Category Archives: Salvation

God Of The Impossible!

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Is Anything Too Hard For God?

Luke 18:27 records that Jesus said: “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  That’s another one of those Scripture verses that we just love to take out of context, isn’t it? We can’t help ourselves! Am I saying the impossible is NOT possible with God? No, not at all! I’m not even saying we should never use this Scripture to teach the omnipotence of God!

Unpack The Scriptures With Integrity

But, this is another one of those verses that reminds us to unpack the Scriptures with integrity. We need to interpret it correctly—in “context”—and then make our applications. Determine what God is actually saying first! Resist the temptation to start with the application! So, open your Bibles; and, read this verse in the context of the verses surrounding it. What is Jesus saying? He’s addressing His disciples as they try to picture a camel squeezing through the eye of a needle, right? He’s saying that it’s easier for that to happen than for a rich man to go to heaven. But, He says, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” It might be humanly impossible to fit a camel through the eye of a needle; or, for a rich man to quit trusting in his riches and trust Christ’s work on the cross—but neither one frustrates God!

Not Even The Rich Are Beyond God

He is committed to making all things new! He is actively at work in our broken world among broken people; even, the rich. We need to accept that many things are impossible for us—including the saving of souls! No one, however, is beyond the reach of the “God of the impossible.” The Power that resurrected Jesus Christ is able to save that loved one you fear is beyond hope! Are you praying for the impossible?

Make Disciples

The most common interpretation of Jesus’ Great Commission—in Matthew 28:16-20—is that we’ve been commanded to “evangelize” the world! But look again! We’ve actually been commissioned to “make disciples”— “Since discipleship is the primary thrust of the commission we have been given, we must stop tacking it on to our existing ministry structure as an afterthought. Discipleship must function as the heart of our ministries, and of our lives personally, if we expect our people to be involved with it.” —taken from an article by Pastor Eric Sipe, titled: Evangelism As A Way Of Life

What Happens After We Die?

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That Question Has Some Anxiety Attached To It

I’m convinced that even the most devout follower, of Jesus Christ, approaches death with some anxiety. You can be secure in your faith & in your relationship with Jesus! You can totally believe that you’re going to spend eternity with Him; but, still have a certain fear because of the “unknown”! There’s always some anxiety when we’re forced into something new; what does it feel like to die? In part we fear death because it’s beyond our control, isn’t it?

Don’t Fear The Reaper

It’s that image of the Grim Reaper lurking around the corner; stalking us; and, we never know “when” he’s gonna show up, do we? John 14:1-6 begins with Jesus words to His disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled…”; and, He tells them why in v.6: “…because I am the way, the truth & the life.” If you’ve placed your trust in Jesus’ atonement work on the cross than you don’t have to fear death because Jesus IS your life! The fear of death can paralyze you; but, knowing you have eternal life in Christ sets you free from that fear! And, in that text, Jesus tells the disciples that they don’t have to fear death because after they die, they get out of here! “I will come again,” Jesus says in v.3, “and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Death Benefits

That’s one of the benefits of death—we get out of here! No more heartaches & betrayals; no more worries & anxieties! Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble.” And, don’t we know it! Jesus shared another benefit in v.2—after we die, we get a room in God’s Big House! “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told that I go to prepare a place for you?” God has a house! Not a hotel! Not an Inn; but, a big house! He’s not going to run out of space; and, if you have life in Christ, there’s a room reserved for you, with your name on it! We’re not going to be guests in a lodge! We’re His CHILDREN! We’ll live in His house with Him! In v.3 Jesus said: “I will take you to myself!” That’s the best part of death! We “inherit” Jesus! He’s the real “treasure” that we seek; and, we’ll have Him—ALL of Him—when He takes us to Himself!

We Don’t Mourn Like An Unbeliever

I have watched many friends & loved ones die; and, I mourn! But, not for them! I don’t wish that they could come back to me! I would never wish that upon them! I would never wish for them to come back to this place! I mourn for ME! That I remain behind! While I suffer & mourn the temporary loss of their friendship, I rejoice for them! I’m jealous for them; and, I long for the day when we’ll be reunited in a better place; but, NOT HERE! Oh, there’s some tension there, isn’t there—we still have Jesus’ Kingdom work to do while we remain! But, we don’t hold too tightly to anything here!