The Impossible is Now Possible Introduction 1. Jesus’ words ring with crystal-clear confidence: “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). 2. In the movie "The Princess Bride," Vizzini, the brains behind the trio, repeatedly responds to the heroic s of "the masked man" by saying, 'inconceivable." In time, the sword-bearing Inigo Montoya replies, "You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." 3. Despite the amazing accomplishments and inventions of the past century, our lives are full of limits and impossibilities. Today, in our series “From Here to There,” we are introduced to the inconceivable, a God without limits. “Impossible,” I do not think it means what you think it means. The Story Behind the Scene 1. It was another busy day for our Lord. He met with followers teaching them the principles of grace. It appears He was expected and it was His habit to meet with them regularly. 2. The Pharisees (religious leaders opposed to Jesus’ lack of legalism) were irritated by His messages of grace and interrupted Him with a legalistic question about divorce, which Jesus answered. 3. Later that evening, the disciples brought up the divorce subject again and Jesus gave greater clarification. However, people who brought children for Him to bless interrupted the conversation. The disciples would have turned them away, but Jesus embraced them, explaining that they were an example of what we must become if we expect to enter into Heaven. 4. Finally, a wealthy young man desired to become a disciple, but was discouraged by Jesus’ request that he sale everything before following Him. As he left, the Lord spoke of the difficulty rich men have making it to Heaven. The disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus’ said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible.” 1. Often our idea of a God without limits is too limited. Let me explain. There was a day when a severely ill man was brought to Jesus. Jesus said, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Immediately, the Lord was accused of blasphemy. However, you also have to scratch your head and wonder why Jesus brought up the subject of sin when there was a more serious issue at hand, this man needed physical healing. 2. Jesus replied, “Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (Matthew 9:2-8). At that very moment, Jesus expanded the paradigm of God’s power 3. Often our idea of a God without limits is too limited. As the crowds of Jesus’ day, we consider physical healing a far greater demonstration of the power of God than spiritual healing, which is why Jesus asked, “Whether is easier?” 4. Spiritual healing is far more impossible than physical healing. Jesus did heal the man, but for one singular reason: “that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” Jesus’ new paradigm of impossibilities made possible by God was this: the apex of God’s power is not creating the universe, healing a broken body or raising the dead. The apex of His power is in saving a soul from Hell! Further Thoughts on “The Impossible is Now Possible”” 1. One reason we under estimate the impossibility of the notion that God could save a man from his sins is because we do not have a clear understanding of our unsaved condition before Almighty God. 2. Blind eyes, incurable cancer, broken marriages, a life lost or a financial crisis seem monumental and overwhelming. If God defies the medical community by healing or raising the dead, if He restores a broken marriage or miraculously sends a financial windfall, we are amazed and seem ready to claim, “with God all things are possible.” Of course, we are right. Nevertheless, we are also shortsighted, very shortsighted. 3. The reason? We are too physically minded. Moreover, our pulpits promote the limiting of God’s power by over emphasizing the miracles of the Bible and under-emphasizing the spiritual miracle of salvation. 4. God shows His power in a far greater way than previously imagined. He reaches deep within Himself, forgiving sin and saving souls. If you have received Christ as Savior, God has performed the greatest impossibility that could ever be experienced. Nothing is more miraculous than the saving of a soul. The Impossibility of Your Salvation 1. Impossibility #1 – You Were “Dead” (Ephesians 2:1). Dead is dead, no matter how you cut it. Romans 6 is devoted to the spiritual resurrection that has taken place in the life of the believer. Brother, you have been raised from the dead (not a physical resurrection, a lesser miracle; but a spiritual resurrection). The dead now live! 2. Impossibility #2 – You Were “Dead In Trespasses and Sins” (Ephesians 2:1). To many, the topic of sin is a laughable and light thing, but not to God. In fact, God despises sin so much that its very presence necessitates His absence. So, Jesus cried out at the very moment He bore our sin, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” As sinners, we have no other destiny but Hell. However, as a forgiven sinner saved by grace, we have shed our fate with eternal torment and anguish for eternity with Him in Heaven. 3. Impossibility #3 – You Were a Hopeless Case (“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.” Matthew 19:24). “The eye of a needle” was either a hyperbole or it referred to an entrance into the city called “The Needle Gate,” a short and narrow gate. Either way, your entrance into Heaven was an impossibility until the day Jesus “became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Then the impossible became possible! 4. You have been raised from the dead, forgiven of every sin and given the destiny of Heaven. But then again, there is more. Impossibility #4 – You Were the Enemy of God. James writes, “whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). Enemy is a strong world. It is akin to opponent, adversary, foe, antagonist and nemesis (a bitter and hated enemy who deserves excessive and merciless punishment by extreme force). However, by the grace of Jesus, He is “the friend of sinners.” Thank God, He turned His bitterness into love and exchanged His vengeance for mercy. Other Impossibilities Made Possible 1. On more than a few occasions, we struggle with a God Who can but does not. We reason, what good is a God of Impossibilities if He does not exercise His power and strength? This usually happens when there is a terrible disaster, a horrible event, an unthinkable action or a personal trial. 2. Why didn’t He stop the hurricane, the criminal, the terrorist or the accident? Why doesn’t He heal a loved one, cure the diseased or fix what is broken? Of course, sometimes—occasionally—He does; but, often He does not—and we wonder. More than wonder, we get miffed and some venture to tell God about it (Jeremiah comes to mind). 3. I cannot explain God, nor do I always agree with what He does or allows, but that does not mean I do not trust Him. Trusting God requires only one thing and that thing is neither understanding nor agreeing. The one thing it takes to trust God is the unshakable confidence that God does all things well and is always righteous even when He appears to be neither (remember Job?). 4. Any miracle beyond my salvation is more than I deserve. Wait, what am I saying? The miracle of salvation itself is not deserved. So, while others might quarrel with God, wondering why He limits His limitless self, I will choose today to thank Him for including me in the greatest miracle He has ever performed (extreme impossibility made possible), my salvation. Won’t you join me? 5. Let your words ring with crystal-clear confidence: “With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27). This message was brought to you out of a sincere heart and a fervent desire to share God’s truth with His people by Rick Metrick, Pastor of Jones Memorial Baptist Church in Beckley, West Virginia info@TLCWV.com