1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
Bro. Rick Spann preached a phenomenal message that he titled “Just Say Yes”. I recommend everyone going to the Centerpointe New Salem YouTube channel and listening to his message. He highlights that there are areas in our lives that we can refresh and renew by simply saying “yes to the Lord.” For this reason and others the Lord has been dealing with me on the power of our tongue. To simply put it, there’s power in your voice!
Bro. Spann did such a great job ministering on the topic of “Just Say Yes” that I want to write about the other side of that coin. Which is “Just Say No.”
It’s important here to highlight that when Jesus is speaking we should just say yes. But when the enemy is attacking we should have the boldness to just say no.
Nancy Reagan’s War on Drugs “Just Say No”
In the early 1980s, a cheap, highly addictive drug known as “crack cocaine” was first developed.
The popularity of crack led to an increase in the number of Americans who became addicted to this drug. In 1985, the number of people who said they used cocaine on a routine basis increased from 4.2 million to 5.8 million. By 1987, crack was reportedly available in all but four states.
Emergency room visits for cocaine-related incidents increased four-fold between 1984 and 1987. -History.com
In 1985, a survey was conducted that reported that Americans who saw drug abuse as the nation’s “number one problem,” was at the low number of 2%. However, in 1989, that same survey saw a jump from 2% to 64%.
What would cause a nation just 4 years later to change their minds… to change their views… and to try to tackle something as big as substance abuse?
“A little girl raised her hand,” Nancy Reagan, the first lady of the United States recalled, “and said, ’Mrs. Reagan, what do you do if somebody offers you drugs?’ And I said, ’Well, you just say no.’
And there it was born. The Just Say No campaign. In 1984 alone, Nancy Reagan made 110 appearances and gave 14 anti-drug speeches. She took her message to most popular television shows of the time and even the USA Today wrote a headline in 2016 saying “Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just Say No’ effort was pop-culture icon.”
The popularity of “Just Say No” saw students and schools getting involved. By the end of the Reagan administration in 1989, there were more than 12,000 “Just Say No” that had been clubs had been formed worldwide. My friends, this message went beyond the United States.
-USA Today
To me this story shows that there is power in unity and power in the simple message of saying no.
Hyphen Survey
I conducted a survey with the Hyphen (college and career group) at Centerpointe Apostolic Church and asked them to share with me, “What the greatest problem that they face at their age.”
No one responded and said anything about their calling or ministry. Not a single one of them said substance abuse.
The number one answer was a mesh of uncertainty and mental health issues. Others were related to not feeling secure because of finances and the high cost of college.
When I asked what they do to help relieve these feelings I was met with the following answers.
“Medication in the right situation and to seek guidance from leaders. It’s very uncomfortable but in my opinion, we should pray, God has given us resources for problems. Sometimes the resources are the answers to our prayers.”
“I had a therapist at one point but I can’t afford one anymore so I go to my family, some friends, and the person I am dating. Being with them is a distraction for me.”
“God has been shifting my perspective. I now feel thankful for the opportunities to share God’s love where I am. Thankful for the time with family and no mortgage payment yet. It’s more than a positive perspective. I have some negative thoughts sometimes. It’s trusting God’s Word and His promises with my words and actions. My mindset is included.”
When I asked if I could quote them without sharing their name I was surprised at the “absolutely” comments and them thanking me.
One person said, “Thank you for asking. You asking made me think of it and come to that realization.” In other words, you asking me made me slow down and face the underlining feelings that I face on a daily bases.
The truth is whatever you are facing in your spirit, in your mind, in your body. You are not alone. Concerning Jesus, the writer of Hebrews says,
Hebrews 4:15 NLT
15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
JESUS STANDING BEFORE SATAN
While Jesus was fasting, praying, and going through the wilderness for 40 days the Luke records the temptations that Jesus faced at the hands of Satan. Each time Jesus refuted the enemy by speaking the Word of God. Each time Jesus told the enemy No!
Don’t miss this though. When you read the events in Luke 4 Jesus spoke back to the temptation. He spoke back to the test. He was aware of the enemy. He was aware test. And he spoke out against it.
I believe today that their is power in just saying no. For example let’s look at a couple of hero’s of the faith.
MOSES
Hebrews 11:24-26 NKJV
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Moses said no to a life of comfort. He said no to the most powerful person and nation in the world at that time. Why? Because he knew that what God had instilled in him would not be found in Egypt.
