Summary: God is able to do what man is unable to do.

Thank you Rev. S. Williams

FOCUSING ON GODS ABILITY

Much of this sermon was inspired by Tim Kelleys sermon 4 Things Christ Is Able To do

FOCUSING ON GODS ABILITY

Matthew 9:28

I. INTRODUCTION THE THEIFS INTENTIONS

In the 10th chapter of the book of John, Jesus tells the familiar parable of the good shepherd. He was attempting to warn those who were present of thieves who would come and lead them astray if they were not careful.

During the course of this parable He makes a very interesting point when He tells those who were gathered that the sheep who know the voice of their shepherd would not follow but flee from those who were thieves and robbers.

It is from this short but important illustration we are reminded of the importance of knowing the voice of the shepherd. I want to say from the outset of this message that is it important for us to be cautious and aware of the voices that we are listening too in 2006.

The Lord was very emphatic in verse 1 when he declared that “He that entereth not into the sheepfold but climbeth up some other way the same is a thief and a robber.

Those who were listening to what the Lord was saying on this day understood that the sheepfold referred to the place of shelter where the shepherd would place the sheep so that they could be safe from the attacks of wild beast.

The sheepfold was carefully guarded so that the not just anyone could enter in and expose the sheep to things that would danger them and ultimately cause harm to them.

There was only one door that you could enter into there was one door that you could exit from. Jesus said that those who enter in from some other way except the door the same is a thief and a robber.

As the Lord was conveying this message to those who were present they misunderstood what He was trying to say so the Lord explained to them that all those who came before Him were thieves and robbers.

He said I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved

I do not want to seem harsh or cruel with my next statement but However, I am so convinced that what we teach and preach at this church is right

That I feel to tell you who are present that those who are not preaching the necessity of living a repented life are thieves and robbers who are guilty of climbing up through the sheepfold some other way.

Those who are not preaching and teaching the necessity of striving to live a holy life are thieves and robbers who are guilty of climbing through the sheepfold some other way.

Those who are not preaching the necessity of being baptized in the name of Jesus are thieves and robbers who are guilty of climbing through the sheepfold some other way.

We are living in a time where precious people are being robbed of a complete relationship with God because they are being taught that a one time trip to the altar is all you need to stay right with God.

I want to say that if all it took was one trip to the altar to stay right with God then there would be no need for church if all it took was a one time trip to the altar to stay right with God then there would be no need for us to even strive to have a relationship with God.

In order for us to stay right with God we have to make sure that we are in constant communication with Him we have to make sure that we are listening to Him and that we know His voice.

In verse 10 of John chapter 10 Jesus went on to give a threefold description of what the thiefs intentions are He said the thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy.

The main point of this parable is to warn us against the deception of false teachers and to warn us of what way they will enter in..and destroy the sheep.

However during the course of this parable the Lord Jesus gives us a brief description of the intentions of Satan himself it is his ultimate goal to deceive the saints of God I think that it is safe to say that we are all aware that Satan is the enemy of our soul.

He is doing everything in his power to steal to kill and to destroy the saints of God.

He wants to steal kill and destroy:

 Our love

 Our hope

 Our peace

 Our joy

 Our righteousness

 Our affection

 Our holiness

 Our faith

 Our focus

I am a firm believer that if we ever really became convinced of how much the devil doesnt like us then we would be doing everything in our power to make his job hard.

II. FOCUS ON HIS ABILITY

I believe we have far too many people who are living with a defeated and miserable lives¦all because they have lost their focus on what living for God is all about and they have allowed the thief to come in

If we ever lose focus on why we are here on this earth then we will find ourselves living a life of condemnation and defeat if we ever lose focus on what our true mission is then we will find ourselves living scattered unfulfilled lives and we will never seem to get to the place in God that He desires for us to be¦

That is why preaching is important ¦it helps you keep thing in focus thats why prayer is important¦it helps you keep things in focus thats why worship is important it helps you keep things in focus

It should be hard thing for us not to get behind our pastor when he is preaching the word of God¦

Romans 10:13-14 (KJV) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

We will never get to a point in our life where we dont need to hear the preaching of the word of God¦I am so glad that one day I made up in my mind that I was going to get my heart right and live for God¦

¦but I wouldnt have made up my mind to do it¦if I hadnt heard a man of God preach a sermon that convicted my soul¦it is the preached word of God that helps us keep things in focus¦..

 It should be hard for us as children of God not to pray.

 It should be hard for us not to worship¦

 It should be hard for us not to give to the kingdom of God¦

 It should be hard for us not to exhaust all of our efforts to make sure that Gods work is moving forward¦

If we have allowed ourselves to get too busy or lazy that¦we refuse to spend time in prayer to God then we have lost our focus in living for God¦if we have allowed ourselves to come to church without really worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of lords like we know we should¦then we have lost our focus on what worship is all about¦...

In the book of Proverbs the writer is very emphatic when he says where there is no vision, the people perish¦and if there is one thing we need in 2006 it is a vision to see the lost come to God¦

We need a vision to see the work of God moved forward¦we need a vision to see this church be the best that it can be but can I tell you that¦vision is no good unless things are in focus¦

Losing your focus is always a prerequisite for losing your vision¦..

During my short time in living for God I have come in contact with¦peers¦saints¦and men of God who have had plans to do something for God¦and their enthusiasm to make an impact on the Kingdom of God was unmatched by many¦but somewhere between the actual vision and fulfillment of the vision things got so out of focus and those people have lost out with God¦

One of the saddest things that can be said of a church is that they have no vision¦but there is nothing more frustrating and disheartening than a church having a good vision and things getting out of focus¦

 The reason we have churches that leave the truth¦is because they lose their focus¦

 The reason we have people who quit and lose out with God is because they lose their ability to stay focused¦

 The reason we have some who miss out on the promises of God is because they have lost their ability to focus on what God is able to do¦

If there is one thing that we need in the church today it is a renewed focus on what God is able to do¦

Perhaps one of the greatest New Testament affirmations is that Jesus Christ is able to do what no one else can do.

III. TEXT—THE TWO BLIND MEN

In Matthew 9:27-31

The bible says that Jesus was leaving the House of Jairus¦He had just performed the miracle of raising his daughter and when Jesus departed, two blind men begin to follow him, and they cried out loud, saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him:

Now there is something very important you need to notice in this scripture before we go any further ¦notice the actions of the blind men¦..when Jesus entered into the house they didnt wait for Jesus to get them¦but the Bible says that the blind men came to Him

The greatest testimony of a persons faith is shown by their willingness to first of all get to where HE is the reason why we have so many miracles that stall out and the reason that we have some who never seem to get the touch that they need¦

And the reason there are some who never mature in their relationship with God¦.is because they are standing around waiting for Jesus to get to where they are and they are not willing to take that step of getting were HE is

The first step to getting your need met and to getting prayers answered in our life is not for you to wait or Him to get to where you are but there has to be a willingness and desire on the inside of us to the come to where He is that is why church is so important because His word says for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

If I were you and I needed the Lord to move in my life I wouldnt wait any longer but I would make the choice right now to get to where He is

So they came to where Jesus was and when they approached Him Jesus asks them the all important question Do you believe that I am able to do this?

They didnt have to hesitate or think about it there wasnt a doubt in their mind they answered with a very affirmative yea Lord ..when they answered affirmatively, Jesus touched their eyes and said, According to your faith be it unto you.