HOW GOD REMOVES

                       THE PRESSURE

                        By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt.11:28-30)

    God has a perfect way of dealing with pressure. He says: “Come to Me with your troubles. Give Me your burdens. Lay your fears, angst, turmoil and cares upon Me. I will lift your heavy burdens. I will restore your faith, confidence and courage. I have already paid for your sins. I carried them to Golgotha. They were laid upon Me on the Cross. And I've looked after your sicknesses and diseases as well. Believe in My finished work for you.”

     The BIBLE says: “Surely He hath borne our sicknesses (makop; heb) and carried our pains (nasa; heb), yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. 

     "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53:4-6)

                                 JESUS IS THE HEAVY LIFTER!

     Oxen were yoked together to maximize their pulling power. Yokes were sometimes made so that the load was divided proportionally, taking into considered the size of the animals pulling. Usually, oxen were paired up in similar weight to equalize the load between them. Jesus very effectively used the word 'yoke' to paint a word picture illustrating His working together with us.

       His call is to the weak, burdened and tired among us. It is even more than that. It is to the whole world who has been torn away from their Father's love, compassion and care! JESUS offers us His rest in a world of unrest. He offers to be yoked together with us in a permanent relationship that puts all of the burden on Him. He is the the One who will do all the heavy lifting!

     And He offers to TEACH us His way! It is easy to learn when you are teamed up with a Father Who cares. We watch Him do things and and then we find ourselves doing the same things He does! He is the Great Teacher Who actually not only walks with us, but who lives within us showing the Way!

                                 NOT ACCORDING TO OUR WORKS!

     That is how St. Paul did it and that is the way, we can also do it. The great apostle wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith, and gave him some great advice. He wrote these words from prison:

    “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love; and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.

      “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, NOT according to OUR works, but according to HIS own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

      “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” ( 2 Tim. 1: 9-11)

    St. Paul said, “Timothy, it is not about you or your Ministry. It is all about God's Purpose and Grace which was GIVEN to us IN Christ Jesus before He Created the World. You was formed in the mind of God from before time began.
    "This thing is greater than the Roman Empire's power over us, greater than any fear you might have of being imprisoned. Remember, my son, when I laid my hands upon you in prophecy, our Lord had eons earlier declared it to be so. Fear not, Timothy, all shall be well. God knows what He is doing!"

        May Almighty God bless you all, 'Soldiers of the Cross'. We are all safe in the arms of Jesus. He is greater than all. He is in us all. He is working for and with us all. May He reach into every heart and life who will put their faith and trust in him as Saviour, Healer, Lord and God. Amen.