

behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been

born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship

Him.”

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

Proverbs 31:10

John 8:12