Yes Lord Yes
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice.” ~ 1 Samuel 15:22
Opening Prayer
Father God, as we gather tonight, we open our hearts to say Yes to You. Yes to Your will. Yes to Your way. Yes to wherever You lead us. Remove every hesitation, every fear, and every excuse. Give us the courage of Esther, the faith of Mary, and the obedience of Abraham. We say Yes, Lord, Yes. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Song of Worship: I Say Yes Lord Yes
Shirley Caesar -- Yes, Lord Yes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InsPzsJRmLE
What does it mean to say Yes, Lord?
To say Yes LORD is to BELIEVE
To say Yes LORD is to TRUST and OBEY
To say Yes LORD is to OBEDIENCE
To say Yes LORD is to SURRENDER
To say Yes LORD is to be OPENED
To say Yes LORD is to let Him LEAD
Yes, Lord, I believe!
“Yes, Lord, I believe” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” (John 11:27).
Yes, Lord, I Trust & Obey!
Yes, Lord, we want to show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name. (Isaiah 26:8).
Yes, Lord, to my Obedience to you!
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15.22).
Yes, Lord, to my Surrender to you!
“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
“ The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:4).
Yes, Lord, to Open up my heart!
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139.23-24).
Yes, Lord, to your Leading!
“I will lead you down the best path for your life. God has the wisdom, guidance, and direction that we need, though it will not happen automatically“ (Psalm 32:8).
Yes, Lord, the Waiting! This is for our next lesson!
“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes” (Psalm 37:7).
PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO SAID YES TO THE LORD
Women: The women that said Yes Lord in the past
Esther said Yes, LORD Yes - when Mordecai told her to go to the king to save her people.
Mary (mother of Jesus) said Yes, LORD Yes - when the angel told her she would carry God’s son, Jesus.
Sarah said Yes, LORD Yes - when God told her she would bear a son even at her past childbearing age, and she would call him Isaac.
Story - What I like the most is God saying he will establish my covenant with him as an “Everlasting Covenant” (Genesis 18:9-15)
Ruth said Yes, LORD Yes, to God’s Purpose and reap the blessings God has for her. (Ruth 3:18)
Deborah (Debra) Said Yes, LORD Yes - when God spoke through her to tell Barak to lead as this is the day the Lord has given you.
Lydia said Yes, LORD Yes - when God opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying. (Act 16:14)
Martha said Yes, LORD Yes - I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God. You are the one who was coming to the world.
Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” (John 11:24)
God has loved us into being, made in God's image. God will always choose and call us into a deeper, loving relationship, all we have to do is say... YES…
PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO SAID YES TO THE LORD
Men: The men that said Yes Lord in the past
Noah said Yes, LORD Yes - when God asked him to build the ark.
Abraham said Yes, LORD Yes - when God asked him to sacrifice his only son.
Joseph said Yes, LORD Yes - when God asked him to forgive his brothers who beat and sold him into slavery.
Moses said Yes, LORD Yes, when God told him to go to the Pharaoh and asked him to let the Israelite people go.
Rahab said Yes, LORD Yes - when asked to hide the Israelite spies and risk her own life and the lives of her family.
David said Yes, LORD Yes - when God asked him to fight the giant Goliath with only a slingshot and a few stones.
Daniel said Yes, LORD Yes - when God told him not to bow down and worship other idols.
Paul said Yes, LORD Yes - when God asked him to deliver the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles.
Closing Prayer
Father God, like Esther, Mary, Abraham, and David, we say Yes, Lord, Yes. Yes to Your plans. Yes to Your timing. Yes to obedience even when it's hard. Yes to surrender even when we're afraid. Open our hearts to follow wherever You lead. Help us to trust You completely and to walk in the purpose You have for our lives and relationships. We say Yes to You today and every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.