THE GOD OF IMPOSSIBILITIES

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Matthew 19:16-26

16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" 17 "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments." 18 "Which ones?" he inquired. Jesus replied, " 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.' 20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God."

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" 26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

In this well known story we find a man who was so right, yet he was so wrong. He came to the right person. He asked the right questions: "What good things should I do that I may have eternal life?" and "What do I still lack?" He then heard the right answers from Jesus. Finally, he took what he heard from Jesus and made the wrong decision. And, he went away very sorrowful.

Jesus explains to His disciples two things: FIRST-It is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

SECOND-It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a media. It's an impossibility.

There seem to be 3 problems with being rich, which we all are in this country: FIRST-Riches place you in a position of being absorbed by your riches. Riches don't satisfy at the gut level.

SECOND-Along with riches comes a preoccupation with them. This leads to a certain self-absorption.

THIRD-Riches has an empty, even deceitful lure in your experience. They promise much and deliver very little. They can easily disappear, rust or be stolen. Riches have a tendency to deceive you into thinking you have no need for anything.

FOURTH-Riches contain a foolish pride. Riches tends to promote a sense of arrogance and pride. If you find yourself blinded by this self-absorbed pride, your tendency is to not listen to the needy calls of the poor.

It's important to note that not all who are rich are guilty of these things. However, it's also important to note that there were many godly people in the Scriptures who were also very rich-Job, Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, Barnabas, Philemon and Lydia.

NOTE the key to this passage is: With human beings it is impossible to experience the great grace and empowerment offered in order to enter the Kingdom. In fact, it's impossible to change on your own. The only genuine transformation comes from God, Himself. God majors in the impossible.

Tell me, are you facing some impossibilities in your life right now? God delights in working through these impossibilities. As a matter of fact, if God doesn't do His impossible work in your life, then there is no life to talk about. The rich man made the wrong decision and walked away from Jesus. If you want your heart to be transformed, then don't walk away, but draw closer to the only one who can change you inside out. Jesus.

THE UNGRATEFUL SERVANT

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Matthew 18:21-35

21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. We are always looking for a loophole, especially on forgiveness. But in the Kingdom forgiveness is infinite.

23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

NOTE the "Kingdom of heaven is like" sets up the story of the king who settled his accounts with his servants. One particular servant is singled out who was in need of great help.

28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. 29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' 30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. How soon he forgot his desperate situation.

32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Jesus is describing what it's like in Kingdom living as opposed to living like the world's kingdom. What do you see is most important here? I think it's two-fold:

FIRST-The King or Master we serve is very gracious as He works with us.

SECOND-If you are going to reflect the King and live the Kingdom lifestyle, you must be gracious-full of grace and mercy on people. This is such a part of the human condition to forget how much trouble we were once in and found grace. And, then we find ourselves in a blessed position and look down on others who are in need.

This is the pinnacle of self-absorption. You know where I see this and it makes me sick is when a person treats servants, yard-workers, housecleaners-the so called "little" people as if they are lesser than. When a person denigrates another, it says nothing of the littleness of the person being denigrated. However, it says tons about the person doing the denigrating.

I've learned something over the years that is helpful to me here: FIRST-Realize your own weaknesses, inadequacies and short-comings.

SECOND-Recognize everyone, no matter their station in life as your peer.

THIRD-Honor that person by eating their food, accepting their hospitality and joining them for one of their interests.

Jesus made it clear in His teachings that we are to give and do good to those who cannot repay us. That is the genuine love of God. So, how are you doing? Do you only hang out with those who are cool and in your "class" or are you touching the lives of those who are supposed to be "beneath" you?

This may be one of the primary tests of what it means to embrace Jesus and His Kingdom as a lifestyle. Think it over!

GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM

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Matthew 18:1-6

Today we come to an interesting scene that begins with a question from the disciples: 1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

The answer Jesus gives is set forth in four parts: FIRST-Jesus pulls in a child and declares that no one will enter the kingdom of heaven without becoming like a child. 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

SECOND-Jesus gets to the question of the disciples more directly and says that the greatest in the kingdom of heaven has the humility of a child. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

THIRD-Jesus announces the blessing to those who receive one child such as this that they also are receiving Jesus personally. 5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

FOURTH-Jesus warns of the curse upon those who cause one of these little ones to stumble. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

NOTE that there are basically two conditions to enter the kingdom. Unless you are converted is the underlying theme here:

1. Converted means to have a change of mind-a change of mind toward Jesus. 2. Unless you become like children-humble, innocent, respectful and most of all, a teachable, tender heart, you cannot be converted in your heart and enter the Kingdom.

