2023.07.23 Is This Even Possible?
Jesus Stories • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Is This Even Possible?
Is This Even Possible?
Psalm 138 • Luke 18:24–30
24 And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!”
26 Those who heard Him said, “And so who can be saved?”
27 But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.”
29 And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 who will not receive many times as much at this time, and in the age to come, eternal life.”
Last week we talked about the rich young ruler. This week’s passage is what Paul Harvey would call … The REST of the Story!
We left off with Jesus telling the man he lacked one thing. Do you remember what that was? [treasures in heaven]
And how was he supposed to acquire treasures in heaven? [sell everything, give to the poor and follow Jesus]
And in verse 23, the man was very sad because he had a lot of stuff.
This week, I’m going to throw out the list of questions we’ve been using this year..
Instead we’re going to walk through this passage together and I’ll ask questions along the way.
So, let’s begin with verse 24
24 When Jesus saw this,* he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!
What does Jesus NOT say here? [“difficult” is not the same thing as “impossible”]
This is why I said last week that the instructions to sell everything were not a universal appeal for all of God’s people to own nothing.
Jesus doesn’t say it’s impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom. He says it’s hard, and the Greek word used here suggests it is NEARLY impossible … but not impossible.
Halley’s Bible Handbook notes that Zachaeus offered to give half of his possessions, and Jesus was pleased with him. So giving EVERYTHING away is not a universal Jesus teaching.
Given what we learned last week, why do you think it’s so difficult for a wealthy person to enter the Kingdom?
entering the kingdom requires a full surrender
God’s people are not required to give up everything they have. They ARE required to give up CONTROL of everything they have.
self-sufficient people don’t see a need to surrender control
so, it’s exceedingly difficult for wealthy people to ever see a need to surrender control - They suffer from “I Got This” Syndrome.
Precisely how difficult is it?
Look at verse 25
25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
gate pic
The “eye of a needle” is thought by some to be referring to the small pedestrian gate within a larger city gate, where a camel could only pass through kneeling and with extreme difficulty.
This concept, however, appears to be an invention of modern tour guides in the Holy Land. There is no evidence in antiquity of this terminology referring to the pedestrian section of a city gate. So, Jesus is properly understood to be talking about a real camel and a literal needle. But either way, it’s REALLY difficult … nearly impossible. Impossible at least in our minds.
Add to this teaching the fact that first century Jewish men would have been taught that material prosperity was an indication of God’s favor … so if a RICH man has trouble making it … what chance to any of US have?
Is This Even Possible?
Is This Even Possible?
So the disciples think … just like we do… (verse 26)
26 Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”
27 He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”
A few weeks ago, we discussed this idea that NOTHING is impossible for God! And I called people forward and Annette and I prayed for those circumstances that seemed impossible.
Is anyone able to give a testimony about God’s activity from those prayers?
[pause for testimonies]
As we continue to verse 28, God bless Peter!
28 Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”
What’s Peter really saying? [non-rhetorical]
Hey, man! We left EVERYTHING to follow you!
“If sacrifice is what makes us kingdom-worthy --- we’ve sacrificed more than all the other ones!”
And what promise does Jesus give for those who sacrifice to follow him in 29 & 30?
29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God,
30 will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”
Pairing last week’s message with this week’s message … since they are parts of the same story ...
Anybody who gives up house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom will receive treasures in heaven. They will be rewarded in this life AND the next life!
Psalm 34:10b They who seek the Lord will lack nothing!
10 The young lions do without and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.
Charles Spurgeon said:
That is, not one of them. . . . Everyone that seeks the Lord has this promise—the least, as well as the greatest. . . . They that seek the Lord, whether they are chimney-sweeps or princes, whether they are tender children, or seasoned veterans in the Master’s great army—they shall want no good thing.
— Charles Spurgeon
Is This Even Possible?
Is This Even Possible?
So … no … this is not possible … not with humans.
But with God, all things are possible!
Blessings on earth — possible
Blessings eternal — possible
Deliverance from the guilt and stain of sin — possible
Salvation from death to life — possible
Inheriting the Kingdom of God — possible
It’s all possible with God! We just have to muster up the strength to sacrifice our selves and follow his son Jesus.
Praise God how uncomplicated that is! And God help us for how difficult that is!
Let us pray!