Saturday, December 21, 2024
Endurance - Is Anything Too Difficult For The Lord?
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Call to Worship: Luke 1:26-38.
Law and Grace Reading: Genesis 18:1-14
Bible reading: Jeremiah 32:17-28 Nothing is too hard for the Lord.
Benediction Ephesians 3:19-21
Nothing is Too Difficult Jeremiah 32:17-28
Is this a promise to everyone on their 80's that if they want to have a baby they can have a baby?
Quite often at this time of year, messages will come across facebook etc "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" It almost seems like a prosperity gospel promise: Whatever you want you can have it.. because "is anything too difficult fr the Lord to do?" Can He give you a Mercedes Benz? One that goes. Is anything too difficult for the Lord? Or better yet, can I have a better job please Lord? "Is anything too difficult for the Lord?" Well the answer is obviously that there is nothing too difficult for the Lord. The Lord can do whatever He likes!
Look at Jeremiah 32: "And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.10 I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy.
Can I make property purchases that will make money? Is anything too difficult for the Lord?"
Wait none of those things are what these passages are actually about! This is not a text for positive affirmation! Name it and claim it Prosperity doctrines!
Have you ever been in a difficult situation and found yourself saying, "I can't do this anymore"? Have you ever wondered how you were going to handle the circumstances you've been dealt? Have you ever worried about how you were going to fix the problems in front of you that seemed impossible to solve? Well, the good news is, you are not without hope. There is nothing too difficult for the God of the Bible. He is the can-do God. His Word reminds us that all things are possible with Him.
Heavy weights, lifted fewer times in succession, produce greater strength.
Lighter weights, lifted with more repetitions, produce greater endurance.
Lighter weights, lifted with more repetitions, produce greater endurance.
David Jeremiah wrote When it comes to life, most of us can lift a heavy weight if we only have to do it once or twice. In other words, major problems that come and then go away quickly may be painful, but they are usually manageable. For me, it's not the big problems that are the hardest.
For me, the problems that are the toughest to overcome are the problems that never seem to get solved . . . the ones that keep coming back. God wants us to be strong men and women of faith. To achieve that, I believe we must become men and women of resilience and endurance. If I cannot stand strong under the adversity of unrelenting pressure, I'll lose the joy of the journey.
The complexity of life can make our journey feel like the extreme obstacle courses and endurance runs we see on television. These games, whose competitors are people like us, are a metaphor for life today. The overwhelming pressures of our lives are symbolized by the near-impossible feats they must face. We identify with those "average superhuman" athletes. Their stories inspire and encourage us. If they can endure, we can endure. If they can hang on by their fingertips, maybe we can too.
Endurance. Some years ago a friend got me to read the story of the amazing Endurance.
Endurance was the three-masted barquentine in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men sailed for the Antarctic 1914–1917. She became trapped in pack ice and finally sank in the Weddell Sea off Antarctica on 21 November 1915. All of the crew survived her sinking and were eventually rescued in 1916 after using the ship's boats to travel to Elephant Island and Shackleton, the ship's captain Frank Worsley, and four others made a voyage to seek help.
The wreck of Endurance was discovered on 5 March 2022, nearly 107 years after she sank, by the search team Endurance22. She lies 3,008 metres (9,869 ft; 1,645 fathoms) deep,
The story of the Endurance of Shackleton is a story of a faithful leader helping his crew to have confidence that they could endure through the absolute worst situation and with God's help survive and find their way home.
It took 2 years and a journey in small boats.
By 15 January 1915, Endurance was within 200 nmi (370 km) of her destination,
he crew remained camped on the ice in the hopes that the floe would bring them closer to one of various islands.[71] In April 1916, they set off in the Endurance's three ship's boats and eventually landed on Elephant Island.[72] Because the island was remote and rarely visited, Shackleton decided that help needed to be sought. On 24 April, he, Worsley, and four others began a voyage in a ship's boat, named James Caird, for South Georgia.[73] After reaching South Georgia, Shackleton worked on arranging a rescue mission for those left on Elephant Island. Shackleton and Worsley made three voyages in different vessels that were unable to get through the ice to reach them. The fourth attempt, in the Yelcho (lent by the Chilean government) was successful, and all of the twenty-two members of the crew who had remained on Elephant Island were safely rescued on 30 August 1916 – 128 days after Shackleton had left in James Caird.
