Video #32 - Just Say NO!

Some of you can remember back to the President Ronald Regan era of the 1980’s. You may recall that our First Lady, Nancy Reagan, spearheaded an anti-drug campaign entitled “Just Say No.”  It began when the Mrs. Reagan was visiting the Longfellow Elementary School in Oakland, California.  She was asked by a schoolgirl what to do if she was offered drugs.  Mrs. Regan responded by saying, “Just say no!” and it stuck!

The Apostle Paul writes in Titus 2:11-12 ...“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It (God’s grace) teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

The amazing grace of God teaches us that when faced with the temptation to give in to lust we need to just say no.  Don’t play around with it.  In fact, don’t even think about how to gratify the sinful desires of the flesh (Rom. 13:14).  Rather, “renounce secret and shameful ways; do not use deception, nor distort the word of God” (2 Cor. 4:1-2).  “And give no opportunity to the devil” (Eph. 4:27).

Why is it so important to just say no?  Romans 8:13 says ... “If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body (by just saying no), you will live”.  You see, “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who (just say no and) live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:5).

To just say no means, you are putting “to death ... what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5).  It means you are learning how to “discipline (your) body and keep it under control, lest … (you) should be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27).

Saying “no” to sexual impurity, and choosing to live a self-controlled, upright and godly life is a daily decision you have to make.  Not just when you get up in the morning, but all the time.  Every instance where you are faced with a temptation, you are also faced with a decision.  Do I give in this time or do I continue to stand firm and fight it?  Do I yield to the Spirit and glorify God, or do I focus on self and give in to my fleshly desires?

We are constantly using our mind throughout each day to make decisions.  This is why it’s vital that we discipline our mind to just say “no” to the cries of the flesh for sinful pleasure and “yes” to the promptings of the Holy Spirit for purity.

Sounds great – just say no.  But HOW do we say “no?”  I mean, when I am tempted to look upon someone lustfully, it’s not usually in a place where I can shout out at the top of my lungs “NO way Satan, I won’t do that!”  That would probably warrant a few unwanted stares and create some uncomfortable situations.  So how do we say no to temptation when it slams into us?  I believe we need to ask Jesus that question.  After all, He faced every kind of temptation known to man and came out victorious (Heb. 4:15).  I challenge you to hit the pause button right now and take a moment to read Matthew 4:1-11.  Go ahead, I’ll wait.

So, did you read that passage in Matthew 4?  If so, then you should be able to easily answer this next question: how did Jesus “just say no?”  How did He respond to each and every temptation?  He simply said, “it is written” and then He quoted Scripture.  -  How well do you know your Bible?  When faced with the temptation to lust, or to look at porn, or to masturbate, what Scripture verses can you quote so that you can take captive those thoughts and make them obedient to Christ (1 Cor. 10:5)?

I find it so encouraging that Jesus did not use His divine power to defeat Satan.  He could’ve simply said to Satan - “I am God ... back off!”  But He didn’t.  Instead, He provided an example for us by using the same weapon that we have available to us today, namely, the Word of God.  As you hide God’s word in your heart - you will be victorious over your temptations (Psa. 119:11).  It is also when you choose to do what God’s word says that you will be a pure man (Psa. 119:9).

By the way, did you notice that every time Jesus quoted scripture, Satan was finished with that particular temptation?  The Devil’s lies can never stand up against God’s absolute truth.  We are commanded to “resist the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7).  How do we resist the enemy of our soul?  With the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17).

Guys ... Just say no!  We are able to resist temptation the same way Jesus did, with Scripture.  If you are going to defeat Satan’s attacks on your mind with his deceitful lies you must depend upon and choose to obey the Word of God.

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About Steve Etner
Steve Etner is a National Men’s Speaker, Author and Purity Coach (www.thepuritycoach.com). He has authored many books, including “Extreme Mind Makeover: How to Transform Sinful Habits into God-Pleasing Patterns of Life”; “The Pure Man’s Devotional Guide: A Biblical Toolbox for Purity”; and “Are You A Super Man? Becoming God’s Man of Steel.” 

Steve’s conferences, seminars and retreats focus on what God has to say about the way we think and the impact it has on our behavior. By teaching men how to live in moral purity by equipping them with Biblical answers, Steve’s goal is for men to have a re-ignited passion for Jesus and learn how to prepare their minds to successfully overcome their temptations and thus live pure lives for Christ.