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Good day. Today's video King of kings is on the topic of: Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. His kingdom is not of this world. When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, and our citizenship is now in heaven, where God raised us up and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, who is seated at His right hand. In the Old Testament Israel rejected God's anointed judge and prophet Samuel, thus rejecting God, and they demanded a king be set over them that they may be like all the other nations, and that their king would judge them, and go out before them, and fight their battles. Today, many Christians are doing the same; they have rejected God's anointed judge and prophet, King of kings and Lord of lords, His Son Jesus Christ, and have set over themselves unknowingly due to their own ignorance concerning God and his plan of salvation through his Son, their own appointed false judges and prophets, kings and lords in the form of ministers, pastors, teachers, priests, etc. to reign over them and fight their battles for them, and to lay blame on, who in turn bring them into bondage laying heavy burdens that they are not able to bear, and they love to have it so (Read what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 and 19-20). Many rely more on what men say about the scriptures instead of going to the source of all truth, wisdom and knowledge, the King of kings and Lord of lords who has overcome the world. The Lord Jesus Christ said "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 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" (Matthew 11:28-30); thus, the simplicity of salvation is in him. Do you know the King of kings, the Lord of lords? Is He truly your King and Lord? Who do you want to reign over you, to judge you, to teach you, to go before you, to fight your battles for you? Men or God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ? Choose you this day who you will serve! God bless and keep the faith. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry or by clicking on our archive page link above - Doctrine of Christ Ministry Archive. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning, today's encouragement is to come into agreement with God's thoughts and ways which are much higher than ours.
If you would like to download a copy click on the Daily Bread For Life Archive link above to access the link to get your downloaded copy. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. God’s Thoughts and Ways Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV) God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours; which is why he encourages us to diligently hearken unto him and eat that which is good, and let our soul delight itself in fatness (of fertility, of blessing, or abundance). In the abundance of His grace and peace in truth, which sets us free to walk in that same faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are at peace (in agreement with Him), then He is pleased with us because we have ceased from our own works (the carnal mind) and have entered into His rest (the mind of Christ) where His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and where He is able to enlighten the eyes of our understanding that we may know the mind of the Lord (God’s will; His ways, and thoughts). As we continue in the faith, operating in the mind of Christ, we partake of a more abundant life where all things are possible. Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6). Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all that you have need of will be added unto you. Going to God through Jesus Christ allows God to be your source (Isaiah 55:1-2) for all your need; so let His Spirit bear witness with your spirit; walking by faith (by every word of God, what He speaks or reveals unto you personally), and not by sight (bread alone) which limits you to the carnal realm. 2 Timothy 2:9-10 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore, I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (KJV) Walking by faith is where the word of God is not bound; it releases all things possible (to those who believe) according to the will of God (Isaiah 55:11). Then you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree (a noble tree), and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree (a fragrant tree); and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off (Isaiah 55:12-13). Ephesians 5:1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. (KJV) Faith that works by love (Galatians 5:6). Be that noble tree (the fir tree, strong and steady in truth) unto the Lord and a sweet-smelling savor unto God our Father (the myrtle tree, a fragrant living sacrifice; dying daily to your wants and desires so Christ is increasing and you are decreasing). Lastly dear brethren, when the Holy Spirit is grieved (something doesn’t seem right), examine yourself if are operating in faith; ask yourself if your thoughts and ways are not in line with God’s; and if you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. And when your spirit is at peace (in agreement) with His Spirit, then you will have this confidence, your thoughts and ways are in line with His, you are in the mind of Christ. Romans 8:1 There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. God bless, and peace be with you through our Lord Jesus Christ. Good morning. Today's video Easing Of The Burden is on the topic of allowing the Lord to help find and ease the burden you are carrying around in your spiritual backpack. Will you let Him? You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (KJV)
Have you ever had a favorite sports team you cheered for? How about these big cities that have their franchises, teams that have been around for a long time and have a big following, ever notice how fickle the fans are if the team starts losing? Oh boy, once they get on a roll and make it to the finals then the fans come out of the woodwork and jump back on the popular bandwagon again, acting like they never left. Well if you notice in the above verse, team Christ is made the Head, in other words they are always in first place and they never have to take a back seat to anyone or any circumstance either. Do you always keep this in mind, or are you acting like someone just kicked your tail end? The Lord made you the head, He didn’t put you in last place nor are you last on His priority list either. But He chose to die on your behalf even when you were a sinner playing for the other team. Now that you are part of His team, how much better is your life, knowing you are in first place and have the opportunity to remain there as long as you are willing and obedient to His word? The Bible says if God be for us then who can be against us. Would you like to take on God and see how you fare? Well, many have throughout the Bible, and have failed miserably I might add. In fact weren’t you quite miserable yourself before you knew the Lord, and were enemies and alienated from the life of God by your carnal thinking? With this in mind, hopefully a renewed one, why do so many of God’s people walk around acting like the tail and not the Head, acting like they are in last place instead of first? Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (KJV) Hey speaking of head, how many hairs did you count on yours today? How about that sparrow that keeled over in your back yard, were you aware of that? Our Father in heaven was aware of it, just as He is aware of you and your need as well. So what was that hair count this morning, or did you lose count? Yet with this in mind we still doubt God or act like He doesn’t hear us or love us anymore, sounds rather birdbrain don’t it? A God that feeds sparrows and keeps an accurate head count of them is certainly not going to forget you is He? No, if fact your value is much more than a birds, just like one of your children would have more attention put on them than the birds in the backyard. So why all this fretting and fussing when you can’t even count the hairs on your own head, yet you have the audacity to doubt our Father in heaven? If you don’t like the results in your life then maybe you best be checking the direction you’re heading in and make sure it is the path our Lord intended for you to be on and not some dead end you chose to follow. Luke 12:24-26 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (25) And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (26) If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (KJV) You ever wonder how the leaven got into the bread of life; subtly snuck in there when you weren’t looking or paying attention to details? Again we see an example of the birds, this time ravens which the word says God feeds them; did you ever stop and think about that? Are you not of much more value than these fowls? Yet that is how you act at times or think God sees you. Which of you being a parent would feed the birds and starve your children? That would be criminal and insane, yet that is how easy it is to drift off the path of life if one doesn’t keep a watch on the heart and monitor the mind bringing every thought into obedience to Christ. Consider the ravens; when is the last time you saw one drop over from heart failure because the stock market took a dive, or the price of fuel just rose another ten cents a gallon? Are we not better than these fowls, which is what is being asked in the above verses? In other words, when you cast all your care upon the Lord then do you leave it with Him letting Him do the caring for you? Or do you cast your cares upon the Lord and then like a fisherman reel them back in and reevaluate them thinking you can handle it yourself? Sound to simple, yeah that is the part we miss though, that simplicity. You know, instead of watching some hot shot preacher on TV tell you how to live, and how much better you could live if you show them the money, turn off the tube and look in the backyard and consider what is around you, right in front of you, and how simple the Lord would like us to live if we would only let Him be the Head of our life. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) 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. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV) ‘Come unto me’, get steered in the right direction, go to the Head if you wish to be the head and remain in first place. How did things get so complicated, how did you get weighed down with so much burden and heaviness? Well it started ever so simple, so subtle; just snuck right by you while you were looking elsewhere to find rest. Do you remember where they put the yokes? Yup right around the neck which is attached to the head. All this excess weight and baggage you have been lugging around was it something our Lord asked you to carry, or is it something the enemy packed on while you weren’t looking? The Lord’s burden is easy; in fact it is light, otherwise He wouldn’t have said it. But that only applies when you let Him have it and not try to carry the load yourself. Ever hear of the two-headed monster? Well, that’s what happens to people when they become yoked with something of this world, double minded and unstable, unable to do what the Lord is asking because they are too weighed down with the cares of this life. The yokes on you; now it would do you good to make sure you put it on the Head, and not the tail end or you will end up with a big mess. Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV) Remember what comes out of a cloud? Did you know you are surrounded with a cloudburst, ready to rain down on you in the form of living waters? Let’s get rid of all this excess baggage which is a result of sin; sin being unbelief. Let’s start looking above to a man that is seated at the right hand of God, the man being Jesus Christ who not only authored but finished our faith, providing all that was needed so that we could run this same course, the course that is heading home. A spiritual race requires a spiritual leader, so why not follow one that ran this race and is in first place so that you will be also, and all those that follow His lead. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:15-16 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. (16) For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? (KJV)
