Being Yoked With Christ and the Burdens We Bear

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Short Summary
The discourse explores the concept of a yoke as a symbol of servitude and shared burden, contrasting the heavy yokes imposed by sin, Satan, and worldly pressures with the light and voluntary yoke offered by Christ. It emphasizes that being yoked with Christ brings rest, support, and spiritual growth, enabling believers to share burdens, resist unauthorized yokes, and walk together in unity toward the fulfillment of God’s purpose. Ultimately, Christ’s yoke is depicted as a source of comfort, guidance, and hope amid life’s challenges.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on “Being Yoked with Christ and the Burdens We Share”

Introduction and Definition of a Yoke
– The discourse opens with the theme: being yoked with Christ and sharing burdens.
– A yoke, per Strong’s Concordance (22:18), means “to join by a coupling,” implying servitude, law, or obligation.
– Literally, a yoke is a hand-carved wooden beam connecting two oxen to work together pulling burdens or farming equipment.
– The wooden yoke rests on the neck and is secured to prevent slipping, but it is hard and uncomfortable—not like a soft scarf or backpack.
– Yokes distribute burdens evenly between two animals. Single ox yokes are distressing, full of chains, and force one animal to bear all the burden alone.
– Summary: A yoke is what you wear; a burden is what you carry or pull.

Three Key Questions About Yokes
– Who does the yoke belong to?
– What does it accomplish?
– How heavy is the burden?

Types of Yokes and Their Owners
– There are many yokes, but dominant ones include:
– Satan’s yoke of sin and bondage (Isaiah 9; Acts 26; 1 Timothy 6).
– Being born into sin places a yoke involuntarily on mankind.
– Colossians 1:13 states Jesus rescues us from the power of darkness.
– Other yokes: slavery (Egypt over Israel – Leviticus 26:13), the yoke of the law (Acts 15:10), pride, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, riches, social pressures (especially on women and girls).
– The yoke of the papacy, superstition, and eternal torment threats, which control by fear.
– The yoke of Satan is heavy, causing despair (noting the statistic of a suicide every 35 seconds worldwide).
– Worldly burdens include tyrants, slavery, social media pressures, fear of the future, economic struggles.

Christ’s Yoke vs. Worldly Yokes
– Only Christ can remove these heavy yokes and free us (Matthew 11:30: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”).
– Jesus invites the weary to voluntarily take His yoke (Matthew 11:28-30).
– Christ’s yoke is a partnership; He walks beside us, sharing the load.
– We must learn from Jesus, who is meek and humble in heart.
– The yoke fits uniquely and comfortably, unlike the rigid yokes of Satan.
– Walking with Christ means pacing ourselves—not running ahead or lagging behind (1 John 2:6).
– Christ’s yoke brings rest and relief (Strong’s 373: Anapausis meaning rest, intermission, recreation).
– Romans 8:2-4 emphasizes that Christ frees us from the law of sin and death.

The Burden of Life and Sin
– Life’s burdens are heavy, but Christ’s yoke lightens the load.
– The Pharisees’ yoke was heavy, adding burdens beyond the law (Galatians 5:1,18).
– Prophets describe end-times distress (pale faces, weak knees).
– Christ keeps the “four winds” held back (Revelation), so believers need not fear.
– Burdens are lighter because Christ shares them with us.

Consecration and Spiritual Growth
– Taking Christ’s yoke is voluntary and a covenant of sacrifice.
– Consecration leads to freedom from sin and superstition.
– We grow through learning from Christ, developing spiritual vision, and applying self-control (fruit of the Spirit).
– We need not hate ourselves for sin; Christ’s sacrifice and forgiveness cover our failures.
– Our walk is a cheerful work filled with hope and knowledge of the future.

Handling Non-Christ’s Yokes
– Some yokes, like jobs, are necessary but should not harm our spiritual life.
– If a burden is too heavy, consider changing course to protect consecration.

Joy of Being Yoked with Christ
– Christ and the believer are two oxen yoked with a balanced beam sharing the burden.
– Unlike Satan’s yoke, Christ’s yoke is comfortable and healing.
– Fellowship with Christ is deeper than worldly friendships.
– Romans 8 and Galatians 2 affirm Christ living in us.
– Pride prevents effective yoking; meekness and humility are necessary.
– Christ’s yoke frees us from death, fear, sin, and sorrow.

