Devil's Burden
The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and releasing the burdens placed upon us by the devil to experience true rest and joy in Christ.
Charles E. Cowman preaches about finding rest in God, emphasizing the victory and peace that come from surrendering our burdens to Jesus. He shares a story of a troubled Christian who experienced a transformative dream where Jesus revealed that the burdens she carried were not from Him but from the enemy, urging her to drop them and find true peace and joy. This narrative illustrates the freedom and lightness that believers can experience when they let go of unnecessary worries and trust in the comfort and care of the Savior.
Text
"There remaineth, therefore, a rest to the people of God" (Heb. 4:9).
The rest includes victory, "And the Lord gave them rest round about; . . . the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand" (Joshua 21:44).
"He will beautify the meek with victory" (Ps. 149:4). (Rotherham, margin)
An eminent Christian worker tells of his mother who was a very anxious and troubled Christian. He would talk with her by the hour trying to convince her of the sinfulness of fretting, but to no avail. She was like the old lady who once said she had suffered so much, especially from the troubles that never came.
But one morning the mother came down to breakfast wreathed in smiles. He asked her what had happened, and she told him that in the night she had a dream.
She was walking along a highway with a great crowd of people who seemed so tired and burdened. They were nearly all carrying little black bundles, and she noticed that there were numerous repulsive looking beings which she thought were demons dropping these black bundles for the people to pick up and carry.
Like the rest, she too had her needless load, and was weighed down with the devil's bundles. Looking up, after a while, she saw a Man with a bright and loving face, passing hither and thither through the crowd, and comforting the people.
At last He came near her, and she saw that it was her Saviour. She looked up and told Him how tired she was, and He smiled sadly and said:
"My dear child, I did not give you these loads; you have no need of them. They are the devil's burdens and they are wearing out your life. Just drop them; refuse to touch them with one of your fingers and you will find the path easy and you will be as if borne on eagle's wings."
He touched her hand, and lo, peace and joy thrilled her frame and, flinging down her burden, she was about to throw herself at His feet in joyful thanksgiving, when suddenly she awoke and found that all her cares were gone. From that day to the close of her life she was the most cheerful and happy member of the household.
And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.
--Longfellow
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding God's promise of rest - The significance of victory in the Christian life - The role of faith in overcoming burdens
- II points: - Identifying the devil's burdens - The impact of anxiety and fretting - The importance of recognizing false loads
- III points: - The encounter with Christ and His comfort - The transformation through surrender - Living in the joy of freedom from burdens
- IV points: - The power of dreams and visions in faith - The call to drop unnecessary loads - Embracing a life of peace and joy
Key Quotes
“My dear child, I did not give you these loads; you have no need of them.” — Charles E. Cowman
“They are the devil's burdens and they are wearing out your life.” — Charles E. Cowman
“You will find the path easy and you will be as if borne on eagle's wings.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Reflect on your daily worries and identify which are unnecessary.
- Practice surrendering your burdens to Christ through prayer.
- Embrace the joy and peace that comes from living free of anxiety.