Before packing your spiritual baggage and going on a guilt trip, stop and consider before boarding a potentially sinking ship. Make sure you know ahead of time what you are getting into before boarding a vessel that is getting ready to set sail on the dead sea with winds of doctrine predicted also. So you decided that you were the one and only that God could use to save your unbelieving husband or wife as verse 16 makes reference to? Now that they have departed you think you failed God and did something wrong? Basically what you are saying and what gets taught in many religious organizations, is that it is your duty to be the savior and make sure your significant other gets saved. I have heard the phrase spoken so often that “God hates divorce” even to the point that some make it seem like it is some unpardonable sin. The truth be known is that marriage is only temporary; in other words it is something that takes place here for our time on earth and does not carry over into the eternal realm. There is a divorce God does not look kindly on and that is when one divorces themselves from the truth of God and His plan of salvation, and falls for the lies of the devil and his cheap imitations. James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (KJV) You ever hear the term high maintenance? That is what happens when you end up with someone more concerned with earthly things than the things of God. Spiritual prostitution, selling oneself out for a thrill in the flesh; something that can be a huge distraction to a believer who desires a relationship with God. My point, having dealt with a situation like this myself, is that maybe the departure is a blessing in disguise; so before you gather your prayer groups together and pray this person back into your life, watch what you ask for. Matthew 5:31-32 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: (32) But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (KJV) Many times these verses are looked at in the literal or physical context, and not the spiritual. As we just saw in the verses from James, many husbands and wives are cheating on the Lord with their spiritual adultery and have separated themselves from Him. Again, how can two walk together unless they be agreed? And if one or the other partner in a relationship is more concerned with the things of this dead fallen world, then the believer ends up carrying around dead weight. I can assure you that if the Lord says something is dead and needs to be discarded, and He then makes a way of escape, it would do one good to take heed before they end up dead also. Exodus 34:14-16 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: (15) Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; (16) And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. (KJV) God is a jealous God because He knows that His way and His plan for mankind is so much better than what we could ever ask or think. Just like with a parent raising a child, you envision a life for them of blessings, and how it breaks your heart to see them end up in a life of misery and despair because of bad choices and decisions. Also as a parent when you see your son or daughter has made a bad choice concerning a husband or wife, you reach out and try to stop them before they get to deeply involved in a destructive lifestyle. Ezra 10:10-12 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. (11) Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. (12) Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. (KJV) The spiritual is greater than the physical, and as we see God has dealt with situations throughout the Bible where His people are in a bad place because they are unequally yoked with someone unhealthy to their walk, and He provided a way of escape for them. Your spiritual welfare is of more concern to our Lord than your temporal marital status here on earth, and should be yours also. 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (KJV) I have seen times where a departure of an unbeliever is actually a way of escape being provided by the Lord and not some failure on your part as the devil would like many to think. That heartache and misery you have been experiencing, the confusion and doubt that has been dogging you and sucking the life out of you was doing more harm than good. While the Lord is throwing you a lifeline so that you don’t end up drowning in frustration and despair, the devil is throwing you the line to an anchor of a sinking vessel, guilting you into thinking you must go down with the ship. 1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (KJV) Know this, that if an unbeliever departs, the person they departed from first was God. That person you have been married to may have once been a true believer, but like we see in the above verses has departed from the faith. Like with a bus schedule, they give you departure times as well as arrival times; in other words you can’t depart from something unless you were actually there at one time. Seducing spirits, doctrines of demons that appeal to the lower fallen nature of man, spiritual adultery, which ends up separating them from the love of God. My point today is, no you don’t take your marriage lightly or look for a way out because you want to find something better. The message God has for today is that the spiritual is so much greater than the physical realm, and if there is something or someone that is hindering your walk and needs to be let go of, then heed the way of escape and don’t be taken in by some phony guilt trip. I have seen some of these so called Christian men who treat their spouses like some robotic slave, demanding respect and obedience to them when they are nothing more than shallow flakes. If you are in a situation where you are married to someone who is more like a dictator than a loving Christian, and they are pulling you down rather than building up, be assured this is not something our Lord would want you to continue in, but will make a way of escape if you are willing. Don’t let anyone pack your bags and try to send you on some guilt trip, because when people try to make you think that by being separated or divorced is a failure, the truth be known, is that they are just telling you that they hold more to the physical than the spiritual. God is more concerned with your eternal marriage than your earthly one; so if He has made a way of escape, heed the warning and cancel the guilt trip. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 1:3-4 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, (4) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (KJV)
