IMPOSSIBLE

My brothers and sisters in Christ, in the last two weeks we have learned 
that Faith consists of Forgiveness and Attitude. At this time let us examine 
together another part of faith, Impossible.    When  you  look  at the word:
Impossible, I-m-p-o-s-s-i-b-l-e what do you hear and see with the naked  
eye? Does anything come to your mind?

When you look at the word Impossible do you hear the words,

“To reach the impossible dream,  To fight the unbearable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow, To run where the brave dare
not go.  To right the unrightable wrong,   To be better far than
you are.   To try when your arms are too weary.   To reach the
unreachable  star.    This is my quest,   to follow that star,   NO 
matter how hopeless,  no matter how far. To be willing to give
when there's no more to give.    To  be  willing  to  die  so  that
honor and justice may live.    And I know I'll only be true to the
glorious quest.   That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when
I'm  laid  to  my  rest.     And  the  world  will  be  better  for  this. 
That one man scorned and covered with scars,     Still   strove
with his last ounce of courage. To reach the unreachable star."

My brothers and sisters in Christ, when I look at the word Impossible, I see 
three separate words. Impossible, Possible and Perceive. Now you may ask, 
"Pastor, I understand where you get Impossible and Possible out of the word 
Impossible, but where do you get 'Perceive' out of Impossible?"

Let's look at God's word and seek His wisdom.  Do you remember?

Luke 1: 26-29

"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city 
of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose
name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name
was Mary. And the angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, "Hail, O
favored one, the Lord is with you!" But Mary was greatly troubled
at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this
might be." 

Luke 1: 34

"And Mary said to the angel, how can this be, since I have no husband?"

Luke 1: 36-37

"And behold, your kinswomen Elizabeth in her old age has also
conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was
called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."

My brothers and sisters in Christ, in the sin of the flesh, to Mary what the 
angel Gabriel was telling her was impossible.

Impossible, do you remember? 

Mark 14:43-46

"And immediately, while Jesus was speaking, Judas came, one of the
twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief 
priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given
them a sign, saying, "The one I shall kiss is the man; seize him and
lead him away safely. And when Jesus came, Judas went up to him at
once, and said, "Master!" And Judas kissed Jesus. And they laid hands
on Jesus and seized him." 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, I believe Impossible is a perception in the 
eyes of the beholder. 

Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nations deserts. The vulture 
sees nothing but rotting meat, the hummingbird sees nothing but the colorful 
blossoms of the desert plants, for the hummingbird does not like to eat meat. 
These two birds may fly for miles over barren hot parched land to the naked 
eye. To these two birds the flight is not impossible for they have their eyes 
trained on what they need to survive.

God's word and life in the sin of the flesh has many stories of that which
appears to be impossible, for we are a society that is never satisfied with what 
is Possible.

His name is Lance Corporal Scott Divens. At approximately 10 PM, 02/12/04 
Pacific Time Lance Corporal Divens and his unit flew out to Iraq as they were 
re-deployed. As Scott and I spoke the evening he was to fly out he knew he 
was about to enter into a rowboat. Knowing that somewhere during the trip a 
storm would come up and when he and the others would become afraid, Jesus 
would say to them , "Have Ye No Faith?" 

In the sin of the flesh, being in a rowboat in a storm seems to be an impossible 
way to get to shore safely.

Matthew 19:26

"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men 
this is impossible but with God all things are possible." 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, God's children are a lot like the vulture and 
the hummingbird at the beginning of this sermon. The vulture lives on what was. 
They live on the past unable to look beyond the impossible. They live on what is 
dead and gone and push others away. The hummingbird lives on what is. They 
seek new life and fill themselves with freshness and life. 

Just like humans, each bird finds what it is looking for in what may be impossible 
circumstances. What is possible is living in a world that is unhealthy, in need of 
Jesus Christ in their life and of a child of God living in peace. It is all about how 
one may perceive their life.

Job 9:11

"Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on and I do 
not perceive him."

