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~:,:,;, Dr. Arnold Murray, DRE Newsletter #210 - April 1996

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Throughout the Bible we are in-II rn- h-
structed to take on the yoke of God; W- .. ~
however, sometimes lives seem to fall ~_______________;;J'" going to pick it up with Paul and Barnabas
apart when that yoke is taken on. If that
happens, it is important for the individual to focus on
God's Word. In the completeness of His Word we find
peace of mind. In the completeness of His Word we
find rest.
Once you obtain the wisdom that comes only from
God's Word, the world will work for you rather than
you working for the world. That is the way God in­
tended things to be. Through His Word, God tells us
how, if we will only listen.
MATTHEW 11,25-26 At that time Jesus answered and
said, "I thank Thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the
wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
2§. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight.
The babes are the humble that love their Father.
The God of heaven and earth saw fit to hide the deeper
truths from the wise in the ways of this world. Those
that love our Father and study His Word have the
truths that allow them to overcome this world.
MA TTHEW 11:27 All things are delivered unto Me of
My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the
Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the
Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.
~ fl ke II Word, and you will learn how to carry your
e
~.o- load more easily. Let's turn to Acts. We are
on the way to Jerusalem, Those at Jerusalem
were a little dismayed that salvation had been made available
even unto the gentiles.
ACTS 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they
were received of the church, and of the apostles and
elders, and they declared al/ things that God had done
with them,
Paul had a lot to declare, Jesus struck him down on
the road to Damascus and lined him out. You might say
Christ helped Paul put things in balance.
ACTS 15:5-6 But there rose up certain of the sect of
the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful
to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the
law of Moses, § And the apostles and elders came to­
gether for to consider of this matter.
The Pharisees were saying, "We can't have a bunch
of uncircumcised gentiles in here."
ACTS 15:7-8 And when there had been much disputing,
Peter rose up, and said unto them, "Men and brethren,
ye know how that a good while ago God made choice
among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear
the word of the gospel, and believe. D. And God, Which
knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the
Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Only through Jesus may we know the Father. Has
the power of God been revealed to you through His
Word? He can open eyes and ears.
MA TTHEW 11:28 Come unto Me, a/l ye that labour
and are heavy laden. and I will give you rest,
Let this verse soak in "real good". Are you heavy
laden? His instructions are very simple. Come to Him,
and He will give you rest and peace of mind.
MATTHEW 11 :29-30 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, JQ For My yoke is
easy, and My burden us light."
There is a lot more to these verses than is normally
taught. What is a yoke? The English word yoke in
these verses is translated from the Greek word "zugos"
(dzoo-gos')'. It literally means the beam of a balance
such as may be found on scales. Figuratively, "zugos"
means to join together in servitude to follow laws.
Jesus is instructing us to take on the balance of the
Living Word. You are able to carry a much heavier
load, if the load is balanced. Jesus doesn't say He will
carry our load for us. Weare in this world for a
purpose. Jesus is saying learn the balance of God's
Hearts should be translated minds. How was the Holy
Spirit given to them? On the day of Pentecost they spoke
in a language that was understood by all, even down to
the dialect of the county in which they were born. The
same was given to the gentiles as a witness.
ACTS 15:9-10 And put no difference between us and
them, purifying their hearts by faith. 1Q 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?
Peter is saying, "We nor our fathers could follow the
law of Moses to secure our salvation. Why are you trying
to saddle the law of Moses on the gentiles?
ACTS 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as then."
Jesus paid the price on the cross for our souls. Our
belief in Him is the only way to salvation. None of us
are able to follow the law of Moses perfectly. Jesus provides
the balance through which we may join together in ser·
vitude of the law with repentance and forgiveness avail­
able to us by His sacrifice. Let's go to the Old Testament
as we continue our study of the yoke.
ISAIAH 40:9 0 Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee
I
up into the high mountain; a Jerusalem, that bringest
good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be
not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, "Behold your
God!"
This is prophecy of the second advent TIle Anointed
One will not return as a babe.
ISAIAH 40.10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with
strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold,
His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.
He will return with a strong hand to judge and teach.