Supporting One Another
– Galatians 6:2 encourages bearing one another’s burdens, fulfilling Christ’s law of love.
– We each bear our own load but can help others carry theirs.
– Romans 15:1 urges the strong to help the weak.
– We should not dump all problems on others but share appropriately.

Avoiding Unauthorized Yokes
– Galatians 5:1 reminds us Christ set us free for freedom.
– Do not accept yokes that enslave or burden beyond Christ’s yoke.
– 1 Corinthians 16:13 calls for vigilance and strength in faith.
– The only authorized yoke is brotherly love.
– Reject guilt-imposing yokes; do not catch guilt thrown at you.
– Romans 12:16 and Romans 15:5 promote humility and unity in Christ.

Yoke of the Law and Early Church Conflict
– Acts 15 recounts how some tried to impose circumcision and the law on Gentile believers.
– Peter (Acts 15:10) rejects this heavy yoke as unbearable.
– The apostles send a letter with minimal requirements (Acts 15:28-31), which brings joy, not added burden.
– James 5:9 warns against grudging and adding burdens to others.

Walking Together as Equal Yoke Fellows
– All believers are equal sons of God, yoked together (Philippians 4:2-3).
– We collaborate in gospel work and support one another.
– Unity and meekness are required to walk with Christ and each other.

Conclusion
– The yoke belongs to Christ; believers voluntarily put it on because it fits and frees them.
– Christ’s yoke accomplishes the completion of the Church and spiritual growth.
– Though burdens come, Christ’s yoke is light and provides rest for the soul.
– Believers are never alone; Christ walks with them always (Matthew 28:20).
– The yoke is a promise of support in trials and joy in fellowship.

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Key Bible Verses Referenced:

Definition and Concept of Yoke:
– Strong’s Concordance 22:18

Sin and Deliverance:
– Isaiah 9 (Satan’s yoke)
– Acts 26
– 1 Timothy 6 (man under power of Satan)
– Colossians 1:13 – Delivered from power of darkness
– Leviticus 26:13 – Israel as slaves
– Acts 15:10 – Yoke of the law

Jesus’ Invitation and Promise:
– Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come unto me… my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
– 1 John 2:6 – Walk as Jesus walked
– Romans 8:2-4 – Law of Spirit frees from sin and death
– Psalms 55:22 – Cast burdens on the Lord
– Psalms 94:22 – God helps with burdens
– Romans 15:1 – Strong bear weaknesses of weak
– Galatians 6:2,5 – Bear one another’s burdens
– Galatians 5:1 – Freedom in Christ; no yoke of slavery
– 1 Corinthians 16:13 – Stand firm in faith
– Romans 12:16, 15:5 – Unity and humility
– Acts 15:10, 28-31 – No additional yoke on Gentiles
– James 5:9 – Don’t grudge or burden brethren
– Philippians 4:2-3 – Yoke fellows in gospel work
– Matthew 28:20 – Christ with us always

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This comprehensive discourse contrasts the heavy, burdensome yokes imposed by sin, Satan, and worldly systems with the easy, light yoke offered by Christ. It emphasizes voluntary consecration, humility, learning from Christ’s example, and mutual support among believers. The ultimate message is one of hope, rest, and intimate fellowship with Jesus, who shares our burdens and leads us to victory.

Transcript

And as Brother Chris shared the title of our service together today is being yoked with Christ and the burdens we share, and friends, we are going to talk about heavy things and light things and you’re going to recognize the difference immediately. We have 10 points to consider, and the first point we wanted to consider is what is a yoke? The definition from Strongs 22:18. Yoke is to join by a coupling.

It means servitude, a law or obligation, and the literal meaning is the beam of the balance as connecting the scales, a pair of balances. A yoke is a bar of wood carved by hand that unites two animals, oxen, enabling them to work in the fields, carrying loads and pulling machinery used for farming fields. The wooden yoke rests on the top of the neck with a U shaped piece under it, which secures your head and neck to the yoke. It holds it in place.

