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In these two passages we see two seemingly impossible situations. The word "impossible" as found in our text means "without strength, impotent, powerless, incapable of being done:" But these passages show us by the words of Christ and His actions, that no situation exists, and there are no problems that we may face, that are impossible for God to solve.
I want you to see with me several important spiritual insights concerning God doing the impossible in our lives.
I. God Is An Expert In Handling Totally Impossible Situations
A. "Bring him unto me." v19
1. That's the answer!
2. Here is the solution to every seemingly impossible situation that we may encounter.
3. Jesus assures the father that "all things are possible"! v23
4. Many folks never consider the limitless power of God.
5. What is that you face this morning that seems impossible?
B. God, the Creator of the Universe, is an expert in doing the impossible!
1. Note the invitation of Christ
2. Bring Him unto Me…
3. He can deliver from the bondage of sin, if you will come to Him
4. He can take care of the impossible situation in your life, if you will come to Him.
5. If you are lost this morning, come to Christ this morning and find deliverance…find salvation for your soul.
6. Note v23, "All things are possible to him that believeth"
7. To believe in Him means placing our faith in His finished work on Calvary.
8. Do you believe this morning?
(Rom 10:9-10) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
II. God Cannot Do The Impossible Until He Places Us Into An Impossible Situation
A. Look at the situation in which this father found himself.
(Mark 9:18) "And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not."
1. Do you hear the agony in this father's voice.
2. The frustration of failure everywhere he had turned.
3. But listen to the glimmer of hope as he comes to Christ for help.
4. He was at the end of himself, to him the situation was impossible.
B. He was like so many others before him.
1. Daniel as he was cast into the lions' den …no hope of survival…it was impossible!
2. Like David against Goliath…how could he be victorious over such a mighty warrior?
3. And yet God did the impossible!
4. When it seemed there was no hope, when it seemed there was no way out…then God did something wonderful!
C. God will do it again!
1. He said, "Nothing shall be impossible!"
2. It is when God brings us to the point in our lives where we think there is no hope.
3. It is when we come to the end of our rope…when we run out of answers…when we turn to Him in faith…God will do the impossible!
III. We Must Open The Door To The Miraculous Intervention Of God
The first passage dealt with physical deliverance and the second passage deals with spiritual deliverance. God desires to work in both areas of our lives.
A. Without faith we close the door on God's power in our life.
1. What did this man desire?
2. Eternal life.
3. It seems that he recognized his need, and knew that he must come to Jesus to receive eternal life.
4. So far so good, right?
5. But Jesus, who knows our hearts, begins to question him.
6. He has been religious, righteous in his deeds, but there is an underlying problem.
7. The problem was not riches…it wasn't money… it was an issue of trust.
B. Note Jesus' explanation in v23-24
1. That is the bottom line isn't it?
2. It all comes down to 'trust' or 'faith'.
(Heb 11:6) "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
3. Did you hear what God says here?
4. It is 'impossible without faith'
5. But note v27
(Eph 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast."
C. Our faith in God and His miraculous power is the key that unlocks the door to answered prayer and divine intervention.
1. The rich young man walked away from God's saving power because of lack of faith.
2. He shut the door of God's power by unbelief.
3. There is no indication that this man was ever saved…he made a conscious choice that day.
4. Everyone here this morning must make that same choice.
5. Will you trust Jesus Christ or will you turn away?
6. Will you place your faith in Him or will you continue to place your faith in your own abilities…your own plans…your own goals?