And The Impossible Became Possible

And the Impossible Became Possible

Adapted from And the Angels Were Silent, Max Lucado—Chapter 9, Courage to Dream Again

Scripture Ref: Isaiah 43:18-19 2 Timothy 4:7-8

2 Corinthians 5:17 Hebrews 2:14-15

Revelation 3:15-16 Matthew 11:28

Genesis 18:23-25

Job 19:25-27

Other Ref.: The Bible Knowledge Commentary

The Nelson Study Bible

1. Introduction

a. How good are you at dreaming? How big are your dreams? What limits do you place on them?

b. Over the years I have dreamed of being a famous concert pianist, a world-renowned opera singer, and the pastor of a church. Today, I stand here before you, the evidence those dreams coming true.

c. They did not come true on the scale in which I envisioned them. They came true in a way much larger than I ever dared hope.

(1) While not a famous concert pianist, with only piano lessons to my credit, I have been pianist, organist, or choir director at almost every church I have ever attended. My meager talents have been employed in serving God my father, and appreciated just as much by those who heard me as they would have been by a huge crowd.

(2) While not a world-renowned opera singer, I have been choir member and soloist, singing to and for the greatest and most important audience ever conceived—Jehovah, Addonai, El Shaddai, Elohim, God. And, I have been compensated in far greater ways than a throng of adoring fans paying large amounts of money to be in my presence ever could. The one closest to my heart, is the memory of the young man at a small country church in Louisiana, much like this one, who said he gave his heart to God because of the message in song I brought there on Saturday night.

d. Let me give you an example of another dreamer:

Hans Babblinger of Ulm, Germany, wanted to fly. He wanted to break the bond of gravity. He wanted to soar like a bird.

Problem: He lived in the 16th century. There were no planes, no helicopters, no flying machines. He was a dreamer born too soon. What he wanted was impossible.

Hans Babblinger, however, made a career out of helping people overcome the impossible. He made artificial limbs. In his day amputation was a common cure for disease and injury, so he kept busy. His task was to help the handicapped overcome circumstance.

Babblinger longed to do the same for himself.

With time, he used his skills to construct a set of wings. The day soon came to try them out and he tested his wings up in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. Good choice. Lucky choice. Up currents are common in the region. On a memorable day with friends watching and sun shining, he jumped off an embankment and soared safely down.

His heart raced. His friends applauded. And God rejoiced. (And the Angels Were Silent, Max Lucado, Chapter 9)

2. The Impossible becomes Possible

a. Why would God rejoice? He always rejoices when we dare to dream the seemingly impossible. He is the ultimate expert on making the impossible possible.

b. You want assurances or proof positive, check His record.

(1) 100-year-old husbands with 80-year-old wives don’t typically choose to start a family or dream of parenting a nation…but don’t tell that to Abraham and Sarah.

(2) 80-year-old shepherds rarely take on Pharaohs with huge armies at their disposal…but don’t tell that to Moses.

(3) Pre-pubescent shepherds, as a rule, aren’t willing to confront giants…but don’t tell that to David.

(4) Back-shift shepherds rarely get to hear the hosts of heaven singing and see God in a stable…but don’t tell that to those who observed it in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.

(5) And certainly don’t tell that to God. His specialty is conversion—impossible to possible.

c. Read Isaiah 43:18-19—“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

(1) We are told to forget the past. Forget about our past and its limitations. Rather, look to the future and the great new things we will be able to do through Him. Dream to achieve the impossible.

(2) In this passage, the Jews are told of how God would provide for them. They would be traveling through desolate lands and God would provide water and streams in abundance. He would provide food in a land incapable of supporting agriculture.

d. If He can do this to the earth, He can certainly do it to you.

(1) Read 2 Corinthians 5:17—Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

(2) If any man could lay claim to this promise it was Paul! He changed from a persecutor of Christ to a proclaimer of Christ.