A wooden yoke can only feel so good. It’s not a soft wool scarf or a backpack with comfy straps. It’s a wooden beam of bondage or servitude. A yoke typically has an opening for two animals. Between the two animals runs a chain or rope, and this single chain pulls the entire load.

And the burden is shared between the two animals. Yolks make the burden balanced. There are single oxen yokes, and the contraptions are distressing to look at. They are full of chains on both sides for pulling the full burden alone. You yourself, no one to share it, not fun.

In summary, a yoke is what you wear now. A burden is the load you pull or carry. So in my study of yolks, I asked three questions. Number one, who does the yoke belong to, what does it accomplish, and how heavy is the burden? The next question we have is, how many yokes are there?

Too many to list. But there are dominant ones, and this is where it gets heavy. Satan’s yoke of sin in Isaiah 9 and Acts 26 and 1st Timothy 6 tells us man is under the power or dominion of Satan. All mankind wears the yoke of sin and bondage around their necks.

Being born into sin, a yoke was placed upon you. It was not voluntary. Colossians 1:13 confirms, Jesus delivered us, rescued us from the power of darkness. Satan is the prince of this world, who holds that power of darkness, controls all his subjects. Under the yoke of of sin, there’s the yoke of slavery, Egypt over Israel.

Leviticus 26:13 says, All Israel were slaves. The yoke of the law. Acts 15:10. The yoke of pride. The yoke of hatred, anger.

The inability to forgive. The inability to forgive yourself. The yoke of riches. Some may want to look up at God, but are compelled to keep looking down at this earth to to manage their money. It becomes the yoke of keeping up appearances.

The pressure upon women and girls that social media and society places upon them. That is a yoke. Who does the oak belong to? What does it accomplish? How heavy is the burden?

Because mankind is can’t take it anymore. Does anybody know what happens every 35 seconds around the world? A suicide.

During this service, 77 people may die by suicide. Consider the reverberations throughout the families and friends. All mankind feels the heavy yoke placed upon them by the prince of darkness.

Papacy, Christianity, the yoke of hellfire. Imagine if you don’t do this or believe that you will burn forever. Don’t ask questions or read the Bible, you’ll just get confused. The yoke of superstition, dominance and power, using the threat of eternal torment from the Dark ages, is alive and well today. The yoke of papacy is so tight you can’t turn your neck.

It hurts to ask questions, and if you don’t let us control you, you will just burn in eternal torment. What a blessing. But notice how the yoke is just loose enough so you can reach for your wallet and tithe. Oh, who does the yoke belong to?

What does it accomplish? And how heavy is the burden? Satan as the prince, controls all these yokes over mankind. The yoke of sin itself. How frustrating for those in the world who really want to do good and repeatedly fail.

In a gym facility, I overheard a pastor speaking with a young person on his speakerphone. To summarize, the young person was discouraged at life and what he saw in the world. At the end of the lengthy conversation, the only comfort the pastor gave him was by saying, it’s your job to go out there and change the world.

I almost wanted to get involved in the conversation. Did the pastor place a yoke upon this young man? Ask the questions. Who owns the yoke? The pastor.

What does it accomplish? Well, virtually nothing, and how heavy is the burden? The young man will never lift it. He is helpless, shackled.

He remains alone. There are yokes imposed upon men through kings and tyrants and exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence, slavery, human trafficking. Today, men and women working as hard as possible and running themselves ragged, trying to keep up with the Joneses, and today many just run to make ends meet. There’s the yoke of fear, not knowing what the future holds, not getting answers to questions that are answered in the Bible.

And there are so many social yokes. Our young people are faced with the yoke of navigating social media and artificial intelligence. How are you supposed to keep up with that?

Satan has mankind so bound and shackled with his multitude of yokes, and he uses every device there is to control and burden man. Doesn’t this talk feel heavy so far, simply from hearing this list of yokes? By the end of the service, let’s see if you feel lighter and why. To remove these yokes and become free from all these burdens yourself is impossible in this evil day, and the only one to deliver us from these yokes and their chains and is Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Number three what is a burden? Matthew 11:30 for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Who in the world is not carrying a load which is making them tired? In the 1950s, after World War II, some of mankind had a momentary glimpse of peace. Moms could stay home with the kids.