So, who are these "children" Jesus is referring to? Let me suggest three "children" that may fit this category:

1. Actual, real young children who are easily influenced. It's clear to most that the most strategic time to mark a person indelibly is in the younger season of life.

2. Young believers who are very new in their faith. They are easily influenced and distracted away from what's foundational and most important.

3. Immature followers of Jesus who just haven't been taught and also just don't know any better.

NOTE that this is a serious issue for Jesus. Your actions and reactions must be pulled into check. Your life is not just about you. There are many looking on and following you in your attitudes and actions. I like thinking that YOU ARE THE ONLY BIBLE SOME PEOPLE WILL EVER READ AND THE ONLY WAY JESUS WILL EVER BE ABLE TO TOUCH THEM, so pay attention to who you are and what you do.

FREEDOM OF BEING IN JESUS

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On this day of celebration of our freedom in this great country, there is a greater freedom to celebrate! In fact, the freedom I am speaking of has to do with personal freedom. It's the freedom that if you have it, then you could live under political domination and still be free. Or, if you don't have it, you could live in the freest of countries and still be enslaved. There is only one kingdom on planet earth where you can celebrate true freedom inside out and that is in the kingdom of God, where Jesus is King. Where the King is, there is the kingdom. And where Jesus is, there is FREEDOM.

I grew up enslaved as a kid by people who didn't understand this freedom. You see, you can know lots about Jesus and still not experience His freedom. The letter to the fellowship of believers in Galatia deals with this issue as its primary theme. In Galatians 5 the writer says, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love."

The letter to the fellowship of believers in Rome is the basic source for the Galatian letter and in chapter 8 Paul says, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." You can't get much clearer than NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE IN JESUS.

Jesus said to those who believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Now the way I figure it, those of us who are doing the best we can to walk with Jesus, walk with others and wait on Jesus to lead out are walking as disciples of Jesus and continuing in His word, therefore we ought to know His freedom in our lives and celebrate it!

In the Acts of Jesus (13:38-39) this freedom is summed up with, "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses."

The best invitation to freedom is from Jesus Himself when He says, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." All who are weary and burdened down with all of the religious systems of performance out there that produce every level of guilt imaginable. You are the ones Jesus is calling to COME TO HIM. Then note He is calling you and me into REST. That rest is the freedom of not having to pay attention to the religiosities of our world and world systems and of our church and cultural systems that weigh us down. JESUS IS CALLING US TO BE HIS DISCIPLES AND THAT CALL IS AN INVITATION TO REST. AND THAT REST IS AN INVITATION TO HIS FREEDOM.

I sum it up this way: YOU CANNOT BE A FREE PERSON UNTIL YOU BECOME BOUND TO THE PERSON OF JESUS!

SOME SEE THE KINGDOM

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Matthew 16:28-17:8

The next mention of the Kingdom in Matthew is within the same chapter-chapter 16. Here Jesus makes a strong statement concerning some who are standing in front of Him. He says they will not taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom.

28 "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

What does this mean? Who will the "some" be? And, when is the coming of the Son of Man that it can be seen? The next few verses give us the answer: 1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

There you have it. The "some" refers to Peter, James and John who were taken up into the mountain by Jesus. And, the event was what is called the "transfiguration" or the transformation of Jesus from His physical condition into a glorious one where His face shone like the sun, His clothes became white as light and the voice of God affirming Jesus as the Son of God.

The coming of the Son of Man in His glory is the Kingdom. Remember, the Kingdom is wherever the presence of the King is. Jesus pulled back the screen a bit and revealed His God-like presence in front of these three disciples. They indeed saw the Kingdom in Jesus.

NOTE who showed up for this Kingdom display. It was Moses and Elijah. Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets. So, you have a good illustration of the Law and the Prophets standing with Jesus. But it doesn't end like this.

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the Prophets) disappear and "When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus." This is beautiful! The Law and the Prophets find all of their meaning and fulfillment in the person of Jesus. This is one of the best passages that illustrates the very essence and bottom-line of the Gospels. I hope you see it and never forget it. It's JESUS PLUS NO ONE ELSE-PLUS NOTHING.