The Impossible Guarantee

Has anybody heard of the mysterious healing powers of Grape-Nuts?

Grape-Nuts cereal. Anybody heard about this mysterious powers. of Grape-Nuts. You haven't? Have you heard about Wonder, wonderful? Postum is?

I'm striking out I thought at least somebody with heard of these things well C W post where is Post Cereal and all that company comes from in the early hundred and you really like 1,800 was very aggressively marketing and he never heard of this product was postum. Which was a a substitute for coffee wasn't real coffee. And he was sure to tell everybody about the evils of coffee. That's why I don't like the man. By the way. Can I get an amen. Come on now coffee. And he also he was telling people how wonderful Grape-Nuts cereal. That's where the post advertising company that cereal company came from. He would tell people that Grape-Nuts could cure appendicitis. Do they had miraculous healing powers for more abscess. He even said that he could help a wheelchair-bound Evelyn invalid. And he had a great advertising campaign in a actually had to go to court and defend himself because of some of the issues surrounding the type of advertising that he was doing better this morning and she brought up a commercial because of some of the crazy things that someone commercial say, Don't know if any of you watched dr. Quinn Medicine, Woman in the 90s and I recall one episode where there was a guy who came to town selling some sort of tonic in the hotel and they were going by the tonic and of course that set up for a great guy who was leading people on with false hopes about his tonic didn't have the unit during those days. So a guy like that could go from town to town and sell his where is if he was a good salesman and really lead people astray. We did as I think after last a hundred years or so of these great marketing campaigns commercials newspaper ads, Internet ads, I got the point where many of us are a little bit jaded when it comes to marketing and advertising. But every once in a while there is somebody who just tells a story, just right and go grab a few people or sometimes a lot of people and get them in their sway. sometimes we have this attitude or this feeling of being jaded towards our scripture passage today, going to be in Mark chapter 11 and for those of you who were visiting, we've been making our way through the gospel of Mark since Last December, I think it was and we'll probably finish up here in just a couple months but we've been going pretty much paragraph by paragraph through the gospel of Mark. And today, we're going to be in Mark chapter 11 and I want to give you set the stage for today by Mark chapter 11 verse 12 Mark chapter 11 verse 12 on the following day when they came from Bethany. Jesus was hungry. And seeing the distance a fig tree in leaf. He went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing. But leaves for it was not the season for figs and Jesus said to it, may no one ever eat fruit from you again and his disciples hurt it. And the story abruptly stops there. And the next thing we have is, as he's been on his way, into Jerusalem, from Bethany. Bethany was just a few miles from Jerusalem, so he was walking long, as way he sees his fig tree, he sees it doesn't have figs. Even though it's not in season, he curses it. And then he walks along his way and interest Jerusalem. And next is what we looked at last week with the cleansing of the temple. So we're not going to go back into that. And you can look at sermons on our website, if you would like to figure out what in the world that has to do with anything, you can listen to that and learn from that. So now we're going to skip down to verse 20. First 20. Today is the day that Jesus and his company of people passed by, in the morning, they're coming back from Bethany, because when Jesus cleanses the temple, he spent the night there. Now, they're coming back into the City. And so they passed by that previous morning. They saw the Fig Tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered. Remember what did happen to previous morning and said to him? Rabbi look this big tree that you cursed has withered. And Jesus answered them face. And God, truly, I say to you, whoever says, to this mountain be taken up and thrown into the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that, what he says, will come to pass, It will be done for him.

Therefore, I tell you, whatever, you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.

Whenever you forgive. if you have anything against anyone, so that your father also who is in heaven, May forgive your trespasses

It is, I read this passage, there's all kinds of emotions and thoughts that come up in. This is an incredible guarantee. The Jesus gives. What are the emotions? I think I have is fair to say that many other people would have. Is this jaded feeling of it's like this advertising campaign? If only you do this, you're going to get this and it promises the world to you.

And that is the way. Sometimes we can feel towards the promise that Jesus gives for those of you who are visiting, if you like to take notes, there is a handout in the bulletin with Blanks on it and I did this last week with blanks. I don't normally put blanks in the handout but I really want to be able to lead you through this. So you can't look ahead because I wanted to take you step. You through these trues one step at a time. So, let's go to the Lord in prayer.

Florida to come to you, or Jesus. And we're considering your words. Help us, to be honest, with ourselves in the feelings. And thoughts. We have surrounding This guarantee that you gave us.