The word deliver in verse 4 means to rescue; and being that we live in a fallen world we are constantly surrounded by its influences and cheap imitations of what we think will bring peace and fulfillment to our lives. Where you look and what realm you look to, will be the determining factor of where you will spend your eternity. So will you continue looking to this world for the answer or will you seek those things which are above, to find an eternal one? It is the Lord’s will that none should perish but that all would come to repentance. So now the question is, are you willing to continue in this plan of salvation or have you been sidetracked with the cares of this life? What would you think if you saw one of your own children drowning and when you threw them the life preserver they ignored it and perished? Basically that is what mankind has done to their heavenly Father; they ignore His plan of salvation and His spiritual life preserver that was sent to us, and they end up over their head drowning in destruction and despair. So how are you doing today? Are you keeping the ship afloat and heading in the right direction, or have you gone off the deep end and going under? 1 Timothy 6:6-9 But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (9) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (KJV) Have you forgotten how you arrived in this realm, wearing nothing but a smile? All those things you have been fussing and fighting over, not a one of them are going with you when it is time to depart this realm either. Have you learned to be content with the fact that today you have food and raiment? If not, just try going a day without them and see how overlooked and taken for granted some of these simple things we have are discounted as nothing. The food and raiment is not just limited to the physical either; have you taken the time to seek your spiritual meat as well as being dressed in the full armor of God so that you can quench all the fiery darts the wicked one will fire your direction? Stop and ask yourself this honest question, are the things that I am so concerned with today, the priorities I have established in my life, really leading me to a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father? Or is it something in this realm that may actually be drawing me away from Him; something that I am getting so wrapped up in, and has nothing to do with my eternal life? Matthew 16:25-26 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (KJV) You have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm in Christ, and yet do you hang onto the things in this world thinking it will fulfill and bring peace and joy? Can you even imagine for a moment what it will be like to stand before our Father some day and see all that was available in His kingdom only to find out that you missed out on it because you decided to hang onto the things of this life? Can you name one thing that is really worth hanging onto in this world that would keep you from inheriting your eternal reward? It’s only those that are willing to let go of their own life and desires that will find a new life in Christ and be able to inherit His eternal reward; those that were willing to look above and beyond what this world would ever have to offer. So can you honestly say that the will of God, His desire for you and your desire to serve Him are one in the same? Or are you still hanging onto something in this world that is choking the life from you slowly but surely? Is it worth exchanging your soul, which translates to eternal separation from God? A question that is not only being asked today, but one that will be asked again someday when we stand before Him and give an account of how we walked in His plan of salvation; was it truly a walk, or just a lot of talk. Ephesians 3:19-21 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (21) Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (KJV) You wonder why your life seems stagnant and unfulfilled at times, it’s simple, you keep looking to stagnant and unfulfilling things to bring you joy. Right now, this moment, there is a God who is able to do above and beyond what you could have ever thought or imagined; but how would you ever know this or experience this unless your priority is with the spiritual things which are above and beyond anything you will experience in this realm. When you pray and seek God and His answer, are you truly expecting the best, are you experiencing the love of Christ which goes way beyond our knowledge and limited carnal thinking? Do you know God hears you, and do you expect nothing short of victory in your life? Or are you still settling for the leftovers of this world and whatever they are willing to hand out? God has never failed His people and never will. So why are so many still hesitant to seek His counsel and deliverance from this present evil world; hanging onto the anchor instead of the life preserver? Are you yoked together with Christ today, letting Him handle the burdens, or have you unhooked yourself having decided you can handle things by yourself, and then wonder why you are so worn out and frustrated? Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV) Do you desire better results? Do you seek a more confident prayer life? Then start looking above and don’t limit yourself to this realm if you truly wish to have our Father’s results which are above and beyond anything we could ever ask for or think of. We as humans had been limited to this carnal realm, and could only operate according to what our outward vision and senses would dictate. But now in Christ we are able to see the things of God, and operate in a truly higher dimension; one that will bring joy, peace and an eternal victory to those of us that look to the Lord for His answer. Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (KJV) In order to be risen with Christ it means you have let go of your life and its desires, and to have chosen a new life in Him. We are in this world, but we don’t have to be in agreement with it, or limit ourselves to what this world has to offer and its cheap imitations. Where your treasure is there will your heart be also. So if you wish to experience something that is out of this world, then start looking beyond this realm so that the Lord can open the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing above and beyond what you could have ever thought or asked for. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (KJV)
One of the definitions for parallel is to be placed beside with, or equivalent to. If you notice in life, who you place yourself with, and who you pattern your life after, is what will determine the lifestyle you live. If you have ever tried parking your vehicle in a no parking area, it’s not long before your vehicle will be tagged, and eventually towed away because it is not in agreement with the standards set for that area. The same holds true with our spiritual life, if we don’t stay in agreement with the Lord and His standard for living, it won’t be long before we will no longer be walking together as a team, but will find ourselves in a prohibited place as well. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) 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. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV) The Lord has a wonderful parking place picked out for you, right next to Him. Take the time on a daily basis to park yourself away from all the fast moving traffic of this world, get out of the flow so you that don’t get ticketed for reckless driving. How much easier would our lives be if we truly yoked ourselves with the Lord, and walked together on this path of life, instead of trying to do everything on our own and end up overburdened with the cares of this life? How many times do you take on burdens, and yoke yourself to things the Lord never asked you too, and then wonder why you are so frustrated and worn out? How much simpler would life be if you stayed yoked with Him? Well according to verse 30, much easier and a lot lighter. Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (KJV) Once you have started your walk with the Lord, the whole idea was to continue with Him, not unhooking yourself and ending up tangled up in a web of deceit and lies again. Once you have parked yourself next to Him, don’t let anyone talk you out of your parking spot and find yourself stuck in rush hour traffic again. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (KJV) The liberty and the strength I have in Christ is unlimited compared to my carnal way of thinking, and it’s only when I lean to my own understanding that I start to become unyoked with Christ, and try to carry the load by myself. Hebrews 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (4) Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (KJV) The writer of Hebrews uses the example of being yoked with the Lord like running an endurance race. How much excess spiritual baggage do we carry around at times; like trying to run a race and carry a bowling ball, how quickly before one will become tired and wearied? Look to the One you have yoked yourself with to draw your strength from, one who has run this race, having been crowned and is now seated with God. Before you start all this whining about persecution from those that oppose you in this race, consider this, have you resisted temptation to the point of being beaten to a bloody pulp, let alone crucified? Are you patiently waiting on His answer, and letting His strength get you through, or have you unhooked yourself and are trying to take a shortcut? If you are going to run this race of endurance to the end, would it not be so much easier to run beside someone who has already done it successfully, having been crowned a winner? Acts 15:10-11 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? (11) But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (KJV) Many have tried to run this race and failed miserably, because they try to do it by works and not by grace. Many try to run a spiritual race by yoking themselves with the works of the old law, thinking that is the course they need to take, which eventually will lead them astray, and no-where near the goal they sought to accomplish. The disciples in the early Church were burdened by these laws and all of the unnecessary weight they were carrying around by those that kept trying to yoke them with these. So eventually in chapter 15 of Acts they were able to establish the fact that salvation is of grace, which is a lot simpler than the works of the law, and it made the burden much easier and lighter. 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? (16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (KJV) What are you doing all caught up in the rat race of this world? Who are you yoking and associating yourself with, and what goals are you trying to accomplish with those outside the kingdom of God? How can you continue to walk together unless you be agreed? In others words, which one of you switched sides and compromised so that you could continue to walk together? If you plan on running the Lord’s race, and receiving His eternal reward, you had better be yoked with Him and let Him be your coach; otherwise you will find yourself running in circles and getting nowhere fast. The yoke’s on you; now it’s a matter of which one you are wearing; one of liberty or one of bondage? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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