BE EMBOLDENED AND DARE TO SAY “NO” 

BE EMBOLDENED AND DARE TO SAY “NO” – WHEN IT IS TIMELY, NECESSARY AND IT MATTERS. IT IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF GRACE. YOU NEED NOT BE SORRY, NOR REGRETFUL, NOR APOLOGETIC – FOR SAYING “NO”! 

“Therefore being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 by whom also we have ACCESS BY FAITH into THIS GRACE WHEREIN WE STAND, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” Romans 5:1-2. 

“For the GRACE of God has appeared that offers SALVATION to all people. 12 It TEACHES us to say “NO” to UNGODLINESS and WORLDLY PASSIONS, and to LIVE SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT and GODLY lives in this present age . . .” Titus 2:11-15 NIV 

“THANKS, BUT ‘NO’ THANKS” – Is that too hard to say or do sometimes?  
Yes – in the majority of cases.  Especially in sentimental situations. When you are not PRINCIPLED in matters of LIFE and GODLY LIVING, you will struggle to say the “NO” needed to keep you safe and free from bondage and entanglement of every sort and kind. Many people live with regret today because they did not rise to the occasion to say a bold, honest “NO” – and thereby save their present day and days ahead.  

The truth is this: YOU CAN FALL FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, when you do not have set PRINCIPLES grounded in the WORD of God. Principles that keep you RESPONSIBLE, ACCOUNTABLE and DISCIPLINED concerning your self-worth in Christ Jesus stead; especially against the tests and temptations of this life that are designed to lure into unpleasant and unpalatable position. 

James 1:2-8, makes it clear – to be tempted, tested or tried is not sin. But to allow sentiment and prejudice to cause you to give in to that which you are being tempted will lead you into sin. And that will turn you into a PREY and VICTIM of your circumstances instead of a VICTOR – all because you failed to make a wise decision. And sadly, that is of your own making – for not saying an emphatic “NO”. Especially when you know that God does not tempt anyone to sin – as stated in James 1:13-15. To give in for the sake of sentiment or prejudice is to break His WORD. 

“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: 14 but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his OWN lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” James 1:13-15. 

As a child of God, if you must be strong and fortified in life and faith and to remain steadfast in Christ Jesus stead, you must know and understand when to say “NO”. And to say “NO” boldly – and mean it – when your right to uphold God’s WORD in your life is being violated or legislated against by anyone, irrespective of the person’s standing or status. More especially when there is a DEMAND for commitments that will make you SMALL or SMALLER or cause you to DERAIL from the truth of what God has done in you in Christ Jesus. And also on matters that SUBTRACT from you, that DIVIDE you, that DECREASE and LIMIT you; and on matters that will not ADD, MULTIPLY and INCREASE you in life and godly living. 

Satan may not be everywhere at the same time to place a demand on you in particular, but he has cohorts outworking in our places of life – Home, Church, Shopping Centres, Market Places, Workplaces, Business and Governmental Places, Political Places and Contract Signing Places and such like. And that means, as scripture enjoins, we must be smartly vigilant and sensitive, alert, and on guard against the cohorts’ acts of modus operandi. Otherwise you become a PARTAKER of their intent and may become a VICTIM in regret – for not saying “NO” to their suggestions and instead giving a “YES” by word or by action. 

“Be sober, be VIGILANT; because your ADVERSARY the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, SEEKING whom he may DEVOUR: 9 whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” 1 Peter 5:8-10. 

An emboldened PRINCIPLE must be upheld in our day-to-day life in this world in order to say “NO” to cohorts’ intent. Otherwise, you will live a life of fear, intimidation, guilt, shame, inferiority and regret – for not saying the needed “NO” to the diverse, lustful temptations that appear before you now and then. James 1:13-15; James 4:1-3; Proverbs 4:23. And there is an enabling grace within you to say “NO” in the light of Titus 2:11-15 (NIV). 

“For the GRACE of God has appeared that offers SALVATION to all people. 12 It TEACHES us to say “NO” to UNGODLINESS and WORLDLY PASSIONS, and to LIVE SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT and GODLY lives in this present age . . .” Titus 2:11-15 NIV. 

Being EMBOLDENED to say “NO” when it MATTERS is an attribute of God’s grace in you. It saves you from trouble and all forms of regrets; and it heals, delivers, secures, directs, strengthens, equips, and empowers you. It carries many more such attributes of graciousness and gracefulness for your good, in your act of doing LIFE and GODLY LIVING. 

It is time not to fall into the traps of sentiment that the ENEMY and COHORTS, in their crafty acts, will use to lure you out of FAITH through FEAR, INTIMIDATION and the like – into things you know very well you would not normally say “YES” to. Things which, in the light of God’s WORD and knowledge, deserve a big, fat answer that spells “NO” at any time and at every moment of presentation before you – knowingly and unknowingly. 