Only one needed to work. Most could afford a home. Compare that with the insanity mankind experiences today. Man is under the influence and weight of mammon from birth to death. All men bear the general burden of life.

Now, aside from the yoke and burden of sin, in verse 30, Jesus spoke in contrast to what the Pharisees taught. Did you want the Pharisees yoke or my yoke? Their yoke is painful. They will make you feel bad because they think they’re so good. You will struggle with their yoke.

Galatians 5:1 and 18 if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. The Pharisees added more burden to their life. In contrast, Jesus said, my burden not theirs is light.

The prophets tell us in end times men’s faces will turn pale. That means they’re going to faint. It says their knees will become like water. They can’t take the pressure of the world events around them. Life is the burden, and mankind is barely hanging on.

But always remember and take complete comfort that the four winds in Revelation are being held back. For you, brethren, never fear. He will never give you more than you were able to bear. Same cannot be said of the world. Number four take my yoke upon you.

Matthew 11:28 30 are familiar scripture. Come to me, all who were weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is Easy, and my burden is light.

The first thing to notice is that the weary and heavy laden. You and I are invited to come to Christ, take his yoke and put it upon yourself. Are you forced to do this or are you invited to do this?

You voluntarily put on this yoke so you can fulfill your covenant of sacrifice. You want to do this? It’s a yoke of servitude. You have made yourself a willing servant. I delight to do thy will after you willingly put on his yoke.

Next would be all the steps of consecration that follow. We are set free from the yoke of sin. You are delivered from all the superstitions we spoke about and you fulfill Revelation’s invitation to come out of her. My people, this means that Christ has made you free from Satan, the great taskmaster, and once you willingly take Jesus’s yoke upon you, what does he ask?

He asks you to learn of me. This is my most enjoyable lesson of the study. Picture this. We have two oxen yoked together. When the yoke is the right size, when the burden and load is split between the two oxen, the their health is looked after.

They are not chafed or wounded around their necks which could risk their life when we are joined with Christ. How does Christ figure into your life? And this picture he is beside you, pulling the load out of everyone in the universe you could have pulling with you. You have the Son of God.

So if you and me become anxious during our work, we aren’t allowing Christ to share the load with us. If we run ahead too quickly, we could hurt ourselves since we are commanded to walk in his footsteps. Christ is the lead. He is the mature, wise example, teaching us how to walk, how to carry his yoke and how to pull our load.

From 1 John 2:6 we read the one who says he abides in Christ ought himself to walk in the same manner as he walked, and we do. We walk to please God and do his will. When we run ahead, Christ may say, how far did you get? And how does that chafing and injuring feel now slow down.

As my dad says, we don’t run ahead of our Lord. Then sometimes, like me, maybe we’re walking too slow. We get dragged and he might say, please get up. I’m basically dragging you now for your own good. So learn to pace yourself.

Not too fast, not too slow, because we are plowing a field together. He says if we were not yoked to Jesus, we may not feel we have an advocate, and Jesus wants you to know he is always attached to you betrothed in a certain way after putting on the yoke, when God accepts you, Christ and you are joined with one yoke, and Christ is able to declare, you see, Father, he and she is with me, and Jesus says to you, do you see how close we can get to each other for you to feel me?

From Ephesians 3:17, from the Phillips translation, that Christ may actually live in your hearts by your faith.

I’m going to read a scripture where the yoke of Satan is taken off you. Romans 8, verses 2 through 4. We read, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, weak as it was, through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh so that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh.

Brethren, that’s with that yoke of sin and bondage. But we walk according to the Spirit.

Christ’s shed blood is the basis for forgiveness of our sins. Christ made peace for us. He transferred us from the dominion of Satan back to sonship. Doesn’t that feel lighter? Are we.

Are we getting to some light stuff? Some good stuff going back to Matthew 11:29. Why does Jesus say, I am meek and lowly in heart? Just think, you’ve put on the yoke. You agree to be trained by the master elder yoke fellow Christ, he wants you to know the secret to his success.

