God Can

“God Can”

Matthew 19:23-26

David P. Nolte

It’s amazing what people can do if they are determined. One man lost both arms and his sight in an explosion. But he wanted to read his Bible so he learned how to read it in braille with the tip of his tongue. He managed to read the entire Bible within a year in this manner.

There’s also a woman who is paralyzed, except for her legs, and she has managed, by holding a paint brush between her toes, to turn out some really amazing paintings.

There is a man, who is paralyzed from the neck down, who learned with new eye-tracking technology, to manipulate his computer by the movement of his eyes.

Many, including me, would stagger in the face of those challenges. “It’s too hard! It’s too difficult! I can’t do that!”

It’s amazing what we can do if we set our mind to it. Yet it is also amazing what man thinks he can do but doesn’t have a Scintilla of hope to do. We can’t create a universe, raise the dead or save a soul. There are some things which are impossible for us to accomplish but which are perfectly possible with God.

In the book of Genesis God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child in their old age. Sarah laughed at the very thought. Then He asked a powerful question: “Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Genesis 18:14 (NASB).

Jeremiah the prophet was amazed at God’s capability and he said, “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.” Jeremiah 32:17 (NASB).

Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:23-26 (NASB).

The song we just heard asks, and answers, a crucial question: “Who can do anything?” The answer, “Nobody but my Lord.”

I. HE CAN BEAR EVERY BURDEN:

A. The psalm says, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, The God who is our salvation.” Psalm 68:19 (NASB).

1. We have old burdens from our yesterdays and new burdens for each today and daily He bears them!

2. He is our salvation: our rescuer, our yoke-fellow.

3. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB).

B. What were some of David’s burdens?

1. His enemies, one of whom was his own son Absalom, sought to kill him. Can you imagine the burden of knowing that someone, especially a loved one, wants you dead?

a. Marlene has a relative who caused a man with whom he sold stocks to go to prison for fraud so the guy took out a contract with a hit man. To frighten him the guy told him he was a target so he moved from place to place frequently as he felt the Lord warning him to move.

b. Though he trusted God, there was a burden and God not only carried it but saved him from being killed. The guy died in prison and apparently the contract died with him.

2. David was also burdened with his guilt because of his adultery with Bathsheba and the conspiratorial murder of her husband Uriah in an unsuccessful attempt to cover his sin.

3. He was bowed down under the burden of grief at the death of the child born of his dalliance with Bathsheba.

C. Any one of those could crush us if the Lord didn’t step in and carry them with and for us. On our own:

1. Our strength fails us.

2. Our wisdom is folly.

3. Our courage flees.

4. But Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB).

D. What is your burden? What darkens your day and saddens your heart? The song reminds us that, even in the unhappy, burdened times, we have a helper: