Note: This is a manuscript for the message I plan to deliver Sunday… God willing.
“The Message Of Christmas: Nothing Is Impossible” (Luke 1:37)
Who is today’s message for? (Me) All: Speak God for I am listening…
There are two accounts of Jesus’ birth. One is in Matthew, the other in Luke. I’ve spent this week reading them over & over… looking for something I haven’t noticed before. And what I found encouraged me. It is in a verse I’d read often, After reflection I decided if I was encouraged, you too…
Lk 1:37, “Nothing is impossible w/ God.” God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, or his ways our ways. His plan of redemption was in place before the world began! Consider…
Mt 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:8 All who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb…
Rev 17:8 The dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast…
Those passages amaze me. I am awed by the greatness of our God, truly, nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it!). As God was creating, His plan was in place to save every person who would believe in Jesus. Before Adam & Eve… up to & including today, God’s plan has been in place AND is being worked out! God worked thru time & people to save because nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it!).
And as believers we are just as much a part of God’s plan of redemption as Moses… David… Mary… Paul… Martin Luther… John Wesley… Spurgeon… or Billy Graham! THINK! He is working in your life circumstances just as He did in Mary’s… Nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it!)
God does not sit in heaven watching the world spin & things happen hoping they’ll turn out His way. God is involved in our lives! He is working all the time… everywhere… in all things… to glorify His name & give good things to those who love Him!
Christmas is about God working for His Glory! And nothing is impossible w/ God! (Say it!)
In prayer we ask God to do the impossible! To change people’s lives. To work to save them… for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven… RIGHT?
Thru prayer we ask God to intervene in world events. To change work in our leaders… governments… financial markets & even the weather. We WANT God to healing… direct… guide… & lead! We want him to do what we can’t b/c “nothing is impossible with God “ (Say it!)
In Jesus’ birth, God carried out what he’d told His prophets He would do. He did what we read in Mt 1-2 & Lk 1-2 as part of an ETERNAL plan. THAT IS AMAZING!!! Now think with me…
An old man & woman (Zacharias & Elisabeth)… had a child. It wasn’t a coincidence God used, it was part of His plan. He chose to give this barren couple a child that would be filled w/ the Spirit from birth to prepare the way of the Messiah. It all seems impossible to us, but nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it!)
The virgin Mary became pregnant b/c nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it). Joseph didn’t divorce Mary b/c an angel appeared to him & he found out nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it).
Mary knew her relative Elizabeth would have a baby even though she lived a long way from her. She didn’t need a cell phone or text messaging or email. She knew what was being kept a secret from everyone else b/c nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it!)
Mary & Joseph lived in Nazareth, but it was prophesied the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. They had no reason to go there w/ her being 9 months pregnant, until the law required them to walk 90 miles to get there… to fulfill prophecy… & this happened b/c nothing is impossible w/ God
Wise men were looking for a star… that the star heralded the birth of a King… knew to follow that star… & took gifts w/ them of gold, frankincense, & myrrh b/c nothing is impossible w/ God.
When the wise men asked Herod about the Messiah’s birth, the priests & scribes knew the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem b/c nothing is impossible w/ God. After the wise men visited Jesus in Bethlehem, they knew not to return to Herod… but go safely home another way… b/c nothing is impossible w/ God.
Young boys watching sheep in a field encountered angels & found out about the birth of The King in a manger… went to see him… & rejoiced over his birth b/c nothing is impossible w/ God.
When Mary & Joseph took Jesus to the Temple on the 8th day… Simeon prophesied about Jesus being the Messiah (Even though he’d never seen him) b/c God had revealed to him he wouldn’t die until he’d seen the Messiah. He knew who Jesus was b/c nothing is impossible w/ God.
The widow Anna who’d stayed in the Temple for decades in prayer, worship, & fasting told everyone about who Jesus was b/c it was revealed to her. She knew b/c nothing is impossible w/ God.
All those things happened b/c GOD was at work… doing what seemed impossible b/c “Nothing is impossible w/ God!” (Say it!)
Joseph fled to Egypt from Bethlehem b/c an angel warned him. Even though he was dirt poor God provided for the trip thru the wise men’s gifts of gold, frankincense, & myrrh. There is no way to explain the financial provision for the trip but that nothing is impossible w/ God (Say it!)
Why did all these things happen? I’ll tell you why. Turn to Gal 4:4…
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive adoption as sons.
God made sure all those things happened… when from our perspective they not only seem unlikely, but impossible. How do we know? Lk 1:37, “Nothing is impossible w/ God.”
Say it! “Nothing is impossible w/ God.” Now more verses in the same train of thought…
Gen 18:14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Same in Num 11:23)
Jer 32:17 Ah, Lord God! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”
Jer 32:26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?”
Did you hear a pattern? Whether posed as a question, or made as a statement, the recurring theme is this… God can do ANYTHING! (PAUSE) The message of C’mas is this… There is nothing God cannot do! Think of your biggest fear… now quote Lk 1:37, “Nothing is impossible with God…”
We live in a time of uncertainty. Many are worried, anxious, & concerned about what the future holds. Listen! God is still on His throne! There is no reason to be anything other than hopeful because nothing is impossible with God! As God took care of Mary & Joseph, He’ll take care of you!
You are of much more value than birds of the air or lilies of the field. If God takes care of them, won’t he take care of us who mean MUCH more to Him than they do?! Consider…
Heb 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…
There is another thing I need to tell you. Listen to Matt 19:25-26…
Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
According to Jesus, no one can save themselves. It’s impossible! The only way a person can be saved is by the power of God thru Christ! No matter how hard a person tries to be good… no matter how moral they are… no matter what they do… apart from Jesus, salvation cannot occur.
Come to Christ for the forgiveness of your sin!
Always remember… “Nothing is impossible with God!” (Say it!)