James tells us God is opposed to the proud because pride is not a fruit of the spirit, but a thorny product of Satan. So if you want rest for your souls, be like your master Yoke fellow, be meek, be quiet. Lead a quiet life. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God as part of your consecration. When you said, I will give up and forfeit my life, my goods and my will, you made room in your head and heart for the Father’s will, for you to learn from your master yoke fellow, pulling with you to teach you how to walk and how to find rest.

Matthew 11:28 reads, I will give you rest. The Greek word for rest from Strong’s373 is Anapausis. I love the pause part. It means intermission. By implication, recreation and rest.

I love it. We all like that. When the burden of life is too great by coming to the master Teacher, we get an intermesh intermission. We get rest and recreation joy. Matthew 11:29 and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

It is a rest from the weight of the world and is the opposite of what most human beings experience today. As we learn more about Christ, we restrain, quit, desist. We come to an end from our worries of the world hard as we look right beside us to the Master Teacher, he says, look at me. Find rest and look up.

Matthew 11:30 My yoke is easy and my burden is light. I believe if Jesus says his yoke is easy and he is willing to walk beside me, Brother Arbor and he’s willing to share the load. He’s willing to teach me to walk at the right speed and pace and to balance the load of life and balance doctrines. Friends, if I can do it as broken as I am, well, that means that you can do it too.

His yoke is easy for two reasons. First, the burden from the yokes under Satan are gone for you, and you must keep them off. Second, the secret to a comfortable yoke in Christ Each yoke is customized for the oxen. It is not one size fits all, but it is shaped just for you, and it fits you without hurting or harming or causing any chafing. A yoke that does not fit can cause a wound.

And when you have a really bad blister on your foot, how do you feel walking long distances? No blisters here. Christ says, I give you ease, I give you rest. Because of the knowledge I give you, you will know the future. Brother Todd spoke to us.

We know the future. I give you rest from all the running to and fro in the world. You’re not searching for anything. You’ve got the gift. You hear his voice saying, as you walk with me to please the Father, as you sacrifice your energy and time, as you show your love for the brethren, as we plow the field together and carry our burden, not much of that old life of sin and slavery will cause you grief anymore.

You are free, but only as long as we are yoked together. It is why Jesus is called the great sin bearer. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain provide for thee. Psalms 55:22 While each one is expected to carry his own proper burden, the Lord will help us with burdens we cannot bear. Most loads are lighter when carrying is shared by two, and this is what is promised us.

God will help us when our load of care may be greater than our strength. Psalms 94:22 A young consecrated individual recently asked, do the newly consecrated have to hate themselves to be successful? First of all, everyone is different, right? My thought is, you do not have to hate yourself. You are being taught the iniquity of sin, the unrighteousness.

And as you see it in the world, you feel it. As you plow the field together with the Lord, your spiritual vision is sharpened, and as you see iniquity more in yourself, you’re trying to figure out how to deal with it. Panic may even set in. Don’t panic.

The best way to deal with keeping your flesh under is the last fruit of the spirit self control, the one I sure can use some help with. Your new man is being built with improved spiritual vision so you may see sin way more easily, and remember, this is why Jesus died, to take away sin. God forgives these things. You see in yourself and forgives you when you ask him.

So you don’t have to hate yourself. You know, I might suggest that hating oneself is a yoke carried over from dark age Christian superstitions.

Remember, you are now free. Not free to sin, but free to embrace that Christ is with you, carrying the heavier burden of sin. He says, I’m right here beside you. I see everything. So don’t beat yourself up.

Come closer to me, and each memorial season mark that you and I have grown so much closer together. The sin you see will help you cherish my whole life’s work. I’m here for you. Together we can do it.

And we remember. This is a cheerful work. I often think, what would the richest men in the world pay? To know what you know, to know the future. Your load is light because you know the future.

Number five. How should we handle yokes not offered from Christ? You heard that right. Jobs are required. You must have one.

But first ask, how great is the burden, how much time it requires, how heavy. Brother Bob pointed out in his service. We know who owns the yoke and its purpose. But be careful that you do no harm to yourself, to your consecration. If it’s too heavy, consider getting out.

