Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.40\00:00:02.77 Please join us now on "The Grace Pipeline," 00:00:02.80\00:00:05.54 where we will look at what the Bible says 00:00:05.57\00:00:08.15 about being yoked with Jesus 00:00:08.18\00:00:10.63 and partnered with His power. 00:00:10.66\00:00:12.62 Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline." 00:00:33.57\00:00:36.03 This series, it follows a Bible study 00:00:36.06\00:00:38.63 that I was very blessed to write in the book 00:00:38.66\00:00:41.09 that is also titled "The Grace Pipeline." 00:00:41.12\00:00:43.70 And today, we are going to take a look 00:00:43.73\00:00:47.17 at the privilege of being yoked with Christ 00:00:47.20\00:00:51.28 and partnered with His power." 00:00:51.31\00:00:54.18 If you're following along in this-- 00:00:54.21\00:00:56.56 in your series companion book, we're beginning on page 41. 00:00:56.59\00:01:00.38 Now in our last program, we concluded 00:01:00.41\00:01:02.48 with the story of a personal experience of mine. 00:01:02.51\00:01:05.86 Some years ago, I was praying 1 Corinthians 6:17 that says, 00:01:05.89\00:01:11.10 "He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." 00:01:11.13\00:01:15.70 And as I pray this as an affirmation of my faith 00:01:15.73\00:01:18.98 thanking God for making me one with Him. 00:01:19.01\00:01:21.85 I didn't feel one with Him. 00:01:21.88\00:01:24.28 I couldn't even comprehend 00:01:24.31\00:01:25.83 what it meant to be united in this way. 00:01:25.86\00:01:28.57 When I ask and the Lord cried out for understanding, 00:01:28.60\00:01:32.91 what He did was, He let me in a study 00:01:32.94\00:01:35.12 on the mysterious oneness of the Father, 00:01:35.15\00:01:37.59 the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:01:37.62\00:01:39.98 We're going to take just a few minutes of today's program 00:01:40.01\00:01:43.31 to briefly consider the unity of the Godhead. 00:01:43.34\00:01:47.30 The concept of three divine persons who are only one God. 00:01:47.33\00:01:52.59 This will help us understand how we can become 00:01:52.62\00:01:56.43 partnered with the Lord's power and be one in spirit with Him. 00:01:56.46\00:02:01.11 When trying to understand this concept of oneness, 00:02:01.14\00:02:04.47 the Lord led me first to Deuteronomy 6:4, 00:02:04.50\00:02:08.62 which proclaims "The Lord our God, the Lord is one!" 00:02:08.65\00:02:14.81 We're going to take a little closer look at this 00:02:14.84\00:02:18.14 and we're going to get technical for just a moment 00:02:18.17\00:02:20.64 but stay with me, because what we'll do is 00:02:20.67\00:02:24.05 look at the literal Hebrew of this translation 00:02:24.08\00:02:27.61 and we'll understand more. 00:02:27.64\00:02:30.08 The Hebrews says "YHWH our Elohim, 00:02:30.11\00:02:36.24 YHWH is eh ad," meaning "Jehovah, our Self-existent, 00:02:36.27\00:02:43.50 all-powerful God, is plural but One." 00:02:43.53\00:02:48.74 Let's unpack this. 00:02:48.77\00:02:50.41 YHWH is the "Tetragrammaton" 00:02:50.44\00:02:53.61 that just means a four letter word. 00:02:53.64\00:02:55.51 But it is used by the Bible writers for Yahweh, 00:02:55.54\00:03:00.24 which in English we say Jehovah. 00:03:00.27\00:03:03.37 This is the name that God pronounced or announced 00:03:03.40\00:03:06.57 from the burning bush to Moses. 00:03:06.60\00:03:08.76 Yahweh means "I am," 00:03:08.79\00:03:11.12 I am the one who is the self-existent one. 00:03:11.15\00:03:14.56 And in reverence for the holiness of God's name 00:03:14.59\00:03:17.37 in fear of breaking the commandment 00:03:17.40\00:03:18.90 of taking God's name in vain. 00:03:18.93\00:03:21.09 Jews avoided pronouncing or spelling the secret name Yahweh. 00:03:21.12\00:03:25.62 Instead it became their common practice to use Adonai. 00:03:25.65\00:03:31.14 Now, let's consider Elohim that means the all 00:03:31.17\00:03:35.54 "powerful creator and sustainer." 