A BIG No for a GREAT Yes
Luke 22:39-46
Digging Deeper
In the past weeks, we learned that no is a beautiful word. Sometimes, we would like to say no, but we actually need to say yes because God is calling us to do something. Saying yes to God may mean saying no to others or saying no to what you personally think is best.
Jesus demonstrated saying yes to God when He prayed to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew that he was going to die and take all of the sins of the world so that He could save the world from sin. This heavy burden was so intense that Jesus sweated drops of blood. Jesus said to His Father in Luke 22:42, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
What are some examples of when we should say yes to God?
Believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Repenting from sin.
Receiving a call from God to do something.
Trusting God for answers.
Forgiving others.
Obeying what Scripture teaches.
Reading and studying the Bible.
There will be times when we need to say yes in challenging situations. Saying yes can be difficult, unpopular, uncomfortable and costly. When we say yes to God and walk faithfully and obediently doing God's will, we can be confident that God is walking with us and count on His guidance and protection. We can rest assured that God loves us and wants the best for us.
WHAT NOT TO MISS
Jesus showed us how to say no so that we could ultimately say yes.
-There are two aspects of Jesus: fully God and fully man
-Hypostatic union (from the Greek: hypóstasis, "person, subsistence") and describes the union of Christ's humanity and divinity in one person.
In what we are about to see, it relates to his humanness and not his deity.
Jesus embodied the biggest no that resulted in the greatest yes in the following ways:
Usual patterns and people to give margin for no. Jesus went up “as usual.” (Luke 22:39)
Unusual prayer directs the heart to no. There is the propensity to fall into temptation, now and in the future. (Luke 22:40)
Ultimately demonstrates personal responsibility and gives us a model for praying. Jesus “withdrew about a stone’s throw.” (Luke 22:41 and Matthew 6:5-6)
Unifying purpose that directed the no. Jesus says “not my will, but yours be done.” What is our purpose behind our no? (Luke 22 42)
Unyielding process helps Jesus say no. An angel appeared and “strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly.” (Luke 22:43-44 and 1 Corinthians 10:12-13)
Unlikely predicament on the path to no. The disciples were “exhausted from sorrow.” (Luke 22: 45-46)
The disciples couldn't take it anymore, and they did not see a way out.
God has a plan to help us so that we are not "exhausted from sorrow" or "overcome by grief."
Three things to consider to say yes to:
-Self-care. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
-Serving others. (Philippians 2:4)
-Salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)
Jesus embodied the biggest no that resulted in the greatest yes.
LIFE APPLICATION
Think of what you need to be saying yes to God about. Pray about yielding to God's will in these situations. As we have been learning in this series, consider what you need to be saying no to so that you can say yes to God. Think about your time, talents and resources and how they can be used for God's purposes and to build up His kingdom.
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Share something that you have done that you did not want to do, but had to.
How did Jesus deal with God's calling during His ministry?
Who are some other people in the Bible who had to say a difficult yes to God?
What are examples of easy and difficult things that God calls us to do?
How do we discern what God is asking us to do?
What do you need to say yes to God about?
DAILY DEVOTIONAL BIBLE PASSAGES
Day 1: Say Yes to Salvation - Romans 10:9-10; Psalm 79:9; Psalm 18:1-2
Day 2: Say Yes to Forgiveness - Colossians 3:13; James 5:16; Ephesians 4:32
Day 3: Say Yes to Obedience - John 14:23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 1:6
Day 4: Say Yes to Learning and Studying the Bible - Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:1-2
Day 5: Say Yes to Love - 1 Corinthians 16:14; Colossians 3:14; John 3:16
PRAYER
Lord, I want to say yes to You as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Give me discernment so that I will say no to things that are not the best so that I have the bandwidth to say yes to what You are calling me to do. Even if making these choices is difficult or costly, let me remain faithful and obedient to Your will. I pray that You will give me strength and courage as I step out and walk in faith, trusting You for all things.