What is God asking you to say no to?
JOSEPH
Joseph knew how to say no when he faced Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39 who begged him to have an affair. I love Joseph’s no statement here when he said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
What a powerful no statement! When you look at the outcome of Joseph’s life because he was willing to say no, God was willing to use and bless him greatly.
What temptation do you need to say no to?
The apostle Paul tells a young preacher by the name of Timothy, “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” 2 Timothy 2:22 NLT
Notice the action that’s taking place here. Running and pursuing. If there was ever a person that best describes this scripture it’s Joseph. He ran from Zuleikha. What gave him this ability was his pursuit of righteous. His pursuit of holiness. His power to say No!
Saying No Isn’t Easy
Saying no is not easy. Saying no is counter-culture. Saying no may seem simple. But saying no has the power to make the enemy flee. Saying no reminds you that you are a child of God. And if you are a child of God then when you are tempted the scripture says that “he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” Paul describes it this way.
1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV
27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
You have to discipline yourself! Do you live a discipline and organized life that helps you say no?
In the Old Testament God lived in a temple, but today, if you have been filled with his Spirit then God lives in you. He declares that you are now his holy temple.
You may say, “but I have all of these issues.” And he says, “I will show you a way out so that you can endure.”
Here’s an important question. How do you treat yourself? You are the God’s holy temple.
How do you control your emotions and your temptations? Because there is a way of escape and the Holy Spirit will give you strength and help.
Back to the Survey
You know what! The thing that I appreciate about the candidness of the Hyphen that replied to my survey is this. They identified the problem and they knew that the answer lies in them having a mutual relationship with God. He’s fighting for them and they see that they are also in the fight with Him. But what’s beautiful is that not only is there God, and you, but also a fellowship of like-minded Holy Ghost filled believers standing with you. Ecclesiastes says, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
I came across this statement in a book that I’m reading that really inspired me to write this. It says,
“We are to count on this fact that we are dead to sin’s rule, that we can stand up to it and say no. Therefore we are to guard our bodies so that sin does not reign in us.
So we see that God has made provision for our holiness. Through Christ He has delivered us from sin’s reign so that we can now resist sin. But the responsibility for resisting is ours.”
― Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness
The responsibility is ours. Wow!
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SAY YES/FAIL?
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 NKJV
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
When I break down this scripture I see the importance of living the Christian life. I see the importance of declaring out loud my salvation.
- The gospel is preached. It’s the gospel that saves you – unless you believed in vain
Paul then breaks down the gospel and here we can see how it correlates with the steps of salvation.
- Christ died for our sins: We are to die to our sins by repenting.
- Christ was buried: We are to be buried in the waters of baptism.
- Christ rose again: We are to have new life by the infilling of his Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
- Christ was seen: Our salvation is declared out loud by the way we present ourselves to the world.
So what do I do when if I fail? What if I say yes to the wrong things? This is what the word of God says to do!
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. Revelation 2:5 NKJV
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NLT
YOU HAVE POWER IN YOUR VOICE
At NAYC 2015 Rev. Lee Stoneking gave a word that shook the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City to it’s core where over 18,000 young people were in attendance.
He said that God had given him a word that would remove all “fear and inhibition.” He mentioned that in the OT “people would shout at the command of God and walls would come down. And that battles would be won.”
He began to question “what is it about shouting that would cause such a tremendous manifestation of power?”
His research revealed to him that when people shout it shreds the air. The apostle Paul says this in Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV
And you He (Christ) made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (speaking of Satan)…
My friends, this is message but something that I have been feeling very strongly of late. You have the power to overcome the enemy… to shred the air… with your voice! There is power when you just say no to the enemy!
At the shout of the Hebrews Jericho’s walls came tumbling down. But they first heard a report that said, “we will not be victorious.” “We will lose.”
But there’s another voice crying out. Crying out in faith. Shredding the air and saying “we can certainly do it.”
I don’t know about you but I say YES to the LORD and NO to the ENEMY!
Psalm 118:15-24 NLT
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! 16 The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! 17 I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not let me die. 19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the LORD . 20 These gates lead to the presence of the LORD, and the godly enter there. 21 I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory! 22 The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. 23 This is the LORD ’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. 24 This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
In conclusion this is what you are tasked with. To openly speak to that which is challenging you. Let it know that it has no power over you. Let it be known today to the enemy, to your mind, to your ears, that you declare “No!”
-Hank
Apostolic Insights 
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