And then spirit of God, please teach us. Show us our need encourages strengthen us and maybe have a new confidence. Through the lessons here. I pray these things in Jesus name, amen. Number one, this morning. People are interested. An impressive accomplishments.

So the blanks there, the first one is interested. Second one is accomplishments. So people are interested in impressive accomplishments read something. From a book called rain is going to be really quick. I think you will find it interesting. is it, I'm going to ask you who was talking about, The boy's father could tell something was different at 6 months old. The boy can balance on his father's Palm is he walked through their home. It's 7 months. His father gave him a putter to fool around with and the boy dried it everywhere. He went in his little circular baby walker that climb down from his high chair over to a golf club that have been cut down to size for him in the garage. Because the father couldn't yet talked with his son, he drew pictures to show the boy, how to place his hands on the club. It is very difficult to communicate how to put when your child is too young to talk. He would later note. Today's to engage with the Centers for Disease Control and prevention list. Physical development, milestones like kicks a ball

He went on national television and used Club enough to reach his shoulder to drive past in admiring Bob Hope. That same year, he entered his first tournament in what division? There was no time to waste by three. The boy was learning how to play out of a sand trap and his father was mapping out his Destiny. He knew his son had been chosen for this and that it was his duty to guide him. Think about it. If you felt that certain about the path ahead, maybe you two would start prepping your three year old to handle the inevitable and insatiable media that would come. I know who this is talking about.

Has Tiger Woods. This book, goes on to demonstrate how sometimes parents will emphasize early specialization for their children so they can go on to have great careers. And the premise of this book is his that's harmful actually in the long run. But that's quite beside the point. People are captivated with the ability to accomplish and do great. Things in books are written and their seminars. And then you looked at have the best trainer so you can accomplish great things. People are interested in Great accomplishments. Those of you who've been around for a while, You can think of the things that you've done in your life in order to accomplish great things. That is, what is going on here with the Apostle, Peter, and Mark chapter 11 and I'm going it's going to look at verse 20 and 21. And Jesus in his company passed by in the morning, they saw the Fig Tree withered away to its roots. So one day later with it away, and Peter remembered and said to Jesus, Rabbi look this big tree that you cursed has withered. So this is what Peter is doing here. He is taking note to Jesus of the impressive accomplishment that Jesus had done. it's something that captivates any of us when something amazing happens, unusual happens when a great accomplishment happens, We take note. It grabs our attention.

Which sure is Christians as followers of Christ. We begin to make better value. Judgment on what is impressive? Then why? And how we can accomplish things? When what you accomplished, the Lord Jesus Christ gives a spiritual maturity and wisdom.

And how to Value. What is impressive because the world has its own judgment, its own value system of what is impressive. Are most the time it conflicts with the values that Jesus gives us. So the question is, what was Jesus's response to Peter? Peter took note of Jesus as impressive accomplishment. What was Jesus's response to Peter? And let's look at Mark chapter 11, verse 22. And Jesus answered them. So Peter spoke to him but Jesus, not only answers Peter but to the whole company and he says this, Have faith in God. Have faith in God. so Jesus, here made a connection between impressive accomplishments.

And faith in God. So, that is number two. People must connect their accomplishments.

Two-faced God first blank is accomplishments. Second blank is faith. Third blank is God. The number to people must connect their accomplishments to faith in God.

This is one of the most important principles for our lives. when we talk about faith in God, It starts with our Saving Face to Face when we come to Jesus and trust in him that what he did on the cross, his death was an atoning sacrifice for all of our sins. In his very own his resurrection. He rose victoriously over sin, conquered sin and death. Been through that, there is a gift of Salvation. Saving us from condemnation, BC were all born under condemnation. We're all born into sin. But God was not satisfied with that. That was a sad thing for him, and that is why he sent his son, Jesus. so, if we believe in him, We we have that saving Faith. The rescues us from the condemnation of sin. God is John 3:16 for you. For God is God the father, so loved the world that he gave his only son Jesus, that whoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life and what to do about it, But once you've gone through the Gateway of faith in God for salvation, then there is the Christian Life of faith in God for sanctification for growing from maturing. And so, how do you handle a lot of pressure? There's a lot of opportunity in America with a lot of pressure because we want to accomplish if we want to reach great.

So how do we have the wisdom to know how to accomplish the right? Great things in the right way, at the right time. Well, that happens through our faith in God. It is our faith of God faith in God, that enables us to accomplish the right great things at the right time. And the right way, there are a ton morning is a morning of books. I just as I Was preparing for the storm, and there's a several books, it just really connected to today's scripture passage. And there are many books out there talking about how you can accomplish things and do great things. And Jon Acuff, he is a Christian. But is you read his book? It is not really focused on the message of Christ. It's focused mostly on practical tips in the title, this book is finished. And then the subtitle is give yourself the gift of done. Finish. Give yourself the gift of done and it's chalk. Filled with all kinds of practical tips. And they are good tips. So I don't necessarily disagree with them, but they are good tips on how to get things done. One of them is just say, no, let me how to say no to things and other one is, if you can't stop simplify talkin about removing all kinds of clutter in your life and just doing key things in your life, so you can get the right things done. And then the name of one chapter is, make it fun if you want it done, the other practical to make a phone if you want it done. Because if you're dreading it, you're going to drag your feet and not want to do it. So, good book full of practical tips. Let me ask you something. What is the most reliable way to accomplish the right things?

What is the most reliable way to accomplish the right things?

Exercising your faith in God.

And these practical tips that many authors give most of them are very, very helpful. Not saying the wrong but they're not the starting point my friends. The starting point goes with your relationship with God. And from that You are able to deal with accomplishments the right way, that's what Jesus was doing there. He was connecting accomplishment to faith in God. That's exactly what I deserve. This great accomplishment Jesus had done in Jesus gave we might consider than. Answer have faith in God.

What it means is that you are to connect accomplishment to faith in God. But there's something even better here in this passage number 3.

Faith in God.

Guarantees The Impossible.

Faith in God. Guarantees. The Impossible.

Hence, the title of the sermon, which is The Impossible guarantee. It is here where we might feel a little bit. Feels kind of like, you know, some advertising campaign doesn't seem like this is realistic. It's promising me the world. So let's look at what we can learn from this passage Mark chapter 11 verse 23. truly, I say to you, whoever says, to this mountain be taken up and thrown into the sea and does not doubt in his heart, but believes, Then what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you whatever, you ask him for your believe, that you have received it and it will be yours. No, I'm not going to ask you to confess here but how many of you you can just answer inside how many of you after watching the Star Wars movie when nobody was looking to see if you can lift something and levitate it from the air?

Hey, there's some people are shaking their heads at me.

I'm not answering that question. I didn't ask you to answer the question. I'm not going to answer that question.

In some ways that's the way you can feel here with what is being taught.

Well, the idea of moving a mountain is the illustration. In the application is asking in prayer.

I don't want to lose sight that Jesus gives us an absolute guarantee here.

So, how does that work?

All any Christian who is pray for something?

Since trouble with what did Jesus say in here? What does that mean? Well, let me start with some obvious things but Even though there are obvious, we need to bring them up and perhaps if you I'd encourage you, if you read your Bible, write this down next to it. So is you read this? Passage in the future? You can to take your mind mentally through these things. Here's one thing is not a Genie in a Bottle.

For a lamp. Do you want to go with Aladdin's lamp?

You are not able to manipulate God and tell him to do whatever you want.

That's very important. Folks, there was a protection here from the twisting, this of our hearts. And sometimes we don't even understand the twisting of our hearts, in the corruption of our own hearts. And so, God is not able to be manipulated.

we are not able to pursue this guarantee is a perversion like with Simon the Magician wanted to do turn keep your finger here and turn the Acts chapter 8.

Acts chapter 8, just a couple New Testament books away.

Acts chapter 8, verse 9 says this, but there was a man named Simon. By the way, this is just right after the persecution, after the death of Steven and people are scattered about in. What are the people that were scared about was Philip? And he went to Samaria and he preached the word and many people believed and work come to Christ. And we're saved in the verse 9 but there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city, in a maze of people of Samaria saying that he himself was somebody great. They all pay attention to him from the least to the greatest saying This man has the power of God that is called great. And they paid attention to him because for a long time, he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, is he preached? Good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. They were baptized both men and women even Simon himself, Allegiant after being baptised, he continued with Phillip and seeing signs and great Miracles performed. He was amazed who were the apostles at Jerusalem. Her this Samaria had received word of God. They sent to them Peter and John who came down and prayed for them for the pattern and acts. By the way, is a Holy Spirit, came at Pentecost Acts chapter 2 to the Jews. Acts chapter 8, the Holy Spirit, come to the Samaritans and Acts chapter 10. It comes to the Gentiles. And the next chapter 19, there were some Apostles of John, could not receive the holy spirit yet, that's just a side note. But that's what's Happening Here. Happened in increments Annex today. It happens instantaneously at the moment of salvation.