Therefore, I say to you: 

DARE TO SAY “NO” WHEN IT IS TIMELY, NECESSARY AND IT MATTERS. IT IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF GRACE. YOU NEED NOT BE SORRY, REGRETFUL, OR APOLOGETIC – IN SAYING “NO” TO ANYONE – NO MATTER THEIR STANDING OR STATUS IN LIFE. 

SELAH- PAUSE AND THINK. 

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT: 

“For the GRACE of God has appeared that offers SALVATION to all people. 12 It TEACHES us to say “NO” to UNGODLINESS and WORLDLY PASSIONS, and to LIVE SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT and GODLY lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to REDEEM us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15 These, then, are the things you should TEACH. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. DO NOT LET ANYONE DESPISE YOU” Titus 2:11-15 (NIV). 

“But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘YES’ BE ‘YES,’ AND YOUR ‘NO,’ ‘NO.’ For whatever is more than these is from the EVIL ONE” Matthew 5:34-37 (NKJV) 

“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “YES” BE “YES,” AND YOUR “NO,” “NO,” lest you fall into judgment” James 5:12 (NKJV). 

“For God did not give us a spirit of TIMIDITY or COWARDICE or FEAR, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal DISCIPLINE [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]” 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified). 

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—WAS NOT YES AND NO, BUT IN HIM WAS YES. 20 FOR ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD IN HIM ARE YES, AND IN HIM AMEN, to the glory of God through us. 21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” 2 Corinthians 1:19-22 (NKJV). 

“No temptation has OVERTAKEN you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, Who WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV). 

SUMMARY: 

The core of this message is a bold, scriptural charge to live by principle and grace that emboldens you to say “NO” — especially when sentiment, pressure, or temptation tries to pull you away from God’s WORD and destiny. 

 5 key points: 

1. SAYING “NO” IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF GRACE, NOT A SIN

Saying “NO” when it is TIMELY, NECESSARY, AND IT MATTERS is not rudeness or rebellion. It is grace at work. 
Titus 2:11-12 NIV makes it clear: “For the grace of God… TEACHES us to say ‘NO’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.” 
Therefore, YOU NEED NOT BE SORRY, REGRETFUL, OR APOLOGETIC for a holy “NO”. Grace saves, heals, delivers, secures, directs, strengthens, equips and empowers you to stand. 

2. LACK OF PRINCIPLE LEADS TO BONDAGE AND REGRET

Many people live with regret today because they failed to say a bold, honest “NO”. 
When you are not PRINCIPLED in LIFE and GODLY LIVING — grounded in the WORD of God — YOU CAN FALL FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. 
Sentiment and prejudice will cause you to yield to temptation. That turns you from a VICTOR into a PREY and VICTIM of your circumstances. James 1:2-8, 13-15 reminds us: temptation itself is not sin, but giving in to it is. And God does not tempt anyone to sin.  

3. KNOW WHEN TO SAY “NO” — GUARD YOUR ASSIGNMENT

As a child of God, you must be strong, fortified and steadfast in Christ Jesus. Say “NO” boldly when: 

• God’s WORD in your life is being violated or legislated against, no matter the person’s standing or status. 

• There is a DEMAND that will make you SMALL, cause you to DERAIL from truth, or SUBTRACT, DIVIDE, DECREASE, and LIMIT you. 

• It will not ADD, MULTIPLY, or INCREASE you in life and godly living. 

Satan works through cohorts in every sphere: Home, Church, Market, Workplace, Government, Politics, Contracts. 1 Peter 5:8-10 commands us to be VIGILANT. If you don’t say “NO”, you become a PARTAKER of their intent.  

4. THE COST OF NOT SAYING “NO”

Without an emboldened PRINCIPLE, you will live in fear, intimidation, guilt, shame, inferiority and regret because of the diverse, lustful temptations that appear. 
The Enemy and cohorts use sentiment to lure you out of FAITH through FEAR and INTIMIDATION into things you know you should not say “YES” to. 
In God’s eyes, some things deserve a big, fat “NO” — knowingly and unknowingly. 

5. SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION FOR A BOLD “NO”

The message anchors the charge in Scripture: 

• Romans 5:1-2: We have ACCESS BY FAITH into this grace wherein we stand. 

• Matthew 5:34-37 & James 5:12: “Let your ‘YES’ BE ‘YES,’ AND YOUR ‘NO,’ ‘NO.’” Integrity demands clarity. 

• 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified): God did not give us a spirit of TIMIDITY or FEAR, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 

• 2 Corinthians 1:19-20: In Christ there is no “YES and NO”. All God’s promises are “YES and AMEN”. 

• 1 Corinthians 10:13: God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. He provides a way of escape — often that escape is “NO”. 

THE FINAL CHARGE 

DARE TO SAY “NO” WHEN IT IS TIMELY, NECESSARY AND IT MATTERS. 
It is an attribute of grace. 
Do not let anyone despise you for it. 

REV. CHUKIE MORSI