ISAIAH 40:11-12 He shall feed His flock like a shep­
herd. he shall gather the lambs with HIS arm, and carry
them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are
with young 12 Who hath measured the waters in the
hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the
span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a
measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the
hills in a balance?
In the Septuagint, a Greek version of the Old Tes­
tament, the word balance is "zugos". God created heaven
and earth in a balanced and perfect manner. You shouldn't
be uncomfortable in the world He created, if you have
the knowledge and truth the Almighty has shared with
us through His Word. He spoke and nothing became
everything. That is power!
ISAIAH 40,'13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD,
or being His counsel/er hath taught Him?
No one! He doesn't need any help; however, God is
offering you help. Put on the yoke and learn!
ISAIAH 40:14-15 With whom took He counsel, and who
instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of judgement,
and taught Him knowledge, and shewed to Him the way
of understanding? 1Ji Behold, the nations are as a drop
of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the
balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little
thing
People have problems, when they fail to follow God's
instructions. "Well, you don't understand, Pastor Murray.
I've got so many monthly payments that I just don't
know how I'm going to make them all." Learn from God's
Word! Get out from under the bonds of usury. Balance
your life and exercise your mind in the Word of God.
Problems that once seemed large and overwhelming will
beco:ne small and irrelevant.
ISAIAH 40: 16-17 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. U
All nations before Him are as nothing; and they are
counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity.
God isn't at all concerned about the things of this
world. Even the nations of this world are less than
nothing. He is in control. Nations will fall into balance
and alignment with God's plan as His prophecies are
fulfilled. Let's skip to verse 25.
iSAIAH 4025-26 "To whom then Will ye liken Me, or
shall I be equal?" saith the Holy One. 2Q Lift up your
eyes on nigh, and behold, Who hath created these
things, That brlngeth out their host by number: He cal/eth
therr; all by names by the greatness of His might, for
that He IS strong In power; not one fai/eth.
The word host means stars. In Revelation 12: 1-4 we
are likened to stars. In Job 38 we are called the stars
of God. He knows your name. Take on the yoke of God.
Learn from His Word how to be successful in this world.
Use common sense and balance.
ISAIAH 40:27-28 Why sayest thou, a Jacob, and speakest,
a Israel, 'My way is hid from the LORD, and my
judgement is passed over from my God?" 2Q Hast thou
not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting
God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth,
fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of
His understanding.
When you think God doesn't care which way you
go, and He isn't judging fairly, remember this verse.
Father does not get tired, and there is no end to His
understanding.
ISAIAH 40:29-30 He giveth power to the faint; and to
them that have no might He increaseth strength. ;;Q Even
the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men
shall utterly fall:
We all become weary and fall short. But, God will
give us power and strength. Use the power and strength
God gives you wisely. Balance your load.
ISAIAH 4031 But they that wait upon the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and shall
walk, and not faint."
We have a Wonderful Father. The word wait in this
verse means to bind together. They that take on the
yoke of God shall renew their strength. Remember, the
yoke of God is more than a harness that joins you to
Christ. The yoke is a means to balance your flesh life
with the knowledge, wisdom, and power of God's Word.
The yoke makes it much easier to carry your load. There
is a fly in the ointment though. In closing, let's tum
to the opening of the third seal.
REVELA TlON 6:5 And when He had opened the third
seal, I heard the third beast say, "Come and see." And
I beheld, and 10, a black horse; and he that sat on him
had a pair of balances in his hand.
The black horse is symbolic of war and famine. The
balances are the scales which Satan and his children
utilize in Amos 8: 1-6. TIIere is one problem with Satan's
scales. They are unbalanced to falsify and deceive. You
all know from Amos 8 the famine of the end times is
for hearing the Word of God.
REVELA TlON 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst
of the four beasts say, "A measure of wheat for a
penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and
see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
The oil and the wine are the elect. A penny was
a day's wages. Bread by weight means there is a shortage
and grain is bemg rationed. Satan will trade his bread
for your Bread of Life Will you be willing to trade?
If you have God's yoke on which is the balance of life,
you won't. You already know Satan's scales are loaded
with deceit. Put on the yoke of God!