Christ Makes the Impossible Possible
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“with God, all things are possible” (misused verse)
“with God, all things are possible” (misused verse)
Want Something Done Right? Do it Yourself
Cutting chocolate with knife
(Later - God with Salvation, done right)
The Story
The Story
“Rich young Ruler” (this part, not a parable, but it sets up another one where Jesus talks about the Kingdom)
The rich - seen by people as the ones that God favored, they apparently “prospered” because they were more spiritual
If anyone was getting to Heaven, surely it was them
The poor? Not a chance
(Most of society saw it this way, thus, Jesus really appealed to the poor…recall ‘blessed are the poor in spirit??’)
The “rich” young man here was very likely lower middle class, but that was still very well off then
Salvation - From Jesus’ Perspective
Salvation - From Jesus’ Perspective
1) “Good”
1) “Good”
“Good Teacher” - he asks the question in v. 16
“good
Jesus asks him about the usage of “good”, and then, “but...”
“IF you wish to enter into life” - keep the commandments
Response: “Which ones? (give me a list)
“Awesome, I’ve done that”
But he feels/knows something is still missing
Look at the list Jesus gives him
Look at the list Jesus gives him
- - Jesus is tested about which is the greatest commandment
613 of them, and He sums them up in 2
Love God above all else
Love neighbor as self
So…which of these does Jesus use in His reply? (#2)
“All these things I have kept.”
Yes, you seem to be a good person
“What am I missing?”
How would YOU answer that?
2) Jesus Wants ALL of you (as in EVERY part of you)
2) Jesus Wants ALL of you (as in EVERY part of you)
He demands FULL surrender
Possessions bad? NO
KEY POINT - Jesus is NOT saying we need to sell everything and give it away. This is a specific challenge to this specific man, and Jesus knows his heart
His “stuff” if more important than God, and so he walks away.
The camel and eye of needle
The camel and eye of needle
Largest animal in their vicinity, and smallest opening used by teachers to illustrate a point
Not a gate, and not a cable (as opposed to a thread) - just hyperbole
The follow-up from disciples
The follow-up from disciples
Then WHO can be saved, if the rich are not automatically?
The answer: If left to man, NOBODY; If left to GOD, ANYBODY!
The answer: If left to man, NOBODY; If left to GOD, ANYBODY!
If God says all can be saved, then guess what....
If Jesus says “follow Me” then guess what...
3) Jesus Knows Our Hearts, Our Roadblocks
3) Jesus Knows Our Hearts, Our Roadblocks
The young ruler had his objections
“I’ll follow if it’s convenient for me”
“I’ll follow if it’s not too painful” (for him, financially)
“I’ll follow if there’s nothing more important to do”
Jesus says: Accept Me, Follow Me
Jesus says: Accept Me, Follow Me
But, but, but...
TASTE - like trying a new food...
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Those who fear God, love Him above all else, lack NOTHING
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139:23
Taste and See
Not guilted into it (Friday conversation)
Give everything you have to God
It’s all His anyway
We can’t compartmentalize, picking and choosing what God gets
Peter responds: We’ve left everything”
Peter responds: We’ve left everything”
Jesus says, yes you have, and you will eternally have everything, lacking nothing
PUTTING THE TEXT TO WORK
PUTTING THE TEXT TO WORK
God expects us, yes, even us, to leave everything, and follow Him
What’s More Important than Jesus
Don’t play it safe, step out
Church attendance -
Why the big deal?
To come and GIVE (prayer, encouragement, fellowship)
Not always convenient
We’ll drive 1.5 hours to a reunion, or 30-60 minutes to work, but church, corporate worship, is optional (the rich ruler, looked the part, but in the end, God really wasn’t the most important)
Well, it means a lot to others, and especially God
What are you praying these days?
What is your stronghold/fortress, which you trust more than the Lord?
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
In what areas do you need to trust Him more?
(whatever you place in front of God as more important, is what your ultimate trust is, and that will, WILL, fail you)
Comfort, security, etc. important. Eternal peace much more so.
Need fulfillment? Try following Christ. TASTE and SEE!
CLOSE
CLOSE
“but with God, all things are possible” - OK, what do we do with this?
SONG LYRIC
Don't you be afraid
Of giants in your way
With God you know that anything's possible
We put those giants in our way
The Spirit of Christ is Who gives us the strength to do the impossible
Get saved
Follow Him
“Giants in our way...” Mostly, we are not AFRAID of them
We WORSHIP them! We LOVE them! We put them there, because we like them there.
We put them before God, and we allow them to remain there, because - like the rich ruler - we don’t follow commandment #1 - “Love the Lord your God” before anything or anyone else.
We won’t give it up, knock it down in priority
not “convenient” or “too painful”
CLOSE
CLOSE
“God will take the inconvenient to you, and bless it, and turn it into great for Him.
So, decide, you in this for you, or for Him?
Salvation - left to man - impossible
Sanctification - left to man - impossible
Anyone can get saved, it’s very possible (actually commanded)
Anyone saved can live for the lord, it’s very possible (actually commanded)
So - is it worth the cost? You decide. Is it about you, or Him?