7 Beautiful “Yes’s”

Last week 7 Beautiful No’s. Today 7 Beautiful Yes’s

James 4:7 “…Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

This is Christian living: saying Yes to God. Saying No to the devil

If you think about it, the healthy Christian life is one where we are continually saying “Yes” to God. As He leads we follow. As He commands, we obey.

As the hymn goes: Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Deuteronomy 30:19 "…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."

We have the choice to say yes or no. Today we will see the benefits of saying Yes.

Saying Yes to God is saying Yes to His Word. Proverbs 3:5 declares… Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

John 1:1 "...In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Jesus and His word are one

2 Corinthians 1:20 “…For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.”

As we agree with God’s word, as we say yes, God is glorified in our lives

1.   Say Yes to the Potter

Jeremiah 18:2-6 “…This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel."

We are being shaped by the Master’s hands. The clay goes through a variety of processes including being slapped around and placed in a furnace!! But what emerges is a beautiful vessel.

Romans 9:20-21 "But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?"

God’s God and we’re not! It is not for us to question God or complain.

Have thine own way, Lord! Have thine own way!

Thou art the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me after thy will,

while I am waiting, yielded and still.

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

A silversmith has to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. He has to keep his eye on the silver all the time. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. But how does the silver smith know when the silver is fully refined? A silversmith was asked when he knew the process was complete. He answered “Oh, that's easy – when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Say Yes to the Potter

2.   Say Yes to Discipline

It’s that “D” word.

Yes, but let me tell you about the rewards for discipline.

Proverbs 1:2-7 "…for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young- let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance- for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."

God loves us so much that He wants to discipline us:

Hebrews 12:5-6 “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” …… v11 "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

If you have ever experienced the reward of being physically fit as a result of training, you will know the benefits of discipline. You are better equipped for life, you feel good about yourself. You are ready the fight… so too with spiritual discipline.

If God is disciplining you, it is because He loves you as a son or daughter, and wants only the best for you.

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

Simply stated: run to win.

Establishing good habits enhances our life. I am not speaking about legalism. I am speaking about relationship.

Discipline comes from the same route word as disciple. If we aspire to be Disciples of Christ, then discipline is part of the process.

Say yes to discipline.

3.   Say Yes to Joy

James 1:2-4 “…Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

The bible gives us a different perspective on trials. God sees beyond the trial. He sees what that trial will develop in us. He sees our character being formed in the crucible of adversity. He sees the strength that will be developed in us.

That is why we can consider it PURE JOY. God is asking us to see the trial as He does. His ways are not our ways, neither his thoughts our thoughts, but He doesn’t leave us there …He calls us higher …to be transformed in our thinking …to see the good in trials …to the point of experiencing Joy.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 "…in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

Proverbs 15:13 and 15 “…A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit … All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast."

A doctor in India discovered that his patients who laughed regularly recovered exceptionally quickly. It’s biblical: Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones. He held clinics in a park where they told jokes! Then they ran out of jokes and discovered that just laughing has healing qualities.

Start laughing, and experience joy rising up

Stress kills our bodies. Laughter cures our bodies.

This is serious! Nehemiah 8:10 "…Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Embrace joy. Rejoice in the Lord always! (Philippians 4)

Say Yes to Joy

4.   Say Yes to God’s Presence

Psalm 16:11 "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

There is joy in the presence of the Lord.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:20 “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Each day we can live in the knowledge that we are not alone. That we are in the presence of the Lord by His Spirit in us. That is truly a life changing reality.

The problem is feelings – sometime we don’t feel his presence. But does that change the truth? Does the bible change because of our feelings? No! So this is where the life of faith really kicks in. We walk in the knowledge of God’s Word.

It’s wonderful to worship God together as the Body of Christ on Sundays. It is such an important part of our life as believers. At Cornerstone we have always emphasized the importance of families worshipping together….and as an unmarried person, worshipping with the family of believers.