00:03:35.57\00:03:38.75 Elohim is a masculine plural noun. 00:03:38.78\00:03:42.98 And in the first scripture of Genesis 1:1 00:03:43.01\00:03:46.61 "God reveals His complex plurality 00:03:46.64\00:03:51.24 of His nature as creator." 00:03:51.27\00:03:53.81 Genesis 1:1 says that 00:03:53.84\00:03:56.31 "In the beginning God Elohim created." 00:03:56.34\00:04:00.64 These words announce the presence of only one God 00:04:00.67\00:04:05.07 and confirm that this all powerful creator 00:04:05.10\00:04:08.70 is composed of more than one member. 00:04:08.73\00:04:12.42 Elohim is the most frequently used name of God. 00:04:12.45\00:04:16.04 It appears some 2250 times in the Old Testament. 00:04:16.07\00:04:20.11 It is His Covenant Maker name in His declaration that 00:04:20.14\00:04:24.05 He will not abandon that which He has created. 00:04:24.08\00:04:27.59 And the most telling Hebrew word though in this 00:04:27.62\00:04:31.51 in Deuteronomy 6:4 is eh ad, 00:04:31.54\00:04:36.52 that is a word that defines a union of several components 00:04:36.55\00:04:42.09 combined into a single unit. 00:04:42.12\00:04:45.97 So the scripture we are examining 00:04:46.00\00:04:48.28 Deuteronomy 6:4 declares "The Lord Jehovah, 00:04:48.31\00:04:53.48 the plural Creator Elohim is One eh ad, 00:04:53.51\00:04:58.58 His several components that are a single unit." 00:04:58.61\00:05:01.90 We will see the significance of this divine oneness 00:05:01.93\00:05:04.97 of the Godhead in a moment. 00:05:05.00\00:05:06.86 But like divine love, divine oneness has no equal. 00:05:06.89\00:05:10.93 There seems to be universal agreement 00:05:10.96\00:05:13.86 that the person identified in scripture is the Father, 00:05:13.89\00:05:16.92 is the all powerful infinite God. 00:05:16.95\00:05:19.84 So I feel no need to expand on this fact. 00:05:19.87\00:05:23.12 But some religions acknowledge Jesus 00:05:23.15\00:05:27.08 as God's greatest historical prophet, 00:05:27.11\00:05:30.05 yet they deny His deity as our creator God. 00:05:30.08\00:05:34.20 Scripture does not support this denial. 00:05:34.23\00:05:36.63 The New Testament clearly portrays 00:05:36.66\00:05:39.17 Christ as a member of the Godhead 00:05:39.20\00:05:42.83 and indeed in John 1-3 and Colossians 1:16. 00:05:42.86\00:05:49.51 In Colossians 2:9 Christ is described 00:05:49.54\00:05:54.15 as the force behind creation. 00:05:54.18\00:05:58.51 Legally all Bible scholars recognize 00:05:58.54\00:06:01.55 the Angel of the Lord of the Old Testament 00:06:01.58\00:06:04.83 was the visible God of the Old Testament 00:06:04.86\00:06:07.14 in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:06:07.17\00:06:09.32 He appeared to Moses from the burning bush 00:06:09.35\00:06:11.87 and among others He appeared to Abraham, 00:06:11.90\00:06:14.25 the slave girl, Hagar, Jacob, Gideon. 00:06:14.28\00:06:17.29 He is distinct from the father 00:06:17.32\00:06:20.27 and He does not appear again after Christ incarnation. 00:06:20.30\00:06:24.23 Therefore scholars conclude that 00:06:24.26\00:06:26.76 the Angel of the Lord is Christ, the Messiah messenger. 00:06:26.79\00:06:32.39 The word angel simply means messenger. 00:06:32.42\00:06:36.73 Jesus said in John 8:58 "Most assuredly, 00:06:36.76\00:06:43.04 I say to you, before Abraham was I am." 00:06:43.07\00:06:47.99 With this exact praise or name used of God, 00:06:48.02\00:06:51.71 Jesus proclaimed His eternal existence 00:06:51.74\00:06:55.42 and He further stated in Chapter 10. 00:06:55.45\00:06:58.15 He said, I and the Father are one and he avowed 00:06:58.18\00:07:02.39 the authority that was reserve by God alone to forgive sins. 00:07:02.42\00:07:06.45 So in doing this Christ clearly claimed 00:07:06.48\00:07:10.59 He was God accusing Him of blasphemy, 00:07:10.62\00:07:13.91 the seething Jewish leaders wanted 00:07:13.94\00:07:15.99 to stone him for His claims. 