Overcoming the yolk of oppression.

It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. – Isaiah 10:27

A yoke is that which constrains and restricts. This can be both positive and negative. It can be that which holds us in habitual sin and away from God, or that which constrains us from our sinful desires and keeps us on the straight and narrow path, as we labour in God’s good work together.

A yoke of oppression can be debilitating. So heavy that you are unable to lift your head, so restricting that you cannot break free of the thing which is destroying you.

Our own ability, strength and determination cannot break this kind of yoke. We cannot turn to gifted church leaders, worship leaders or pastors either. Gifting may be good, but it’s only the anointing oil which breaks the yoke of oppression.

Ever since Jesus came to set us free, we became part of His body, the church. As His body, we must do as the head directs. Jesus made a clear statement of intent when He went into the temple and read from the book of Isaiah.

And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” – Luke 4:17-19

We have received all of this when Christ died for us and we are Holy Spirit empowered to go and do the same for others.

When we turn to Christ as our saviour, He heals our broken heart, we are no longer captives of sin, He opens our spiritual eyes and He does away with the yoke of oppression.

Christ gives us His yolk to help us stay on the straight and narrow path, but it’s easy because we walk close to Him. We are empowered to take up His burden, so it seems light.

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

If you’ve slipped under that heavy yolk of labour and oppression, then stop and turn back to Jesus. Allow Him to lift that burden from your shoulders and let Holy Spirit power pour into your life with a fresh anointing of oil to destroy that yolk of oppression.