Sermon Central
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Faced With The Impossible, Entrust It To Jesus -- John 6:1-15
Contributed by Gregg Bitter on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: How often life can seem impossible! What hardships we face! What good comes from it? Let’s see, as Jesus tells his disciples to do the impossible: Feed 5000+ people. Parts: A. He places the impossible in front of us. B. He works it out his way, not ours.
The world will never do that. When the world faces the impossible, they might redefine success claiming, "I can do it well enough." They might dismiss it as unimportant: "I can’t do it, but it doesn’t matter." They might excuse it by looking at others: "I can’t do it, but they can’t either." They might use it to indulge for their laziness: "I can’t do it, so why bother trying. I’ll just do my own thing." They might falsely appeal to the strength of humanity: "I can’t do it, but we can do it together." Or they might give up in despair: "I can’t do it, so it’s all hopeless." But the world will not bring it to Jesus.
But you, dear Christian, when faced with the impossible, entrust it to Jesus. That’s why he places the impossible in front of us. So that we entrust it to him.
B. He works it out his way, not mine
1. When we realize we can’t do the impossible, what do we pray?
When faced with the impossible, entrust it to Jesus. Pray, "I can’t, Jesus, but you can. You can. So work in me what you will. Lead me in your way, not mine." Take note. This is not a prayer of spiritual laziness saying, "I can’t, so I’ll just go do my own thing and you, Jesus, do what you want for me." That’s the world’s thinking once again.
As Jesus works his will in you and leads you on his way, it’s not easy. It doesn’t necessarily feel good to you. It can put you into awkward situations or even into apparent danger. I wonder what I would have been thinking if I were one of the disciples at the point were Jesus tells them to have the people sit down and distribute the food. Might I not have thought, "Jesus, do you really know what you’re doing here? If we have these people sit down, they’ll expect something to eat. What are they going to do when we run out of food? I don’t want a riot here? Do you really know what you’re doing?"
Whatever the disciples may have thought, they listened to Jesus instead. So our prayers don’t stop with, "Jesus, I can’t." But we pray, "I can’t, Jesus. But I trust you to work your way in me. I won’t refuse where you lead. I will listen and follow, though I don’t understand or see the outcome. Your way, dear Lord, not mine. Your will be done, not mine." And he may well lead us through dark valleys and thorny thickets, over treacherous mountains and burning deserts, paths that are impossible for us unless we are following him. But even as we follow, they are not easy paths. You will struggle. You will bleed. It’s the narrow way.
2. Describe the blessing Jesus brings as he works his way in you.
But follow on, dear Christian, follow on, no matter how dark or thorny, how rugged or hot. Though the way be drear, though the foe be near, follow on. Follow on. For from the impossible Jesus works blessing beyond we you can anticipate. Do you think the disciples imagined they’d have enough food. "Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" (John 6:7). Well, each one did not have only a bite but as much as they wanted. They were all full, and twelve basket fulls were left over. The more impossible the situation, the greater blessing Jesus works. So entrust it to Jesus to do it his way, not your way.