00:07:16.02\00:07:18.25 And they eventually schemed 00:07:18.28\00:07:19.82 to have the Lord of Glory crucified. 00:07:19.85\00:07:22.56 Jesus declared He was the Lord, 00:07:22.59\00:07:25.17 the Savior, the Christ, the Messiah, 00:07:25.20\00:07:28.27 the Son of God and the Son of Man. 00:07:28.30\00:07:31.40 In other words Son of Man meant the Lord 00:07:31.43\00:07:34.09 who humbled Himself to become human, 00:07:34.12\00:07:37.07 uniting divinity with humanity forever. 00:07:37.10\00:07:40.84 And the Lord who will return in the future 00:07:40.87\00:07:43.38 on the clouds of heaven with majesty in great power. 00:07:43.41\00:07:47.43 Significantly in Daniel 7:13 and 14 00:07:47.46\00:07:52.48 "God supply the same emphasis of Christ humanity 00:07:52.51\00:07:55.52 in prophetic vision to Daniel, 00:07:55.55\00:07:57.52 who saw one like the Son of Man 00:07:57.55\00:08:00.65 who proceeded from the ancient of days 00:08:00.68\00:08:02.97 and was given universal authority. 00:08:03.00\00:08:05.61 Every Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah 00:08:05.64\00:08:08.62 was fulfilled in Jesus 00:08:08.65\00:08:10.18 and recorded in the New Testament 00:08:10.21\00:08:11.99 historical account of His life. 00:08:12.02\00:08:15.54 If Christ was not who He claimed to be, 00:08:15.57\00:08:19.18 then we must consider Him an unholy liar. 00:08:19.21\00:08:22.73 No one can acknowledge Him as a holy prophet of God 00:08:22.76\00:08:26.44 while denying His claims of deity, 00:08:26.47\00:08:29.20 accept a great parallel of missing God's Grace. 00:08:29.23\00:08:32.75 The Bible portrays not only Christ as God 00:08:32.78\00:08:37.11 but the Holy Spirit 00:08:37.14\00:08:38.91 as the member of the Godhead present at creation. 00:08:38.94\00:08:42.45 And His personhood is denied by some Christian circles, 00:08:42.48\00:08:46.65 who equate His presence to nothing more than 00:08:46.68\00:08:50.80 a force of God's being? 00:08:50.83\00:08:53.38 As one dear soul tried to explain to me. 00:08:53.41\00:08:55.86 She said, oh, spirit can't be a person, 00:08:55.89\00:08:58.89 and I said, well, God is a Spirit, 00:08:58.92\00:09:01.56 that's what John 4:24 says 00:09:01.59\00:09:04.20 "Is that God is the Spirit 00:09:04.23\00:09:05.90 and He certainly is the member of the Godhead. 00:09:05.93\00:09:09.98 Her convoluted reasoning cannot get around that. 00:09:10.01\00:09:13.76 But as for me, I will lit here to the opinion of Jesus Christ, 00:09:13.79\00:09:17.67 who always refer to the Holy Spirit as a person 00:09:17.70\00:09:20.81 and identified Him with the personal pronoun 00:09:20.84\00:09:24.00 he him or his, Christ never call the Holy Spirit and it. 00:09:24.03\00:09:29.64 Peter identified the Holy Spirit is God, 00:09:29.67\00:09:32.31 when he rebuked one of the early Christian Church members 00:09:32.34\00:09:35.99 saying in Acts 5.3 and 4 00:09:36.02\00:09:38.75 "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart 00:09:38.78\00:09:43.03 to lie to the Holy Spirit... 00:09:43.06\00:09:45.26 You have not lied to men but to God." 00:09:45.29\00:09:50.42 You know the scripture is replete with references 00:09:50.45\00:09:55.82 that tell us that 00:09:55.85\00:09:57.22 the Holy Spirit exercises His choice 00:09:57.25\00:10:00.49 and experiences emotion 00:10:00.52\00:10:02.40 and then He possesses the qualities of God. 00:10:02.43\00:10:05.39 The Holy Spirit is identified in scripture 00:10:05.42\00:10:07.94 as being omniscient all knowing, 00:10:07.97\00:10:10.83 omnipresent all present, and omnipotent all powerful. 