Pt. 1 The Anointing Breaks The Yoke Series

30 Days of Blessing Series

“The Anointing Breaks the Yoke”

(Part 1 of 5)

Matt. 11.28-30; Isaiah 10.37

October 7, 2012 Chester FBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

A 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls.30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30 (NASB)

B A yoke is a part of a harness that fit over the neck/shoulders (to prevent chaffing) of a particular animal as it pulled a wagon, cart, plow, or a mill beam (Also how the animal’s master controlled, guided the animal).

1 The ancients used the image of a “yoke” to capture the essence of sumbission/obedience.

a The ancients used the “yoke” as a metaphor to describe a student who was under the “yoke” of his teacher.

aa Ancient Jewish writing says,

Draw near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning.

Wherefore are ye slow, and what say ye to these things, seeing your souls are very thirsty? I opened my mouth, and said, Buy her for yourselves without money. Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction: she is hard at hand to find. Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest.

-Ecclesiasticus 51.23-27

bb The Pharisees were talking about the yoke of the Law/Torah (studying the Word) to bring rest to the soul and the acceptance of God.

b The Hebrews were taught to believe that if they studied enough, followed the Law closely enough, did enough, do the right things . . . they would find rest & acceptance of God.

2 The Pharisees, with their traditions/legalism/man-made rules had made it so hard (impossible) to please God.

a Just as Pharaoh had exhausted them physically, the Pharisees had exhausted them spiritually.

aa The Lord had delivered the Israelites from Pharaoh’s yoke of bondage/slavery only to have the Pharisees put another yoke on His people.

bb Traded Physical yokes for a Spiritual yokes.

b This new yoke of legalism was exhausting! weary and heavy-laden (v.28)

aa “weary” (Present participle: repeated action) working until exhaustion, day-after-day, week-after-week. (Working for salvation, love of God, to please God.)

bb “heavy-laden” (Perfect passive participle: the action was completed in the past with continuing results) Means to load up an animal/vessel & then the load was put on and then left on.

cc Also means, to overburden w/ ceremony or spiritual anxiety; stay tired, weary, discouraged, depressed.

B Jesus said, “Come to me, all who are weary & heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

1 Weary/heavy-laden are pre-existing conditions.

a As long as they were yoked to the Law, tradition, religion they could never experience the yoke of rest.

aa “rest” is refreshing from a long journey, take ease, revived.

bb Also, situation is fixed/matter is settled, put the issue to . . . rest.

b v.25, Jesus divided the yoke crowd into two groups: Wise & intelligent/babes.

25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Matt 11:25 (NASB)

aa Before the proud Jew could find rest he first had to admit his helplessness.

bb They could not depend on their own human wisdom, resources, & achievement. FUTILE

cc Must be like babies in the sense the acknowledging they were helpless, defenseless, dependent on their care-giver

c The Pharisees said, “do” and Jesus said, “Come.” The “coming” was an act of faith, trusting in Jesus as Savior.

2 When we come to Him (trust Him) for salvation, before we get anything, we come to Him as helpless babies.

a We admit we are helpless, defenseless, sinful, guilty, unrighteous.

b We confess the certainty of our lostness.

aa I’m lost, blind, crippled, fallen, & unable to get anywhere in/on my own.

bb It is not studying the Bible, knowing the Bible, through a creed, church, pastor, priest, doctrine, or denomination . . . but through Christ Jesus.

cc You must first give yourself to God before you get His free gift of salvation.

c We must come to him in humility, faith, brokeness, desperation, surrender.

C Salvation is the theme of Scripture (Adam in the Garden or Israel on the fields of Armageddon.)

1 The heart of the Gospel is that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Tim. 1.15.)

15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 1 Tim 1:15 (NASB)