Before and during the time I’ve written the October Freedom Fighters, I’ve done five funerals in five weeks.  I can’t ever remember a similar time in almost forty years of ministry.  These five weeks have reminded me of the great need for rest from the trouble and pain of life and death on planet Earth.

I’ve sat in funeral home with families that live with grief and the pain of loss.  Some have lost a spouse.  Others have lost a mother or father.  Many have lost a good friend.  It hurts.  One man, standing at the casket of his wife of more than fifty years said, “I didn’t know it would hurt this much.” 

Jesus knew all the pain life can bring when He spoke the words Matthew recorded in his gospel (11:28-30).  He knew the stress that can invade our lives.  He knew the turmoil of troubled families, difficult jobs and loved ones who die too soon.  He knew we would need His help.

So, He invites us to come to Him.  He promised to give us rest.  He relieves us of the burden of sin and guilt.  Then He instructs us to take the Yoke and learn from Him.  Jesus tells us that the yoke is easy; it’s designed for each of us.  The burden is light.  He’ll teach us all we need to know.  He’ll protect us as we stay close to Him while walking in the yoke.  We’ll benefit from His wisdom as He shows us how to walk in the new life He’s given us.

Then He tells us the result of all it.  “And you will find rest for your souls.”  It’s the best rest ever!  It’s rooted in who Jesus is and His power to meet every need that comes our way.  When we lose jobs after a factory closes, He gives us rest for our souls.  If family members bring grief our way, His rest sustains us.  The loss of the one we love more than life itself doesn’t destroy us because His rest takes root in our souls.

It’s this simple: Jesus tells us to come to Him and receive forgiveness.  He tells us to come to Him and learn from Him.  He tells us that the result will always be the same—rest for our souls.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy lade, 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.”

Can you think of any good reason to do anything other than live in the yoke?  I sure can’t!  (Pastor John Strain)

We’ve considered Jesus’ invitation/instruction to come to Him and take His yoke for our own.  He expands the opportunity for us when He tells us that after taking the yoke and walking with Him, we can learn from Him.  I can’t think of anyone from whom I’d rather learn!

When the Apostle John   introduces us to Jesus in the first chapter of his gospel, he calls Jesus the logos.  He is the living embodiment of God’s Word.  He not only knows the Word, He is the Word!  When we receive the invitation to take the yoke and learn, we know we’re going to learn from God Incarnate—the Living Word!

He first invites us to come to Him, promising us that He will give us rest.  We’ve already learned that this rest is the rest we find in salvation.  Next, He instructs us to take the yoke.  It’s a different way for Jesus to say “Become my disciples.”  Disciples are learners.  So, Jesus calls us to discipleship and promises to be our teacher when we take the yoke.

Think about all we need to learn to live as Jesus calls us to live.  We all need to know about abiding in Christ (John 15).  How better to do that than to walk in the yoke with Jesus?  You and I need to know how to live in obedience.  Can we do better than to live in close relationship with Jesus as He teaches us how to live? 

We don’t think of it often, but we all live in danger.  The enemy of our souls lurks around us, looking for the perfect opportunity to attack.  Walking in the yoke with Jesus gives us opportunity to gain His wisdom for the war.  Without that wisdom, we’re sitting ducks waiting to be picked off.  Jesus knows that’s just one more reason we need the yoke.  It’s a safe and good place for those who follow Him.

What are you learning these days?  Do you have more knowledge of the world than you do the Word?  Do you live with Jesus in ways that allow you to learn from Him?  Jesus says “learn from Me.”  Don’t lose that opportunity.  It’s time for Freedom Fighters to get in the yoke. (Pastor John Strain)

Religion Personal but not Private

The world today seems to say that what you believe is a private matter. It is all right if you believe something but you should not bother other people with what you believe. Keep it all to yourself.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:  “Most people want to serve God but only in an advisory capacity.” – Dr. Adrian Rogers

Today’s topic is concerning anger.

Just a few more thoughts on forgiveness.

There are some things that forgiveness does not do:
1.     It may not stop the pain of the hurt right away.
2.     It may not be “once and for all”.
3.     It may need to be repeated over and over,
 
Now why is this so?
It is so because forgiveness has to do with our anger and it takes some time for us to sort out what we are angry about. And by the time we do, it is so stored within our memory bank that it is difficult to extract anger right away.

Another Thought on FORGIVENESS

They came into my office somewhat disheveled. It was obvious that they had not slept for sometime. He sat with his head in his hands while she sat with a Bible in her lap. Both were in great pain.

Why do we need to forgive anyone?

Freedom Fighters for this week will challenge you to think.

