The message was brought by Rev. Tim Powers on April 19, 2026.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Study on how animals were yoked together back in the day and this makes more sense. The load was lighter after it. We feel heavy laden at times, like we can’t carry the load upon us. I find myself trying to carry my load, my family load, and my church load. I need the Lord’s help to do it. We all feel it. Notice, Jesus doesn’t say he takes the load. But he does say he gives us rest. In times past a strong bull oxen and a weaker one were yoked. It was training for the weaker. He helped pull but learned how to do it to become a strong one. The world overwhelms us. The key: yoke up to Jesus. He’s the strong one. We’re the weaker. We pull alongside the Lord with him bearing the brunt. He shares the loads in life. It makes us stronger. We have to go through this world. It is going to get worse and worse as time goes on. When those times get hard, Jesus shares the load so we can find the rest we need. The verses say learn of me. The big ox taught that little/weaker one what to do. Learn more about Jesus; this is what makes us stronger. He helps us produce more for him by getting stronger. His yoke. Not ours. Bear it with him. Why Jesus: I am meek and lowly in heart.
Look at the bull in the field sometime. He looks meek and lowly, like he couldn’t move fast. But he’s a gentle giant that can come at you full force. Jesus wants to help. Bob is my “big old bull.” I can learn from him. He’s been at this a long time. We need to yoke up with believers, not the world. It will drag you down if it’s with the world and take you the wrong way. The fact is that because of our flesh we tend to gravitate to the world, so we don’t need to yoke up to it in any way.
We find that in a yoke of oxen those big ones get tired too. That’s where the weaker comes in to help. We help as we grow and get stronger. Prayer, Bible study, fellowship with believers all work together to then bring us rest. Pull others along as they get tired. When they pull, we can rest. Help each other out. If you need help, reach out to me or anyone in the church. We’ll help! Jesus said for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Easy. Light. Jesus does this. We can look back and see what he has done in the past knowing he can and will in the future.
Think back to Little House on the Prairie tv show. Charles Ingles would take the animals out in the field for a really hard day. When he brought them in, he fed them, gave them water and shelter. They rested. It’s what Jesus does for us. We can’t handle it on our own. We need Jesus. He leads us in for strength and nourishment. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. It’s what we do for each other. Don’t let the devil entice you away. Call on your church family. I know some of you are weighted down. Let Jesus help. Let us help. We can all fall. Don’t put burdens on yourself. Let Jesus have them. Let us help you carry them.
Follow the Master “to the barn” and find the rest you need.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 