5 Words for Your Relationship Toolkit: No
October 25, 2020
NO
Bible is filled with NOs
Joseph knew his Identity and said NO
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew their identity and said NO
Nehemiah knew his mission and said NO
Clarity on your identity and your mission gives you the ability to say NO
Jesus said some of the most powerful NO’s in scripture
Jesus’ first NO
Matt. 4:1-3 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted (tested) by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
The Tempter attacks Jesus’ identity
Matt. 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
The World “You are what you have.”
When we live on bread alone, there is never enough bread,
Jesus’ Second NO
Matt. 4:5-6 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
The World tells us “You are what you do.”
Matt. 4:7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
We have a word for doing less… Sabbath
Jesus’ Third NO
Matt. 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
The World tells us, “You are what people think of you.”
Matt. 4:10-11 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’ Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Jesus had an audience of One
Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Our Identity and Mission clarify our NO’s
My Identity is a child of the King
My Mission is to serve my King
Our Identity and Mission clarify our NO’s