Two people, each claiming to be a Christian, lose their job. One falls into a severe depression; while the other retrains himself and enters an entirely new field of employment, discovering more fulfillment than he ever had in his old job. The difference? One followed God’s formula for victorious living, while the other did not.
Two people, each claiming a personal relationship with Jesus, are struck with a terminal disease. One gives up on life and hides himself from the rest of the world; while the other maintains a positive outlook and is an inspiration to others. The difference? One followed God’s
formula for victorious living, while the other did not.
Two people, each claiming to know the Lord, are wronged by someone else. One develops a deep resentment and bitterness toward the wrong doer and spends the rest of his life unable to trust others; while the other decides to forgive and pray for the person who did him wrong. Over time, he is able to put the unpleasant episode behind him and move forward with life. The difference? One followed God’s formula for victorious living, while the other did not.
Two churches in the same community experience a downturn in the local economy. One church cuts its budget and program. They decide that they will have to accept the fact that times are slow, so they will be doing well to maintain things as they are. They commit themselves to “holding on” and “maintaining the status quo.” Over time, their giving and attendance takes a nose dive.
The other church, by contrast, decides to step up its outreach efforts. After all, they reason, people who are going through difficult economic times are often more responsive to the hope of the Gospel. As a result, their giving and attendance increases, and a depressed community is uplifted and challenged by the positive faith of the church. The
difference? One followed God’s formula for victorious living, while the other did not.
What is God’s formula for victorious living? Paul tells us about it in our text. (READ TEXT)
God’s formula for victorious living is: God’s Capability + Our Availability = Limitless Possibility
1. God’s Capability - v. 20a
Notice the greatness of God’s capability. Whatever we imagine God doing, He is able to do immeasurably more. What would you like to see God do? What is the greatest thing you can possibly imagine? Paul tells us that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask for or imagine!
While we might face situations where the outlook does not look very bright, remember, with God, the up look is always bright!
The trouble with many of us is that we have shrunk our view of God down to the level of our understanding.
In my study, I have a book by J.B. Phillips in which he discusses the many misconceptions that Christians have of God. The name of the book is a profound challenge to you and to me, “Your God Is Too Small.”
What is your understanding of God? Is your God too small? Or do you have the understanding that Paul had about God?
(Show Francis Chan video - The Awe Factor of God)
If we are going to live the victorious Christian life, overcoming, instead of being overwhelmed, then we must follow God’s formula for victorious living, and believe in the immeasurable capability of our God! But we need to add to God’s capability . . .
2. Our Availability - v. 20b
As important as is our faith in God’s capability, it is equally important that we make sure of our availability. For, you see, God works His wonders often through human instruments.
“For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God.” - 1 Corinthians 3:9 (Amplified)
If we are going to life victoriously by the power of God, then we must learn to cooperate with God.
Note how Paul says that the degree of victory that we experience in our lives is in direct proportion to the degree to which we allow God’s power to work in and through us.
In other words, the more available my life is to God, the freer God is to do in and through my life those things that are immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine!
How do I make my life available to God? By choosing to obey Him.
“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.” - Psalm 37:4-5 (NASB)
This is a wonderful passage, which teaches us how to make our lives available to God. Note the two life giving principles taught here:
A. What I delight in will determine my desires - v. 4
As I delight in the Lord and doing His will, He will plant in my heart desires that are consistent with His will and plan for my life. God will not give His revelation to those who will not obey.
B. What I depend on will determine my destiny - v. 5
As I depend on God to then show me how and when He wants me to proceed, His power will go to work to enable me to do what He has called me to perform.
“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NASB)
Paderewski the famous composer/pianist, was scheduled to per¬form at a great concert hall in America. It was an evening to remember - black tuxedos and long evening dresses, a high-society extravaganza. Present in the audience that evening was a mother with her fidgety nine-year-old son. Weary of waiting, he squirmed constantly in his seat. His mother was in hopes that her boy would be encouraged to practice the piano if he could just hear the immortal Paderewski at the keyboard. So, against his wishes, he had come.
As she turned to talk with friends, her son could stay seated no longer. He slipped away from her side, strangely drawn to the ebony concert grand Steinway and its leather tufted stool on the huge stage flooded with blinding lights. Without much notice from the sophisticated audience, the boy sat down at the stool, staring wide-eyed at the black and white keys. He placed his small, trembling fingers in the right location and began to play “chopsticks.” The roar of the crowd was hushed as hundreds of frowning faces turned in his direction. Irritated and embarrassed, they began to shout: “Get that boy away from there!” “Who’d bring a kid that young in here? Where’s his mother?” “Somebody stop him!”
Backstage, the master overheard the sounds out front and quickly put together in his mind what was happening. Hurriedly, he grabbed his coat and rushed toward the stage. Without one word of announcement he stooped over behind the boy, reached around both sides, and began to improvise a countermelody to harmonize with and enhance “chopsticks.” As the two of them played together, Paderewski kept whispering in the boy’s ear: Keep going. Don’t quit, son. Keep on playing . . . Don’t stop . . . Don’t quit.”
The boy obeyed and together with the Master he played . . and brought the house down!
When we make our lives available to God through obedience, we can hear what He wants us to do and learn how and when to do it; and as we obey Him, His power is freed up to work through us in such a way as to make a masterpiece of our lives!
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ
Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
- Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
In the television program “Dating in the Dark,” three guys and three girls have the opportunity to visit with each other in a “dark room” where they are prohibited from seeing each other. The idea is to see if personality can trump looks in a relationship. After several meetings, they each pick a partner they are interested in and are finally allowed to see what they look like. Then, they decide whether or not they want to continue the relationship. Some are disappointed and choose to walk away, while others choose to take the relationship to the next level.
Sometimes, when we obey God, we are called to trust “in the dark.” We hear him and relate to Him by faith. But after time, as things come together through our continued obedience, we are allowed to “see God” as He walks into our lives by His power, and when He “shows up,” unlike the T.V. show, we will never be disappointed, and we will be ready to take our relationship with Him to the next level.
“Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” - Romans 10:11 (NASB)
Yes, God’s capability, plus our availability, equals . . .
3. Limitless Possibility - v. 21
Paul concludes by saying that when God’s capability is combined with the lives of His children who have made themselves available for God to work through by virtue of their willingness to obey, then the possibilities are limitless!
Many Christians live in defeat because they cannot see the possibilities for victory; and the reason they can’t see the possibilities for victory is are not following God’s formula for victorious living. They lack faith in God’s capability and refuse to be available for God to work through because of their unwillingness to obey.
As a result, rather than thinking in terms of possibilities, their focus in on impossibilities. Indeed, one who lives according to God’s formula for victorious living will be a possibility thinker!
A Possibility Thinker makes opportunities out of his calamities.
An Impossibility Thinker makes calamities out of his opportunities.
A Possibility Thinker always finds a solution.
An Impossibility Thinker always finds an excuse.
A Possibility Thinker looks at a glass & says, “It’s half full.”
An Impossibility Thinker looks at a glass & says, “It’s half empty.”
A Possibility Thinker sees an answer for every problem.
Impossibility Thinker sees a problem in every answer.
A Possibility Thinker says, “It may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.”
Impossibility Thinker says, “It may be possible, but it’s too difficult.”
WHICH KIND OF THINKER ARE YOU?
Note how Paul says it is possible by the power of God that is freed up to work in and through us when we make ourselves available to Him through obedience for a work to be done through us as a church, as the people of God, that will bring glory to Christ for generations to come - a work that will bless people who have yet to be born!
Conclusion: What is lacking in your walk with God today?
Some of us need to open our minds to consider God’s capability!
Some of us need to open our hearts and offer our availability!
Some of us need to open our eyes and see the possibilities!
(Show video of Big Daddy Weave song - “What Would Life Be Like”)
