Are you yoked with Christ Jesus?
The Christian experience is an ever upward movement.
When we fall or fail in our walk, we lose ground.
But coming to Christ Jesus is always the first step in being restored, or in what is next for our lives. (Even after we have failed)
He is our hiding place, our fire within, our rest of soul, our peace. Coming to Him should be one of the easiest movements for us, as Christians, because we know His great love for us.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy ladened, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
When we come to Him, the first thing He gives us is rest.
It is rest of spirit…peace (this you feel, as the sea was calmed by the Voice of Jesus),….
…..and it is rest of soul (this comes with understanding His Word, and knowing we are forgiven and cleansed from our sin. 1 John 1:9-10)
He takes the burden of laboring in this world under the dominion of sin (and the trouble of our besetting sin, as well)….and gives us deliverance.
Romans 6:17-18 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
This “became the servant of righteousness” is to “learn of Me”. It happens as we walk with Him.
And then, with the rest of heart and mind, He shows us His way of progress.
Whether two oxen are plowing, or harvesting, or pulling a wagon to town; the way the work gets done, is the yoke.
The yoke was a wooden bar, which went across the neck and shoulders of the animals…..two smaller wooden pieces came down against the front of the shoulders….where the animals pushed against to move forward.
The yoke was to keep the animals together…..each pulling their part…together.
This yoke, then, represents His way to bring His will to pass in our lives…..it is His Way of keeping us…He and I….together in the work.
(There is the work of growing in grace,….in us.
There is the work of showing forgiveness and mercy…through us to others.
There is the work of witness, prayer, and ministry.)
As Jesus, Himself submitted to all the Father’s Will….humbling Himself….and letting the Father exalt Him in due time…
…so we are to submit to the Lord….
…and let Him work all things out, for His good, for me.
But here is the beautiful and….oh so sweet…part.
“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
“Easy” here means gentle. The yoke is gentle….it does not chafe or “rub us the wrong way”…..(unless we fight against it). But it is gently keeping us close to Him, Who walks along side us….wherever we are sent.
The Lord does not say there will not be burdens…..but rather says they will be “light”.
When the Holy Spirit gives a burden….He gives with it, understanding, and the ability to discharge it.
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Are we yoked with Christ Jesus? Are we experiencing the real rest He offers those who submit to Him?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 