Good morning!  If coffee is one of your love languages like it is for us at The Bridge, here’s a great read as you’re sipping, getting ready to face the day.

Elder LaFleur lived life like it was the most wonderful gift from God, not to be endured, but enjoyed.  Jesus didn’t leave His home in heaven to overthrow the power of human nature and darkness–so we could just merely exist.  Elder’s life was chock full of so many things God gave him to richly enjoy.

If you find yourself wondering why life isn’t what you thought it would be, or you are unhappy with your circumstances, run to JESUS—and say yes.

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.  –1 Timothy 6:17

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By Sister Trecinda Kinsey

With all the amazing messages that we have been hearing lately about saying “Yes” to the Lord, how can we not be encouraged and completely on go?  It started this past weekend, and this Wednesday night’s service continued in the same line of thought.

Sunday morning in Kinston, we sang, “I’ll Say Yes, Lord,  Yes”, which brought in such a wonderful Spirit of worship.  Brother Patrick then spoke about saying yes.  He said that when your faculties are submitted under the right influence, good things will happen.  When we submit ourselves to God, we allow the Lord to have influence over our lives.  He also said that we should ask ourselves, “Is there any evidence in my life that shows that I’m under the influence of God?”  If we are spirit led, that means we are trusting God.  We need to keep our eyes on the destination!  If we take our eyes off where we’re going, it’s easy to run off the road.  Saying yes means we have to say yes to the whole package (not just the services or the fellowship).

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  –Romans 8:38-39

This scripture shows that when you give your complete “yes” as Paul did, nothing can persuade you otherwise.  If our soul says ”yes” to God, it will be saying “no” to everything else.

Great, right?  Well just wait, there’s more!

Wednesday night, Brother Gary Denson spoke about several people in the Bible and their “Yes Moments”, as he referred to them.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  –2 Corinthians 5:17

Becoming a new creature starts with us saying “yes”.  Let’s learn about some examples who have said yes.

Moses

Exodus 3:4 was a “yes” moment for Moses.

And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.  And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.  –Exodus 3:3-5

Just like it states in John 6:44, God had to draw Moses in for him to answer the call.

Joshua and Caleb

They answered “yes” when Caleb didn’t agree with the negative report of the other spies, but said:

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.  –Numbers 13:30

Brother Denson also pointed out that in Numbers 14:1, the evil report of the 10 spies influenced the entire camp of Israel.   It is so crucial that we are vigilant against complaining.  The crying of the people in verse 1 transitioned into murmuring in verse 2.  Complaining is contagious and that spirit grows!

The People of Israel

Joshua asked the people of Israel to take up stones out of the midst of Jordan as a memorial after God had performed another miracle for them by parting the Jordan River for them to cross.  The people said “yes” and did as Joshua commanded:

And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.  And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.  –Joshua 4:8-9

Ruth

Of course, you can’t mention people who were willing to follow without discussing Ruth.  (This is for you, Brother Suggs.)  Ruth 1:16-17 is Ruth’s first “yes” moment when she told Naomi:

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.  –Ruth 1:16-17

She again obeyed Naomi in Ruth 3:4 when she lay at Boaz’s feet.  Because of her willingness to say “yes”, she became a part of the righteous line that David, and eventually Jesus, came out of.

Samuel

In 1 Samuel 3, God had to call Samuel several times before he answered.  Some of us had to be called twice (or maybe three, or four times) as well, but thankfully we eventually answered the call of God just as Samuel did when he followed Eli’s instructions:

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.  Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.  –1 Samuel 3:10

We have to continue to answer His call!

Mary

Everyone is familiar with the account of Mary’s conception and the birth of Jesus.  Luke 1:30-38 relates the events that unfolded when the angel came to Mary to tell her about what would take place.  Mary’s “yes” moment:

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.  And the angel departed from her.  –Luke1:38

Peter, Andrew, James, and John

Matthew 4th chapter details how these men were called, and there was no hesitation.  They immediately said “yes” and followed Jesus. (Matthew 4:20-21)

Jesus being the Son of God was not exempt from having to submit to the will of God.

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  –John 6:38

Seven Men of Honest Report

Acts 6:1-8 describes the process when these seven men were called.  They heeded that call by saying “yes”.  Because these men were willing to submit themselves in Acts 6:5, the church grew in Acts 6:7.

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.  –Acts 6:7

Saul/Paul and Ananias

Saul’s “yes” moment came before Ananias’s (and maybe Saul’s was a tad more traumatic), but because they both said “yes”, the church was blessed with Paul’s gift being added.  One thing that can be said about Paul is that he was certainly passionate about his beliefs.

Now, To Us.

If we learn to say yes and resist what the old man says, he (or she) will flee from us.  Every time we say “yes”, we take another step toward God, and He will, in turn, draw closer to us.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7

Eventually, all we will be able to see is Him, in us.  How do we say “yes”?

Every time we attend services, attend fellowships, participate on work teams and details, support the productions, etc., we are saying “yes”!

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  –Philippians 2:5

Let = Allow.  God won’t force His way into our lives.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  –Revelation 3:20

It doesn’t say he will come to the door with a SWAT team and battering ram.  He will simply knock.  It’s up to us to answer His call with “Yes”.

Wondering how to start?  Start by saying “yes” and join us at our next service.

Our first step is always in saying “Yes, Lord”.