Hallelujah to the Lord for bringing us to day 5 of the Juicy July programme 2023. God has indeed been merciful.

 

 

This day, we are considering the topic “Anointing that breaks the yoke”

 

 

Let us start by looking at what “yoke” means and why does it have to be broken?

 

 

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull.

 

 

I attached two images so you can understand what it looks like.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yokes were used in Bible times primarily with bulls or oxen to plow fields and pull wagons.

 

 

The primary function is to control the animals by limiting their movement. No matter how powerful or incredibly strong the animals might be, the yoke would keep them from doing what they want to do. A yoke is therefore an instrument of toil, it is an evil bonding- an instrument of shared bondages.

 

 

Listen carefully. A yoke is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Genesis 27:40 says: By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you grow restless you shall break his yoke from your neck.

 

 

Are you restless already sis? Or are you still at ease in your yokes?

 

 

MSG translation says: You’ll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you’ll serve your brother. But when you can’t take it any more you’ll break loose and run free.

 

 

Can you still take it some more? Or are you ready to break loose and run free???

 

 

TLB says: Isaac: “Yours will be no life of ease and luxury, but you shall hew your way with your sword. For a time you will serve your brother, but you will finally shake loose from him and be free.”

 

 

Oh my!

 

 

Would you still spend a little more time under your yoke or will you finally loose free from it and be free??

 

 

In this verse, Isaac was speaking to Esau from his death bed! And look at what words were coming out of his mouth!

 

 

Such terrible, binding words!

 

 

“By your sword you shall live” ???? You know what that means? It meant struggle. Esau would have to train himself to fight for every single thing he’d ever have in life!

 

 

Others might have it easy but for him, even if he wanted the littlest things, he would have to fight for it!

 

 

Ahhhhhhhh!!!!

 

 

Yoke!

 

 

“Yours will be no life of ease and luxury” Oh my! What!

 

 

Nothing comes easy for Esau! He’d never afford the good things of the land.

 

 

Ah, what a pain he must have felt in the hollow of his heart.

 

 

His brother had stolen his birthright from him and he automatically became bound to be a servant unto him!

 

 

Even though he was cheated. Even though he was robbed. At least, let his father pity him and give him one blessing. Instead, curses upon curses flew out of his mouth to his beloved son!

 

 

The person who loved him most in all the earth heaped curses upon him!

 

 

He was yoked- yoked to the person that was supposed to serve him!

 

 

There had been a destiny exchange and he was constrained and restrained. He couldn’t live as a freeman anymore!

 

 

He must struggle to get the tiniest thing!

 

 

Same thing with Jabez. I wonder what terrible things had happened to his mother before contractions started. Maybe her husband had died or left her before the delivery. Maybe her parents were lost or something. I simply cannot understand why she did what she did. But she was trying to give birth to Jabez and was also putting the poor baby under a yoke. She gave him such a terrible name that directed the course of his life till adulthood!

 

 

Isaac however told Esau that he should break free when he couldn’t take it any more.

 

 

Well, I doubt if anyone reading this is still a baby. You are grown. You know your right from your left. Listen, it is what you permit in your life that will persist. It is what you allow that will align!

 

 

Some people don’t realize it but they’re living with a yoke around their neck. They wonder why they can’t get ahead. Why everything is a struggle. It’s because of the yokes that are dragging them down.

 

 

Negative words that were spoken over you can become a yoke. Every time you start to step out, you hear that parent, that teacher saying, “You’re not that talented, you don’t have what it takes, you cannot succeed, you are not good”. It plays again and again. Eventually, you shrink back. That’s a yoke.

 

 

In a relationship, you want to love that person but your mother got hurt in the past and you just can’t trust anybody. Another yoke. Some yokes have been passed down to us.

 

 

Sisters, the God we serve is a yoke-destroying, burden-removing God. And like the Israelites, you may have struggled in an area for a long time. But don’t go through life thinking: “This is the way it’s always going to be”.

 

 

“I’m always going to struggle in my marriage”.

 

 

“I’m always going to have to fight this depression”.

 

 

“I’m always going to be lonely”

 

 

“I’m going to have to struggle through life!”

 

 

“I will never be able to bear children!”

 

 

“I will never be free from this addiction”

 

 

No, it says in the book of Job that God has set an end to that trouble. God has already set an end to the difficulty, an end to the sickness, an end to the loneliness. Don’t get comfortable with it. You’re not going to wear that yoke your whole lifetime. Our God is in the yoke removing business.

 

 

That yoke of sickness that keeps getting passed down is being destroyed. Just because your mother had it and yours grandmother had it, doesn’t mean you are going to have it. I know the secret. The yoke destroyer has come down.

 

 

That yoke of debt and struggle is being destroyed. I am the head and not the tail. I will lend and not borrow. I am getting this yoke off of my neck and I’m going to live my life free.

 

 

Let us sing this song before we proceed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

.

.

.

.

 

 

 

 

Let’s go on….