There is something far bigger behind this text repeated three times in our bibles. This has everything to do with God's eternal purposes and the covenant of grace that God made with Abraham.
The circumstances in which the question, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?' was asked, are brought before us in Genesis 15:1-6; 17:1-5; 15-19; 18:1-14; 21:1-8. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 – and look at Genesis 18:11. Humanly speaking, it was impossible for Sarah to bear a child. At first Abraham laughed at the idea (17:17), but afterwards Sarah laughed also (18:12) – and then it was that the Lord Himself said, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord'. Well, is anything…?
Our problem is that we are often so self-oriented. We need to be Christ-oriented. Being Christ oriented means understanding the real issues. God went to a lot of trouble over many long ages to make this clear for you and I, and this saying "Is anything too difficult for the Lord!" is a key hinge to help you move into God's big picture plan.
"I will make you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed in you" (Gen. 12:2-3)
Matthew Barrett The covenant God made with Abraham, and the promises God spoke to Abraham, escalate across redemptive history, and are solidified in God's inspired, written word, until they find their fulfilment in him who is their telos, Christ Jesus. The covenant with Abraham is foundational to the rest of the storyline and the coming of the promised One. On the one hand, the seed narrows, for God selects Abraham out of all the people on earth. On the other hand, the promise widens, for it is through Abraham's offspring that not only his immediate descendants, the nation of Israel, are yet to come, but all the nations of the earth will one day be blessed (Gen. 17:4–6).
Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
I want to give you four practical applications that you can take from this message and apply to your everyday life as you follow Christ. These four things will give you the confidence to face anything life throws at you and be victorious.
There is no PROMISE too hard for the Lord to fulfil.
You don't have to worry about God being unable or unwilling to keep any promise. God doesn't change His mind. He says what He means and means what He says. When He says He will do something, He will do it, and He will do it every single time. There are going to be times when you find yourself in the middle of a dark and stormy night. You are going to be drowning in a sea of trouble. You are going to be facing waves so big you can't see any way over them. At that moment, you remember these things. God has already promised He will fulfill His plan for you, He will achieve his purpose for you, and He will work everything out for your good—and God always keeps His promises.
You don't have to worry about God being unable or unwilling to keep any promise. God doesn't change His mind. He says what He means and means what He says. When He says He will do something, He will do it, and He will do it every single time. There are going to be times when you find yourself in the middle of a dark and stormy night. You are going to be drowning in a sea of trouble. You are going to be facing waves so big you can't see any way over them. At that moment, you remember these things. God has already promised He will fulfill His plan for you, He will achieve his purpose for you, and He will work everything out for your good—and God always keeps His promises.
Notice three illustrations of 'hard things' that God promised and accomplished:
He promised that the walls of Jericho would fall, but that Rahab's dwelling on the wall and her family would be spared. This was indeed a hard thing – read Joshua 2:1-24; 6:1-25.
He promised to feed Elijah by ravens at Cherith and by a widow at Zarephath. This was a hard thing – read 1 Kings 17:2-16.
He promised that Mary would bring forth a son, though she was a virgin. This was a hard thing – read Luke 1:26-38.
Luke 1:34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy---the Son of God. Luke 1: 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.37 For nothing will be impossible with God."
No PRAYER too hard.
One of the greatest statements about prayer I've ever heard is this: nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God. Anything that falls in line with the will of God is a done deal. It doesn't matter how big the request is. It doesn't matter how difficult it may seem for God to answer that prayer. God will answer that prayer! Now, there is one prayer that God cannot answer it is the prayer that is never prayed. After all, Scripture says you have not because you ask not. I believe if there is anything that frustrates God it is the unprayed prayers that we leave on the table that God would have answered had we just asked. So don't be scared or hesitant to offer your prayers up to Him. No prayer is too big, too great, or too intimidating to Him that He can't answer it!
One of the greatest statements about prayer I've ever heard is this: nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which lies outside the will of God. Anything that falls in line with the will of God is a done deal. It doesn't matter how big the request is. It doesn't matter how difficult it may seem for God to answer that prayer. God will answer that prayer! Now, there is one prayer that God cannot answer it is the prayer that is never prayed. After all, Scripture says you have not because you ask not. I believe if there is anything that frustrates God it is the unprayed prayers that we leave on the table that God would have answered had we just asked. So don't be scared or hesitant to offer your prayers up to Him. No prayer is too big, too great, or too intimidating to Him that He can't answer it!