Number six. What are the joys of being yoked with Christ? There are two yoke for two oxen, the beam of balance. Remember the wooden beam that rests between the two. That beam of balance distributes the load between you and Christ.

Between the two is one chain which is attached to the beam in the middle. A ring attaches to the middle of this beam. This ring carries or pulls the burden behind you between the two. Because our yoke is voluntary, it is very different than the yoke of Satan. His yoke yields sin and death.

It’s uncomfortable. It injures those who wear it. It chafes and makes Wounds that never heal, and like the pastor who told the young person, you must change the world. Some loads will never be moved or lifted.

The animal is stuck, confused, and never more alone. Are you alone? No. Remember, Jesus is saying, I will give rest to the weary. The heavy laden come unto me.

I’m telling you, my yoke is easy. My burden is late. How? Because when we are joined together, we walk at the same speed as you learn how to walk with me. We develop a friendship.

We develop communion, we develop intimacy. That’s what happens when you walk and work that closely together. Brethren, as we develop these bonds of love with Jesus, it surpasses any friendship we have in the world and with the world.

Let’s compare our friendship and communion with Christ to our friends in the world. I have a little example, and there’s nothing wrong with the people or their behavior in this example. Tomorrow, National Football League Tailgaters. They have wonderful fellowship. They break bread.

They cook steaks for each other. They offer each other beverages, comfy chairs, hospitality, laughter, hugs, memories. They have a common goal, a common team. They literally fight for each other.

They are yoked together. There is nothing wrong with that. We like seeing happy people, but we are not yoked with them. Yet we are commanded to do good unto all men, and especially to the households of faith with whom we are yoked.

So being yoked with Christ is deeper than friendship. Romans 8. Christ is in you. Galatians 2. Christ who lives in me, I am with you always.

We have renounced the world and have put on the mind of Christ by walking together in his footsteps to be ambassadors. But we can only put on that yoke if we have made ourselves meek and lowly of heart, which means we are willing to be taught. Remember, a proud spirit cannot follow Christ. Pride will drop the yoke and run away on its own.

And Christ promises you rest. You are no longer controlled by the yoke of death, sorrow, suffering, pain, fear that Brother Todd spoke about, and the slavery of Satan’s sin. How else do you get rest? Come to me, you who are weak and heavy laden. I want you to believe in me and have faith in me.

And you will have rest in your soul through becoming a joint yoke fellow with me. When we understand the process of justification and realize we are being made right in the sight of God, our hearts grow calm. There’s a cessation. From worry, we get perspective. We see that we are a work of God in progress.

We see the future hand plan. We have God’s grace through the gift of his Son, justifying us from our sins and weaknesses, and we are given the understanding we can walk and sacrifice as he did and become partakers of his divine nature through glory and be joint blessers in the kingdom. My favorite part after consecration and our willingness to be yoked, there’s the leading of the Holy Spirit and our enrollment into the School of Christ. He teaches our new creature we need grace and forgiveness, and to help us learn this, he teaches us we will be forgiven as we forgive others, and we will receive mercy as we extend mercy to others.

And of course, you accomplish God’s will as you love the brethren. Let us ask, who owns the yoke we wear? Christ Jesus. What does it accomplish? The development of fruit and the completion of the Church.

How heavy is the burden? Sometimes heavy, but it never stays heavy, for we find rest. His burden improves our lives for the better. It makes this world sort of a picture show as we calmly check our prophecy and watch world events.

Number seven. We bear one another’s burdens. From Galatians 6:2,5 from the New American. Bear one another’s burdens. The Greek word for burden here is that which tires the things that make you grow weaker bear one another’s burdens and therefore fulfill the law of Christ, the law of love.

For if anyone thinks he is something, we stop here being heady with the truth or puffed up, when he is actually nothing, and we pause and ask, why are you nothing? You have no standing with God except for Christ and the yoke you voluntarily put on. For without it you are nothing. We are nothing.

That’s why verse three says he deceives himself if you think you’re something. Now verse four. But each one must examine his own work and then pause after we see fruits. In keeping God’s commandments to love and forgive, he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone and not in regard to another. Verse 5.