00:10:10.86\00:10:16.00 And we must remember Christ great commission 00:10:16.03\00:10:19.95 found in Matthew 28:19 and 20, where He said 00:10:19.98\00:10:24.95 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 00:10:24.98\00:10:29.63 baptizing them in the name not names 00:10:29.66\00:10:32.43 but in the name of the Father 00:10:32.46\00:10:34.49 and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 00:10:34.52\00:10:38.06 teaching them to observe all things 00:10:38.09\00:10:40.82 that I have commanded you." 00:10:40.85\00:10:43.20 This great commission of Christ 00:10:43.23\00:10:45.93 appeals to the complex unity 00:10:45.96\00:10:49.24 of three personal co-eternals sinners of consciousness. 00:10:49.27\00:10:54.42 Scripture reveals the Father, the Son, and the Spirit 00:10:54.45\00:10:59.86 cooperate in perfect harmony. 00:10:59.89\00:11:02.84 Jesus did nothing contrary to His Father's will. 00:11:02.87\00:11:06.33 Whatever the Father did, the Son did in like manner. 00:11:06.36\00:11:09.75 And in reverence for His Father, 00:11:09.78\00:11:12.34 Jesus did not compete with Him 00:11:12.37\00:11:14.76 because of His reverence submission 00:11:14.79\00:11:17.54 the Father exalted Him. 00:11:17.57\00:11:20.10 And in like manner the Holy Spirit 00:11:20.13\00:11:22.38 does not compete with Jesus, 00:11:22.41\00:11:24.57 but does everything to bring Christ to glory, 00:11:24.60\00:11:28.61 the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 00:11:28.64\00:11:32.38 The Bible clearly defines a distinction of three persons 00:11:32.41\00:11:36.34 but in essences of oneness. 00:11:36.37\00:11:38.71 Now man labels this concept, the trinity... 00:11:38.74\00:11:42.45 How are we to understand this and explain it? 00:11:42.48\00:11:45.91 Its not as difficult as I have thought 00:11:45.94\00:11:48.54 before God led me in this study. 00:11:48.57\00:11:51.02 Here is my conclusion "The Father, the Son, 00:11:51.05\00:11:55.73 and The Spirit are one in purpose thought and action." 00:11:55.76\00:12:01.72 This study not only helped me to understand, 00:12:01.75\00:12:05.93 how the three can be one 00:12:05.96\00:12:08.08 but also pointed to a powerful truth. 00:12:08.11\00:12:11.22 Perfect unity leaves no room 00:12:11.25\00:12:13.95 for separate plans among the Godhead. 00:12:13.98\00:12:16.19 All though they are coequal, their actions illustrate 00:12:16.22\00:12:20.44 a chain of command so to speak. 00:12:20.47\00:12:23.49 The Spirit glorifies the Son, the Son glorifies the Father. 00:12:23.52\00:12:28.87 And for this the all loving Father exalts Him 00:12:28.90\00:12:32.37 and gives Him authority. 00:12:32.40\00:12:34.25 This God ordained system applies to our lives as well. 00:12:34.28\00:12:39.19 We are called to humble ourselves 00:12:39.22\00:12:42.00 and glorify God in our actions. 00:12:42.03\00:12:44.82 When we do, He exalts us and gives us authority 00:12:44.85\00:12:49.17 as we tap into God's supply of grace and are born again, 00:12:49.20\00:12:54.06 God joins us to Him and the new creature we become 00:12:54.09\00:12:58.23 as Paul proclaimed is one spirit with Him. 00:12:58.26\00:13:02.71 By God's design in our faith we grow in grace 00:13:02.74\00:13:07.68 and become one in thought purpose and action with Him, 00:13:07.71\00:13:11.60 living out God's perfect plan for our lives. 00:13:11.63\00:13:15.85 This unity squelches any of our plans 00:13:15.88\00:13:19.58 that are separate from His will. 00:13:19.61\00:13:22.84 It is your destiny to develop the same character of Jesus. 00:13:22.87\00:13:27.85 Did you know that, that it is written 00:13:27.88\00:13:29.35 in the Bible in Romans 8:29 it says 00:13:29.38\00:13:33.12 "For whom He speaking of God foreknew, 00:13:33.15\00:13:36.82 He also predestined to be conformed 00:13:36.85\00:13:40.78 to the image of His Son, 00:13:40.81\00:13:43.15 that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." 00:13:43.18\00:13:47.90 That's your God given destiny. 