One day I walked into the reception area during a conference. I think it was a Thursday afternoon when I met a young woman who was alone and our conversation went something like this I greeted her with “Hi. You look happy. How is the week going for you?” “Oh, it is just great,” was her reply, “I have finally forgiven my father.” My response at this point caught her by surprise, “Why have you forgiven him?” “I had to. If I did not forgive him, God would not forgive me?” “Really?” was my surprised response? “Yes, if we do not forgive then God will not forgive us.” “Do you really believe that?” “That’s what the Bible says.” Her remark should have stopped my line of inquiry. “It certainly seems to say that,” was my reaction, “but I thought that God’s love (and forgiveness) was not conditional. That is the most conditional kind of love that I can think of.”

Fortunately she agreed with me but timidly continued “Why did God say that we should forgive in order to be forgiven?”  “He didn’t” I pointed out that in the “Lord’s Prayer” we ask God to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others. So it is our request for God to treat us as we treat others, “I am not so sure that we really want God to do that!” “Do you mean that God will forgive us no matter how we treat others?” was her reaction. “Isn’t that more like unconditional love and forgiveness?” “Yes, but now I am confused. I have tried all of these years to forgive my father but I did not have to!” “I didn’t say that. You can hold on to your anger and hurt until the day you die BUT you cannot experience God’s forgiveness without forgiving.” “It sounds like we are back at the beginning. If I don’t forgive, I won’t be forgiven.” “No, it is quite the opposite. God will and has and always will forgive His children but no child of God can sense His forgiveness while holding on to un-forgiveness.” “Why?”  “Because, how can you feel forgiven for everything that you have done when you are unable to forgive another for some slight hurt or small offence. It stands to reason that you are not greater than God so the debt that another owes you can never equal the debt that you owed God.” “Oh, I think I see what you mean. ”Yes, to enjoy the full and free forgiveness of God we must freely forgive one another” “Suppose he never asks for my forgiveness?

“If you wait for someone to ask you, that person has control over your happiness. Do you want to give that control over to another? It is better to forgive and move on with the happiness that one finds when doing what is right.” Why do I write this? Because if you are waiting to forgive, you need to go to God and “By Faith” forgive another, not to be forgiven, but because you are forgiven!

(This week’s Freedom Fighter’s have been written by Pastor George Van Sandt)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: The difference between the Anti-Christ and Christ is that one gives you a number and the other gives you a name. When Jesus comes will name be called or will your number be up? – Dr. Adrian Rogers

This Yoke’s for You!

We don’t know a whole lot about yokes in our culture. Most of us have probably never seen one. After reflecting on Jesus’ invitation to come to Him and take His yoke (Matthew 11:28-30), I decided to do some reading about yokes, and I learned a lot.One thing that I discovered is that any good oxen in Jesus’ day were better dressed than I’ll ever be.

I buy my suits off the rack at J.C. Penney. The oxen of Jesus’ time wore custom-made yokes. They were perfectly fitted to each yoke of oxen by the yoke maker. One-size-fits-all was unacceptable.The yoke had to fit perfectly. Without the perfect fit, the oxen faced injury or infection. They could injure themselves pulling heavy loads of the yoke didn’t fit. Or, the misfit yoke could rub the oxen’s skin and cause abrasions or cuts that could get infected. Custom-fit was the only way to go.Jesus’ hearers knew all that. They could have surmised that Jesus’ call to the yoke implied a good fit. When He said to them My yoke is easy, they knew exactly what that meant. When they got in the yoke with Him, it would fit perfectly.

So it is for you and me. Jesus, all-knowing, all-powerful and every-where present, fits His yoke for you and me to the exact measurements He knows we need. It won’t bind on us, and it won’t hurt us. The yoke He offers us will hold us in His presence and never feel like a burden. Rather, we’ll know perfect comfort for the journey with Jesus. Your yoke might well not fit me. Mine probably wouldn’t fit you. Each of us will discover the pleasure of a custom fit!We can always trust Jesus to do what is best for us. We know His character and love well enough to know that He’ll never call us to anything less than what is best for us. The yoke will always fit. When Jesus says take My yoke, He’s saying this yoke’s for you! (Today’s Freedom Fighter was submitted by Pastor John Strain, First Baptist Toms River)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT …: The supreme test of goodness is not in the greater but in the smallerincidents of our character and practice; not what we are when standing in the searchlight of public scrutiny, but when we reach the firelight flicker of our homes; not what we are when some clarion-call ringsthrough the air, summoning us to fight for life and liberty, but our attitude when we are called to sentry-duty in the grey morning, when the watch-fire is burning low. It is impossible to be our best at the supreme moment if character is corroded and eaten into by daily inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and besetting sin. Frederick Brotherton ( F. B. ) Meyer

Choosing the Yoke

After Jesus invites us to himself and gives us rest, He goes a step further. He says to us “Take My yoke upon you and learn from me . . . .” The implications of this instruction almost boggle the mind. Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, offers us the privilege of walking with Him each day! Think about what that means. Every day we have Jesus’ presence. Not one day goes by that we don’t have His guidance. Each day we walk in yoke with the One who can protect and provide for us! What possible reason might we have to decline the yoke?

