Message for 07/31/2022 "Your Big Yes" by Justin McTeer.

*All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.*

Matthew 5:33-37 - You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

If you’re going to discover the life God created you to live, you have to learn how to say no to all the other options. And the tough choices aren’t between good and evil, but between all the equally good options out there that are simply not the right paths for you...if you do not develop the ability to say no to many important things, you’re going lose the big yes of your life.” - Erwin McManus

Matthew 20:25-28 - But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 6:14-15 - When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” 15 When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.

Colossians 3:23 NIV - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters

Hineni

Genesis 22:1b - Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”

Exodus 3:4b - God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.

A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do. A disciple is not a person who has things under control, or knows a lot of things. Disciples simply are people who are constantly revising their affairs to carry through on their decision to follow Jesus. - Dallas Willard

Isaiah 58:9 NIV - Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.