First 16 for he had, not yet Fallen any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they receive the holy spirit Spirit was given through the laying on of the Apostles hands. He offered them money. Saying, give me this power also. So that anyone on whom I'm I Lay My Hands may receive the Holy Spirit to stop trying to control God and the works of God through his own manipulation, go back over to Mark chapter 11.

God is not a Genie in a Bottle. No one allowed his lamp if you prefer. and, God always acts within his will. God always accident as well. So as we consider this great passage of scripture, this great impossible, guarantee we are guaranteed that through prayer. We can accomplish The Impossible. You must understand that. God is Not manipulated by us, and he always acts within his will. I'm going to give you some other Bible references that you can look at on your own time. I'm not going to take us there this morning, Matthew chapter 6 verses 9 through 10 Matthew 6, verses 9 through 10. mark 14:36

John 14. Verses 13 through 14.

John chapter 15 verse 7. And then John chapter 16 verses 23 through 24. I went too fast for you. Talk to me afterwards and I'll make sure to get those to you. So, here are some possible objections. If God is not a Genie in a Bottle, I can't manipulate him to do what I want. And if he always responds Two only two. What is his will? How do I know something is God's will. And how do I keep that in balance, with the fact that the scriptures invite me challenge? Me, command me to go to God, as a child with my request and a child with the request doesn't hold back. My friend, just come over to my house for a while the request or constant. And so we are to be to our Lord. We are to go to our Lord, as a child, and just let loose. Don't hold back, sometimes, as we're in prayer, was struggling. With. What? What is God's will? I don't know what it is. So how do I balance out the fact that God? I don't know God's will, but he's only going to act in accordance with his will and yet I'm supposed to come with him with what's on my heart.

How do I figure that out? When you know, let me know. Okay, there's a mystery there folks. We don't know how that works out, but I can tell you, you can become more more assured and more more thinking like God and following through with his will and have the same heart that God has his, you cultivate your relationship with him. As you spend time in his word, which shows you his will and gives you principles to live out, his will, as you spend time in prayer, sharing your heart with him. You will begin to more more have a sense of his will and Edition. God's will doesn't always happen even if it is, his will, he doesn't show you that it has happened right away. Sometimes it's wait. so we're not able to assess that and know what it is through, our limited ability to understand, But here's what I want you to know folks based on passages like this, you are guaranteed.

Did you get that? You are guaranteed to see, God work in response to your prayer. Guaranteed.

That's a promise that God has given you.

Here's another possible struggle with this. The first thing I mentioned was how do I know something is God's will balance for the fact I'm supposed to just share my heart with him with anything that's there. Next thing is, how do I know they wouldn't have happened? Anyway? Have you ever prayed for trivial thing and it happened? Then you wonder. Why do I know that would have happened? Anyway, they were thought that before you pray for trivial thing is something that was a big deal to you, but you know, it's a trivial thing to most other people and then it happens like well, maybe it would have happened. Anyways.

Then you don't really know. You just don't really know. But here's what you need to know. If you fail to exercise faith. You will fail to have the confidence sense. The god worked. In response to your prayer. And that includes impossible, things. Even miraculous things. if you fail to exercise faith and go to God In Prayer, you are going to miss out. On the impossible guarantee. Cuz God guarantees you promises you that through your prayer. You can accomplish The Impossible.

number for,

The Impossible guarantee.

Does not apply. When you don't forgive.

The Impossible guarantee does not apply. when you do not forgive, So, the illustration was the mountain. The application. Was Freire going to God In Prayer V exception. To this, his lack of forgiveness. Did you catch that? There's a three-fold progression. The illustration, the mountain. The application that Jesus gave was prayer, we should be praying. In faith. and then, the exception to this is when you don't forgive

There are other things we could talk about with the specific exception that Jesus gives is, lack of forgiveness. The great prayer, blocker. is when you don't forgive,

That's a hardware folks, it's messy is confusing. But I want it off for you. Two aspects of forgiveness. There is the posture forgiveness. And there is the transaction of forgiveness.

And you can see both in scripture were not going to fill it out with this morning. If you want to study more in your own time, you can put the apostrophe forgiveness is a heart inside of you. That is willing to forgive others and is ready to forgive. And although you may not be able to have the transaction to forgive this with the other person. Actually says, I wronged you, will you forgive me and you grant them that forgiveness? That's the transaction to forgive us. but there is a posture forgiveness, is the willingness to forgive In the transaction.