The construction of Jesus’ instruction is much more powerful in the Greek New Testament. Those who heard Him speak these words would have understood that He expected them to choose the yoke immediately. He wasn’t offering them something to think about. Instead, He said to them, Take the yoke right now; make your choice right now!

Warren Wiersbe writes that the “come” of verse 28 and the “take” of verse 29 are “crisis” experiences; they need to happen right now! We hear Jesus’ invitation to come to Him, and we come. We hear His invitation to take the yoke, and we do it. By the work of God’s Spirit in our lives, we know both are the right thing to do.

Discovering the benefits/blessings of coming and taking begin immediately. The discovery process lasts for the rest of our journey with Jesus. We’ll continually learn from Him. We’ll find deeper levels of rest, peace and trust as we walk with Him in the yoke.

We must understand, however, that the discovery process begins with choices that may well feel like a crisis. Jesus’ demands on our lives are always for our best. Choosing obedience often is frightening because we yield control and don’t know what to expect.

Jesus comes to us and tells us to choose the yoke. Only a very foolish person would choose to decline the opportunity! (Pastor John Strain)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: A sinful act involves worship of the wrong kind, submitting ourselves at that moment to serve the appetites of our pride or lust, and so repentance is literally a transfer of our worship back to the One who rightfully owns it….. Worship has been misunderstood as something that arises from a feeling which “comes upon you,” but it is vital that we understand that it is rooted in a conscious act of the will, to serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ. The feelings, the joy of having been forgiven, follow on as a consequence of our reunion with him. Graham Kendrick

COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE

“Let us therefore draw near with CONFIDENCE to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16

I’ve told you before that I am thick-headed and a slow learner. Yesterday I had one of those “duh!” moments. We are going through some tough days financially as a ministry. We’ve been here many times before in the life cycle of the ministry, and God has always been faithful.

I have really tried not to worry and fret over this, but at times, it gets pretty overwhelming. For 11 years we have not had to borrow any money from the bank which is a God thing. At our Board meeting last Friday, someone mentioned taking out a line of credit and inwardly I cringed. Thankfully we all agreed – we are going to trust God!

Yesterday I was really feeling in that overwhelmed state and I said to myself (that’s for you Brian …) “I wish my friend Pastor Conant was around. I’d call him and get him to pray!” Then there was that moment we’ve all experienced. My son Zach calls it the “duh” moment – when the light clicks on. What did I write in Freedom Fighter yesterday about having “a private audience” with the God? Did I not read that yesterday morning? “DUH!”

Pastor Conant was a great prayer warrior because he had confidence to go directly to the throne of grace. Jesus made it possible for him to do that. But I have that same privilege and opportunity to do that at any time of the day or night. I can solicit others to pray about issues with me – but I need to be praying myself.

Did you ever find yourself asking someone to tell someone else something for you? “Hey, in your meeting, tell so and so _____________,” only to have the person say – “Tell them yourself!” Well isn’t that what I was doing?

I knew that I would get hit this morning – so here is what I read:

“We are to rely on HIM as our VIGILANT PROVIDER, who ‘supplies all our need’ (Philippians 4:19; Psalm 34:22). He does not always employ ravens to feed His Elijah’s, but by one means or another, He sustains them if they really rely on Him. We would not eulogize poverty, yet one of its blessings is that it keeps us more directly looking to God, and thus occasions more evidences that our extremities are God’s opportunities.

But we are obliged to add a qualifying word. Our relying on God must be marked by three characteristics. First it must be a REAL relying; not merely pretended or imagined. Second it must be CONSTANT. We must be like the godly man of Psalm 112:7: ‘His heart is FIXED, trusting in (relying on) Jehovah!” Third, our relying must be UNADMIXED! It must be on our LORD ALONE! A willy-nilly faith dishonors God and leaves its double-minded exerciser self-frustrated. We must learn to say with David, ‘He ONLY is my Rock … My soul wait thou ONLY upon God … He ONLY is my defense.’ (Psalm 62:2, 5, 6)” from AWAKE, MY HEART by J.
Sidlow Baxter (Zondervan)

I am thankful that today is a new day! I will continue to ask people to join me in prayer, but they are going WITH ME to the throne of grace! “Forgive me, Lord, for depending on others to pray when I have the privilege of a having “a private audience with you. Thank You, for this reminder, Lord.”

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: “Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but God, and who hate nothing but sin, and who know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and I will shake the world.” John Wesley

HEAD’S UP – Next week we are traveling with 45 senior citizens to the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Pastor George Van Sandt, my pastor growing up, will be our guest Freedom Fighter writer for the week. Pastor John Strain will be sharing with you both weekends.