Gtcotr/ws050609
Key Scripture: Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
All things are possible to him who believes. Believes what? Believes in God’s ability to do all things! Basically …
When you put God in the driver’s seat, all things are possible.
Give God His chance. Most likely you have already had your chance. See what you did with it … now see what He can do!
In my life I have tried a whole lot of things that just did not work. The reason why most of those things failed is because I was trying to do them my way or working for my results. However, when I stopped trying to figure out my best advantage and turned things over to God … inevitably, problems get solved and things begin to work.
Just be careful when God starts making things work in your life, marriage, business, or ministry and don’t get scared, stop trusting God that He can handle it, and start taking things back into your own hands. If you do, you will come up short of what God could have done in you, through you, and for you.
The story of my pursuits:
* What happened when I tried to handle things myself
* What happened when I turned things over to God
* What happened when I took things back into my own hands
* What happened when I gave them back to God
Our Key Scripture said: Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Three more times we find almost this same phrase used in other scripture verses in the Gospels. However, with the others, there are often some other elements added. Let me show you what I mean.
The first time we see the phrase, “all things are possible”, is in Matthew’s account of Jesus and the young rich ruler in chapter 19.
Jesus had just told this young rich ruler that in order to inherit eternal life and enter into the Kingdom of God, that he must put God first place in his life. The young man was a prominent figure in society most likely due in part to his wealth. He had been trying to earn the peace which comes from knowing you are right with God.
He had done many works, good works, and kept the law since childhood. He was a good man, just empty, and could not seem to achieve the inner peace and abiding relationship with God which he desired. No matter what he did, it came up short. Sound familiar? – he was trying to do it on his own when all he needed was simply to turn his life over to God and trust Him, instead of trusting his riches.
When the disciples heard Jesus say how hard it is for people who trust in riches, or in their own wisdom or abilities for that matter, to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, they were amazed. The question they had: “Who then can be saved?”
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
You see, all things are possible … with God!
So many things are not possible with man’s intervention, wisdom, intellect, strategy, work, or resources alone. Only when we trust God enough to turn our lives over to Him and believe He is able, do all things become possible.
Let’s look at:
Mark 10:27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
This is Mark’s account of Jesus and this same young rich ruler. Mark too records that only with God are all things possible. Look a couple of verses earlier in this account and see what Mark chose to record from Jesus’ explanation that day:
Mark 10:25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Interesting to note that Mark, inspired by the Holy Spirit when most likely receiving this account directly from Peter’s recollection, includes this analogy used by Jesus. What does it mean to say it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle …?
Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Bible suggests two possible explanations:
* Perhaps this eye of the needle refers to a ‘wicket-gate’ which, due to its size and straightness, no camel could pass through unless unburdened and on its knees. This would signify the need for all men to come to the Kingdom having emptied themselves and with true reverence and worship.
* Alternatively, the same word translated camel herein is also often used to mean ‘cable or rope’ which cannot be passed through the eye of a needle except it be untwisted from all those things which seemingly make it strong. Once alone as a single strand, one might then pass through. This explanation points to the fact that no one comes to Christ along with or because of those things which make them strong and of use to this world. We must come alone, without our collected strength to depend on, only depending on Christ.
Either way the truth stands. All things are possible to those who believe in, trust, and rely upon God.
The final time we see this phrase used is in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus was praying before His arrest and subsequent death on the cross. Let’s read this scripture and see what we can learn from this pivotal moment in the agony of Christ.
Mark 14:36 And He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will."
Sometimes God is able to do what you ask of Him but it is simply not His will to do it. There may be bigger things at stake. This is where we not only believe that He is able to do what we ask but now we face the challenge to trust Him further … to believe He will make choices and direct our lives for our good even beyond our desires.
We must trust God for His will to be done, and for the grace in our lives to accept that will and keep on believing in a good and gracious God who has a master plan which includes a good will and future for us.
So, what have we learned from this message?
1. All things are possible with God.
2. All things are possible for the person who puts their trust in God.
3. Just because God is able, does not always mean He will.
4. When the answer is no, it is because God has a better plan.
Before I close, let me take you back to our Key Scripture for just a moment. The passage this scripture is taken from reveals the story of a man coming to Jesus to get help for his son.
Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
The man wanted to trust Jesus, after all that’s what he came to Jesus for. But, sometimes it is hard to trust God with your life or your family’s future. What do you do in those cases? How do you turn your cares over to Him? Do what this man did:
Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
If you are having trouble trusting God or accepting His decision … pray for Him to help you trust Him more and for God to give you the grace to accept the moment and keep trusting Him while He works on the big picture. He will … He is able and always willing to answer that prayer.
