WHAT IS YOUR YES?

The Parable of the Two Sons

 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.   “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.   “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.  Matthew 21:28-32 NIV

The first son was very willing to comply and in my opinion, he said yes because he wanted to impress his father.  The other automatically said no and in my opinion probably thought it over and even though he did not want to go to work, he did it because of his love for his father.

That happens many times in our lives.  I can remember the time when I was asked to do something at a church I was attending and I seemed to be the only one being asked and I was growing tired of being the only other person available but I always said yes.  I remember the Lord reminding me of the parable of the two sons and even though reluctant, I said yes.

I also remember my father saying yes to the needs of his family when he left El Paso because of no prospects of finding a job and moved with his wife and four children to Arizona trusting in God to provide. God came through because someone from the Customs Agency in Nogales, Arizona, came looking for him and he received the best job he ever had and he retired from that agency many years later.

 The Rich and the Kingdom of God

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”  “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired.  Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Matthew 19:16-22 NIV

I have often wondered what would have happened to this man if he had said “yes” to Jesus. How dramatically would his life have changed?  Would he have become a disciple winning many, many people to Christ?  At that instant, his turning away from the Lord’s invitation, could have made a tremendous impact on his life but that, we will never know.

What about Mary, the Mother of Jesus?  What about her yes?   “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.  Luke 1:38 NIV   What would have happened if she had said, “no”? 

What about the greatest yes since the beginning of time?   For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.  For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.  Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:16-18

What about each individual apostle who said yes to the call of Jesus?  Did Jesus call the perfect?  No, be He equips the called.

What about Peter’s yes?  Did he say yes right away?  No, he denied Jesus three times but later  repented and Jesus restored Peter by anointing and appointing him to lead the flock.  

Abraham said yes when God told him to leave his land. The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.  Genesis 12:1 NIV   Moses said yes when God asked him to go back to Egypt and lead God’s people into the Promised Land.  So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:10 NIV Ruth said yes to follow her mother-in-law Naomi.   But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1:6 NIV

Esther was given a choice to save the Jews from annihilation.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  Esther 4:14-16

Saul and all the Israelites were afraid of Goliath but David said “yes” to defeating the giant.   David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.  I Samuel 17:45-46 NIV

Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Corrie ten Boom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and many modern day heroes answered the call to say “yes” to freedom and their God-given rights.

Every “yes” has a ripple effect.  What is your yes?  Yes, I will follow the Word of God.  Yes, I will stand for Christ.  Yes, I will walk in the Spirit of God.  Yes, I will seek the truth at all times.  Yes, I will stand for freedom and my rights that were given to me by my Creator. 

WHAT IS YOUR YES?

If your “yes” is a prayer for Salvation or you want to recommit your life to Jesus, pray this prayer.

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Now, help me to live for You the rest of my life.
In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen. (Learn Religions, Mary Fairchild, July 31, 2019)

 Marcella Ward October 6, 2021

 

 

                                                      

THE ARMY OF GOD

                                                                  THE ARMY OF GOD

                                                                SPIRITUAL WARFARE

ARMY OF GOD SPEECH  (Mark Taylor  July 11, 2017)

From: The Supreme Commander
To: The Army of God, Heavens invading Expeditionary Forces

“Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Preachers and Teachers, Men and Women of the Army of God!

You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven since all of creation.

The eyes of the world and all of heaven are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere, march with you.

In company with our brothers and sisters in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the Satanic war machine, the elimination of the demonic tyranny over the oppressed peoples of the earth, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your, task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle hardened, he will fight savagely.

BUT NOW IS THE TIME!

Much has happened since the demonic triumphs of years past. The Body of Christ have inflicted upon the demonic, great defeats in the spiritual and natural realms.

Our spiritual offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air, and there capacity to wage war on the ground.

I have given you an overwhelming superiority in weapons for your warfare, and placed at your disposal great reserves of trained fighting men and woman from the body of Christ.

THE TIDE HAS TURNED!

The free men and woman of my army are marching together to victory!

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle, we will accept nothing less than full victory!

For this is a great and noble undertaking, AND THE VICTORY IS YOURS!

YOU’RE SUPREME COMMANDER, GOD!”

 The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18 NIV)

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

 

The Christian’s Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and to the Kingdom of God

the Father, and to the filling of the Holy Spirit, that my hands, my heart,

my eyes, ears and mind, will be controlled by Him and not by the world.

I make this commitment to go where He calls me, walk as He leads me

and yield my hopes and ambitions to do His will and extend His Kingdom, for His glory forever. Amen. -Author unknown

 Marcella Ward August 11, 2021

 

THE POWER OF ONE

                                                           THE POWER OF ONE

 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.  Joshua 23:10 KJV

 What is the power of one?  The power of one is about individuals who have taken a stand and because of this, they have changed the world or the sphere in which they live. Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, David killed Goliath, Gideon led a small army of 300 and was victorious over the enemy. Esther was instrumental in saving the Jewish people from annihilation. Mary the Mother of Jesus, offered her body to house the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!  After an encounter with Jesus at the well, the Samaritan woman became an evangelist to bring the Good News to her people.  Even though these had the power of one, they depended and were given strength by THE ONE GOD. 