 

 

So, there was a lady in the scripture named Rahab. She was a canaanite woman. The canaanites were descendants of Noah’s son, Ham. Ham was the one who when he saw his father, Noah, drunk and naked, instead of covering him up and downplaying it, he went out and told everybody. He made it worse. When Noah found out, he cursed Ham and all of his descendants.

 

 

Just because of his lack of honour for his father, he entered into a yoke!

 

 

Just because he couldn’t control his eyes and his mouth, he entered into a yoke!

 

 

You listen to what Noah said to him:

 

 

 

 

Ahhhhh!!!!

 

 

Well, years later, this lady, Rahab, is a prostitute living in Jericho. Her family is under this curse as a descendant of Ham. She could have thought: “Just my luck. It’s been passed down to me. I’ll always struggle. I’ll always make poor choices”. No, she did something to break that curse. She got that yoke off of her neck.

 

 

One day, Joshua and the Israelites were about to attack her city of Jericho. Joshua sent two men in to spy out the land. And somebody noticed who they were and told the authorities. Just as they were about to be captured, Rahab took the spies in and hid them in her home. They said, “Since you’ve helped us, when we come and attack the city, we’re going to spare you and your family”.

 

 

Even though Rahab had had all this negative baggage, even though she was living a dishonorable life, she made a decision to honor God. That one choice changed the course of her family line. That day, God removed the yoke that had been holding her back. That day, God broke the curse that had been in her family for generations. And here’s how good God is.

 

 

Rahab went on to marry a Jewish man. They had a son named Boaz. Boaz had a son name Obed. Obed had a son name Jesse. Jesse had a son named David. This means Rahab, a descendant of Ham, the cursed one is in the family line of Jesus Christ.

 

 

This is what happens when you make decisions to honor God. The yoke is removed and you step into the fullness of your destiny.

 

 

Now you, like Rahab, are one decision away from getting that yoke off your neck. You’re one decision away from breaking a curse that’s been in your family for generations. Don’t put it off. You’ve been wearing that yoke long enough. Today is your day. This is your time to come out of that yoke of compromise, making poor choices, giving in to temptation, you’re better than that. You can set a new standard for your family.

 

 

You have seeds of greatness on the inside. And I declare that yoke of average that’s been around your neck is coming off. God is about to thrust you to a new level of destiny. It’s going to be exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond. You’re going to see the yoke destroying, burden removing the power of our God like never before.

 

 

This is a new day. Yokes of depression that have robbed you of your happiness are being destroyed. Yokes of sickness, chronic pain are being destroyed. Yokes of fear that’s holding you back. Lack of confidence and intimidation are being destroyed.

 

 

That yoke of compromise that keeps getting passed down: “Like parent, like child,”. No, they’re being destroyed. From now on, it’s going to be “Like Heavenly Parent, like child”.

 

 

No burden is too heavy. No yoke has been there too long. God said to the Israelites, after years of abuse and slavery, this day, I am rolling away the reproach. God is saying to you, “This day I am destroying yokes. This day I am breaking strongholds. This day, I’m setting you free. I’m rolling away the reproach”. That means God is removing the guilt, the shame, the fear, the intimidation. He’s removing the burdens and he’s releasing healing. He’s releasing favor. He’s releasing new beginnings.

 

 

What am I saying? What’s been passed down to you doesn’t have to keep you from your destiny.

 

 

What your relatives did, they may have made poor choices, but when you rise up, like the sons of Levi and say, “Hey, wait a minute, I’m on the Lord’s side. I’m not under this curse, I’m under the blessing. I’m not going to keep wearing this yoke that’s been passed down. I know my God is a yoke destroying, burden removing God”.

 

 

When you have that kind of attitude, God will bless you and your family line in spite of past mistakes. And you may have had relatives that really, they made it more difficult on you. Maybe you’re the first one that’s stepped up to honor God in your family.

 

 

The good news is, the first generation that breaks the negative cycle is the generation that gets paid back for everything that should have been theirs. God is keeping the record.

 

 

Now you need to get ready. You’re about to go where you’ve never gone before. You’re going to see what you can become without that yoke. You’re going to make better decisions. You’re going to accomplish more. You’re going to live happier, more fulfilled. Like the sons of Levi, because you’re on the Lord’s side, God is going to honor you and your family.

 

 

Like Rahab, in spite of past mistakes, you’re still going to do something great. And like the Israelites, God is going to pay you back for everything that should have been yours. I believe and declare that the yoke-destroying, burden-removing God is about to thrust you into a new freedom, a new level of your destiny and you will become everything he’s created you to be in the Mighty Name of Jesus.

 

 

What yoke is in operation is your life right now?

 

 

 

Note whatever the yoke is because the yoke you see today, you will see it no more forever in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ!

 

 

Shout it loud and clear: THE YOKES I SEE TODAY IN MY LIFE EXPIRE TODAY IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS! 

 

 

Shout again: THE YOKES HANGING THAT MY NECK WHICH I SEE TODAY, I SEE NO MORE FOREVER AFTER NOW IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!!!!

.

.

.

Let us take this prayer song before we go on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amen!

.

.

.

 

If indeed you want the anointing to be effective in your life, then,

 

1) Ensure you surrender your life to Jesus. Repent from all known sins.

