#210 The Yoke

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P.O. Box 416, Gravette, AR 72736 501-787-6026 Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE

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Newsletter #210 - April 1996

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Throughout the Bible we are in-II rn- h~ fl II Word, and you will learn how to carry your structed to take on the yoke of God; W- .. ~ ~.oload more easily. Let's turn to Acts. We are however, sometimes lives seem to fall ~_______________;;J'" going to pick it up with Paul and Barnabas apart when that yoke is taken on. If that on the way to Jerusalem, Those at Jerusalem happens, it is important for the individual to focus on were a little dismayed that salvation had been made available even unto the gentiles. God's Word. In the completeness of His Word we find peace of mind. In the completeness of His Word we find rest. ACTS 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they

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were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared al/ things that God had done with them,

Once you obtain the wisdom that comes only from God's Word, the world will work for you rather than you working for the world. That is the way God in­ tended things to be. Through His Word, God tells us how, if we will only listen.

Paul had a lot to declare, Jesus struck him down on the road to Damascus and lined him out. You might say Christ helped Paul put things in balance.

MATTHEW 11,25-26 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank Thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 2§. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.

ACTS 15:5-6 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses, § And the apostles and elders came to­ gether for to consider of this matter.

The babes are the humble that love their Father. The God of heaven and earth saw fit to hide the deeper truths from the wise in the ways of this world. Those that love our Father and study His Word have the truths that allow them to overcome this world.

The Pharisees were saying, "We can't have a bunch of uncircumcised gentiles in here."

MA TTHEW 11:27

All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.

Only through Jesus may we know the Father. Has the power of God been revealed to you through His Word? He can open eyes and ears. MA TTHEW 11:28 Come unto Me, a/l ye that labour and are heavy laden. and I will give you rest,

ACTS 15:7-8 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, "Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. D. And God, Which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Hearts should be translated minds. How was the Holy Spirit given to them? On the day of Pentecost they spoke in a language that was understood by all, even down to the dialect of the county in which they were born. The same was given to the gentiles as a witness.

Let this verse soak in "real good". Are you heavy laden? His instructions are very simple. Come to Him, and He will give you rest and peace of mind.

ACTS 15:9-10 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 1Q Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

MATTHEW 11 :29-30 learn of Me; for I am ye shall find rest unto easy, and My burden

Peter is saying, "We nor our fathers could follow the law of Moses to secure our salvation. Why are you trying to saddle the law of Moses on the gentiles?

Take My yoke upon you, and meek and lowly in heart: and your souls, JQ For My yoke is us light."

There is a lot more to these verses than is normally taught. What is a yoke? The English word yoke in these verses is translated from the Greek word "zugos" (dzoo-gos')'. It literally means the beam of a balance such as may be found on scales. Figuratively, "zugos" means to join together in servitude to follow laws. Jesus is instructing us to take on the balance of the Living Word. You are able to carry a much heavier load, if the load is balanced. Jesus doesn't say He will carry our load for us. Weare in this world for a purpose. Jesus is saying learn the balance of God's

ACTS 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as then."

Jesus paid the price on the cross for our souls. Our belief in Him is the only way to salvation. None of us are able to follow the law of Moses perfectly. Jesus provides the balance through which we may join together in ser· vitude of the law with repentance and forgiveness avail­ able to us by His sacrifice. Let's go to the Old Testament as we continue our study of the yoke. ISAIAH 40:9

0 Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee

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up into the high mountain; a Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"

This is prophecy of the second advent TIle Anointed One will not return as a babe. ISAIAH 40.10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.

He will return with a strong hand to judge and teach. ISAIAH 40:11-12 He shall feed His flock like a shep­ herd. he shall gather the lambs with HIS arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young 12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

In the Septuagint, a Greek version of the Old Tes­ tament, the word balance is "zugos". God created heaven and earth in a balanced and perfect manner. You shouldn't be uncomfortable in the world He created, if you have the knowledge and truth the Almighty has shared with us through His Word. He spoke and nothing became everything. That is power! ISAIAH 40,'13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being His counsel/er hath taught Him?

No one! He doesn't need any help; however, God is offering you help. Put on the yoke and learn! ISAIAH 40:14-15 With whom took He counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of judgement, and taught Him knowledge, and shewed to Him the way of understanding? 1Ji Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing

People have problems, when they fail to follow God's instructions. "Well, you don't understand, Pastor Murray. I've got so many monthly payments that I just don't know how I'm going to make them all." Learn from God's Word! Get out from under the bonds of usury. Balance your life and exercise your mind in the Word of God. Problems that once seemed large and overwhelming will beco:ne small and irrelevant. ISAIAH 40: 16-17 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. U All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity.

God isn't at all concerned about the things of this world. Even the nations of this world are less than nothing. He is in control. Nations will fall into balance and alignment with God's plan as His prophecies are fulfilled. Let's skip to verse 25. iSAIAH 4025-26 "To whom then Will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal?" saith the Holy One. 2Q Lift up your eyes on nigh, and behold, Who hath created these things, That brlngeth out their host by number: He cal/eth therr; all by names by the greatness of His might, for that He IS strong In power; not one fai/eth.

The word host means stars. In Revelation 12: 1-4 we

are likened to stars. In Job 38 we are called the stars of God. He knows your name. Take on the yoke of God. Learn from His Word how to be successful in this world. Use common sense and balance.

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ISAIAH 40:27-28 Why sayest thou, Jacob, and speakest, Israel, 'My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgement is passed over from my God?" 2Q Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of His understanding.

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When you think God doesn't care which way you go, and He isn't judging fairly, remember this verse. Father does not get tired, and there is no end to His understanding. ISAIAH 40:29-30 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. ;;Q Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

We all become weary and fall short. But, God will give us power and strength. Use the power and strength God gives you wisely. Balance your load. ISAIAH 4031 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and shall walk, and not faint."

We have a Wonderful Father. The word wait in this verse means to bind together. They that take on the yoke of God shall renew their strength. Remember, the yoke of God is more than a harness that joins you to Christ. The yoke is a means to balance your flesh life with the knowledge, wisdom, and power of God's Word. The yoke makes it much easier to carry your load. There is a fly in the ointment though. In closing, let's tum to the opening of the third seal. REVELA TlON 6:5 And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, "Come and see." And I beheld, and 10, a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

The black horse is symbolic of war and famine. The balances are the scales which Satan and his children utilize in Amos 8: 1-6. TIIere is one problem with Satan's scales. They are unbalanced to falsify and deceive. You all know from Amos 8 the famine of the end times is for hearing the Word of God. REVELA TlON 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."

The oil and the wine are the elect. A penny was a day's wages. Bread by weight means there is a shortage and grain is bemg rationed. Satan will trade his bread for your Bread of Life Will you be willing to trade? If you have God's yoke on which is the balance of life, you won't. You already know Satan's scales are loaded with deceit. Put on the yoke of God!