Background Music by Shekinah Glory Ministry – Yes
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Matthew 5:37
I took a short walk at lunch time today during which I was reminded and impressed by the Holy Spirit to say something about YES!
Yes is an affirmative answer or decision. It is a consenting reply often used to express polite interest, attention, promise or covenant. It’s only a 3 –lettered word but the implication is far weightier.
I came across the song ‘Yes’ by Shekinah Glory some years back and I remember staying up one particular night telling God yes. I had so many conversations with Him throughout the night – some of which I don’t remember but I do recall signing up for a whole lot of things.
Prior to this night, I had said yes lots of times but this one was different. I said yes to trusting and waiting like Abraham. Yes to unrestricted worship and continual intercession. Yes to giving, serving, forgiving and loving people. Yes to His way and will. I went as far as vowing to never dilute my praise even if I lost all like Job. I pleaded to always have a spot in the sanctuary so I could stand with uplifted hands and unrestrained lips. I dedicated my unborn children to the service of the sanctuary. Yes!
Like the psalmist in Psalm 63, I told God – I’d seen him do miraculous things in my life; that of my grandparents, parents, siblings, extended family, and friends and if He still was in the business of signs and wonders, and needed a vessel, I was willing and available!
Yes to being an Instrument of Praise and extension of his hand to bring healing and wholeness to the nations. Yes to going wherever He leads, saying whatever He impresses, and doing whatever He bids. Yes, like Mary “Be it unto me according to your word”. Yes, like Jesus “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Yes, like the disciples “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” I’m talking about a ‘total surrender’ yes. A ‘withholding nothing’ yes. A ‘no turning back’ yes!
Here are few truths about yes:
Yes is costly but rewarding
Zeal can coerce many into saying things they do not mean but commitment is a proven mark of distinction. A few men had applied to become disciples. Let’s review the interview case studies of these candidates:
57 As they were walking along someone said to Jesus, “I will always follow you no matter where you go.”58 But Jesus replied, “Remember, I don’t even own a place to lay my head. Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Messiah, have no earthly home at all.”59 Another time, when he invited a man to come with him and to be his disciple, the man agreed—but wanted to wait until his father’s death.60 Jesus replied, “Let those without eternal life concern themselves with things like that. Your duty is to come and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God to the entire world.” 61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will come, but first let me ask permission of those at home.” 62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)
And to the disciples who had been faithfully following him, He said:
23 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23-26)
Note when you do not say yes, you are deliberately making a contrary decision which goes on record. On the other hand, there is a reward for saying yes but the price must be paid first. If it were you in any of these scenarios, would you still say yes?
Your yes will be tested, tried, confirmed and reconfirmed
Mary was a young virgin of 17. Waited all her life to get licensed and just when it was about to happen, God sends Gabriel to tell her: You are highly favoured and I know this because God has chosen you of all people as the vessel He’ll impregnate. You will give birth to the Messiah who will save the people. By Mary’s yes, she appeared to be a moron, disgrace, and worst of all, a Gypsy who ended up having her baby in a manger. Her yes drove her from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and then to Egypt, and back to Nazareth. She took a round trip all because of her YES! What shall we say then about the 3 Hebrew young men and Daniel, who set themselves apart while in Babylon? They refused the king’s delicacies and settled for water and vegetables. Their yes’ were tested by fire and Daniel’s with the Lion’s Den. When the heat’s turned up and Den opened, will your answer still be yes?
Yes is a more personal than collective response
Overnight, Moses went from being a prince in the palace to a fugitive roaming the desert. He eventually got a job as a shepherd until God decided to light up the burning bush just to get his attention. After a long dialogue with God, he said yes. And because he said yes, Israel was able to say yes! Gideon was hiding from the Midianites and threshed wheat at a winepress. The angel of the Lord located and called him a mighty man of valour.
Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”(Judges 6:14)
He haggled with God after a few fleece tests but said yes in the end. With his yes and just 300 men, God delivered Israel and gave them victory over the Midianites. I may never know your calling but what’s your answer? Is it yes?
Your yes is your induction to God’s deeper and higher; simply put your promotion.
Samuel was first an answered prayer – miracle. He had been living in the sanctuary since he was weaned. One night he heard a voice constantly calling, he eventually yielded by saying “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”. From then onwards, he was known as a prophet, judge and a high priest also. Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord calling “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” When he said, “Here am I. Send me!” God enrolled and elevated him. John also heard a voice like a trumpet saying “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”. He said yes and because of his yes we have a vivid account of heaven, hell, and the things to come. There are ‘hereafters ‘ that God wants to enlighten you about, will you say yes to the call?
God wants your yes
Jesus showed John an imagery of how He stands and knocks at the door of everyone’s heart. John records His words” If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” (Revelation 3:20).
Paul harmonises with this revelation when he writes:
9 If you openly say, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. 10 Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
Jesus is standing, knocking and calling you, would you say yes?