 

2) Identify your own yokes and be ready to pray in faith.

 

 

 

 

 

Begin to thank God once again for today. Thank Him for yesterday and what He did in your life. Thank Him for what He will do once again today and the remaining days of this program.

 

 

Thank Him for His hand that will rest mightily upon you and all that’s yours today.

 

 

Thank Him because you know that you are getting delivered from every yoke today.

 

 

(Ensure you take enough time to worship and praise the Lord.)

.

.

.

.

 

• Ask God for mercy and pardon in any area you’ve sinned against Him.

 

 

• Repent of any sin or disobedience in your life that has brought your neck into a yoke.

 

 

Mention those sins one after the other and confess them.

 

 

Ask for grace to stand fast and not go back into sin.

 

 

Then, ask the Lord to take control of your environment. Sanctify yourself and your environment with the blood of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to purify and sanctify you as well.

 

 

Ask the Lord to energize you with strength to pray.

 

 

Before we go into the next session, sing through this song prayerfully. Ensure you personalize the song.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now shout: OH YE YOKE, KEEPING ME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN, I BREAK FREE FROM YOU NOW IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!!! (3x)

 

 

Now shout again: I RECEIVE THE STRENGTH TO SCALE HEIGHTS THAT THE ENEMIES HAD RESTRICTED ME FROM IN THE PAST IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!

 

 

 

 

(Moving on, ensure you take time to pray these prayers fiercely. Don’t be in a hurry to move to the next prayer points too quickly. Assume the best position that will allow you pray well.)

 

 

• Lord, I surrender every area of my life to You. I submit my mind, my will, and my emotions under Your Lordship. I ask for the anointing to break every yoke of bondage and oppression in my life, whether it be spiritual, emotional, financial, or physical.

 

 

• Father, I pray for the anointing that breaks the yoke of fear and anxiety. Release Your peace that surpasses all understanding into my heart and mind. Help me to trust in You completely and cast all my cares upon You.

 

 

• In the name of Jesus, I renounce every form of bondage that has a hold on me. Whether it is fear, anger, unforgiveness, sexual sins or any other chains that bind me, I declare that they have no power over me. Your Word says that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom, and I claim that freedom in my life today.

 

 

• Lord, I ask for the anointing that breaks the yoke of unhealthy habits. Set me free from any form of bondage that enslaves me. Give me the strength and self-control to overcome every temptation.

 

 

• Heavenly Father, I pray for the anointing that breaks the yoke of sickness and disease. By the power of Your Spirit, I ask for healing and restoration in my body. I believe that by Your stripes, I am healed.

 

 

• Lord, I pray for the anointing that breaks the yoke of financial lack and debt. Open doors of opportunity and bless the work of my hands. Provide for all my needs according to Your riches in glory.

 

 

• Father, I lift up every yoke of generational curses and patterns in my life and my family’s life. I declare that through Your anointing, we are set free from every cycle of sin and brokenness. Let Your blessing and favor flow through the generations.

 

 

• Lord, I pray for the anointing that breaks the yoke of spiritual dryness and complacency. Ignite a fire within me, a passion for Your Word and Your presence. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit and empower me for effective service.

 

 

• Yoke of “thou shall not go far in life”, and “it shall not be well with you”, I destroy you by fire in the name of Jesus.

 

 

• Every yoke of almost there but never there, what are you waiting for? Be destroyed by fire in the name of Jesus.

 

 

• Anointing of the Holy Ghost, fall upon me and break every negative yoke, in the name of Jesus.

 

 

• I break any covenant binding me with any of this evil thing in Jesus name.

 

 

• I destroy every hindrance, obstacle or blockage put on my way of progress by my involvement in Jesus Name.

 

 

• Father, break every yoke of dry grounds that frustrate my efforts in the name of Jesus Christ! Bless our grounds to be fruitful and rebuke every devourer for my sake in the name of Jesus Christ!

 

 

• I take authority over any yoke claiming ownership of my life in the name of Jesus. Oh Lord, I claim my victory in Christ Jesus and I break free from all evil yokes holding me down in Jesus name.

 

 

• Dear Father, release your fire and consume all yokes placed upon me whether as a result of my past sin, careless words or generational curses in Jesus name.

 

 

• Holy Spirit, by your power cause me to break free from every foundational yoke placed upon me and my destiny in Jesus name.

 

 

• Oh Lord, scatter by fire every plan of the wicked to place any burden and yoke on my life, destiny, family, career, academics, marriage and ministry in Jesus name.

 

 

• God, whatever yoke of delay, frustration and problem standing in my way of success be consumed by fire in Jesus name.

 

 

• Dear Father, don’t allow me to come in contact with anyone or anything that will place a yoke upon my life in Jesus name.

 

 

• Father, burn up and consume every power sponsoring the activities of evil yokes into my life in Jesus name.

 

 

• Oh Lord, take over all the activities of my life and make my life free from all yokes in Jesus name.

 

 

Pray and pray through.

 

 

 

 

Bring out your prayer book and begin to send your requests to Heaven.

 

 

Finally, play and sing this song with confidence and rejoicing: