Posts Tagged ‘impossible’

RiverStoners and friends, Pray.  Bottom line.  Our mission from Christ is too big for us to accomplish.  It’s impossible, actually.  We can’t make disciples.  It’s impossible.  We can’t change the world.  It’s impossible.  We can’t transform hearts and make people love and follow Jesus passionately.  It’s impossible.

But.

Jesus can. And does.  He says that “all authority in heaven and on earth is his.” (See Matthew 28:16-20).  He says that he’s with us all the time, until the very end of the age.  (Refer again to Matthew 28:16-2o).  He says based on his authority and his presence, therefore, to GO!  Go on his mission of making disciples because we can’t, but we can in Him!

So.  Pray. Specifically pray for one another, the faith family who entrust their lives to Christ on this journey.  This is what the church was doing in Acts 12.  Look at it with me.  They are growing, the numbers of followers of Christ are growing, and the church is multiplying.  They are making disciples.  James is killed by a sword for making disciples.  It cost him his life.  Peter is captured and awaits the same fate as James.  He is seized and put in prison.  He is  held captive by 4 squads of soldiers to guard him.  What was the church doing as Peter awaits death?  Praying!

As the faith family of RiverStone, some of us face difficult situations on the road to disciple-making.  Marriage difficulties, financial obstacles and frustrations, parental matters, baggage, guilt, time-constraints, worry, fear, and much more.  What should we do?  Take a page out of the Acts 12 church and Pray!

• As the church prayed, what happened? (See 12:6-7)
• What can happen to seemingly impossible circumstances and dangers when the church prays? (see 12:11)
• What is there that you can pray about right now as we embark on the disciple-making journey?

We are studying How Christmas happened, and the strange events of the day in which God sent Christ on His rescue mission of redemption.  Thanks for studying along with us at RS as we learn truths that transform our thihnking and make us more like Christ. Let’s continue seeking the Word and digging in to understand a bit more about How Christmas came about…

Today I want us to focus on what the angel of God reveals to us in Luke 1:37.  Everyone needs to memorize this verse…This is one of the shortest verses in the Bible, but one of my favorite, most impacting verses ever.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37.

What is the angel referencing when he communicates that nothing will be impossible with God to young Mary?  He is answering a question that Mary poses to the angel.  Mary asked the angel in verse 34, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” In other words, Mary was saying, how will this son to be born come about? And how will I become pregnant becasue I am a virgin?  How is what your saying going to take place?  She wasn’t doubting the angel; rather she was asking how these events are GOING to happen?  She believes they will happen.  She believes God at his word through the angel.  She just isn’t quite sure HOW they were going to happen.

Do you ever find yourself there?  Do you ever find yourself believing God at his Word as he’s leading you in a direction.  Maybe it’s a work thing.  Maybe it’s wtih your finances.  Maybe it’s with your family.  Maybe it’s something you’ve been feeling led to do, or led to stop doing – and you truly believe God is at the center of talking to you to lead your way.  BUT, you don’t know HOW the thing that God is leading you to do will happen?  If that’s you, join your friend Mary.

The angel’s response is huge!  He says to her, “Mary, nothing is impossible with God.”  In other words, Mary, just know that as you participate in God’s plans, you need not concern yourself necessarily with HOW things will happen or turn out…rather you need to concern yourself with WHO God is.  He is the God who makes the impossible happen.  He is the God who makes the impossible, possible.

• What seems impossible to you right now that God is leading you to do?
• Why does it seem impossible?
• It is more powerful or too hard for God to do?  Of Course not, but why does it seem that way?

For Further Study, read 2 Kings 3 and answer what is the “light” or “easy” thing in the sight of the Lord in this story.

Be encouraged, and continue to Dig Deeper!