WEDNESDAY'S WORD - YES- Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"Never say 'no' to adventures. Always say 'yes,' otherwise you'll lead a very dull life."    -Ian Fleming  YES is a simple word that holds a lot of power. YES is an affirmative response."Do you understand?" "Yes."  YES can express agreement with a positive statement, "Wasn't it a great event?" "Yes, it was." Or it can contradict a negative statement, "You didn't want to go out to dinner." "Yes, I did." We use YES when someone wants to attract our attention, or to encourage people to continue speaking. We use YES to express delight, to commit ourselves to projects, to people, "She said, YES!" and to GOD. YES is an affirmative answer in decision making. We used to sing a song, "My soul says, Yes! Yes! Yes! my LORD. My soul says Yes! Yes! Yes!" indicating surrender to God's will.  The African-American Church of God in Christ denomination has an anthem that just says, "YES!" Life is crazy these days. We hear a lot about saying no, setting boundaries and protecting our time. It's because we've cut checks we couldn't cash, and made promises we didn't keep that we're leery of saying 'YES.' Jesus told His disciples when making vows not to swear by Heaven, earth, or even their own heads. "All you need to say is simply "Yes' or 'No;' anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matt. 5:37) In Luke 14:25-34, we're told that discipleship is like constructing a building. No one should follow Jesus without first counting the cost because that 'YES' is expensive! Your 'YES' to God supersedes relationships with family and friends (you have to love them less than God). It also involves being willing to carry the cross of suffering to be salt and light in the world. A complete 'YES' to God is valuable and should not be given lightly. Try saying 'Yes,' then say, 'No.' Don't you find that the atmosphere of those two words isn't the same? Pastor William McDowell said, "The thing about saying 'YES' to God is that you're saying 'YES' to an unknown future." You're agreeing without knowing exactly what you're saying 'YES' to. You're announcing, "Whatever happens after this, I'm going to commit to the 'YES' I said to God." Mary said her YES, "Be it unto me according to your word." (Luke 1:38) The disciples' 'YES' didn't have any words. They just pulled over their boats, left their families and businesses, and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:11) When they said 'YES,' they didn't know the marvels and wonders they would see, nor the guilt associated with betraying Him. Their 'YES' would open the door to the Holy Spirit's miraculous power inside them to heal others. Their 'YES' would catapult their world-wide mission. Their 'YES' would ultimately lead to persecution, stripes, imprisonment and martyrdom. Their 'YES' would make them some of the greatest men the world has ever known.       In prayer, we were given an invitation to say an unrestricted, 'YES' to God. In that, we release outcomes, timing, our plans, and intentions to Him in surrender. A complete 'YES' doesn't just require faith. It requires trust in God's ways and in His love for us. It can be simultaneously the most frightening, yet most freeing thing we can do. When we say 'YES' to God, it opens the way for Him to return with His Divine 'YES' over our lives. "For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory." (2 Corinthians 1:20) Will you say 'YES' to God today?

SUNDAY Worship

11:00 AM Worship
The Great Room Sunday Class
9:30 AM Youth Room Basement
at Wyoming Presbyterian
225 Wyoming Ave., 45215
For information 513-212-1131