HE COULD THERE DO NO MIGHTY WORK
MARK 6:1-6
OCTOBER 28, 2001
PARKERSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH
JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD—GOD INCARNATE HAS ALL POWER AT HIS COMMAND. HE SPOKE THE UNIVERSE INTO BEING.
HE IS THE CREATOR GOD, BUT THE BIBLE SAYS HE COULD THERE DO NO MIGHTY WORK.
WHY IS THAT?
JESUS WAS AMONG HIS OWN COUNTRYMEN. HE WAS IN HIS HOME TURF. HIS TEACHING AND HIS WISDOM AMAZED THESE PEOPLE. THEY WERE EVEN IMPRESSED BY WHAT THEY HAD HEARD HE HAD DONE IN OTHER TOWNS.
BUT WHY COULD HE DO NO MIGHTY WORK THERE? THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM IS ONE THAT WE STILL FIND IN THE CHURCH TODAY.
I AM EQUATING THE CHURCH WITH JESUS’ HOMETOWN FOLKS. WE ARE ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE, THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST. IN ESSENCE WE ARE HIS COUNTRYMEN.
WE TOO ARE IMPRESSED BY THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, HIS WISDOM AND THE MIRACLES THAT WE READ ABOUT IN GOD’S WORD.
WHY THEN DO WE NOT SEE JESUS AT WORK IN MIGHTY WAYS TODAY?
FOR THE VERY SAME REASON HE COULD DO NO MIGHT WORK BACK THEN. YES THE BIBLE TELLS US HERE THAT HE LAID HANDS ON A FEW AND HEALED THEM, BUT THERE WAS NO MIGHTY WORK DONE.
WHY?
LET’S LOOK AT VERSE 6 FOR THE ANSWER.
IT SAYS, AND HE MARVELED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF. IN OTHER WORDS, HE MARVELED BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF FAITH.
LACK OF FAITH IS THE VERY REASON THAT THE CHURCH OF TODAY SEES NO GREAT WORK.
YOU SEE—WE DO HAVE SOME OF OUR PRAYERS ANSWERED, WE DO SEE GOD WORKING IN OUR MIDST, THE BIBLE SAYS HE LAID HANDS ON A FEW, HE HEALED A FEW SICK FOLK, AND HE IS HEALING TODAY. HE STILL ANSWERS PRAYER.
BUT THE KEY TO THIS PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE IS MIGHTY WORK. HE COULD DO NO MIGHTY WORK. HE COULD NOT DO A GOD-SIZE TASK, OR A MIGHTY WORK BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF OR LACK OF FAITH.
THAT IS OUR MAJOR PROBLEM TODAY! WE DON’T HAVE THE FAITH OR THE BELIEF SYSTEM TO LET GO AND LET GOD LEAD IN OUR MIDST.
CHURCHES TODAY SAY, WE DON’T HAVE THE MEMBERS TO GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED. WE DON’T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THIS DONE. IF IT COST’S MORE THAN TEN DOLLARS, WE CAN’T DO THAT. WE’VE GOT TO KEEP ALL THE MONEY IN THE CHECKING ACCOUNT.
WE ARE TOO OLD TO TRY THAT. WE HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE. WELL IT’S BEEN LIKE THIS FOREVER.
DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?
WHAT ABOUT, I ALREADY HAVE TOO MUCH TO DO TO TAKE THAT ON? I’M TOO TIRED TO PARTICIPATE. I DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO GET THAT DONE. WE ARE JUST A SMALL CHURCH, AND SMALL CHURCHES CAN’T DO THAT MUCH.
DOES ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?
WHAT ABOUT—HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE GET THAT DONE?
WELL—I AM GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW HOW IN THE WORLD YOU CAN GET IT DONE!
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, WHICH STRENGTHENS ME!
YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS YOU!
FOLKS, PUT YOUR FAITH YOUR BELIEF IN GOD! DON’T DEPEND ON YOURSELF TO GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED. YOU DO THE THINGS WITHIN YOUR ABILITY—BUT BELIEVE AND LET GOD DO THE GOD-SIZED TASKS.
THERE IS AN OLD SAYING, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS—WELL I AM SAYING TO YOU THIS MORNING—PUT YOUR FAITH WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS—FOLKS YOU PROFESS IT SO BELIEVE IT!
TURN IT ALL OVER TO HIM. JESUS SAID—WHATEVER YE SHALL ASK OF THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE MAY GIVE IT TO YOU! —NOTICE HE SAID MAY—IT MUST BE IN HIS WILL TO DO IT.
FOLKS THE LESSON HERE IS THIS—
DON’T PLACE LIMITS ON WHAT GOD CAN DO! DO NOT LIMIT WHAT GOD CAN DO BASED ON WHAT IS IN THE TREASURY. GOD OWNS THE CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS.
DON’T LIMIT WHAT GOD CAN DO, BASED ON YOUR FEELINGS THAT THERE IS NO ONE ELSE IN THE CHURCH WHO CAN DO THAT JOB. GOD CAN RAISE UP AND USE ANYONE.
DON’T LIMIT WHAT GOD CAN DO, BASED ON 24 HOURS IN A DAY—AND YOUR LACK OF TIME. EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME 24 HOURS YOU DO—GOD MADE TIME FOR YOU DIDN’T HE. HE TOOK THE TIME TO DIE FOR YOU! TAKE THE TIME AND DO SOMETHING FOR HIM.
DON’T LIMIT WHAT GOD CAN DO, BASED ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH. GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL. HE IS ALL YOU NEED. HE WILL STRENGTHEN YOU.
DON’T LIMIT WHAT GOD CAN DO, BASED ON YOUR LACK OF VISION FOR HIS CHURCH. DON’T LET YOUR VISION OF THE CHURCH; CLOUD WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE.
IN OTHER WORDS, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON’T AGREE WITH IT, DON’T HOLD GOD BACK BY TRYING TO PERSUADE EVERYONE ELSE THAT IT IS WRONG FOR US TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
THIS DOES NOTHING BUT SHOW YOUR LACK OF FAITH IN GOD, AND ALL YOUR FAITH IN YOUR OWN ABILITIES AND OPINIONS.
GOD SEES ALL AND KNOWS WHAT HE HAS PLANNED FOR US. JER. 29:11
DON’T LIMIT WHAT GOD CAN DO BECAUSE OF YOUR LACK OF FAITH IN HIS POWER. GOD STOPPED THE SUN FOR A DAY; HE CAUSED THE SUN TO GO BACKWARDS. HE CAN DO ANYTHING. GOD CAN BUILD YOUR FAITH IF YOU LET HIM.
WE NEED TO FOLLOW GOD’S LEAD. WE DO NOT NEED TO BE LIKE THE PEOPLE IN JESUS’ HOMETOWN. THEY DID NOT BELIEVE—THEY MISSED OUT ON UNTOLD BLESSINGS BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF. WE NEED TO PUT ALL OF OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN JESUS.
WE NEED TO FOLLOW GOD’S LEAD—ACCEPT WHAT HE WANTS AND HAVE THE FAITH THAT HE WILL PROVIDE AND ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE WANTS, AND THAT HE WILL USE US IN THE PROCESS. TRUST IN HIM!
YOU SEE—IT’S ALL ABOUT LETTING GO AND LETTING GOD CONTROL AND WORK THROUGH US.
IF GOD WERE TO WANT US TO SEND TEN PEOPLE OVERSEAS TO DO MISSIONS WORK, FOR TWO YEARS, AND WANTED PARKERSBURG BAPTIST CHURCH TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE PROVIDED FOR, WHAT WOULD YOUR REACTION BE?
WOULD YOU SAY—WE CAN’T DO THAT. WE DON’T HAVE TEN WILLING TO GO. HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE PROVIDE FOR THEM ALL? WE DON’T KNOW WHERE TO SEND THEM. WE DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START.
DO YOU NOTICE ANYTHING ABOUT THESE STATEMENTS? THEY ALL CONTAIN WE. THEY ALL MAKE STATEMENTS THAT DEPEND ON OUR OWN HUMAN FRAILTY TO ACCOMPLISH GOD-SIZED TASKS.
NOW LET ME TELL YOU WHAT GOD SAYS IN REPLY—
WE CAN’T DO THAT—GOD SAYS, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH ME. I CAN IF YOU ONLY BELIEVE.
WE DON’T HAVE TEN WILLING TO GO—GOD SAYS, I WILL RAISE THEM UP.
HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE PROVIDE—GOD SAYS, I WILL BLESS THE ABUNDANTLY.
WE DON’T KNOW WHERE TO SEND THEM—JESUS SAYS, GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT, THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, SOMEONE NEEDS JESUS!
WE DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START—TURN WITH ME TO MARK 11:22-23, I WANT TO SHOW YOU WHAT JESUS SAYS.
HAVE NO DOUBT IN YOUR HEART AND ONLY BELIEVE AND GOD WILL DO A MIGHTY WORK.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT IN THE HEART OF A CHRISTIAN.
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR DOUBT IN THE BODY OF CHRIST (THE CHURCH).
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I DON’T WANT TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH JESUS KNOWING THAT BECAUSE OF MY UNBELIEF, I LIMITED THE WORK THAT HE COULD DO HERE AT PARKERSBURG.
FOLKS WE HAVE THE ABILITY AND THE POTENTIAL TO BE A POWER HOUSE FOR GOD—IF WE ONLY BELIEVE.
LOST PERSON—THIS APPLIES TO YOU AS WELL. JESUS CAN’T PERFORM THE MIGHTY WORK OF SALVATION IN YOUR LIFE UNLESS YOU BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH.
TO GAIN ETERNAL LIFE YOU MUST BELIEVE. JESUS DIED ON A CROSS—HE DID THIS MIGHTY WORK FOR YOU. IF YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN YOU MUST BELIEVE.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU DIE AND GO TO HELL—THEN YOU MAKE A MOCKERY OF JESUS’ DEATH—YOU MADE JESUS DIE IN VAIN. IT IS YOUR CHOICE—BELIEVE AND GO TO HEAVEN—REMAIN IN UNBELIEF AND SPLIT HELL WIDE OPEN.
CHRISTIAN, DON’T MOCK GOD’S POWER AND ABILITY TO DO A MIGHTY WORK BY HARBORING DOUBT AND UNBELIEF IN YOUR LIFE. HAVE FAITH IN GOD HE IS ON HIS THRONE.
HAVE FAITH—BELIEVE AND GOD WILL DO A MIGHTY WORK.
