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The Freedom to Just Say No

I was over at an aunt's house over the weekend visiting. During the course of our many, many conversations with a few ladies in the family (you know how we women can get!), we started to talk about nutrition and health. We all wanted to get healthier, so we decided to form a "healthier you" club of our own. The one issue over and over again that came up was that the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak! They just couldn't say no to those Oreos!

When I was thinking about it over the weekend, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to serve my family on a daily basis in prayer. We've all been there. Whether it's saying no to that Oreo or that one sin you've been calling your "issue" or "habit" that just seems to have a hold on you, I have Good News for you today: Today is the day you will be set free! God's Word is so awesome. The way this builds up in Scripture caused a paradigm shift for me:

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Luke 22:41 KJV

From the first verse on our foundational text, it shows us not to just go ahead and do something without involving God in it. Ask for help. He is more than willing to help and He always tells us yes when we ask in line with His Word. (2 Cr. 1v20)

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42 KJV

Here, Jesus is taking back for us something we lost in the Garden of Eden. As you know, Adam and Eve turned over their dominion and authority to the enemy. Eve was deceived, but Adam willfully turned it over. In his actions he was saying, "Not Your Will God, but mine be done." Here, in another Garden, the 2nd Adam took His place and reversed what the first Adam did: although his flesh wanted to talk God out of it (wouldn't you?), he submitted to the will of God. By doing this first act of obedience, his next act sets us free.

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22: 43, 44 KJV

First, I want you to notice something. After Jesus submitted His will to the Father, He received strength. Are you tired? Do you need strength? Submit to the will of the Father. Has He asked you to do something you think is impossible? Ask for help and submit. You will receive the strength you need to see it through.

Second: We have to look at this Scripture remembering that Jesus is the perfect Lamb. He took our place so that we can be heirs of salvation. That took a blood sacrifice. Here, in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lamb's blood is poured out. Jesus went through such stress that blood and water seeped through His pores. It is scientifically proven that someone can be under so much stress that the capillaries underneath the skin can break making some blood seep through. As He fought in prayer to receive strength to do the Father's will, His perfect blood came out and hit the ground. And that Blood still speaks to the Father today.

What is our foundational text telling us? The Blood of Jesus covers us in so many ways. Just like the Blood at Calvary was placed on the Mercy Seat to redeem us from the enemy's clutches, so the Blood of the Lamb at the Garden of Gethsemane redeems us from the pressure to say yes to the enemy and no to God. We can now say no: no to that Oreo; no to that television; no that sin (uh, no, eating an Oreo is not a sin but you will be sick if you eat a whole pack at once!). We have the freedom by the Blood of the Lamb to be free in our soul to follow God.

So why don't we?

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

Did you know that blood speaks? We just can't hear it. Think of it this way: when the blood of Abel cried out, it was God Who heard it. How? When you blow a dog whistle, the pitch is too high for humans to hear, so you might blow it and think it's not working. But then, there comes a dog. The dog can hear the frequency. When blood cries out, God is tuned in to the "people frequency" and can hear it. God is tuned in to us. He can hear the Blood of Jesus.

The truth doesn't set you free. It's knowing the truth that does. So now that you know that the Blood of the Lamb has redeemed your will, receive that truth, believe it, and protect it. Thank God daily that you are free to say: "Not my will, but Yours be done... " Praise God for the Blood of Jesus! Just like you received the revelation that by His blood you were redeemed to be an heir of salvation, so the Blood also redeemed you from the stress and pressure that will try to overcome you. The help you need is already there. Take it.

So when that pressure arises to try to make you kneel to what you know God doesn't want you to do, you can call on the name of Jesus remembering He has already set you free by His Blood. Your freedom has been purchased! You can now say "NO!" in Jesus name and tell that thing to back off.

"NO!" to that Oreo that calls your name.

"NO!" to that outfit you aren't paying cash for.

"NO!" to that gossipy spirit that wants to speak through your lips.

Just say no. You are now free to do so. You can do this. Greater is He that is IN you than he that is in the world...

In His Grip,

Raquel

Author Bio
Raquel Soto is the founder of Lydia's Legacy Ministries, an outreach dedicated to help women (and men) live their life more abundantly, to the full, to it overflows. For more information, logon to www.acts1614.org. This article was taken from our free ezine, Life More Abundant, Issue 55 copyright 2007 and may be distributed freely only in it's entirety.

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