00:13:47.93\00:13:49.96 God knew of the sin struggle humanity would face 00:13:49.99\00:13:53.36 and before He created our world, 00:13:53.39\00:13:56.03 He designed His glorious Calvary plan 00:13:56.06\00:13:59.50 with only one end in mind 00:13:59.53\00:14:02.24 that all who accept His gift of salvation 00:14:02.27\00:14:05.11 are destined to become like His son. 00:14:05.14\00:14:07.86 If you are a Christian your God given destiny 00:14:07.89\00:14:11.70 is to be like Jesus, 00:14:11.73\00:14:13.64 this good news is that the best part of this 00:14:13.67\00:14:17.65 I should say is that Philippians 1:6 tells us 00:14:17.68\00:14:21.09 that this is a work that God begins, 00:14:21.12\00:14:24.40 sustains and complete in us. 00:14:24.43\00:14:27.50 He achieves it by His grace alone 00:14:27.53\00:14:31.29 which we will consider in greater depth 00:14:31.32\00:14:33.56 in upcoming programs. 00:14:33.59\00:14:35.49 Jesus reveals the secret of obtaining eternal life. 00:14:35.52\00:14:39.79 In John 17:3 and there He says "This is eternal life, 00:14:39.82\00:14:46.10 that they may know you the only true God, 00:14:46.13\00:14:50.37 and Jesus whom you have sent." 00:14:50.40\00:14:54.63 In this verse the word know is a verb 00:14:54.66\00:14:59.02 that conveys the thought of a personal connection, 00:14:59.05\00:15:03.33 a union through an intimate relationship. 00:15:03.36\00:15:06.01 In fact, the Bible uses this verb know to describe 00:15:06.04\00:15:09.73 a relationship between a man and a woman. 00:15:09.76\00:15:12.75 Eternal life is not gained through 00:15:12.78\00:15:16.18 scholarly head knowledge, 00:15:16.21\00:15:18.18 but it is a gift of God's grace for those who know Him 00:15:18.21\00:15:21.85 through heart knowledge 00:15:21.88\00:15:23.31 gained from an intimate personal experience. 00:15:23.34\00:15:28.67 God's greatest desire is that we will cherish 00:15:28.70\00:15:32.13 a close relationship with Him through Christ 00:15:32.16\00:15:35.96 His predetermine plan is to make us one with Him 00:15:35.99\00:15:39.92 in thought purpose and action, that is God's motive for grace. 00:15:39.95\00:15:45.86 The practical impact of grace is to enjoy 00:15:45.89\00:15:49.29 an intimate relationship with God in the spirit of oneness. 00:15:49.32\00:15:54.56 Now I want to share an amazing truth. 00:15:54.59\00:15:56.99 You've probably heard the saying that 00:15:57.02\00:15:59.68 a picture is worth a thousand words, 00:15:59.71\00:16:02.06 well, who can argue against the truth of this saying. 00:16:02.09\00:16:05.81 It is equally true however that words 00:16:05.84\00:16:09.00 can paint pictures in our mind 00:16:09.03\00:16:11.54 that evoke strong emotional responses. 00:16:11.57\00:16:15.16 The word yoke for example often creates a picture of hardship, 00:16:15.19\00:16:20.24 one mental image created by this word is wooden collar 00:16:20.27\00:16:24.84 like instrument that harnesses 00:16:24.87\00:16:27.19 two oxen or two horses together 00:16:27.22\00:16:29.32 as they pull heavy plough or weighty cart. 00:16:29.35\00:16:32.99 Well, we might recognize the wooden frame helps 00:16:33.02\00:16:35.39 support creatures share this heavy burden, 00:16:35.42\00:16:39.37 it is still something nonetheless 00:16:39.40\00:16:42.01 that we are left with the impression of hard labor. 00:16:42.04\00:16:45.68 Another picture the word yoke might bring to mind 00:16:45.71\00:16:48.89 is that of a slave within iron collar around his neck 00:16:48.92\00:16:52.43 being transported to market. 00:16:52.46\00:16:54.64 Let's look at the words of our loving Savior now. 00:16:54.67\00:16:58.38 In Matthew 11:28 through 30, and Jesus says 00:16:58.41\00:17:03.88 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 00:17:03.91\00:17:08.24 and I will give you rest. 00:17:08.27\00:17:10.90 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 00:17:10.93\00:17:15.70 for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 00:17:15.73\00:17:19.08 and you will find rest for your souls. 00:17:19.11\00:17:22.17 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 00:17:22.20\00:17:28.38 Why would the master of grace 00:17:28.41\00:17:31.85 want to place the yoke upon our shoulders? 