Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
This sermon encourages embracing challenges as opportunities to experience God's power, transforming impossibilities into purposeful service through faith and understanding of His divine plan.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Welcome to this place of worship, where we gather together as children of the Most High, eager to hear His Word and to find solace in His promises. It is here, in this sacred space, that we find strength in our shared faith, a faith that binds us together as one body, one spirit, under one God.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the book of Matthew, specifically Chapter 19, Verse 26. In the words of our Savior, it reads,
"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"
These words, spoken by Jesus Himself, hold a profound truth that we will unpack today. Let’s open up our hearts and see how this verse transforms the way we perceive our abilities, our challenges, and our purpose. It's a truth that emboldens us to embrace our identities as God’s followers.
In our walk with God, we often find ourselves facing mountains that seem insurmountable. We look upon these challenges and feel small, insignificant, and powerless. But remember, dear friends, that we serve a God who specializes in impossibilities.
I’m sure we can all relate, at some point in our lives feeling out of place, not quite fitting into the mold that the world has set for us. We can feel like square pegs in round holes, unable to conform to the expectations and standards that society imposes upon us. But let me tell you, my dear brothers and sisters, that it is in this very misfit status that we find our true strength, our true purpose.
We are not called to fit into this world. We are not called to conform to its standards or to seek its approval. We are called to be different, to stand out, to shine brightly in a world that is often shrouded in darkness.
Not fitting in is not about rebelling for the sake of rebellion, or being different for the sake of being different. It's about recognizing that our strength, our purpose, our identity, comes not from the world, but from God. It's about understanding that we are not defined by the world's standards, but by God's standards. It's about embracing our unique gifts, talents, and abilities, and using them to serve God and to advance His kingdom.
Living for God means recognizing that our strength comes from God. In the face of the impossible, we may feel weak, inadequate, and overwhelmed. But remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Our strength does not come from our own abilities or resources, but from God. He is the source of our strength, the one who empowers us to face and overcome the impossible.
Secondly, when we live for God, we are embracing our unique gifts, talents, and abilities. Each one of us is uniquely created by God, endowed with a unique set of gifts, talents, and abilities. These are not meant to be hidden or suppressed, but to be used for the glory of God. As disciples, we are called to use these gifts, not to conform to the world, but to transform the world.
Thirdly, a part of this is rejecting the world's standards and expectations. The world may tell us that we need to look a certain way, act a certain way, or achieve certain things to be accepted or successful. But as mighty misfits, we reject these standards and expectations. We understand that our worth is not determined by the world, but by God. We are not defined by what the world thinks of us, but by what God thinks of us.
As followers of God, we understand that our purpose is not to fit into this world, but to serve God and to advance His kingdom. We are not here to please the world, but to please God. We are not here to live for ourselves, but to live for God.
As we stand in the face of impossibility, it's essential to remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO