The month of December is marked by the celebration of Christmas; a time given to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ into our world as a baby born to a virgin. I could spend time telling you that while Jesus Christ was most definitely born as the Bible declares – to a virgin (Luke 1:26-27) and at a time of God’s choosing (Galatians 4:4-5), He was not born on December the 25th. I would point out to you the fact that we are in no place in the scriptures instructed to remember His birth but rather His death and promised return (1 Corinthians 11:26). But there is something in the story of His birth that I WOULD like to focus on instead and it is found in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel.
After the angel Gabriel had announced to Mary the plans which God the Father had for her in the accomplishing of His will and Mary questioned the impossibility that she, a woman who had never slept with a man, could conceive a child, the angel made a statement concerning God in (v. 37):
“For with God nothing will be impossible.”” (Luke 1:37)
I want to ask you, does this mean that in that one instance only, nothing would be impossible with God? Today, as we struggle against the effects of a pandemic, and suffer the consequences of addictions we can not seem to free ourselves from – why do we live as if the fact that nothing is impossible for God only applies to the other guy and not to us? Or to another time and not to our own?
I truly feel as if the NIV especially does a disservice to the intent of the words spoken here when it renders (v.37) this way: “For no word from God will ever fail.” Is it true that God keeps His promises? Yes. Is it true that God does what He says He will do? Of course! But this rendering ignores the fact that the things you and I deem to be impossible do not slow God down in the least. With that in mind consider a few other passages which stress the FACT that with God NOTHING will be, or is impossible:
For a couple for whom the term “up in age” would be an understatement God promised a child. Sarah, then in her 90’s, well past her child bearing years laughed at the impossible thought of intimacy with her 100 year old husband let alone becoming pregnant (to relate put yourself in either ones place). “And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”” (Genesis 18:13–14)
“‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” (Jeremiah 32:17) Jeremiah and all Israel and Judah were about to be taken away captive to another land; for them the possibility of ever seeing home again was hopeless. Yet God instructed Jeremiah to purchase land in Israel (Benjamin Jer. 32:6-8) before they were taken away ultimately indicating what even Jeremiah still had to learn – nothing, including returning the people to their homeland was impossible for Him.
“And again I say to you, 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.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” (Matthew 19:24–26) The greatest impossibility of all (for men) is to gain eternal life or to please God by any human effort; yet the message continues to be proclaimed and people continue to be saved today because salvation is of God and only possible through faith in His Son.
Each of these verses shows that nothing is EVER impossible with the God who formed the heavens and the earth along with everything that dwells upon it. But beyond the mundane and everyday things, there remain many things which are absolutely impossible for those who attempt anything without God. That is what Jesus later declares in (John 15:5):
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Paul declared in (Philippians 4:13): “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
We cannot do anything – we cannot overcome addictions and be set free from their curse on our own. Not only that but, though many people try, we cannot be saved on our own or by our works and good deeds. Doing more good than bad will not tip the scales in your favor when God judges men in the last day. We struggle against so many things and cry out “why can’t I stop!” If that describes you today, the answer is simple – stop trying to do in your own power what God wants to do for you (and has already made available to you through His Son Jesus Christ!)!
Put first things first – believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved! (Acts 16:31)
Some of you may be thinking, “wait a minute Pastor, I do believe; I am already saved!” Alright, but are you trusting Him to set you free from your addiction or whatever it may be with which you struggle? If you are a believer today, the Bible declares that God’s Holy Spirit now lives in you (1 Cor. 3:16). He not only confirms the fact that you are a child of God to your spirit (Romans 8:16) but He convicts you of sin (John 16:8) and He enables you to overcome it (Galatians 5:16). The Spirit supplies everything we need to live a life that pleases God. In that effort, we do have a part; we can either fight against Him and risk quenching or grieving Him as we willingly disobey or return to things that we KNOW are harmful to us and our life in Christ; or we can cooperate with Him and day by day have victory over those same things.
But the reason God does the impossible may surprise you – He does it to get glory for Himself. (John 15:7-8):
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
God is glorified when through Him we are victorious; this is what Jesus was pointing at in (Matthew 5:16) when He said to believers:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
When God does the impossible in us people notice. When we live for Jesus, people notice; especially when they feel the effects of the change.
What is your impossible?
Throughout the scriptures, God did the impossible through the most unlikely people, through David He killed a giant, through a virgin He brought forth His Son, the Savior of the world, and through some fishermen, a zealot and a tax collector He sent a message that 2000 years later is still being heard. What is the impossible in your life that you are praying to Him about? He has not changed and He still hears both His children when they pray and a sinner crying out to be saved. He will hear you….
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