“Possible!”
Blessings Folk!!
In our last time together we saw that nothing is impossible for God.
Today, let’s look at the inverse/corollary…?
The angel told Mary in his pronouncement of the conception of Jesus that nothing was impossible with God.
Jesus Himself gives some interesting insight into this.
The subject?
The rich.
All of us are “rich”. You are reading this on some form of a computer...either you own one or have access to one.
We are truly “richer” then most folk who have every lived.
This particular encounter is covered in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. We do well to read all three accounts.
Matt 19:16-26
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
KJV
You have probably heard this account before, yet, take a moment and think on a couple of things.
This man wanted to know how to secure eternal life. What a great inquiry!
The young man acknowledged that he had successfully kept the law from his youth.
No small feat!
Note that Jesus did not question him on his statement.
Jesus simply told him to do something.
Go and sell all that you have...if you want to be perfect…complete.
Give all you have to the poor.
Come and follow me.
The man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.
Jesus was not telling him that he had to do something to “earn eternal life.”
The Lord was revealing to him that he had not kept the commandments.
The young man had committed the same sin as Paul - he coveted.
Rom 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
KJV
Jesus then stated how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.
If one were to read Matthew and Luke alone then it might appear that the Lord was saying something against “being rich.”
This is not true.
Many who are rich are saved.
What the Lord is revealing to the young man, and us, is that it is impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven by trusting in one’s own abilities and riches.
Note what is stated in the parallel account...
Mark 10:24
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
KJV
It is impossible to trust in the riches of man and enter into the Kingdom.
The disciples were amazed by the statement. Who then could be saved?
We see that salvation is impossible through the processes of man.
Salvation is only through that which God can do.
With men it is impossible, but not with God.
For, with God all things are possible.
It is the Lord who transforms the heart of the rich, the poor, the strong, the weak, the mighty, the low…
Regardless of your circumstance, with God all things are possible.
Trust in God.
Lean not on your own understanding.
Trust not in your abilities, your resources, your wisdom, your skills...lay them all before the Lord.
Please, do not trust in “what your church is doing.” So many are being deceived.
Then, watch what He will do...to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Remember!
With God, nothing is impossible.
With God, all things are possible.
Blessings!!
How exciting… the Victory Park CD “Without New Words” is available for download on ITunes! World-wide distribution. Check it out. Spread the Word!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/without-new-words/id344464991
As always, check out my website for daily news article updates, prayer updates, etc. Also, several full-length Prayerline programs are available online.
http://www.dalemoore.tv
“Impossible!”
Blessings Folk!
A quick announcement!
After months of patient waiting...the Victory Park CD, “Without New Words”, is now available on ITunes...the world’s largest music service. Whee!!
Check it out! http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/without-new-words/id344464991
If you have heard the VP CD consider writing a quick review. Rate if for us. Especially if you give a good review and rating!!
Now…
Remember this.
This is a wonderful truth of the Lord, about the Lord.
The Lord tells us and shows us this Truth in two ways.
Here it is.
With God, nothing is impossible!
and this….
With God, all things are possible!
Both are revealed in the Word.
One in the “Christmas Story”.
We would do well to read all that the Lord has given us related to the first coming of the Jesus. It is a vast, detailed account of men, women, dreams, miracles, angels, prophecies (fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled), etc. Read the first chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Today we will quickly examine one vignette of the story...where we learn that with God, nothing is impossible.
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Here is a young lady, Mary, likely around 14-15 years of a age.
Chosen of God.
High favored.
Blessed.
The Jewish woman’s greatest desire was to be the mother of Messiah.
Yet, she was troubled by the statement.
She wondered what it meant.
She questioned how such could happen.
She had not known a man.
She did not doubt unto sin.
She simple wondered...you see Mary wondering and pondering in her heart on several occasions.
The angel explained.
With God nothing shall be impossible.
Mary would face some tough things…
- explaining to Joseph months later that she had not been unfaithful
- experiencing the ridicule of people...for decades...they even accused Jesus of been the “so-called son of Joseph”
- watching her son killed
Yet, her response to the impossible should be ours.
All of us encounter things and have situations which are impossible.
Perhaps there is a relationship in your life that is impossible.
Perhaps your job situation is impossible.
Perhaps your “church” is impossible.
Perhaps your battle with sin is impossible.
Perhaps your attempt to walk in holiness and righteousness is impossible.
Perhaps your children are not living as they should...nothing is impossible.
Perhaps your parents are not living as they should...nothing is impossible.
Perhaps you have prayed for years about something...nothing is impossible.
Remember with God, nothing is impossible.
Let us do as Mary did.
She simply looked at the angel and said, “be it unto me according to your word.”
She humbled herself before the Lord.
She trusted the Lord.
She simply said yes.
Let us do so with all things.
Blessings!!
Check out the latest news and prayer requests - http://www.dalemoore.tv