JESUS SAYS NO!
Isaiah 53: 4~7
Radio conversation once heard at sea:
First Voice: “Change course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision.”
Second Voice: “Recommend you change course 15 degrees south to avoid collision”.
First Voice: “This is the Captain of a US Navy vessel. I repeat again, change your course.”
Second Voice: No, I repeat, you change your course”.
First Voice: “This is the Aircraft Carrier Enterprise, we are a large warship of the United States Navy. Change your course NOW.”
Second Voice: “This is a Lighthouse.”
1. Introduction:
Sometimes we just have to say no! However we so often feel to be a nice person always means having to say yes to everyone and everything. How often do we feel guilty when we say no to someone? But we have to think about why we find this so hard. Are we saying yes because:
· We just can’t say no!
· We want people to think well of us?
· We don’t want to let anyone down?
· Or we think being a Christian means saying yes?
Lets fix our eyes on Jesus and look at the times He actually said “No”!
2. Jesus Says “No” to the Enemy
In Matthew 4: 1~11 we see Jesus saying a very clear “No” to the enemy when He was being tempted in the desert.
· Jesus said “No” to turning stones into bread to feed His hunger.
· He said “No” to putting God to the test.
· He said “No” to gaining the world He so loved the easy way.
Jesus had been led by the Spirit into the desert to prepare for His purpose for mankind and had set out on a time of prayer and fasting. Satan knowing this tried to tempt Jesus into breaking up this time of purification. If you make a determined effort to follow the Lord taking new steps of commitment and discipleship don’t be surprised when the enemy tries to tempt you too. You are going to have to learn to say “No”!
Do you notice how Jesus said “No” using scriptures? If the enemy is tempting you scripture is a very powerful weapon to use in your defence. When you are in trouble learn to discern the word the Holy Sprit is quickening into your mind. You then need to respond by speaking the word given to you, preferably out loud. For example if you are feeling fearful, shout out “Perfect love drives out fear”. Feeling weak in a continual area of sin? Boldly claim, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”.
When a friend was being attacked and felt oppressed by the enemy she rushed out to be alone in the utility room, opened the deep freezer and shouted into it for the enemy to go and leave in Jesus’ name. It was the only place she could go so no one would hear her! Learn to say “No” using scripture!
3. Jesus says “No” to Man’s Agenda and Timetable
Only God’s Mission and Timing. Jesus was not willing to follow man’s agenda and timetable. He was only on God’s mission and timing. John 6: 14~15 tells us that when the crowd saw the miracles He did, Jesus knew they intended to come and make Him King by force. Have people got plans for you, which are not what God wants for you? Wait on God for His perfect plan for your life ~ don’t just follow the crowd. You need to know how to say “No”.
“No” to Pleasing the Crowd. In Matthew 12:38~39 and 16: 1~4 Jesus said “No” to giving a miraculous sign to the disbelieving leaders saying “But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah”. He was not willing to perform for the crowds. Nor should we!
“No” to Pleasing His family. Jesus was not willing to stop His mission to please His family. Mark 3:21 indicates His family came to take charge of Him as they thought He was mad. When they arrived He didn’t respond to their plans for Him. He said “Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister and mother”. It’s hard to say “No” to those who love us and think they know what’s best for us. We have to step out in faith and be obedient to God’s call on our lives.
Sadly, a friend who left a well-paid job with excellent career prospects to take a risky venture in full time ministry faced the most opposition from his immediate Christian family. Not for nothing did Jesus warn us that a man’s enemies are from his own household. No one is saying it’s easy. But we must follow Jesus.
My Time has not yet Come. Jesus says “No” to His mothers timetable telling her in John 2: 4 “My time has not yet come”. Yet He did help ~ abundantly! Turning gallons of water into wine. So maybe we have a “No” and a “Yes”!
Not for you to know! Jesus says “No” to the disciples wanting to know the timetable! When asked if it was time to restore the kingdom of Israel He said it was not for them to know the times and dates (Acts 1:7). He refused to give them a timetable ~ instead He gave them a mission! “You will be my witnesses,” (Acts 1:8) He told them.
Not Our Business!
In Luke 12:13~14 Jesus refused to get involved in a dispute over an inheritance issue. “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me”. I think there are some situations that we too should be reluctant to be involved in ~ but we still find it so difficult to say “No”. We need to seek God’s guidance and only be doing the things that please Him. Lets not get sidetracked, but make it our goal to follow Him. As 2 Timothy 2:4 clearly says “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs ~ he wants to please his commanding officer”.
4. Jesus says “No” to us!
He has better plans for us. In Mark 5:18~19 Jesus said “No” to the demon possessed man He had healed, even though the man begged to go with Jesus. “Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you””. You see Jesus says “No” to us when He has something better in mind for us to do for Him. As the people in that area had pleaded with Jesus to go, this man would be the only person who could tell and show them what the Lord had done. Sometimes Jesus can ask us to stay where we are even though it’s the hardest thing for us to do.
Testing our faith. In Matthew 15:23 we read, “Jesus did not answer a word” testing the faith of the Canaanite woman who came to Him for help. Yet the sheer persistence of her faith was answered. “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted”. Sometimes we have to pray and wait and keep praying and waiting for God to move in someone’s life or even in our own situation before we see an answer to our petitions. As with the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 although the Judge refused her plea for justice she just kept on and on! And so should we!
5. The Most Difficult “No’s” Anyone has Ever had to Say
“No” to turning away from the cross. Jesus knowing what lay ahead said “No” to running away from the cross. In Matthew 16:21~23 Peter thinking he knew best (!) tried to persuade the Lord to turn away from His mission to suffer and die. “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke him, “Never Lord!” he said, “This shall never happen to you!” Are people trying to get you to turn away from God’s plan for your life, or are you mistakenly trying to turn a loved one away from a difficult path God has led them to take? Our Lord turned and said to Peter “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Lets say “No” with Jesus and follow Him whatever the cost and opposition.
Jesus refused to answer those who falsely accused Him.
He was so secure in the Father’s love and mission not to have to answer those who falsely accused Him. As we look at the gospels we see the prophecy made about Him in Isaiah 53:7 fulfilled: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth”. He only confirmed Who He was; The Christ, the Son of God and the King of the Jews.
“No” to His own will and “Yes” to the Father … even to His death on the Cross. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done”. (Luke 22:42). He refused to come down from the cross even when they taunted Him with:
“Save yourself! Come down from the cross, if You are the Son of God!” (Matt 27:40)
“He saved others” they said “But He can’t save Himself” (Matt 27:42)
“Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.” (Matt 27:42)
Praise God that Jesus said “No”! For me. For you.
Conclusion
Jesus did say “No” ~ and on occasions so must we! However, scripture warns us not to say never to say “No” to Jesus: “See to it that you do not refuse Him Who speaks. (Heb:12:25), and “Yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.” (John 5:40)
Maybe God is calling you right now to make that ultimate life changing decision to follow Him. Well I can promise you there is something Jesus will never, ever say “No” to: “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out”. (John 6:37 KJV)
