EUPHORIA Devotional (The spirit of joy, an ecstasy that comes from God) September 2, 2025 YOKED WITH THE HOLY GHOST REV. AROME E. TOKULA Matthew 11:30 - For MY YOKE IS EASY and My burden is light. In Christ Jesus we find rest from every form of condemnation, anxiety and fear. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” He has given us rest and from this position of rest we approach everything in life. In the next verse Jesus teaches us to operate FROM rest. The Message Translation of Matthew 11:29 says, “WALK with me and WORK with me — WATCH HOW I DO IT. Learn the UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.” Christianity is both a WALK and WORK with God! In Jesus’ days it was common for oxen to be yoked together to plough the field. The practice was to pair a stronger, older and more mature ox with a younger one with a yoke on their necks. The older ox actually did the work while the younger ox simply just followed and learned. On the outside it looked like both oxen were working but in reality, it’s actually the older ox doing the work. The ‘unforced rhythms of grace’ are found and learned as we walk in fellowship with God. For the disciples who were physically with Jesus, He taught them to watch Him and learn how to handle life’s situations rather than let life handle them. For example, when the disciples had to pay the temple tax, they understood the ‘unforced rhythms of grace.’ They had Jesus – the ‘older and stronger ox’ to plough that 'field.’ Jesus told Peter, _”... go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us” (Matthew 17:27 Message). From the outside, it looked like Peter caught the fish, found the money and paid the taxes but it was because Jesus directed him on what to do to get that result. Peter was ‘yoked’ with Jesus! Peter paid the tax because he was yoked with Jesus. He didn't know ‘how,’ but he knew Jesus. At the end of Jesus’ ministry here on earth, the disciples felt sad! They were wondering how they were going to navigate through life without Him, but He told them in John 14:18 (TPT), “I promise that I WILL NEVER leave you HELPLESS or ABANDON YOU AS ORPHANS — I will come back to you!” He was literally saying to them, “Don't worry, you’re not going to miss me because there's no way I'm going to ever leave you without help.” The help they needed came to them in the person of the Holy Spirit because He told them in John 14:16, “And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you ANOTHER HELPER, that He may abide with you forever.” The Helper is the Holy Spirit. He is exactly like Jesus! All the disciples needed to do was to be 'yoked’ with Him like they were with Jesus. You have a forever abiding help in the Person of the Holy Ghost. Don’t try to figure out life in your own ability or intelligence because life will wear you out. Jesus is still saying today, “WALK WITH ME and WORK WITH ME—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you” (Matthew 11:29 MSG). If there is anything to learn as a child of God, it is to be led by God’s Spirit and your work is to do whatever reveals to you to do. DECLARE Thank You Father for the gift of Your Holy Spirit in my life. I am yoked with Him in everything that I do. He is my ever-present help. I always know what to do because I have the Holy Spirit with me and in me. I am a burning and shining light because I am led by God's Spirit as I abide in God’s Word. My day is filled with testimonies in Jesus' Name. PONDER You have a forever abiding help in the person of the Holy Ghost. Don’t try to figure out life in your own ability or intelligence because life will wear you out. #IOFWithPastorArome #MorningDevotion #Euphoria #Devotional #September #MonthOfRest #2025_TheChristOurLord