October 12th, 2003
Let us pray
Welcome...........
Thanks to all of you for your prayers while my wife and I were away in Jamaica. Thanks
to our ministers who preached and taught in my absence. Thanks for your love and your
kindness...........I had a time to relax, but I did not get a chance to go to the beach.......My
wife had warned me about driving in Jamaica, and I told her I could drive anywhere, but
after being in Jamaica, I have changed my mind, no driving for me in Jamaica.............
Today I would like to encourage you all, as we ask the question, Is Any Thing Too Hard
For The Lord? As I look at Jamaica my native land, and hear of the killing and violence
taking place, I might ask the question, Is Any Thing Too Hard For The Lord? In our
eyes we might see the impossible; in our eyes we might see destruction; in our eyes we
might see failure; but the question is, Is Any Thing Too Hard For The Lord?
Last Tuesday night I was watching the baseball game in Jamaica, it was the Chicago Cubs
versus the Florida Marlins. The Cubs were leading 3 nothing in the bottom of the 7th
inning. The Cubs fans were excited and were getting ready to celebrate, they were 6 outs
away. If nothing extraordinary happens the Cubs would be going to the World series.To
the surprise of the Cubs fans, and all those who were watching, the impossible took place;
something happened that changed the course of events; the Marlins scored 8 times in the
top of the 8th inning. I could not believe what had taken place, and the Cubs lost the
game, lost the series, and the chance of going to the World Series, because the impossible
became possible. Who in their wildest dream would have thought the Marlins would have
won the game, to Chicago that was impossible, but the Marlins made what appeared to be
an impossible task, become possible.
Maybe today you are in a situation where it appears no good possible can occur; it
appears there is no way out, if that is the case, re-mem-ber the Flo-ri-da Mar-lins. The
Marlins might have thought they were going to loose, but they did not give up, they kept
on going, and the impossible became possible. Saints of God, with God all things are
possible, and there is nothing too hard for the Lord.
As the year 2003 starts winding down, don’t forget those dreams that you had at the
beginning of the year. Don’t forget those goals you had set out to achieve, and do not
forget that with God all things are possible, and there is nothing too hard for the Lord.
Please turn with me in your bibles to Genesis 18 verses 1 through 15, and Let’s all
stand and read together.
The question, Is any thing too hard for the Lord? is a question that need to be
answered. For thousand of years man have failed to answer this question, man may have
doubt, so let’s ask Bro. Jeremiah this question, and see what he says. In Jeremiah 32 verse
17 we read these words, "Ah, Lord God! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and
the earth by Thy great power and stretched-out arm, and there is nothing too hard
for Thee." I trust today we all will agree with Jeremiah, and realize that there is nothing
too hard for the Lord............
In Genesis 15 verses 4 through 6 God gave a promise to A-bram before his name was
changed to A-bra-ham. (read) Abram believed God. Abraham the friend of God,
believed what-ever God said it would come to pass. Even though A-bra-ham believed
God, I wonder what was going through his mind, because he was getting older, and God’s
promise was not fulfilled.........elaborate....
Some-times in life we might have our doubts as to what God is saying, and we might try
to help God out. Sa-rah, Abraham’s wife, tried to help God out. I can hear Sarah
speaking, Abraham darling, we are not getting any younger, and we still do not have a
child. I have a plan that I am sure will work. I have a plan that is guaranteed. I have a plan
that you can try out for yourself. God’s man listened to his wife. God’s man belived his
wife, and forgot what God had promised to him..........elaborate.....
Let’s turn to Genesis 16 verses 1 through 4 (read) I want some-one to know today, if God
told you he is going to do some-thing, and you are sure it is God speaking, do not be mis-
lead by any-one, no matter who they are, but just simple wait on God, and believe God
until the answer comes. God does not need your help or my help, God is able to operate
effec-tive-ly without any-one inter-fer-ing..........elaborate......we get into trouble by trying
to help God out. If you don’t under-stand what God is doing, just wait and see what is
happening.........
Noah was told to go build an ark, it did not made sense to those around him, but he simple
believed God, and obeyed God......................elaborate....
