ATTEMPTING THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD
Matt 14:25-32
INTRODUCTION
My message is about Attempting the Impossible.
Dictionary.com defines the word Impossible as “an extremely difficult to deal or perform.”
There is a slogan during World War II, "If it’s difficult, it will take a day or two. If it’s impossible, it will take a little longer."
I don’t know if you have attempted the impossible for yourselves? …… I know its hard, but we can still attempt the impossible things—especially if it is for God.
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Matthew 18:27
Our text today gave four rules for attempting the impossible. If you want to attempt, try them…
RULE ONE: Don’t get counsel from your detractors (vs. 25-27)
In life, there are many people around you who can make or break you. There are people who can get you up, and those who can get you down.
The principle of Rule One recognizes that if you’re going to try the impossible, there will be many who will tell you why you should not do it. Don’t get counsel from the pessimist.
GET SPIRITUAL ADVICE FROM SPIRITUAL PEOPLE specially the VIP’s not to VDP’s
VIP – Very Inspiring Persons
VDP – Very Draining Persons
VIP’s are Optimistic (Positive thinker) while the VDP’s are Pessimist (Negative thinker)
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill
Saul is a classic example of Pessimist. He said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth." (1 Sam. 17:33)
Everybody else was saying “He’s too big! We can’t kill him.” David was saying “He’s too big, I can’t miss!”
There are some examples of individuals who achieved recognition and success in their lives despite the negative criticism of others. They refused to say, "I can’t."
Job also received an advice to curse his God because of the difficult trials he experienced, but he never entertained it.
RULE TWO: Don’t attempt the impossible in your strength (v.28-29a)
There is a beautiful song that became a theme song of many Americans in 1950s. The verse says,
“Now, the end is near, So I face the final curtain – My friends, I’ll say it clear State my case of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full, And traveled each, and every highway – And more, much more than this I did it my way.”
The singer composer of that song is called “Old Blue Eye’s” who died in May 1998 at the age of 82. Everyone agreed: There will never be another Sinatra. Sinatra had an amazing career; he even topped Elvis! He holds the record of 40 consecutive years with a song on the billboard charts. One of those chart topping songs was “I Did It My Way” a theme song for many Americans.
>>When Sinatra died, he left family and friends, plus a world full of fans who grieved his loss. He also left behind millions of dollars in cash and assets: cars, houses, land and stocks. He left all of his platinum and gold records, his Grammys, and his Oscar. He died during his major concert while singing this song.
…..His friends and loves while in his bed saying: Frank fight, fight, fight to live. The last words he spoke before he died were: I’m losing. Frank won’t have the courage to sing I did it my way!
>> Frank Sinatra left this world to stand face-to-face before Jesus Christ. When God asks him, “Frank, why should I let you into my Heaven?” he won’t have the courage to sing, or even say the words “I did it my way.” (Sermoncentral.com)
So if you want to attempt the impossible, don’t attempt is with your strength. We need God.
He said, “…Apart from me, you can do nothing (John15:5b)
Simon Peter asked, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Simon didn’t start walking on the water until Jesus commanded him to "come." Therefore, the impossible was attempted only after the Lord gave the command and the strength to do so.
“You will not succeed by your own strength or power, but by my Spirit says the Lord.” Zech. 4:6
God’s word encouraged us to attempt great things for Him. We are to call unto Him, not in our own strength, not by our own power, but by the strength of God. It is in the name of God that David came against Goliath—not in his own name. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk,” said Peter.
David didn’t measure the chance of defeating the 9 foot 9 inch Goliath to himself, for if he had, he would have headed back to his sheep very quickly. If he measured the 9 foot 9 inch Goliath against himself, he will going to be afraid.
"I can do all things through Christ" said Paul.
Rule Two says "don’t attempt the impossible in your strength."
RULE THREE: Don’t stay in the boat (v.29b)
“…And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”
In verse 29 the scripture says Simon got out of the boat. Perhaps this is the most strategic rule. If you don’t get out of the boat, you can never walk on water. Doing what seems to be impossible can never be a reality unless we begin to move on by faith.
Most of us haven’t gotten out of the boat to serve the Lord. We have difficulty in practicing our gifts.
Don’t be comfortable with your present life. …..
Life is a journey. Life was made to move, to grow. Don’t stay for where we are for so long. We can not expect great things from God if we can not attempt great things for Him.
Simon Peter requested the Lord to command him to come to Him. The Lord gave the command to get out of the boat. He said, "Come" "Get out of the boat." No doubt the Lord knows Peter will learn a lesson in faith by getting out of the boat.
"The Journey of a thousand miles begins at one step." Lao-tze
RULE FOUR: Don’t focus on the circumstances (vs.30-32)
“But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
When Simon Peter requested the privilege of walking on the water, he didn’t let his mind and attitude dwell on circumstances. Circumstances are never right; there is always some reason why one should not attempt it.
In verse 29 Jesus told Simon to come to him. Jesus is bidding every one of us to attempt the impossible.
God is inviting us through Jeremiah to call to Him. “Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
THE KEY POINT IS: In attempting the impossible, focus ONLY your gaze upon Jesus!
Peter later on Simon looked at the waves he started to fall. He keeps off his gazed upon Jesus.
You see, as long as Simon keeps his eyes on Jesus, he is all right, but when he pays more attention to the wind and waves than Jesus, he sinks. All of us can learn from Simon’s experience.
We might criticize Simon, but he walked on water further than anybody else in history except the Lord.
CONCLUSION
This year, 2008 brothers and sisters in Christ, I encourage you to “attempt the impossible for God!”
God has prepared tremendous blessings to each one of us if we attempt great things for Him.
Expect great things; attempt great things," the quotation attributed to William Carey
Eph. 3:20 in the Amplified Version says, "God is able to do superabundantly, far over and above, all that we dare ask or think. Infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thought, hopes, or dreams."
Most of the great accomplishments of this world are done by people who attempts great things for God. So I encouraged you to do it now this year…
“A burning desire is the starting point of all achievement.“ -Napoleon
I’m sure you can do it, if you walk with faith in your heart.
Because the bible says: “If you have faith…Nothing is impossible for you.” Matt. 17:20-21
To God be the Glory!