It does not have to be a famous person or a person with great authority or fame.  It could be the average person like Rosa Parks who refused to go to the back of the bus.  It could be a famous person, such as Martin Luther King Jr., who stood up against discrimination. 

The power of one is also about unity.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  John 17:22-23 NIV

The power of one is also the battle between good and evil.  The evil one seeks to steal, kill and destroy. One of his favorite weapons is division and he loves to do this in the Church.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV    The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.  1 John 3:8 NIV   All it takes is one evil person to rise up and manipulate and spew his or her ideology for the “good” of the people.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.   2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV

 How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1 NIV

then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Philippians 2:2 NIV

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,  so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:1-5 NIV

We need to be united as believers to stand against the plans of evil.  One thing I have noticed is that many today are not standing together against evil.  There is strength in unity.  We need to stand together to show strength for what we believe in and who we are in Christ.   Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you. Leviticus 26:8 NIV

The Body of Christ needs to be unified, especially at this time when there is so much deception.  We need to stand up for what we believe.  There are only a few leaders who are standing up.  Many have succumbed to pressure from the media.  It only takes one person to start a movement.  Be that one person who takes a stand. In so doing, who knows, you may be the spark that sets a fire for an awakening in your sphere or even the world!!

“YOU WEREN’T BORN TO FIT IT IN-----------YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!”  (Jim Caviezel)

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned--put together--have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that one, solitary life.*

*Attributed to James Allen Francis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IF

                                                                          IF

A small word with a very powerful use.  Many times it is used with regret, “If I had not done ____, then ______ would not have occurred.”  “If this happens, then I will do _____.”  “What if _____ doesn’t work?”

Perry Stone, who is an evangelist, tells about the true story of a woman who was in dire straits because her husband was dying of tuberculosis in a hospital and their only cow lay dying.  She was pleading for the Lord to help her.  All of a sudden, she noticed a whirlwind coming towards her and in that whirlwind appeared an angel that told her that her husband would be healed and that they would have another daughter and as a sign of this happening, the cow that was dying would be healed.

She responded that if this happened, then she would sell the cow and give money to missions.  The angel answered “There are no ifs in God’s plan.”  What the angel said was exactly what happened.  The cow was healed and her husband, two weeks later, was released from the hospital and they did have another daughter.

When God says if, it is conditional.  

 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.  II Chronicles 7:14 NIV

Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—if you would only listen to me, Israel!

He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:31

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. Luke 17:6 NIV

 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NIV

When man says if, it is questioning the promise.

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”  Judges 6:12-14

When Satan says if, it is unbelief.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.” Luke 4:3-4 NIV

Satan wanted Jesus to doubt His own Divinity, “If You are the Son of God…..” (Manna-fest, Perry Stone) 

The devil whispers in our ears, “If God really loved you ……”  He also questions the Word of God.  Just one seed of unbelief can change our faith in God.  We must stand on God’s Word and any promises that He has given us.  Yes, sometimes we may question something that God tells us that does seem impossible, like Gideon but in the end, he put his faith in God.  So must we.  There are times that I have a hard time believing promises that I know the Lord has given my husband and I that have not yet come to pass but I still continue to speak these promises and speak the promises of God just as Jesus spoke the Word of God to Satan.  The Word of God is a weapon against the enemy!

Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.  He received the promise of a son when he was seventy-five years old.  He believed God. 

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.  And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.  All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. Hebrews 11:11-13

Summary of God's promises to Abraham

• All nations will be blessed in Abraham and his seed.
• Abraham and his seed are to possess the land for ever.
• Abraham is to be the father of an innumerable seed.
• Abraham is to be the father of a singular seed who will conquer all enemies.
• Abraham's name is to be great.  NOTE. These promises were not fulfilled by Jewish occupation of the Holy Land in Old Testament times.  (“God’s Promises to Abraham” Bible Education)

Yes, Abraham did not see every single promise in his lifetime, but it was his faith in God that made him righteous in the eyes of God.

 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. Joshua 21:45 NIV

Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. I Kings 8:56 NIV

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:4 NIV

The “ifs” in our lives should not direct our lives but the promises of God and the promises that He has made to us.

Prayer to the Great “I AM”
Almighty Son of God, You are the great “I AM.” You are faithful to Your promises and will defeat my enemies, though numerous and powerful. I will not be discouraged because I walk in Your divine presence. I will live in Your strength and courage, for You are my God. I have faith in You and Your word because I know that Your word never fails. I thank You for the many promises You have spoken over my life, and I place my trust in You. Amen. (“9 Powerful Prayers for Faith and Trust in God” Editor in Chief ConnectUS November 2, 2018)

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