The Courage To Say "NO" Part 2

Sermon Points

When Peter and John healed a lame man, the Jewish rulers were infuriated and commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

But they courageously refused, saying, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).

Acts 4:19–20 KJV 1900

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

This is the kind of courage God desires for all of us— obedience to Him without fear of what others may think or do. Instead of being frail Christians who base our decisions on the present situation, let’s become followers of Christ who hold firmly to God’s standards of right and wrong.

Biblical Examples of Courage

Joseph (Gen. 39:6-10).

Genesis 39:6–10 KJV 1900

6 And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. 7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

When Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, he was purchased by Potiphar, who eventually put him in charge of his entire household. Because Potiphar’s wife was attracted to him, she repeatedly tried to seduce him.

But Joseph refused, saying, “How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?” (v. 9). Although his refusal to yield to temptation landed him in jail when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of rape, God used the situation to elevate him to a place of authority second only to Pharaoh.

Daniel (Dan. 1:8-16).

Daniel 1:8–16 KJV 1900

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

After Daniel was taken into captivity in Babylon, the king ordered that he and his three friends be given food from his table.

But Daniel didn’t want to defile himself with food that had been offered to idols so he asked the commander if they might have vegetables and water. When the commander objected, Daniel wisely suggested that he test them for ten days to see how the new diet affected their appearance.

At the end of the allotted time, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than all the other youths. God honored Daniel’s courageous choice and protected him from defiling himself with the king’s food.

When Daniel was much older, he faced another challenge (Dan. 6:4-24).

Daniel 6:4–24 KJV 1900

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. 6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. 16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee. 17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.

By this time he was one of the highest officials in the land, and the other commissioners were jealous of him. They convinced the king to pass an edict that anyone who makes a petition to any other god be thrown into a lion’s den. Knowing the consequences, Daniel continued to pray to the Lord three times a day and shortly thereafter was thrown into a den of hungry lions. But once again the Lord protected him and closed the lions’ mouths.

Biblical Examples of Yielding to Temptation

Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-7). Eve was the first person who said yes to temptation, and Adam soon followed, bringing a curse upon the earth and sin into the human race.

Genesis 3:1–7 KJV 1900

1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

David (2 Sam. 11:1-4). Instead of saying no to his lust, David committed adultery with Bathsheba and suffered the horrible consequences for the rest of his life—the death of his son, betrayal by another son, and the loss of his kingdom for a short while.

2 Samuel 11:1–4 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

Samson (Judg. 16:15-21). After Delilah repeatedly pleaded and cried, Samson gave up the secret of his strength and suffered the loss of his eyes and freedom, and eventually his life.

Judges 16:15–21 KJV 1900

15 And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. 16 And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; 17 That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a rasor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother’s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man. 18 And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand. 19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. 21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Questions to Ask When Facing Temptation

Before saying yes to temptation, we should ask ourselves the following questions:

What is the source of this offer?

God never tempts us to do anything sinful or evil (James 1:13). Any desire that veers from truth and righteousness is from the devil. Instead of being carried away by the pleasure or benefits of the offer, we must focus on the Lord and remember what He thinks about it.

James 1:13 KJV 1900

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

What are the requirements of this offer?

Yielding to temptation requires that we lay down our convictions. Sin is always expensive because it costs us our honesty, purity, and integrity.

What are the consequences of this act?

When temptation comes, we usually think only about the present, not the long-term consequences. But the satisfaction of the moment is never worth the pain and guilt that inevitably follow.

Why do people hesitate to say no to temptation?

Fear of rejection.

If we don’t follow along with what others want us to do, we may not be accepted. However, being rejected by someone because of our convictions reveals something good about us—that we have a strong relationship with God and are committed to obeying Him.

Fear of losing a relationship.

We may think that saying no could result in losing a friend or never getting married, but any time we let go of a relationship in order to remain obedient to God, we are positioning ourselves to be blessed by Him.

Fear of the loss of finances.

The temptation to steal or cheat is often fueled by a fear of losing money or not having enough.

Fear of the loss of an opportunity.

Sometimes we feel pressured to make an unwise decision, fearing that the opportunity may never come again. However, if this opportunity is not from God, it could have devastating results. But if we live in obedience to the Lord, He will place us exactly where he wants us and open doors in accordance with His will.

Fear of the loss of our self-image.

In an effort to feel good about ourselves, we may be tempted to pursue what the world values—the finest clothes, cars, homes, and jobs—without considering that we might be living in disobedience to God. He knows what is best for us and will direct our future if we’ll follow Him instead of the world.

The Source of Our Courage to Obey

The Promise of God’s Word (Isa. 41:10-12).

Isaiah 41:10–12 KJV 1900

10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: They shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: They that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

Meditation upon Scripture is our greatest defense against disobedience.

The Lord’s promises help us trust and obey Him, knowing He will handle all the consequences.

Prayer and Meditation.

This is our daily defense as we humble ourselves before God, reading His Word, talking to Him about our situations, and asking for His help.

The Indwelling Holy Spirit.

He’s the one who empowers us to resist temptation and obey God.

Response

In the past, what has caused you to yield to temptation?

What consequences followed?

In contrast, how have you been strengthened to say no to temptation?

What did God do in your life as a result?

Looking ahead, how can you courageously resist temptation in the future?