00:17:31.88\00:17:35.20 Well, to take Christ yoke is to become subject to Him 00:17:35.23\00:17:39.63 as our Lord and to live under His authority. 00:17:39.66\00:17:43.03 Do we view this invitation as a burden of drudgery, 00:17:43.06\00:17:47.78 I mean who yearns to be yoked anyway. 00:17:47.81\00:17:51.52 The truth is all of humanity lives 00:17:51.55\00:17:55.14 under one yoke of subjection or another. 00:17:55.17\00:17:58.57 I want to share another scripture with you. 00:17:58.60\00:18:00.28 This is Romans 6:6, Paul writes 00:18:00.31\00:18:03.20 "Do you not known that to whom you present yourselves 00:18:03.23\00:18:06.69 slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, 00:18:06.72\00:18:13.03 whether of sin leading to death, 00:18:13.06\00:18:16.29 or of obedience leading to righteousness?" 00:18:16.32\00:18:20.91 We see here that two conditions are identified in this verse. 00:18:20.94\00:18:24.47 We are either subjects of Christ held captive 00:18:24.50\00:18:27.75 to His love and His obedience 00:18:27.78\00:18:31.27 or we are subjects to Satan and thereby slaves of disobedience. 00:18:31.30\00:18:36.65 Either God is our spiritual Father or the devil is. 00:18:36.68\00:18:41.92 It is written in John 8:31 that 00:18:41.95\00:18:45.28 "Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." 00:18:45.31\00:18:49.13 These are the words of Christ and He says sin and slaves, 00:18:49.16\00:18:54.57 before we're born again we are unspiritual creatures 00:18:54.60\00:18:58.99 sold under its control and ensnared by an evil taskmaster. 00:18:59.02\00:19:06.10 Satan hangs his yoke of bondage around the neck 00:19:06.13\00:19:10.39 of fallen humanity and presenting himself 00:19:10.42\00:19:13.56 as an angel of light. 00:19:13.59\00:19:15.42 Satan strategy is to tempt us with sin 00:19:15.45\00:19:18.87 and to steal our chance of the saving relationship 00:19:18.90\00:19:21.89 with the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:19:21.92\00:19:23.93 The pleasures that He offers are fleeting 00:19:23.96\00:19:27.28 and his burdens become difficult to bear. 00:19:27.31\00:19:30.21 The devil proves to be a driving taskmaster. 00:19:30.24\00:19:34.63 When we're lashed repeatedly by his cracking whip 00:19:34.66\00:19:37.74 and groaning under the weight of sin, 00:19:37.77\00:19:40.29 the weary soul is rubbed raw by his rough yoke. 00:19:40.32\00:19:45.88 But what I want to do is go back 00:19:45.91\00:19:48.04 and unpack the scripture of Matthew 11:28 through 30, 00:19:48.07\00:19:53.81 where Jesus said, "Come to Me, 00:19:53.84\00:19:56.95 all you who labor and are heavy laden, 00:19:56.98\00:20:01.80 and I will give you rest." 00:20:01.83\00:20:04.28 You know the call of Christ is sweat music 00:20:04.31\00:20:07.30 to our fainting heart. 00:20:07.33\00:20:08.94 If we accept His invitation, 00:20:08.97\00:20:11.41 He will set us free from the charcoaled of sin, 00:20:11.44\00:20:15.76 cutting away the cords of the wicked that bind us. 00:20:15.79\00:20:18.54 He will destroy the works of the devil. 00:20:18.57\00:20:21.13 We can caste the weight of our cares 00:20:21.16\00:20:23.66 upon the one who cares for us. 00:20:23.69\00:20:26.32 Now in Matthew 11 and verse, well this in Matthew 11 00:20:26.35\00:20:32.48 He continues by saying "I am gentle and lowly in heart, 00:20:32.51\00:20:37.07 and you will find rest for your souls." 00:20:37.10\00:20:40.96 They are wounded and weary people around the world 00:20:40.99\00:20:45.00 outside the church and within, 00:20:45.03\00:20:47.26 who seek rest for their souls. 00:20:47.29\00:20:49.45 Only the Son of God, who humbled Himself to die 00:20:49.48\00:20:52.91 on a cross as our substitute can provide that rest. 00:20:52.94\00:20:56.97 The one who emptied Himself to take on the attributes of man 00:20:57.00\00:21:00.85 and become the Son of Man was made like us in all ways 00:21:00.88\00:21:05.69 that He might sympathize with our weaknesses. 00:21:05.72\00:21:08.87 He knows what it is to suffer temptation. 00:21:08.90\00:21:12.24 Christ is more than able to come to our aid, 00:21:12.27\00:21:14.74 because He never succumbed to sin, 00:21:14.77\00:21:18.49 but He gained victory over it 00:21:18.52\00:21:20.68 through His complete dependence upon the Father. 00:21:20.71\00:21:24.90 And at the cross our Savior exposed Satan 00:21:24.93\00:21:28.78 for who he is and he made a public spectacle 00:21:28.81\00:21:32.47 of him disarming his power at the resurrection. 00:21:32.50\00:21:36.90 He gained victory over death. 00:21:36.93\00:21:39.66 Only Christ can refresh your heart restoring the rhythm 00:21:39.69\00:21:45.81 to be as one with God and give you rest. 00:21:45.84\00:21:51.71 In Matthew 11:29 Jesus continues and He says 00:21:51.74\00:21:58.96 "Take My yoke upon you and learn for me, 00:21:58.99\00:22:02.74 for My yoke is easy and My burden is light." 00:22:02.77\00:22:07.13 Why would we not cheerfully submit to exchange 00:22:07.16\00:22:10.25 the harsh yoke of Satan for the pleasant yoke of Christ? 00:22:10.28\00:22:15.02 The Lord's gracious yoke is lined with layer 00:22:15.05\00:22:18.54 upon layer of divine love. 00:22:18.57\00:22:20.60 We don't need to be concerned about yielding to it. 00:22:20.63\00:22:24.46 Jesus is a gentle master. 00:22:24.49\00:22:26.63 He knows our capabilities and He knows our limitations 00:22:26.66\00:22:30.23 as He teaches us to live under His leadership, 00:22:30.26\00:22:34.35 His guiding love gives us direction in life. 00:22:34.38\00:22:37.16 He shares in our burdens and leads us to enter His rest, 00:22:37.19\00:22:41.61 which is nothing, nothing less than 00:22:41.64\00:22:44.69 total dependence upon God. 00:22:44.72\00:22:47.66 Here's the exciting news, Christ appealed to be yoked 00:22:47.69\00:22:51.31 with Him is an invitation to be partnered with His power 00:22:51.34\00:22:56.89 and as we walk through life 00:22:56.92\00:22:59.04 connected side-by-side with our sympathetic Savior. 00:22:59.07\00:23:02.57 He supplies our every need by infusing us 00:23:02.60\00:23:06.23 with His inexhaustible all sufficient grace. 00:23:06.26\00:23:10.06 Yoke together with Christ, 00:23:10.09\00:23:11.46 He perfects His power in our weakness. 00:23:11.49\00:23:14.34 The Apostle Paul learned this supreme lesson 00:23:14.37\00:23:17.29 as he prayed for the release from an affliction 00:23:17.32\00:23:20.98 and answer of Christ promise created an astounding reaction 00:23:21.01\00:23:25.48 from Paul recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:9. 00:23:25.51\00:23:29.82 And Paul says "He said to me, 00:23:29.85\00:23:32.41 "My grace is sufficient for you, 00:23:32.44\00:23:34.41 for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 00:23:34.44\00:23:38.47 Now listen to Paul's response 00:23:38.50\00:23:39.94 "Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, 00:23:39.97\00:23:45.56 that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 00:23:45.59\00:23:50.76 Paul didn't receive the answer He was looking for, 00:23:50.79\00:23:54.36 but He wasn't left disappointed. 00:23:54.39\00:23:56.48 Christ had something greater in mind than a quick fix, 00:23:56.51\00:24:00.64 He gave Paul the grace to endure his infliction 00:24:00.67\00:24:04.51 showing him the way to greater spiritual power. 00:24:04.54\00:24:08.15 And Paul's weakness open the way of God's strength, 00:24:08.18\00:24:12.36 the weaker he became the less he relied on self, 00:24:12.39\00:24:16.64 the greater God's power increased, 00:24:16.67\00:24:19.64 so practically gushing from the experience 00:24:19.67\00:24:22.90 that accompanied this inside. 00:24:22.93\00:24:24.86 Paul joyfully concludes in verse 10. 00:24:24.89\00:24:27.96 He says, "When I'm weak then I am strong." 00:24:27.99\00:24:32.82 Now why do we have such difficulty 00:24:32.85\00:24:35.96 in learning this lesson? 00:24:35.99\00:24:37.61 Could it be because the world praises us 00:24:37.64\00:24:40.88 for our ability to be strong and self-sufficient 00:24:40.91\00:24:44.60 after all our training from birth to the time 00:24:44.63\00:24:48.90 that we grow up is to teach us 00:24:48.93\00:24:51.45 to live independently as adults. 00:24:51.48\00:24:54.08 It is counterintuitive and humbling for an adult 00:24:54.11\00:24:58.13 to learn dependence on God. 00:24:58.16\00:25:01.03 All though difficult for us to comprehend His ways 00:25:01.06\00:25:04.49 and His thoughts are higher than ours 00:25:04.52\00:25:06.98 and abiding grace results only as we enter 00:25:07.01\00:25:10.90 into His perfect plan of total dependence upon Him. 00:25:10.93\00:25:16.90 In Luke 18:17 Jesus said, 00:25:16.93\00:25:21.26 "Assuredly I say to you, whoever does not receive 00:25:21.29\00:25:25.86 the kingdom of God as a little child 00:25:25.89\00:25:28.76 will by no means enter in." 00:25:28.79\00:25:31.94 Child like faith, child like dependence, 00:25:31.97\00:25:36.23 this is how we enter His rest. 00:25:36.26\00:25:38.81 When this precious truth opens our eyes, 00:25:38.84\00:25:41.99 security settles into our hearts and faith soars. 00:25:42.02\00:25:46.04 The Apostle Paul learned to live 00:25:46.07\00:25:48.20 in the daily miracle of Christ's supernatural power, 00:25:48.23\00:25:52.52 this divine assistance of Christ. 00:25:52.55\00:25:56.13 And writing to the church at Philippi, 00:25:56.16\00:25:59.36 He said in Philippians 4:13 00:25:59.39\00:26:02.62 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 00:26:02.65\00:26:09.09 We find true strength only as we allow Christ to empower us. 00:26:09.12\00:26:14.60 When He infuses His sufficiency in us, 00:26:14.63\00:26:18.13 we can do everything that He has planned for us. 00:26:18.16\00:26:21.24 God will indeed cause us to be all that He has called us to be 00:26:21.27\00:26:25.59 and as we are yoked with Christ, 00:26:25.62\00:26:28.12 we have His divine assistance to keep the commandments of God. 00:26:28.15\00:26:32.25 You know, Jesus clearly tells us in John 15:5 00:26:32.28\00:26:35.07 that apart from Him we can do nothing, 00:26:35.10\00:26:38.29 nothing of eternal consequences. 00:26:38.32\00:26:40.74 But listen to this beautiful promise from Isaiah 40:31. 00:26:40.77\00:26:45.58 It says, "Those who wait for the Lord shall change 00:26:45.61\00:26:49.21 and renew their strength and power, 00:26:49.24\00:26:51.49 they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles, 00:26:51.52\00:26:55.96 they shall run and not be weary, 00:26:55.99\00:26:58.92 they shall walk and not faint." 00:26:58.95\00:27:02.74 Look to the Lord for your salvation. 00:27:02.77\00:27:06.35 Divine love will create a bond to keep you living 00:27:06.38\00:27:11.23 in the reality of relationship with Him. 00:27:11.26\00:27:14.57 He will exchange His power for your weakness. 00:27:14.60\00:27:19.80 And in submission to His yoke, 00:27:19.83\00:27:22.63 the liberating joy of dependence upon God 00:27:22.66\00:27:26.54 and the strength of divine grace will be yours. 00:27:26.57\00:27:30.82 Indeed, you will be yoked with Him 00:27:30.85\00:27:35.30 and He's carrying the balance of the load, 00:27:35.33\00:27:38.62 you will be partnered with His power. 00:27:38.65\00:27:41.86 Well, we hope that you have enjoyed our thoughts today. 00:27:41.89\00:27:45.00 And that you will join us on our next program, 00:27:45.03\00:27:48.35 where we're going to be talking about 00:27:48.38\00:27:50.18 how the lives of two robbers 00:27:50.21\00:27:52.57 showed an incredible snapshot of grace. 00:27:52.60\00:27:56.10 Growing grace and the knowledge of our Lord until next time. 00:27:56.13\00:28:00.09