Experience live online at: https://newhopeag.online.church/

This morning, we

continue our new message series entitled, "Took On" as we journey

together to the cross and on through to the resurrection of Jesus!

Life can be tough;

genuinely, sincerely, tough!  Living in

this world corrupted by sin leaves no shortage of opportunities to get weighed

down by burdens.

Our lives are being

radically changed day-by-day by the efforts to prevent the spread of the corona

virus, we are being burdened in significant ways.

People are being

laid off as business limitations continue to increase.  Basic household supplies like toilet paper

are becoming challenging to find.  Kids

are home from school. 

Beyond these

physical burdens, the emotional burdens are tremendous.  In some ways more threatening than

contracting the corona virus itself, is the fear and anxiety that has gripped

so many people.

If Jesus took on our

burdens, then why do we still feel the weight of them?  Well, that's what we're going to continue to

learn about today.

Through this series,

we're looking back to the prophetic word fulfilled by Jesus found in Isaiah

53.  Here, we find a list of life burdens

that Jesus took on Himself.  Jesus took

on these burdens so that we can live life in freedom from them!

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NCV)

4 But he took our

suffering on him

    and felt our pain for us.

We saw his suffering

    and thought God was punishing him.

5 But he was wounded

for the wrong we did;

    he was crushed for the evil we did.

The punishment,

which made us well, was given to him,

    and we are healed because of his wounds.

6 We all have

wandered away like sheep;

    each of us has gone his own way.

But the Lord has put

on him the punishment

    for all the evil we have done.

Today, we're looking

to two things that heavily weigh down many of us, especially with all that is

happening in the world around us; pain and suffering.

These two weighty

and burdensome words that Isaiah used in this prophecy carry the meaning of

pain, anguish, grief, or sorrow from the Hebrew word mak'ob (mak·ōve') and

sickness, anxiety, calamity, or grief from the Hebrew word choliy (khol·ē' ).

Last week, we

learned about the healing that God provides for our physical sickness and

disease all because Jesus took them on Himself on the cross.  By His stripes, we are healed. 

This week, we're

transitioning from the physical to the mental. 

We're focusing in on the inner part of our lives where the invisible

burdens of life lie heavily; within our hearts and minds.  Though unseen, they have a far greater impact

on our lives than we would care to admit!

Pain and suffering

within our hearts and minds can weigh a person down in ways that can go

unnoticed by those around them.  When

someone is using crutches or has a cast on their arm, the source of their pain

is obvious. 

Others see it, are

usually moved by compassion, and offer what they can do to help them out.  It's easy to see how to serve their

needs.  They need help opening the door