Impossible For Man 211 May 1996 PM One of the most difficult things for "can do " people

is to admit that something is impossible. It is our nature to find a way, no matter what, and get things done. Be careful that your pride doesn't get in the way of an important realization. It is impossible for man to successfully make it through this flesh life, and more importantly, make it into the Kingdom without God. With God all things are possible. Satan will use your pride to turn you away from God. He will help you get so puffed up in yourself, that you forget where all gifts and blessings come from. It is impossible for man to be successful without God. Let's open our Bibles to the teachings of Jesus. Matthew19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto Him, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do , that I may have eternal life?" This one that came was a very rich man. He is asking Jesus what good things he could do for the "little people". Matthew 19:17-19 And He said unto him, "Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." (18) He saith unto Him, "Which?" Jesus said, "Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, (19) Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." In order to enter eternal life, Jesus said, "keep the commandments". This rich man must have been a pretty good ole boy. Listen to how he responds. Matthew 19:20 The young man saith unto him, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?" How many of you would be willing to make this statement? How many of you have perfectly followed the commandments your entire life? Matthew 19:21-22 Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me." (22) But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. What would Christ have us learn from this? Don't worship your possessions. For some, their most prized possession is their ego, or their self. Don't allow anything to come between you and your Father. There is nothing wrong with utilizing the gifts and blessings God has given you to accomplish His will with authority. Just don't forget where those gifts and blessings come from. Don't allow self to get in the way of producing fruit for God. Matthew 19:23-24 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, "Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. (24) And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." The eye of the needle is referring to a small side gate through which men and animals entered walled cities at night , after the main gate had been closed. Camels had to be unloaded before they could enter through the gate. Those that worship their possessions, or came by them dishonestly, will have to unload those possessions to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 19:25-26 When His disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, "Who then can be saved?" (26) But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." It is impossible for man to create his own salvation. Let's turn to Matthew 18. I want

you to see what happens when you are a servant on His team. Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father Which is in heaven. I believe that someone that has passed on , possibly a relative, has the attention of Father on your behalf at anytime. Your fellow servant might say something like, "Oh no, old 'whizbang' down there is driving ninety miles an hour down a dead end road. Please do something God". It is good to be on the winning team. Matthew 18:11-12 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (12) How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? The world was lost, until Jesus Christ came to save us. He is the Shepherd that cares about each of us. Matthew 18:13-14 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. (14) Even so it is not the will of your Father Which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. We have already established man's qualifications to save himself. It is impossible; however, it is not the will of God that one of you perish. Father wants you to accept the salvation He has offered. Don't think for a minute you can do it yourself. There were a couple of disciples that probably got caught up in themselves. Christ had given them the power to cast out demons. They were having a lot of success with their newly given power and probably were saying, "Did you see what I did?" The disciples had forgotten where that power came from. They asked Jesus why they were not able to cast a demon out. Let's pick it up with Jesus' response. Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, 'Remove hence to younder place,' and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Mountain symbolizes nations. If you have faith in God, He can use you to move nations in order to accomplish His will. Through Him nothing is impossible. If you start believing more in yourself than Him, many things become impossible. Matthew 17:21-23 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (22) And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, "The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: (23) And they shall kill Him, and the third day He shall be risen again." And they were exceeding sorry. Do you think they were sorry for Christ, or themselves? Jesus had told the disciples on more than one occasion that He would be crucified, placed in the tomb and resurrected three days later. He also told them to meet Him in Galilee afterwards. Let's turn to Luke 24 for another example of what may happen when we let self get in the way. We'll pick it up three days after the crucifixion. Luke 24:13 And behold two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. Emmaus means warm bath and this village is seven miles south of Jerusalem. Luke 24:14-16 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. (15) And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near, and went with them. (16) But their eyes were holden that they should not know Him. What had Jesus told them would happen on the third day/ Where did He say for them to meet Him?

Luke 24:17-18 And He said unto them, "What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?" (18) And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto Him, "Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?" The disciples were surprised that anyone could not know what they were talking about and presumed Him a stranger. Luke 24:19 And He said unto them, "What things?" And they said unto Him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the People: I wish to make a point here. If these disciples really believed what they just said, why were they in Emmaus and not in Galilee waiting for Christ? Luke 24:20-21 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and have crucified Him. (21) But we trusted that it had been He Which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Sounds to me as though the disciples were having their doubts and feeling sorry for themselves. I believe God had closed their eyes to the recognition of Jesus and allowed this to happen as an example to us. This is what occurs when you don't get into the Word and have faith that what is written will happen. Luke 24:22-24 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; (23) And when they found not His body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that He was alive. (24) And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but Him they saw not. I don't know why they were astonished. Christ had told them many times what would happen. Luke 24:25-27 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: (26) Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" (27) And beginning at Moses and all the things concerning Himself. It was time for a refresher course. How about you, friend? Do you believe what is written in the Bible about these end times will happen? Or, did you even know that the Bible tells us what is going to happen in this generation? Luke 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village , whither they went: and he made as though He would have gone further. He wasn't going to push Himself on them. Jesus won't push Himself on you. Luke 24:29-31 But they constrained Him saying, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to tarry with them. (30) And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. (31) And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him: and he vanished out of their sight. God opened their eyes and they recognized Jesus. God's Word tells us what will happen in this generation If the Word tells you to go to galilee, don't be off taking a hot bath at Emmaus. In closing let's turn to Hebrews. There is one other thing that is impossible for Man. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

God will not beg you to come to Him. You must diligently seek Him, if you want to be rewarded. The rewards are a happy and successful life in the flesh and salvation. Without God in your life, the rewards are impossible for man. In His Service, Arnold Murray