THE YOKE OF SERVICE

LAM. 3:27

A. "IT IS GOOD FOR A MAN THAT HE BEAR THE YOKE IN HIS YOUTH." "TAKE THY YOKE UPON YOU" - MATT. 11:29
  1. The yoke is that crooked beam of wood put upon the neck of oxen by which they draw the cart or the plow:
    1. It is a symbol of service
    2. We do not go very far in this life until we find someone who seeks to place upon us the yoke of some service
  2. Jeremiah knew and understood the yoke of service:
    1. When he was called to proclaim God's judgments to a rebellious people
    2. The bitter opposition became a yoke that was most difficult to wear B. THE YOKE OF SERVICE
  3. The term "yoke" as used in the Bible:
    1. Figuratively it means to have us bear the obligation of serving
    2. To be in bondage - Lev. 26:13; Deut. 28:48
    3. To suffer affliction - Lam. 3:27
    4. To be in service for Christ - Matt. 11:29-30
  4. It is good for a man to bear the yoke in our youth:
    1. The powers of body and mind are pliant, capable of adaptation
    2. Toughening for service until it become easy
    3. Coming to the breezy summit of middle age, we look back upon many things which we regret
  5. On the very threshold of Christianity we meet the yoke:
    1. Before that we were in bondage of sin, bearing the yoke that sin forces us under
    2. But now we are invited to wear the yoke of Jesus Christ - Matt. 11:29-30
    3. Our Lord is very frank about the fact that to follow Him means that we wear His yoke
  6. What it means to wear the yoke as a Christian:
    1. That we are to confess before men and God, witnessing for Him becomes the burden of our life
    2. The yoke of Christ means that we are to obey Him and His commands
    3. To wear the yoke of Christ mans that we are to submit to His will and dealings with us in His daily providence for us C. NATURE OF THE YOKE OF CHRIST
  7. "My yoke is easy and my burden is light"
    1. The motive of this service is love by Him and for Him by us
    2. The love of Christ constraineth us
  8. The reason why the Lord Jesus speaks of serving Him as a yoke is:
    1. We are beings with a will, we have our own likes and dislikes, and these we surrender when we enter the service of Christ
    2. If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me
    3. We think and act in terms of the will of Christ and not in our own
  9. It is just wonderful for a young man to accept Christ and become a yoke fellow with Him:
    1. The vigor of youth will be put to serve the cause of God instead of the cause of sin
    2. The talents of a young man can be harnessed to great advantage to the good of men
    3. When man is old, his body broken down by the strain of live, He can no longer be depended upon to bear heavy responsibility
  10. What an honor and what high privilege it is to become a true yoke-fellow with Christ in our life:
    1. Our service becomes the means of bringing the blessings of heaven to a needy and sin-laden world
    2. The fruit of our life will remain to the glory of God and to our eternal joy
    3. Only eternity will reveal the advantage of bearing our yoke in our youth
    4. How different is the yoke of sin. Man's life will soon wear away and become a mark of disgrace and abhorrence to others


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