It is also wonderful to worship God in our own daily lives. Jesus we see rose early in the morning to pray. Don’t make a law out of it – early morning may not be your time, but do worship the Lord.

Psalm 139:2-4 “…You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord."

As the song we sometimes sing goes: Forever I am changed by your love in the presence of your majesty. Things happen when we spend time in His presence.

Yes God is with us, but we are also called to pursue Him to reach out.

Say Yes to God’s presence

5.   Say Yes to Authenticity

What do I mean by this? Be authentic, be the real you. Be the unique person that God has created. You are a one of a kind. Yet we live in a world where we can continually compare ourselves to others. I am me. You are you. We are all made in God’s image NOT the world’s image. Not the glamour magazines image, but God’s image.

Can you think of a better image!

I hasten to add that I think it good to look good and to make an effort in our appearance. Taking care of ourselves is important. After all, we are ambassadors for the King of Kings. We are the light of the world, living epistles to be read by others.

1 Corinthians 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am…"

Sometimes you meet people, and you may even see them regularly but you sense you never get to know who they are. Most likely there are insecurities lurking beneath, that prevents the real them from revealing their true self. I like to get to know people. Life is richer that way. There’s too much superficiality in the world.

Of course, we can help each other with this. Encouraging others gifts and talents enables them to develop and discover their true identity.

Romans 12:9-17 The Message “…Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone.“

I think we can help others by being real ourselves. It helps release them. Don’t worry so much about what others think. Purpose to please God, and as you do this, you will find relationships will develop naturally.

In Judges 6 Gideon was hiding from his enemies, thinking God had deserted his people Israel and feeling very insignificant. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said The Lord is with you Mighty Warrior. He sent him out to save Israel from their enemies the Midianites. The real Gideon stepped forward out of hiding. Are you hiding tonight?

You are beautifully and wonderfully made.

Be the real you

Say Yes to authenticity

6.   Say Yes to Faith

Romans 14:23 “…everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

Hebrews 10:38 “…But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

The righteous live by faith. We don’t use faith when we need it, getting it down of the shelf in desperate situations like a first aid kit, we LIVE by faith.

It is too easy sometimes when the going is tough to feel as though we have missed it, to feel condemned. But when I look at the New Testament, those who are achieving things for God had to endure hardships and overcome great obstacles. So if you are facing some battles you are most likely on the right path!

1 Peter 1:6-9 “…though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Our faith is developed in trials and adversity – so we can rejoice and be thankful.

As 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “…Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

This is the life of faith

It’s not that we have GOT to live by faith. Rather it is we GET to live by faith. It’s a privilege to be entrusted by God and it is a joy to please Him as we live by faith

Hebrews 11 shows us examples of men and women of faith:

Abel showed his faith in his offering

Enoch by-passed death

Abraham stepped out of his comfort zone leaving family and familiarity

Hebrews 11:13-16 “…All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

They had a vision of eternity

Hebrews 11:29 “…By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”

Faith is achieving the impossible because it is only accomplished through God’s supernatural power

Say Yes to Faith!

7.   Say Yes to the Next Level

2 Corinthians 3:18 “…And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

John the Baptist said in John 3:30 speaking of Jesus He must become greater; I must become less.

Onward and upward is the Christian life. There are always new levels to reach for. We run in such a way as to win the prize

Philippians 3:14 “…I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

How do we go up? By saying yes to God’s call as he brings opportunities our way. You may be invited to serve on the Board of a company, or a school. It could be God expanding your influence. We are here in church one day a week. The rest of the time we are the light of the world showing others the way the truth and the life, pointing them to Christ.

Are you being challenged today? To you sense a nudge forward and upward. Say Yes! But you say, I am not able; I am not equipped – exactly! Those are the right qualifications! Moses couldn’t speak. Gideon was too scared. Jeremiah was too young. Paul was killing Christians. Simon Peter was impetuous. They all had to rely on God – there is no other way.

Say Yes to the next level!

Paul Addison, 25/07/2010