Job 23: 8-10

"Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward but I 
cannot perceive him; on the left hand I seek him; I turn to the
right hand, but I cannot see him. But he knows the way that I
take; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, HOW MANY OF GOD'S CHILDREN 
LIVE FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE.... UNABLE TO SEE, LET ALONE FEEL THE 
PRESENCE OF GOD IN THEIR LIFE? HOW MANY OF GOD'S CHILDREN LIVE 
FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE, INSTEAD OF THANKING GOD FOR THAT WHICH IS
POSSIBLE IN THEIR LIFE?

Living on that which was instead of living today on that which is. Living in sorrow, 
instead of living in thankfulness.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, INSTEAD OF LIVING SAYING 
"OHHH IF ONLY I COULD WIN THE LOTTERY. TO WIN THE IMPOSSIBLE 
DREAM, HOW GREAT MY LIFE WOULD BE." AT THIS VERY MOMENT, 
START LIVING THE POSSIBLE.

LIVING THE POSSIBLE, WHERE YOU ARE IN THE HERE AND NOW AND 
THANKING GOD FOR WHAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU.

Mark 8: 17-19

"And being aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why do you discuss the 
fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand?
Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having
ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the
five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken
pieces did you take up?" The disciples said to Jesus, "Twelve."

Mark 8: 20-21

"And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full 
of broken pieces did you take up? And the disciples said to 
Jesus, "Seven." And Jesus said to the disciples, "Do you not 
yet understand?"

My brothers and sisters in Christ, how a child of God, how you and I wish to 
perceive is a choice. A choice to long for the impossible in the sin of the flesh, 
or to pray for the possible in the eyes of God.

Proverbs 3: 5

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely
on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him
and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in 
your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from 
evil."

My brothers and sisters in Christ, we are our own worst enemy as we reach 
for the impossible in the sin of the flesh, instead of having faith in God for 
the Impossible that is possible in His, not ours, in God's eyes.

Proverbs 4: 1-5

"Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may
gain insight; for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.
When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in sight of my
mother, he taught me, and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my
words; keep my commandments, and live; do not forget, and do
not turn away from the words of my mouth. Get wisdom; get
insight." 

Faith begins with Forgiveness, ¹ and without forgiveness how can one have faith 
in their life? If one lives in the dark, unable to see the light of God, because of 
an Attitude, ² then how can one have faith in God, through you?

If a child of God lives for the Impossible in the sin of the flesh instead of living 
for that which is possible through God the Father then how can one proclaim 
to know the Good News? 

I once was blind but now I can see.... For I believed and through Jesus Christ 
my Lord and Savior, my sins were forgiven and I received a new life. The scales 
of attitude were removed from me, I could eat and in being fed, received the 
Good News. 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, look ahead, stay focused on Jesus as the 
center of your life and live the Impossible that is Possible through our Lord and 
Savior. You might find in living daily for Jesus…the Impossible will become 
Possible...when you say "Thank You Jesus, Thank You."

To reach the impossible dream can be a reality when you walk with Jesus in 
your daily lives. You may not get the Impossible you are asking for, in the sin 
of the flesh. But you will receive His love, His comfort, His presence...within 
your heart and soul. 

At this very moment are you ready to feel His presence, to perceive His being 
there. There.... Right there, beside you? 

Faith is knowing His presence in your heart when knowing you cannot physically 
see him, touch him, hug him but you know the Impossible Dream, for God is alive 
in you.

At this very second what are you going to do? I have made the choice to live the 
Impossible Dream with gladness, for He Lives Within My Heart and in Jesus being 
alive in my heart I am grateful for the Possible that occurs everyday in my life. The 
Possible? When Jesus Christ is alive within you then and only then will you not 
live in the darkness, but the hope, the light of a new day. To God Be The Glory!

Let us pray, 

Father, there are many who live for the Impossible Dream instead of living
for you and thanking you for what is Possible in their life. May I feel your
presence Father in my life. May I be thankful to you Father, for what is 
Possible in my life at this very moment. What is possible and glorify your
name Father, in knowing that in your presence nothing is impossible. It 
is all about being thankful and living not for this world but for you so that
others may come to know Jesus as their Lord & Savior.

Amen



02/15/04JWM       Back to Sermons


 [ ¹Forgiveness: Sermon #1 in series ]
[ ²Attitude: Sermon # 2 in series ]