Month: May 2022

Being Yoked to Jesus

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

In ancient times, beasts of burden were commonly paired together in groups of two. A single harness, known as a yoke, would bind the animals together. If one of the beasts died, a new ox would be strapped into the harness; initiating a training period. As the mature animal plowed correctly, the new ox was steadied and prevented from wandering off or disobeying the plowman’s commands. The fresh recruit needn’t focus on every rule, expected behavior, or custom. Instead, his labor was simplified; he only needed to walk in unison with the ox beside him. Obviously In this illustration, Jesus represents the ox, and those who receive the gospel are yoked to Him. He carries the heavy weight of our sins; transforming our hearts and minds. We then follow the rules and regulations of the bible, not because they can lead us to God, but instead, because we are moving in fellowship with Jesus. [NOTE: There are still acts of repentance that must occur upon receiving salvation.]

The original Mosaic law outlined in the Old Testament consisted of 613 laws; a hefty sum of regulations. And yet over time, more rules were added through what is known as the Mishnah; the writings of the Rabbis who expounded upon the Mosaic law. They created hundreds of new ordinances; many of which were not explicitly outlined in scripture. When Jesus arrived, He discovered that most of the common men and women struggled beneath the burden of these man-made laws. In turn, He struck these rules down; thus restoring the law to its original intent. [Note: Jesus also reduced the hundreds of laws into only two requirements; which if followed will result in complete adherence to God’s will. See Mathew 22: 37 – 40.]

Jesus came to lighten our burdens and to restore mankind to a right relationship with God. Legalism, which places an emphasis on rigid expressions of outward adherence, misses the mark. Instead, we can adhere to the Spirit and the letter of the law by focusing on our relationship with Jesus. When we are yoked to our Savior, we are transformed into His image and likeness. We are then capable of adhering to God’s laws.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and ask that we be yoked to Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we not fall victim to outward legalism, but instead, be born again; adhering to your ordinances because Your Holy Spirit dwells within us. May we follow You with our whole hearts, and commit our entire lives to the furtherance of Your Gospel. We love you Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Avoiding Witchcraft and the Occult

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.'” (Luke 4: 5 – 8)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

During the forty days and nights Jesus spent alone in the dessert, satan presented Him with numerous temptations; of which he never once partook. Instead, He rebuked the devil, reminding him of God’s desire to be worshipped with absolute exclusivity. In much the same way, even today, satan and his demons seek to enter the hearts of men and women; to possess them and turn them away from worshiping God. Sadly, many unfortunate souls are lured into the occult; the idolatrous practices of sorcery, spiritism, and witchcraft. In Deuteronomy 18: 9 – 12, we read, “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire (human sacrifice), or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord.”

According to numerous sources, during the 1940’s there lived a 13 year old boy known by the alias ‘Roland Doe.’ One day Roland became despondent over the death of his aunt, who had taught him about spiritism and showed him how to use a ouija board. The family soon began hearing strange dripping sounds and scratching noises throughout the house; furniture and other objects also started moving on their own. Roland claimed he could hear someone walking in his room at night; and scratch marks began manifesting on his bed as well as his skin. The child began displaying all the hallmarks of a demonic possession. When the psychiatrists and medical health professionals had failed to alleviate his debilitating symptoms, a number of Godly men were called in to assist. Over the course of time, they performed an exorcism, which freed Roland from his evil spirits. According to a reliable witness, the boy was healed, and had become, “a fine young man.”

Throughout the world today, there are many who still practice spiritism, witchcraft, and are involved in the occult. Idolatrous endeavors such as using a ouiga board or consulting a fortuneteller are doorways through which satan can enter a human being and possess them. As Christians we are commanded to abstain from engaging in these activities; which must be shunned, avoided, and abandoned at all costs. We are the children of God; set apart from the desires of the devil. May we never succumb to temptation, but rather, serve the true and living God, in Spirit and in truth.

“Lord Heavenly Father, keep us from the evil one, and from the idolatrous activities of this life. May our hearts be filled with Your Holy Spirit, that we might discern the truth from the lies, and remain unstained, as we await the return of Your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are Your people, and we exist only to serve You and to accomplish Your will in this life. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!