Learning To Lean Series

Matt. 11:29 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."

When we are yoked with Jesus 2 things happen. First, our steps are guided. When we are yoked together with Jesus He guides our steps and leads us in the way in which we should go. There is an old movie called the 39 Steps where a man is handcuffed to a woman and the 2 are trying to escape. The one keeps trying to get away but they can’t because they are joined together.

One morning a couple of cowboys went out on the range to bring in a wild steer from the mountains. They took along with them one of those shaggy little gray donkeys -- a burro. Now a big three-year old steer that’s been running loose in the timber is a tough customer to handle. Nevertheless, these cowboys had a technique for handling this steer. They got a rope on the steer and then they tied him neck and neck, right up close, to the burro and let them go. At first, the burro had a bad time. The steer threw him all over the place. He banged him against trees, rocks, into bushes. Time after time they both went down. But there was one great difference between the burro and the steer. The burro had an idea. He wanted to go home. And no matter how often the steer threw him every time the burro got to his feet he took a step nearer the corral. This went on and on. After about a week, the burro showed up at the corral. He had with him the tamest and sorriest-looking steer you ever saw.

Second, our burdens are lifted. When we are yoked together with Jesus he carries the weight for us. I remember trying to move a refrigerator. It was hard until some others arrived and then I was hardly carrying anything. Trust in the power of God and not in our own strength in times of difficulty.

3. Lean on Christ for SUCCESS (vs. 18-19)

I said that only Jesus has the power to change your life. That does not mean that you do nothing and God does everything. We need to take what we have been given and use it passionately.

The answer to the King’s problem was not in the hands of Elisha, but in the hands of the King. The response of the king determined the answer to the king’s problem. The King did as he was told, but not whole heartedly. The way the king responded showed the king’s heart. The arrow which was given the King was an arrow of victory. We too have been given the victory in Jesus. We have the power and authority to move out and destroy the enemy. However, far too often we do not use the power we are given. You may be saying - “I want to grow in my relationship with the Lord this year”. Good, do it! God has done His part, it’s time for you to do yours.

You have many arrows of victory in your quiver today. One of them is prayer. One is fellowship. Another is bible study. We often have not because we ask not. Use what you have with all your heart.

Dead Poets Society is a great film. In his first lesson with his senior class, the rather eccentric but very inspiring English teacher John Keating, played by Robin Williams, takes the boys into the foyer outside the classroom where he asks one to read out a poem. "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old time is still a-flying. And this same flower that smiles today tomorrow will be dying." "Carpe deum - Seize the day ", Keating says to them, "Every single one of us is just food for worms. You may be destined for great things, but you need to take the opportunity now." Then he leads his class up to the cabinet in the foyer, filed with old, black and white photos of students from many years ago. "What do all these boys, your illustrious predecessors, have in common?" asks Keating. "They’re all fertilizing daffodils. They’re all dead. They were boys with high expectations, high ideals, just like you. They felt they were invincible, thought that the world was their oyster, just like you. But did they manage to fulfill even a tiny bit of their potential? - Carpe deum. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary."