Hacksaw Ridge- The Christian version

Gal 6:2-5

Gal 6:2-5 2 BEAR ye one another’s burdens, and so FULFILL the law of Christ. 3 For if a
man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let
every man PROVE his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and
not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

• Desmond Doss…During the Battle of Okinawa, he saved the lives of 50–100

wounded infantrymen atop the area known by the 96th Division as the Maeda
Escarpment or Hacksaw Ridge. Doss was wounded four times in Okinawa and was
evacuated on May 21, 1945, aboard the USS Mercy. Doss suffered a left arm
fracture from a sniper's bullet and at one point had seventeen pieces of shrapnel
embedded in his body.
• Talk about a guy who helped save a ton of people. Eventually, though, he needed
someone to save his life.
• You might hate war movies, and think this kind of thing is horrible, but there is a lot to
learn from Mr. Doss, and how we can serve our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Commands- Bear, fulfill, prove.

The law is to love you neighbor as yourself-Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one
word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

• We all have burdens in life, and need others to

help us with our burdens.
• You can’t find a major player in scripture who didn’t have a hard life.
• Moses. Hidden in the desert 40 years, wandered in the desert 40
years.
• David. 1 sam 20-22 Saul tries to kill him, runs away despite being the
better warrior, feigns insanity in front of his enemies, end up living in a
cave, all the priests are killed because of him.
• Paul was a first ballot in the suffering hall of fame.
• Job got knocked down by life in ways we can’t ever imagine.
• All the disciples had really horrible deaths and suffered.
• Read Fox’s book of martyrs. Jim Elliot etc.
• Even some of the minor players had it rough.
• The priests that Saul killed because one of them that David helped?
• Uriah? Who did nothing wrong was betrayed by his king for no fault of
his own.
• Life is just flat out hard for us sometimes
• “Life is hard. It’s even harder if you’re stupid” -John Wayne
 • They all had people (the Lord) to help them
• David and Jonathan, and his mighty men. Joab ended poorly, but was
used of God to help get David on his feet.
• God uses the church to help restore fallen brothers and sisters.
• Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are
spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
• At some point in your life, you are going to have a burden you cannot
carry. At some point you are going to get put on your butt, and you will
need someone to help pull you up. If you think you can live this life on
your own, you’re not very old, or not very experienced. We need each
other.
• Rom 8:28 is in there for a reason
• God meant it for good- Joseph
• Living the story one line at a time
• Christianity is a fellowship, not a club or organization. Let’s treat each other
as such. We’re not disposable. We’re redeemable.
• No one could understand Vietnam vets who returned home, except
other Vietnam vets.
• Everyone else has burdens, and needs us to help
with their burdens.
• It is a command to help.
• God comforts me so I can comfort you. 2 Cor 1:3-4 Blessed be God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and
the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that
we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the
comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
• If you know you can help, and don’t, that’s wrong.
• I understand we can’t always help in a situation, but more often we
can help, and we’re more worried about “career advancement” or
getting glory than helping others. i think we can help more than we
realize.
• You are not the only one who is suffering
• Today for me, tomorrow for you
• “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” You don’t
know a man’s story. We are not parts in a machine that can easily be
swapped out and copied.
• We are individually and uniquely made by the creator Himself.
• Your story matters. Your problems are real. Your fear, doubt,
sufferings and hardships are real. But so are mine. So are everyone
else’s too.
• Let’s be a helping hand, and not a pointing finger.
• We should help each other bear the heavy burdens of life, but there
are personal responsibilities that each man must bear for himself.
 “Each soldier must bear his own pack.” If my car breaks down, my
neighbor can help drive my children to school, but he cannot assume
the responsibilities that only belong to me as their father. That is the
difference.
• “But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of
Titus” (2 Cor 7:5–6). J. Stott comments on this text: God’s comfort
was not given to Paul through his private prayer and waiting upon the
Lord, but through the companionship of a friend and through the good
news which he brought. Human friendship, in which we bear one
another’s burdens, is part of the purpose of God for his people. So we
should not keep our burdens to ourselves, but rather seek a Christian
friend who will help to bear them with us.

• My brother’s burdens are not my measuring

stick.
• You prove or test yourself against Christ
• Search me and know me
• Fastest kid in a small school. Eastern shore kids.
• Don’t rejoice in what other people do, don’t do, suffer, or don’t suffer. Keep
your nose to yourself. John 21:19-21 This spake he, signifying by what death
he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him,
Follow me. 20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved
following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is
he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what
shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come,
what is that to thee? follow thou me.
• Who cares if other people succeed more than you? There is an
unlimited amount of success to go around… especially in the ministry.
• A man should “prove his own work” (Gal. 6:4) in the light of God’s will
and not in the shadows of somebody else’s achievements or failures.
• Gym haters make no sense to me. Why hate that guy for being
strong? We can both be strong, and not diminish the other guy.
• OGTC students always struggle with this, honestly. maybe more than
anyone else.
• Rom 12:1 is our standard, anything less is sub-standard. That’s what is
normal for us.
• You are probably “better” than I am at a lot of spiritual disciplines, and
I’ve probably got one or two up on you. But we’re not the standard.
Jesus is the standard.
• The average Christian life, and the normal Christian life are not the
same thing in 2018.
• Remember, the legalist makes himself look better by making his
brother look worse.
 • Our relationship with the Lord is a personal thing. Psalm 26:1-2 Judge me, O
Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord;
therefore I shall not slide.2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;Try my reins
and my heart.
• What if you were a Jew born in Egypt during slavery?
• What if you were a Jew born in Babilonia?
• What if you were born with a physical handicap and could never ever
be a missionary, pastor, or even walk on your own?
• Your life is not based on what you do, but who you ARE!

• Conclusion- You’re either in a spot where you need to be helped by, or be helping,
your brother/sister in Christ. Let us humbly give/accept help, not judging or criticizing
our family.