For each one will bear his own load.

Do you remember the single chain between the two oxen which pulls the load? The ring between the two pulling the load has a smaller ring inside the bigger ring. They’re called eyelets. When both oxen are in harmony, working together while their single chain comfortably pulls its own load. A second chain can be attached to the little eyelet on that wooden bar and can pull someone else’s load and thereby bearing or helping to pull one another’s burdens.

That burden which is making them tired. They need you because they are feeling weak, and a scripture we all love from Romans 15:1. Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Now, should we dump all our problems on the brethren?

No, because you lay them down at the feet of Christ. You and he can work it out. But when you are strong and you help carry someone else’s load, you fulfill the law of Christ, the law of love.

Number eight. Do we place yokes or burdens upon our brethren? And if so, by what authority? Galatians 5:1. It was for freedom that Christ set us free.

Did you catch that? It was for freedom. Therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. We know Paul was referring to freedom from the law, but the point can still be made. Are you free?

So are you. Apostle Paul says Christ set you free. So if anyone or anything impedes your ability to stand firm and be free, and someone tries to put a poke upon a yoke upon you, they are disobeying the word of God. Number one, who does the yoke belong to? You know.

Number two, what does it accomplish? You know how heavy is the burden. Light. If we walk in his footsteps and learn so what Scriptures give us authority to place a yoke upon anyone, we are no longer slaves to sin. But we are sons of God.

Only the yoke of Christ is comfortable. All others extremely heavy. First Corinthians 16:13. Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith.

Act like men. Be strong. Think for yourself. Don’t let a yoke be put on you. Not authorized by Christ.

But there’s one exception. The yoke of brotherly love is wonderful, and that’s a quote. Great yoke. Be strong.

Paul says, an authorized an. An unauthorized yoke is like a yoke of guilt. Picture yourself with a baseball catcher mitt. When someone pitches guilt at you, you can catch it or you can let it go right past you. If you catch it and you look at it, you may feel awful.

Likewise, go. Don’t catch yolks from others. Don’t put them on. Let them go right by you. Be strong.

Romans 12:16. Be of the same mind, one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to mend of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Romans 15:5.

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus. You mean like my master, teacher, walking next to me? Yes.

Number nine. Peter, James, Paul and the Yoke of the law. In Acts 15, certain Hebrews were attempting to teach the Gentiles that when you accept Christ, you must also accept circumcision according to the law. It was obviously a big deal because either the blood of Christ accomplished everything or you needed more. As if Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t enough, Peter says in Acts 15:10 why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear the law.

The conclusion amongst this meeting of apostles and elders was a written letter to the Gentiles. Just think about it. They wrote a letter, they took the time. Acts 15:28, for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials, and the written essentials were only recommendations about things sacrificed to idols and immorality.

The response from the Gentiles is in verse 31. When they had read the letter, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

No yoke, no burden increase. Think of others. Bear together. Don’t place a burden upon someone. Help pull the burden.

You don’t own the yoke, the yolks on you.

From James 5, 9 from the king James. Grudge not one against another brethren. Don’t add to the burden of your brethren. Number 10. We walk together, equally yoked.

We are all equal sons of God, working together as co laborers with Christ to make our calling and election sure and to spread the gospel. We are equally yoked with the same symbol of servitude. We are free from sin and death. Philippians 4, verses 2 and 3 reminds us that brothers and sisters are all yoke fellows in spreading the gospel, helping the young ones, assisting in the harvest work, and that unity of the one mind is the only option.

In closing. Who does the yoke belong to? Christ Himself. You willingly put it on because now it fits so comfortably and erases other burdensome and suffocating yokes. Number two.

What does Christ’s yoke accomplish?

The completion of the Church. No yoke, no 144,000. Number three. How heavy is the burden overall? Our burden is light.

We have rest for our souls. Christ helps you every step of your way. He said, for you. I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Do you see how light that feels?

A yoke is a beautiful promise of support in difficult times and joyous times. Look beside you.

Thank your Master shepherd for being with you. He is there, right there.

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