Jeremiah 32. 16 "After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying:17 'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Do You Know God's Character?
You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,19 great in counsel and mighty in deed,
You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,19 great in counsel and mighty in deed,
Do You Know God's Ways?
20 You have shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day.21 You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm,
No PROBLEM too hard
God never misses anything. God sees all things, hears all things, and knows all things. If God knows everything and God can do anything, then it stands to reason there is no problem so hard God cannot solve it. We all have problems. In fact, if you don't think you have any problems, that is your biggest problem. It's just a fact of life that we all have problems, and we all have at least one problem that only God can solve. And that is the problem of sin. God took sin, the greatest problem the human race has ever faced, and solved it in a cradle and on a cross. And if He can solve the greatest problem to ever face humanity, He can solve the problem that you're facing today. Nothing is out of His reach. He can help you through whatever trial, problem, or struggle you're dealing with.
Jer 33:2 "Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it---the LORD is his name:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Jer 32: 26 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:27 "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?28 Therefore, thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall capture it.
Possibly you have a problem which you have been trying to solve by yourself – and you have failed! Ask the Lord to solve it for you. He can and He will perform a miracle for you, if it is for His glory to do so. He is a miracle-working God, and nothing is too hard for Him. Look up the following, and see how His power was put forth in the solution of His people's problems.
He enabled them to pass through the Red Sea unharmed and on dry land – Exodus 14:13-31.
He solved the problem of the bitter water at Marah – Exodus 15:23-26.
He gave them water out of the rock – Exodus 17:5-7.
He turned the water into wine – John 2:1-11.
He stilled the storm – Mark 4:35-41.
He fed five thousand – Matthew 14:15-21.
He raised the dead – John 11:38-46.
What He did then He can do today! Have we so soon forgotten the miracle of Dunkirk, and other similar miracles in our day and generation? – and miracles that God has performed in our own lives?
No PERSON too hard.
Hebrews 7: is still true. 22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
Thank God, still true – yet we frequently doubt God's ability to save people! We look upon certain cases as hard!
The woman who was a sinner was wonderfully saved by the Lord Jesus – Luke 7:36-50.
A condemned criminal was gloriously converted in his dying hour – Luke 23:39-43.
A persecutor was humbled to the dust by the sight of the risen Lord – Acts 9:1-7.
A jailer and his family were suddenly converted – Acts 16:25-34.
Is anything too hard for the Lord? What is your answer?
All throughout Scripture we hear about people who devoted their lives to serving God and spreading the message of Christ. But also throughout the Bible, we hear about people who were evil and horrible. We read stories about the worst of the worst, the scum of the earth, the ones walking with the enemy. And yet, time and time again, we see how God redeemed them. We see God save those who at one point wanted nothing to do with Him. It is through these stories of history we can have hope that there is no person so sinful that God cannot save him or her. No matter what you've done, no matter how far gone you think you are, and no matter how many mistakes you've made, God can redeem your life. He can bring restoration. He can bring salvation. And He can bring sanctification to your life.
7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me
7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me
Is any nation excluded? No!
We so quickly get discouraged in our work for the Lord. God's people are frequently heard to say, 'The work is very hard; it has gone down terribly, and it'll never be the same again!' But why should we accept this defeatist attitude when our God is the God of the impossible? Is your church 'a dying cause'? Does nothing seem to happen? Do no conversions take place? Do few gather for prayer? Why not alter this situation? Why don't YOU alter this situation? – for your can! 'Is anything too hard for the Lord'?
EMBRACE YOUR ADVERSITY
The Bible is very clear about the way God teaches His children endurance: "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." (James 1:2–4 NLT).
The apostle Paul makes the same point in Romans 5: "We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope" (vv. 3–4).
Adversity develops endurance. Endurance produces character. And people of character become people of hope. This is maturity in God's sight. People like this are complete, lacking nothing. This is the biblical secret of spiritual maturity.
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT QUITTING
Endurance requires a strong sense of resolve. We have to make up our minds that we will not falter or give up. Hebrews 12:1 puts it this way: "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
STAY FOCUSED ON THE GOAL
Endurance takes anticipation. We must focus on Jesus and the life He offers us. Hebrews 12:1–3 ends with a glorious upward shift:
Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. (NLT)
Toward the end of his life, the great apostle Paul spoke of his goal. Here's what he said: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14).
TRUST GOD Nothing is too hard for the Lord.
# posted by Groseys messages @ 4:55 PM 
