OUR GOD, THE GOD OF IMPOSSIBLITIES

Luke18:18 - 27

Subject verse: Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." 

PRAY

Mankind has sought to answer the questions of how did we begin and where did we start? Mankind has sought to find the answers in studying the universe. In one age man has tried to build a tower to Heaven. In another age man has tried to prove the big bang theory.

Today we call it science…a systematic endeavor to explain all there is to know about the universe based on our own testable explanations and predictions.

· Nimrod tried. He tried to build a tower to the heavens, to see God.

· The Babylonians tried. They made clay tablets identifying the solar year.

· The Egyptians tried. They built pyramids that pointed the way to eternity.

· The Chinese tried. They pursued evidence of earth’s relationship to the sun.

· Sir Isaac Newton tried. He tried to calculate his way to the stars.

· Einstein tried. He built his understanding of the universe on his ‘theory of relativity.’

Mankind also has questions about the after life. Where will we go when we leave this world?

This is how our text starts today, with a question about eternal life.

OUR GOD, THE GOD OF IMPOSSIBLITIES

THE QUESTION

18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 

A certain ruler came to Jesus to talk about how to inherit eternal life. This man was perhaps a member of the Sanhedrin or perhaps an official in a local synagogue. “To inherit eternal life” meant to enter the kingdom of God. The man wanted to know what actions would make him right with God. It is important here to note that that this ruler’s question indicates that he believes that there is more than he knows about eternal life. And as sure as there is eternal life there is also eternal death, eternity seperated from God. FOREVER! It seams that this man was restless and unsatisfied. He felt that Jesus had the key to a life deeper than he had experienced, and he longed to possess it. He wanted to know so earnestly that according to Mark 10:17, he knelt in the crowded area before this despised Nazarene.

When you really need something from God you will go the extra mile even if it is not nessesary. This man kneeled before Jesus. We know that kneeing is sign of high respect. He didn’t care who saw him, he had a need and he believed that Jesus could fulfill his need. Is there anybody here that needs something from God today?

Do you need salvation? God’s got it!

Do you need healing? God’s got it!

Do you need money? God’s got it!

Do you need relationships mended? God got it!

God got everything that you need!

He is Jehovah-Jireh! The Lord our provider!

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Is there anybody here that can say with me, He supplies my needs! 

THE QUESTION

THE REPLY

First thing was that Jesus had a question for him in verse 19. Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 

Apparently the man thought Jesus had gained a measure of status with God by His good works. Jesus was implying that if He were truly good, then it would be God because He is God. And that is correct. This, then, is another of Jesus’ claims of deity. This of course would make the Pharisees mad.

In verse 20, Jesus responded to the man’s question by instructing him to keep the seventh, sixth, eighth, ninth, and fifth commandments (Exo_20:12-16), each of which pertain to man’s relationship to man.

Luke 18:21–23“And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” The ruler’s reply that he had kept all these since childhood was probably correct. He may have been a model citizen. *

Jesus then told the man one other thing he needed to do: he needed to follow Jesus, and in order to do that he had to sell all that he had and give the money from the sale of his possessions to the poor. This action would touch on the 10th commandment against coveting, which included the idea of greed and holding onto things which are one’s own as well as wanting things that belong to others. It was at this point that the man faltered. At this point it shows that he loved his things more than he loved Jesus. Jesus was asking are you all in? are you willing to sell out? He’s asking us today are we all in, are we willing to sell out? Do you love God with all you heart, body, mind and soul?

Are you going all the way with Jesus?

If you’re broke, you’re going!

If you’re sick, you’re going!

If you have to go alone, you’re going!

I’m going all the way with Jesus!!!

THE REPLY

MY IMPOSSIBILTY IS GOD’S POSSIBILITY

Luke 18:24 - 27 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 

25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 

Jesus responded that riches can be a hindrance to one’s obtaining eternal life. Riches often cloud a person’s thinking about what is truly important in life.

Proverbs 11:28  He that trusteth in his riches shall fall:,

1 Timothy 6:9 - 10  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 

10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

Jesus used a common hyperbole of something that is impossible - a camel going through the eye of a needle (belonēs, a sewing needle, not a small door in a city gate). Likewise it is most difficult (but with God it is not impossible) for a rich person to be saved.

Proverbs 18:11  The rich man's wealth is his strong city:, The rich may feel like their money can protect them for anything.

But money is weak when compared to God. Don’t trust in your money. It will be here this morning and gone by tonight. There are many forces pulling at your income. House payments, car payments, food, gas, utilites, child support, medical bills and the list goes on.

It’s not wrong to save some money for a rainy day. But want do you do when it’s raining for several days? Just be sure that you don’t put money or anything ahead of God. The Word of God tells us to seek ye first the kingdom of God and His rightousness and all these things will be added unto you.

Don’t put you trust in money or store up you tresures on earth.

Jesus told us in Matthew 6:19 - 20  "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20  "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 

Jesus was asked a question, who then can be saved? The Publicans standing there had money, the Pharisees had money and some of the disciples had left thriving busnesses. It sounded impossible to them that a rich person could be saved.

Then Jesus told them, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

Yes it is impossible for man to put a camel through the eye of a needle, but is there anything to hard for God?

THE QUESTION

THE REPLY

MY IMPOSSIBILTY IS GOD’S POSSIBILITY