THE YOKE OF BONDAGE
INTRODUCTION
The yoke of bondage places one under the control of an oppressive power that enslaves, takes away personal liberty by compulsion, bringing one into involuntary servitude such as Socialism, Marxism, cousins of Communism; Critical Race Theory (CRT), the Great Reset Plan, instituted by the World Economic Forum; Diversity and Inclusion transformation; to name but a few, destroying freedom once enjoyed.
Goals include: Discredit family as an institution; control of the schools to use as tools for promoting ungodly agenda; break down cultural standards of morality, infiltrate the press, gain control of key positions in government; infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with social religion.
The Yoke of Bondage
Culture of the Land
It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom (Horace Greenly). Apostle Paul wrote: Know you not, that to whom you yield (present) yourselves servants to obey, his servants (slaves) you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness (Romans 6:16).
It is unfortunate that ungodliness is beginning to reign in nations that formerly denied access towards the ungodliness of man. Once inbreed into the culture of the land it is difficult to remove its influence and control. It is as a cancer that continues in growth despite all efforts to eliminate its influence. It is as little David facing the giant Goliath; the only one in Israel willingly to do so. Had David lost the battle Israel would have become servants (slaves) to their enemies!
Goliath's of Today
We are seeing loss, in many lands, due to the Goliath's of today; due to a withdrawal from God, His umbrella of protection and provision. A withdrawal from God no longer ensures protection and provisions once enjoyed. The Psalmist wrote: The Lord brings the counsel of the heathen (enemies to a land) to nought; he makes the devices (plans) of the people of no effect (Psalm 33:10).
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance (Psalm 33:12). Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear (reverence) him, upon them that hope in his mercy (Psalm 33:18). A nation can be truly blessed when its allegiance to God is intact!
New Leadership
Invoking Bondage
Scripture reveals a time that the yoke of bondage was placed upon man due to new leadership: It came to pass in the process of time that the king of Egypt died; and the children (people) of Israel sighed (groaned) by reason of bondage, and they cried (cried out), and their cry came to God by reason of the bondage (Exodus 2:23).
The result of their having cried out to God: I am the Lord your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (the yoke of bondage) (Exodus 20:2). God's umbrella of provision had not failed when they looked to Him; are we seeing nations today, under the yoke of bondage, doing likewise or are they attempting to deal with it in their own way?
Precarious Spiritual
Condition
Jesus noted a precarious spiritual condition saying: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man (no longer residing there), he walks (goes) through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he said, I will return to my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he finds it empty, swept, and garnished (Matthew 12:43-44). This is the state of nations, or individuals, found devoid of any spiritual influence, opening the door for evil influence to enter in!
Jesus further noted: Then goes he (the unclean spirit), and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be to this wicked generation (Mathew 12:45). We are seeing the demise of godly nations who have allowed demonic (ungodly) influences to take hold; due to a withdrawal from godly precepts (empty, swept, and garnished), bearing the consequences for allowing done so!
Destructive rather than
Productive
Prophet Isaiah, in speaking the words of the Lord, gave warning: Woe to them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight (Isaiah 5:20-21); which justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him (the yoke of bondage being applied)!
Judgment was then pronounced: As the fire destroys the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root (growth) shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord, and despised the word of the Holy One (Isaiah 5:23-24).
Nations, once aligned with God, have drastically changed in a relative short period of time; whose longevity had depended on remaining faithful to God. It is disturbing that allowance for the ungodliness of man has vastly increased; opening the door by laws and rulings made to accommodate its growth!
Rejecting Godly
Council
We are seeing a younger generation; having not received, or having rejected, godly council (a lost generation concept), instituting policies that would not have previously been considered. The son of King Solomon who inherited his father’s throne, had the people come to him saying: Your father made yoke (the yoke of bondage) grievous (hard); now therefore make you the grievous service that your father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us lighter, and we will serve you (1 Kings 12:4).
He sought the counsel of the old men that stood before his father while he yet lived, and they advised him to speak good words to the people and they will be your servants forever. Scripture reveals: He forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him (1 Kings 12:8).
Their response was for him to tell the people: My father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions (1 Kings 12:11). Scorpions’ meant multi-tailed whips to which barbed points or hooks were attached; their sting was as severe as that of a scorpion. Acceptance of the wrong advice cost the son his kingship!
Accommodating a Permissive
and Tolerant Society
Indoctrination of a future generation of church leaders, through infiltration of seminaries and divinity schools, is accommodating new policies (the yoke of bondage becoming a reality) with sound biblical doctrines of the past, based on God's Word, being cast aside! It was noted that we are living in a very permissive day when the religious world is so tolerant to most any and all kinds of standards and lifestyles.
This permissiveness and tolerance is the result of a carnal minded society. As a result of such tolerance and permissiveness, there are many churches, and even denominations, which have altered their teachings, their standards, and even their interpretations of the Scriptures to please, to comply with, and accommodate this permissive and tolerant society!
Be Not Again Entangled
in Yoke of Bondage
The Apostle Peter wrote: If after having escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse than the beginning (2 Peter 2:20). The Apostle Paul further emphasized: Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1).
Paul warned the Galatians to “stand fast” and retain their spiritual freedom, which Judaizers were attempting to sway them into the yoke of bondage under the law; which Christ had set them free. We are seeing some in the church; having accepted secular ways, attempting to sway the church towards acceptance of such rather than adherence to the Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God!
Freed from Yoke
of Bondage
Apostle Paul wrote: Being made free from sin (the yoke of bondage being lifted through Christ), and become servants (dedicated) to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death (spiritual and physical); but the gift of God is eternal life through (in) Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:22-23).
Jesus said: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of (from) me; for I am meek (gentle) and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30). It was noted that Jesus was calling for a profession of faith in Him which was not strenuous but light!
There is an abundance of spiritual pleasure and delight to be enjoyed, the freshness of God's Spirit, a heavenly presence obtainable through acceptance of Jesus, as Lord and Savior! Genuine repentance brings forgiveness and restoration with God! The yoke of bondage is not a pleasant place to find oneself; and it takes the power of Almighty God to set one free through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!
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