This morning, we're

beginning a new message series 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.  The lives of most people

on the face of the earth are suddenly turned upside-down by a 120 nanometer

ball of RNA commonly referred to as the corona virus. 

The borders of nations closed, public activities ceased, cities forced into quarantine, toilet paper aisles laid bare.  We're living in days that remind me much of an apocalyptical video game intro scene.  Unfortunately, it is our current reality.

Today has been

declared by President Trump as a national day of prayer, seeking after God for

protection and strength in this challenging season full of fear and

uncertainty.  For we know that God alone

can provide us with wisdom, peace, protection, and healing during this

season.  Now, we turn to Him in prayer

together.

* Time of corporate

prayer *

Through this series,

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

53.  Here, we find a list of such life

burdens that Jesus took on Himself. 

Jesus took on these burdens so that we can live life in freedom!

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'll focus

in on one of the burdens that Jesus took on so that we can be free of

them.  It's a scripture that we love to

quote and it embodies number 12 of the 16 fundamental truths of the Assemblies

of God:

…by His wounds, we

are healed.

We were challenged

Wednesday evening regarding all of the 'ments' of scripture including

atonement.  The torn body and shed blood

of Jesus on the cross was not only to make atonement for our sin, but also for

the deliverance from our sickness.  He

was wounded, we are healed.

Physical healing was

a significant part of the earthly ministry of Jesus.  In fact, it is one of the acts that He is

best known for.  Healing blind eyes, deaf

ears, cleansing the leprous, watching the lame leap, and so much more.  Jesus healed every sickness and every

disease.

Matthew 8:16-17

16 When evening

came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the

spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was

spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“He took up our

infirmities

    and bore our diseases.”

Jesus took on our

sickness and disease.

Luke 7:20-22

20 When the men came

to Jesus, they said,