There are situations where the person who wronged you and send against, you doesn't even recognize it will not recognize, it will not even Grant you the time of day that they have sinned against you.

But if you did not let go of that and prepare your heart for forgiveness and ready to forgive them in the transaction and forgiveness, it will eat you alive. Can you holding something in your heart? They will block your relationship with God.

That's an important distinction folks, because in our broken World, there are a lot of situations where you will not be able to see that forgiveness, take place between the two parties that needs to take place.

There are people in my life that

they need to ask my forgiveness.

But they have not, they won't even recognize that they brought against me.

but if I hold that in my heart without a Readiness to forgive them, that will hinder my relationship with God and this impossible guarantee.

A lot of people who allow that to feed bitterness and their soul begins to shrivel. It begins to eat them up. You say oh how do I do that? I have been wrong. So deeply that I don't have the power to do that. I can't

You're right, you can't. You need God's help with that, go to God and in his strength and the power of the holy spirit, that was given to you at the moment of your salvation. If indeed, you have been born again, True. That power of the Holy Spirit, you can have the posture of forgiveness.

This gets on sensitive areas, really quick.

She look at her application for the day or step through our points again. And number one, People are interested in impressive accomplishments.

Number two, people must connect their accomplishments to faith in God. Number 3, faith in God, guarantees The Impossible.

For the impossible. Guarantee does not apply when you don't forgive.

Today, I want you to leave this building.

Knowing you can be guaranteed impossible accomplishments.

Through your prayer Faith to God.

the accomplishments that we all want to accomplish,

Is children of God? Can be guaranteed to us through our prayer of faith in God.

See you in a half ago when covid was a ditz. Peak when I speak it was, is it initial surge? Everybody was afraid and they weren't sure know how bad this was and everybody was staying at home because they just weren't sure. I think it was around April. 2020, stalking my sister on the phone and she lives in Cincinnati area of Ohio. And she has major, major medical needs. This is very complicated, some things that people have never heard of. As I was talking to the phone all times, if she would go from one place to the other, she talks on the phone to help her stay alert.

Somebody pulled out in front of her and hit her. And I got to hear her in the car with the clothes on the phone, hear her scream. And all the whole deal, I don't ever want to have that extra.

Through that, her car was totaled.

And what is the functions in my life? She could make it on her own. She does a good job adult thing on her own, but one of the functions is her big brother is I've tried to help with many things in life as I can't. Well, here we are in the middle covid. Lockdown. And we're not supposed to go anywhere in her car is totaled and she couldn't get the insurance companies to resolve. Before her rental car time ran out and she didn't have a vehicle. I want to try to help her find a vehicle and I couldn't do all those fragile. Things are brothers like to do and I felt like my hands were tied and I was frustrated.

And I did pray about it but I was frustrated. I felt like there's nothing. I can do my hands were tied. I was angry too. Because I didn't want her to have to go through all this hardship and she didn't, she didn't have the help that she needed. I couldn't do anything about it and there's nothing I could do. So I did pray about it in the midst of the struggle, in my heart. and within a day or two, A friend, Rhino from Wakarusa. Put up on Facebook that she needed to sell a car. Long story short, the Lord used me in a way, I had no idea. It was even possible to help my sister get a car within a very short order within a week. I was driving her car down, halfway down the state so that we can meet and she can have a vehicle.

I share with you my frustration in my anger so you know I'm not any saint but I also want to tell you this, as a personal story there are times and you feel like there's nothing you can do to your hands are tied and something. Highly unlikely happens and God works through your prayer. And it gives you the confidence since that because you prayed believing that he can work. And he doesn't. And you never saw it coming. You couldn't have done it yourself.

There are many prayers that God has either said no to or he said, wait, I don't know because I haven't answered. Yes, hasn't come yet.

I know that God is not a Genie in a Bottle. I know that I can't manipulate him. I know that I can always ask a cording to his will, but I do know that I asked him if it is according to his, will The Impossible will happen and it is a great blessing to my soul and be a great blessing to your soul. So as you leave here today, I want you to know, you're supposed to go to your heart, believing that according to his will, he will work the impossible to your prayer and you can have the feeling in your soul, the real in your soul that God did something impossible. Because you asked him and faith.

Take a few minutes. Then respond to Lorde.