True Yokefellow
Today’s Verse:
And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. ~Philippians 4:3
The yoke in the Bible spoke of a wooden harness that tied two oxen together for plowing. This was called an equal yoke. This implied two of the same kind doing the same thing, going in the same direction, and accomplishing the same task. Paul uses the term “yokefellow” to describe associates, colleagues, and co-laborers who assisted him in the gospel. This morning, I challenge you to be a yokefellow in the Lord’s work.
We see the purity.
Paul is addressing his true yokefellows. Being yoked together requires us to be pure in doctrine and ministry objective. There must not be competition, strife, or envy. We must be true in our loyalty and devotion to the work and to one another. It requires being servant to one another and acquiescing for the sake of harmony. True yokefellows have each others' backs. They defend each other. They compensate for each other. They do not present the gospel out of envy or spite, but, in love, provide the needed assistance to accomplish the goal of getting the gospel to sinners.
We see the purpose.
Paul called on his yokefellows to help those women who labored with him in the gospel. Some of the best soulwinners in churches are the women. Their passion and competency in communicating the gospel help the unsaved get a firm grasp on the gospel message and, eventually, get saved. Our greatest purpose that we have as Christians is trying to reach the unsaved with the gospel. We must recognize that if there are others in the church whom God is blessing in producing fruit that remains, then we must be sensitive to helping them. This includes being an aggressive soulwinner as they are. This means men following up with male prospects. This means helping with the follow up of new believers. Our purpose is striving together for the faith of the gospel.
We see the plea.
Paul was pleading for his yokefellows to help those women and Clement. The soulwinning ministry of the church is always in need of more soulwinners to help reach the community with the gospel. Paul was telling his friends to come alongside of the women who were laboring in the gospel. We must respond to the plea for laborers for the harvest. We must not assume that soulwinning is just the responsibility of the few. We must help lift the load and carry the burden. Don’t leave the other soulwinners with the task of trying to reach the area with just a few other helpers. Find out where and how you can help.
We see the participation.
When there is increased participation, more people are being reached, the gospel is being preached, and souls are getting saved. I encourage you to join the church soulwinning program when it meets and to find ways to get the gospel to more people. Accept the exhortation of being a true yokefellow today.
Have a gospel-centric God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Proverbs 16-18