November 4, 2010

• the two yokes

  the two yokes

  I. the first Adam's yoke

  my adversary, the devil,
  you hung it before me
  once again
  there it is!
  the yoke of slavery
  it dazzles before my eyes
  entices my flesh

  my adversary, the devil,
  you taunt me
  you burden me
  you prowl around
  your corruptible words
  your lies
  flood into my mind
  carried there by my flesh

  "my yoke of slavery
  take it up
  be happy
  be fulfilled
  living to self
  living for self
  leads to real joy"

  II. the last Adam's yoke

  my Savior, Jesus,
  You hung on the cross for me
  once for all
  there it is!
  the yoke of freedom
  it offends my eyes
  crosses my flesh

  my Savior, Jesus,
  You were taunted for me
  You carried my burdens
  You dwell within
  Your incorruptible word
  Your truth
  implanted in my soul
  carried there by Your Spirit

  "My yoke of freedom
  take it up
  be happy
  be fulfilled
  dying to self
  living for Me
  leads to real Joy"

  I Corinthians 15:45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

  ---

  I wrote this post because 1) I have been battling with sin once again (a never-ending battle while we are in the flesh, for though we are saved from the penalty and power of sin, we are not yet saved from the ongoing presence of sin), and 2) because we've been studying Isaiah in Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and I had been reflecting on the victory over Assyria prophesied by Isaiah (emphasis, mine):

  Isaiah 10:20  In that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on him who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21  A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. 22  For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. 23  For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth.
  
  24  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: “O my people, who dwell in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrians when they strike with the rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. 25  For in a very little while my fury will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. 26  And the LORD of hosts will wield against them a whip, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. And his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. 27  And in that day his burden will depart from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck; and the yoke will be broken because of the fat.”
  

   
  Here we see God's loving hand continuing to be upon His people to preserve a remnant, as has been the case throughout all history. The deliverance of Israel from the burden and the yoke of Assyrian rule and oppression is a picture and a precursor of the freedom Christ bought for us on the cross – freedom not only from the penalty of sin (we are saved from everlasting punishment in hell) but also freedom from the burden and yoke of slavery to the power of sin in our lives (we are no longer under the dominion of sin but we are free to offer ourselves to God, e.g. - please see Romans 6). So many of us do not live the Christian life in the power God provides. We have been set free from the burden and yoke of sin, but we must avail ourselves of the power of the Holy Spirit to continue to put to death sin, to put to death what is earthly in us (Colossians 3) and put on Christ (Romans 13:11-14). This is an ongoing battle, but we have been given God's Spirit so we can be victorious and take Christ's yoke of freedom to holiness rather than returning to the yoke of slavery to sin.

  Romans 8:12  So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

  Related: James 1, Romans 5-8, Colossians 3:1-7; I Corinthians 15; Galatians; I Peter.

  Bible Reading: Job 2:1 - "Again" (To press on we must always be mortifying sin | John Owen)
  the visitor we can't ever entertain (mortifying sin)
  Sin is determined. Are you? (Judges 1:27-36)
  Bible Reading: Ephesians 4 and 5-The New Man
  why we need a new heart (Bible reading - Matthew 5)
  Characteristics of true religion, # 2, part 2: Not of the letter but of the Spirit
  temptation
  Joseph and temptation: How he kept from falling
  Letter 25 on assurance and fighting for joy (a strong craving ≠ His joy)
  July 4: real freedom is found in His yoke (Elton Trueblood)
  Hudson Taylor: a man who found rest in the yoke of Christ
  Jesus' yoke --> fullness of joy (Letter 31 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  "Failure!"
  true repentance leads to joy (Letter 37 on assurance & fighting for joy)
  Neck check (Bible reading: Nehemiah 3)
  you say you want Jesus
  Make war (Herod, blogging, appetites, the glory of God & the Word of God)
  

  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  • 12:31 PM
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