Wednesday Service | Re-New | Part 7: Dr. No

[1] Jesus exercised the ability to say

• Jesus said no to

Matthew 4:1-11 (NIRV)

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There the devil tempted him. ² After 40 days and 40 nights of going without eating, Jesus was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him. He said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

⁴ Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Man must not live only on bread. He must also live on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

⁵ Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city. He had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ⁶ “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. It is written,

“ ‘The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you. They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won’t trip over a stone.’ ” (Psalm 91:11,12)

⁷ Jesus answered him, “It is also written, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:16)

⁸ Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ “If you bow down and worship me,” he said, “I will give you all this.”

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Get away from me, Satan! It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

¹¹ Then the devil left Jesus. Angels came and took care of him.

• Jesus said no to

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

• Jesus said no to the

Acts 1:6-8 (AB)

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”

[2] Jesus taught us to say no to

Luke 9:23 (NIV)

²³ Then he said to all of them, “Whoever wants to follow me must say no to themselves. They must pick up their cross every day and follow me. 

Craig Groeschel

“Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now.”

Joyce Meyer

“Self control is a gift… because it helps you to do what you don’t want to do, so you can have, what you say you want to have.”

• Desires alone won’t build my life… discipline is what builds my life.

Acts 24:24-25 (NIRV)

²⁴ Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla. She was a Jew. Felix sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ Paul talked about how to live a godly life. He talked about how people should control themselves. He also talked about the time when God will judge everyone. Then Felix became afraid. “That’s enough for now!” he said. “You may leave. When I find the time, I will send for you.”

• When I choose to say … to destructive desires I’m exercising self control

Proverbs 19:3 (NLT)

³ People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

• When I choose to … I’m exercising the life muscle of self control

• When I choose to … before I respond… I’m exercising the life muscle of self control

Proverbs 29:11 (NIRV)

¹¹ Foolish people let their anger run wild. But wise people keep themselves under control.

Proverbs 29:22 (NIRV)

²² An angry person stirs up fights. And a person with a bad temper commits many sins.

• When I choose to … I’m empowering myself for greater self control

Proverbs 14:18 (NLT)

¹⁸ Simpletons are clothed with foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

• When I choose to have … for myself… I strengthen my ability to exercise self control