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Possible
No Fail
Let’s recap out of Luke what we’ve been learning so far:
26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. 36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 37For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:26-37
After a long list of impossible things, (and don’t you just love it that God chose Dr. Luke to transcribe all of these physical impossibilities…he had to be paying extra attention with his background, I’d imagine-God’s plan is ever so perfect in each detail), after the list of things Mary knew were not possible without divine intervention, God answers her how and concludes it in verse 37: For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Knowing God
Mary knew the God of the Old Testament. She knew what Gabriel meant when he said with God nothing is impossible. I wonder where her mind took her to in God’s Word?
- To the Red Sea, divided?
- The very words from God’s mouth creating the world?
- Noah building an ark, gathering the animals, warning the world and being saved from the flood & the earth’s demise?
- A fire and three faithful servants thrown in to die but left without the first singe of a burn?
- Daniel refusing government mandated evil and coming out of a den of lions alive & well…and still worshiping his God?
- A Whale’s belly not consuming Jonah… and a life redirected to the Lord?
- Job’s demise of all that was good and God’s restoration in his life as he continually chose to see -and declare-God’s good character again and again?
I just wonder what she was thinking from all that she knew of God. Mary’s faith was about to become sight in a way she’d never known before.
Not Impossible
Mary, you will see an angel who has a message from God for you.
God spoke to Mary through His angel with an unexpected message, in an ordinary place, in a peculiar way.
What message is God telling you?
Not Impossible.
Mary, lowly handmaiden of the Lord, you are highly favored, blessed and the Lord is with you.
Mary’s humbleness was a reflection of her heart toward God but not of God’s toward her. She was indeed favored by Him.
What do you see about yourself when you look into God’s Word and His heart toward you? Keep looking.
Not Impossible.
You will be scared half to death by the angel’s appearance, and He will calm your every fear.
Mary’s circumstances were too scary to face, but God was bigger than her fears.
What scares you? What anxiety tends to overtake truth, invade your rational thoughts, and spin your stomach upside down?
Not Impossible.
You, a young virgin, are going to be pregnant, give birth to a baby, and name Him Jesus.
Mary wasn’t able to manipulate those around her for help or understanding. She wasn’t be able to otherwise control what was about to happen. And she didn’t even try to. Her life circumstances were absolutely impossible without God’s power and presence.
What situation out of your control (and out of your responsibility) are you running ragged trying to interrupt, stop or prevent in your life, today?
Not Impossible.
You will birth the King of Kings, love Him, raise Him up, follow & obey Him, and watch Him die; you will give your life for Him because He gave His life for you.
Mary faced hard things in her life. She wasn’t blessed into an easy life, but she was blessed because of who she was, and who she allowed God to be, in her extraordinary but tough circumstances life.
Do you feel overwhelmed in your own life circumstances? Remember Mary, remember Jesus.
Not Impossible.
Rich men & Heaven, Camels & Needles
One of the most significant impossibles is recorded in the book of Mark. Mark chapter ten.
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Mark 10:17-27
Impossible
I’m not changing the story here. Somethings are truly impossible. We’d all die to wait and see a camel fit through the eye of a needle, as we know them to be. And it was just as impossible for this rich man, who had everything he could want or buy, to obtain eternal life. But like every impossible thing we’ve talked about and the ones you’ve thought of in your own heart, this impossible, too, would be possible with the Lord.
The disciples wondered if Jesus was losing it. And as they scratched their heads without understanding Jesus answers them:
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Mark 10:27
No Fail Way to possible
Friends, when we go through things that are from God in our lives, and when we are instructed to obey Him in things that seem too hard-impossible, we can know this. If it comes from the Lord, and even when it seems impossible to everyone around us, we can trust Him. Pick yourself up, believe what God says to you, and follow Him. It’s not impossible, instead it’s the no fail way to POSSIBLE; it’s Jesus!
