The God of Impossibilities
Romans 4:19-21
March 18, 2009 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
A And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matt 19:26 (NASB)
1 What prompted Jesus to say such a thing?
a To remind us that what we think can’t be done, can be done by Him.
b God will make a way!
2 He can change animals’ behavior
a "Now therefore, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them.8 "Take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you return to Him as a guilt offering in a box by its side. Then send it away that it may go.9 "Watch, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance."10 Then the men did so, and took two milch cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.11 They put the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the box with the golden mice and the likenesses of their tumors.12 And the cows took the straight way in the direction of Beth-shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. And the lords of the Philistines followed them to the border of Beth-shemesh. 1 Sam 6:7-12 (NASB)
b He sent two wild cows to carry the ark back to Jerusalem, leaving their calves.
3 He can change physical law
a So he went with them; and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.5 But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, "Alas, my master! For it was borrowed."6 Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float.7 He said, "Take it up for yourself." So he put out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:4-7 (NASB)
b Iron floating!
c He can do the impossible
4 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.Romans 4:19-21 (NASB)
I Consider not
A Abraham did take into account his natural circumstances.
1 He’s old, his wife is old, they’d tried for years to conceive...
a He didn’t let natural circumstances stop Him from receiving the blessing.
b He also didn’t let it influence his faith.
2 I’m not telling you to ignore the natural circumstances, or to do something crazy.
a When you believe to receive the fulfillment of a promise of God, you can’t concentrate on your natural circumstances.
b The word “not” does not appear in the text-so Abraham looked at the circumstances of his/Sarah’s bodies through the eyes of a strong faith.
B There were four steps to receiving this impossible promise God had made to Abraham:
1 If God says He’ll do something, He’ll do it.
a But there are some things we must do in order to receive His promise!
b Best example is seen in the life of Abraham:
aa God told Abraham his wife, Sarah, would give birth to a son.
bb Abraham had to ignore a lot of stuff, have faith in God’s promise, & believe God was powerful enough to do what He said He’d do.
2 Rom. 4:19-21 tells us the steps Abraham followed to receive the impossible promise God made to him:
a Consider not
b Stagger not
c Give glory to God
d Be fully persuaded
C If you take your eyes off God (focus on the natural or what “so & so” said), you will become weak in the faith.
1 Abraham’s faith was not weak.
a The word weak means “to be feeble, to be diseased, impotent, sick”.
b A lot of folks have diseased faith (Abraham’s faith was not weak).
2 His faith was strong, steadfast (old, barren), & he didn’t blink an eye!
II Stagger not
A In Genesis 18:1-15, Sarah has a good laugh about the news (Abraham is 99 & she’s 90)-funny! It wasn’t funny to Abraham.
1 He didn’t say anything against it all-he didn’t waver.
a The CEV: “But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise.”
b Staggered not!
2 A person who staggers or wavers in faith will not receive anything from God.
a But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord...James 1:6-7 (NASB)
b I’ve known people who have read a book/heard a sermon & are “sky-high” spiritually-really strong.
aa Good for a few days, praying, but God hasn’t answered the way they wanted Him to.
bb Consider the situation & staggering go hand in hand.
B The enemy will try to get us to stagger.
1 You will make a statement/declaration of faith of what you’re believing God for, he’ll...
a Get you asking questions, raise doubts
b Have you considered this?
c What would have to change in your world for this to happen?
d Why hasn’t God answered you yet?
2 (IL) In the garden, Eve: “God said such & such, but have you thought about this?”
a If the enemy can get you to consider everything around you, he can get you to stagger & forfeit the promises of God.
b Don’t look at situations & circumstances!
aa Are they real? Yes
bb Is your miracle on the way? Yes
3 When I was lost, I had to acknowledge I needed a Savior, when I’m sick, I need a Healer...
a I’m not going to dwell on my sin-Savior
b I’m not going to dwell on my demise-Healer
4 Abraham knew he was 100 years old-refused to consider it & chose to consider what God said.
III Give glory to God. ...yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God
A Abraham gave glory to God for the blessing before it happened.
1 When you ask God for something, you must believe & thank God when you pray for it.
a Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:6 (NASB)
b Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. Phil 4:6 (TLB)
2 Don’t wait until you get the answer to praise God for it.
B Tonight, you may be facing difficulty, disease
1 Recognize the facts as they exist, but don’t consider them (dwell on them-only consider what God says).
a A lot of folks are trying to receive a word from God, but they want to get that word from somebody else.
aa God has a word for you, & He wants to give it to you.
bb You must get in the word for yourself.
b God gives you the word & you “know it”. Persuaded beyond a doubt.
2 You live your life trusting that God is going to keep His word.
IV Be fully persuaded
A Abraham was strong in faith
1 He didn’t consider the natural, stagger at the promise-why? Because he was fully persuaded.
2 Our position is to consider not, stagger not, give God the glory, & be fully persuaded...my job, response.
a It’s God’s job to do!
aa I don’t have to figure it all out, know what He’s going to do.
bb If God said it, He’ll do it.
b Remember when Paul was on a boat to Rome and a storm broke out?
aa Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. Acts 27:25 (NASB)
bb Paul was fully persuaded that God would do just what He said!
c Logic would tell you somebody’s gonna die when a ship sinks in a storm.
aa But striking a reef where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves.42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none of them would swim away and escape;43 but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land,44 and the rest should follow, some on planks, and others on various things from the ship. And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land. Acts 27:41-44 (NASB)
bb If God said He’d do something for you, He’ll do it, if you’ll stay steady & not waver.
Invitation
A You may feel you’re in a storm tonight, & your ship’s about to go under.
1 Keep believing God, He will deliver you.
2 He may have to get you a new ship...but He’ll deliver you.
B If you want to see the God of impossibilities, we must keep believing God, believing that He’ll deliver you.
1 Fully persuaded of what God has promised, & he’ll see it to fruition.
2 Whatever God said, He’ll bring to pass.
C What is it you need from God?
1 Refuse to consider/dwell on the circumstances.
a Don’t stagger at the promises through unbelief, instead thank God in advance for bringing you victory.
b Stay fully persuaded that whatever God has promised, He is able to do. It will come to pass.
2 If God can cause a wild cow to leave its calf, an iron axe head to float, a 100-year-old woman to have a child...God can do what you need Him to.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