Abraham and Sarah both failed God, but even in their failure, God was still merciful
Let’s turn to Genesis 17 verses 1 and 2, and verses 15 through 17 (read) It seems to me,
Abraham could not answer the question, Is Any Thing Too Hard For The Lord? In
verse 17, A-bra-ham laughed, and doubt set in......................elaborate....
In our text for today, the Lord appeared unto Abraham in the plains of Mamre. God sent
three angels from heaven who appeared as men to visit Abraham. Abraham prepared a
banquet for these heavenly visitors. Look at verses 6 through 8 of our text (read)
While the angels were being en-ter-tained, while they were eating and dining, in verse 9 of
our text they asked for Sarah, and in verse 10, a promise was again given to Abraham
(read verse 10) Sarah is going to have a baby, but there is a problem, she is 90 years old.
The question is not how old is Sarah, but the question is, Is Any Thing Too Hard For
The Lord? In our eyes we see problems, in our eyes we see the im-possibilities, but
let’s answer the question as Jeremiah did, there is nothing too hard for
thee......elaborate..
Sarah had heard the promise, and even though the message was from God, she had doubts
in her mind. Sarah thought this was a joke, and so she laughed. Look at verse 12 of our
text (read) Look at me, I am old, and Abraham is old also, what do they expect from us
old folks. I don’t walk fast any more. In fact I shake when I walk. She might have said,
there is pain in her walking, but that does not matter, because God has spoken, Sarah shall
have a son. .......elaborate....
In verse 13 of our text Abraham was asked why did Sarah laughed? and in verse 14 the
question was asked, Is any thing too hard for the Lord? This question is asked by God to
man, Is any thing too hard for the Lord? This same question is asked by men to other
men, Is any thing too hard for the Lord?
As God ask this question to man, what is our answer? We must connect the question with
the promise. God said, at the time appointed; according to the time of life, nine months
from now, Sarah shall have a son. It does not matter what man thinks, Sarah shall
have a son. It does not matter what man believe, Sarah shall have a son. It does not
matter how old Sarah is, Sarah shall have a son. It does not matter how Abraham
thinks or feels, Sarah hall have a son. At the appointed time, in God’s time table, Sarah
shall have a son.............elaborate....God said it, and all we have to do is believe it,
Sarah shall have a son......
I wonder, what is God saying to us here at Harvey? I wonder if we are listening to the
voice of God? I wonder if we are willing to do what God says for us to do? The question
God is asking man is, Is any thing too hard for the Lord? and the answer is as Jeremiah
states, there is nothing too hard for thee.
The question, Is any thing too hard for the Lord? is asked by God to man, and the same
question is asked by man to man. Turn to the person next to you, and ask the question, Is
any thing too hard for the Lord? They should answer no, there is nothing too hard for
the Lord.
I want someone to know our God is still performing miracles. Do you need a miracle
from God? then ask him, because there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Do you need to
see a loved one being saved? then ask God, because there is no-thing too hard for the
Lord. Have you reached some hard time in life, and it seems there is no way out, ask God
to make a way out for you, because there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Do you need
some money to pay those bills that are piling up? ask God..................Do you need a
job..................................................
I want someone to know today, that there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Because
there is nothing too hard for the Lord, because with God all things are possible, why not
put your complete trust in him and believe him? Sarah and Abraham tried to help God
out. Sarah laughed because she had doubts in her mind, but God fulfilled his promise,
and in Genesis 21 verses 2 and 3 we read these words, For Sarah conceived, and bare
Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And
Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to
him, Isaac.
Last Sunday I attended a New Testament Church of God in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and the
speaker spoke about leaven. He remarked that if the leaven is outside the dough it would
have no effect, but when the leaven or yeast is placed inside the dough then it is
effective.If Christ is outside of our lives then our lives are ineffective, but when Christ is in
our lives then our lives are effective. The leaven causes the dough to rise; the leaven brings
about an effect on the dough, and Christ should be that leaven that brings about a change
in our lives. If we find ourselves not being Christlike, maybe we need that leaven to bring
about a change in our lives. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? The answer is no.
God can take a troubled life and bring about a change. God can take a life that is outside
of Christ, and bring about a change. God can take...........
Believe it, accept it, there is nothing too hard for the Lord.
Let us stand
Call to discipleship
Closing song/prayer
