The God of the Impossible

Introduction- Mark 11:12-14 & Mark 11:20-26

In this passage of scripture Jesus comes to a fig tree which had leaves but had no fruit on it.

Jesus then speaks to the fig tree cursing it saying “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.”

This fig tree was likely intended as a representation of the religious leaders who had an outward appearance of religion but who bore no true fruit.

Yet as Jesus spoke these words, the disciples heard him and the Lord Jesus would ultimately use the fate of the fig tree to teach them a valuable lesson.

The following day Jesus and His disciples passed by the same fig tree and noticed that is was dried up from the roots.

Peter (and likely the other disciples as well) remembered how Jesus had cursed the tree and he marveled at the fact that it was already withered away.

It seems the disciples, even after witnessing Jesus do many miracles (the blind given sight, demons cast out, five thousand fed, Jesus walking upon the water) yet they were amazed that the tree was so quickly withered.

Jesus then used this moment as an opportunity to strengthen the faith of His disciples challenging them in several areas.

Jesus challenges them to...

Greater Faith

Jesus first makes a simple statement to His disciples that they would “Have faith in God.”

One of the great difficulties for the disciples was their lack of faith and this is still true for you and I today.

So often we struggle to believe that God can do what we desire to see Him do or we somehow believe that though He has done it for others, He will not do it for us.

Most often the factor that limits the work of God most is our lack of faith.

Matthew 17:19–20 KJV 1900

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Jesus told His disciples that nothing would be impossible to them if they would only believe.

Jesus over and over again is intent on lifting the faith of the disciples beyond its current state.

We too need to be reminded that there is nothing impossible with God.

Jeremiah 32:17 KJV 1900

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

We may believe this in theory but are we actually convinced that God can do anything?

May we have the faith to believe that God is capable of doing anything.

Jesus is also challenging them to a...

Greater Vision

The scriptures tell us that the disciples marveled that the fig tree was so soon withered but Jesus uses this moment to give them a greater vision for what is possible.

The talk here of moving mountains is intended to give them a greater vision for what God is capable of doing.

The natural response to such a claim as a mountain being removed and cast into the sea is that this would be impossible.

This is exactly the point, apart from God it would be, but God’s power knows no such limitations and it is His power that we have access to as we pray.

Jesus is trying here to help the disciples to understand what God is capable of in order that they might have a greater vision for what God desires to do through them.

“God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible – what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.” -A.W. Tozer

I wonder how many of us have ever prayed for something that from our perspective seemed to be impossible?

The point is these are exactly the types of things that God desires to do if we would but ask Him!

This must be taken along with the instruction regarding prayer throughout the scriptures, mainly that we must pray in accordance with the will of God and that our motive must not be selfish but that God would be glorified.

If we are seeking the Lord and His will, we can be sure that at times He will move us to ask for things that seem to be beyond our own capability because it is in doing these things that He proves Himself to be God.

I am confident that God desires to do some things here in Clovis, NM through you and I that men would deem to be impossible if we would but seek His will and ask Him.

Greater Sensitivity

Jesus also includes in His instruction to the disciples here a challenge to a greater sensitivity.

It is apparent that if we attempt to pray while harboring unforgiveness in our hearts we have no right to expect our prayers to be answered.

How many times has our tendency to hang onto offenses and to hold grudges hindered our praying?

We must realize that if we are to have power in prayer, we must be right with one another.

We ought to be hyper sensitive in this area in order that we may be able to pray confidently.

May we tonight examine ourselves to determine if there is unforgiveness in our hearts that needs to be dealt with so that we can once again have power in our prayer lives.

Conclusion

Tonight I want to challenge you to use the challenge of Jesus to His disciples to challenge us to greater faith, a greater vision, and greater sensitivity.

I wonder what impossible thing God might do through us if we would only seek His will and ask Him?

Would you determine tonight to place no limits on God and to have faith in Him that there is nothing impossible for Him?

Would you tonight go beyond your own thoughts and plans and seek to know what God desires to do that we may witness Him doing the impossible?