Grace Lutheran Church Sermons

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+ In Nomine Jesu +

The Rev. Evan Gaertner

“For all things are possible with God…”

We know on one level that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. I believe the disciples knew that with God all things are possible. I believe that the Virgin Mary knew that with God all things are possible. Pharaoh kicked the Israelites after the ten plagues. The Israelites had witnessed God save them from the tenth plague, the killing of the first born in the land. But when they arrived at the Red Sea they were filled with fear because they knew they could not get across that water before Pharaoh and his army attacked them. Certainly they had been witnesses of the truth that with God all things are possible. But in each of these instances, the people involved doubted the possibility that God could be at work.

The disciples had just witnessed a rich man come up to Jesus seeking guidance on how to be certain he would inherit eternal life. Jesus told the man to sell all that he had and come and follow him. The man left disheartened. Teaching the disciples Jesus said, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.”

Amazed at these words Jesus made it more visual, because of course some of are visual learners. “Children how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

“Who can then be saved?” The disciples still very much looked at salvation from the perspective of what we must accomplish.

When the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was going to give birth to the son of the Most High and that the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. She asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

The Israelites followed Moses out of Egypt. Through the blood of the lamb marking their doorposts, they were delivered from the killing of the first born. They were even being led through the desert by the angel of the Lord appearing in cloud going before them. But still they saw the water of the Red sea and believed all was lost.

In each one of these incidents the challenge before the disciples, Mary, and the Israelites was clearly impossible through their own hands. When we confronted by inability through their own hands they could not imagine the possibility.

How can this be? Is the question that is asked when we look for the answer from within ourselves.

When the question is the kingdom of God, the answer will not be found from within ourselves. This is not a profound statement but one that by pride we often ignore.

The disciples had followed Jesus around and yet failed to see how God was going to be the rescuer.

The Virgin Mary had been visited by the angel Gabriel but still struggled with God would act to bring fulfillment to his promises.

The Israelites were God’s chosen people through whom God would reveal his glory and blessing.

God acts for us.

When Peter was in the boat and he saw Jesus approaching in the fog of the night, it was not by Peter’s own strength that he was able to walk on the water. Indeed once Peter began to act no longer out of faith but by fear he sank. Peter got out of the boat to walk on the water because he trusted Jesus.

I encourage you to consider a couple of points with me.

One point: we are not by our own reason or strength able to be a part of the kingdom of God.

Second point: This does not mean that the kingdom of God is closed. God did put an angel with a flaming sword to guard the gate to the Garden of Eden. Without a doubt we cannot pass into the kingdom by our own strength. But God desires we follow him and let the cross be our guide. A rich man cannot drive with all of his moneys a camel through the eye of a needle. But with God all things are possible.

Third point: God desires all people to be saved. He has given his only begotten Son on the cross so that all those that believe in him would not perish but have eternal life.

When Paul and Silas were in prison and a great earthquake broke open their shackles, the jailer was about to kill himself for shame that all the prisoners in his duty had escaped. Paul shouted, “Do not harm yourself we are all here.” The jailer amazed asked, “Sirs what must I do to inherit eternal life.” Paul and Silas answered with the most wonderful response, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The jailer was repentant. This is clear because he finds no answer in himself. True repentance is the humbleness to examine yourself and find yourself empty before God. Paul and Silas did not leave this jailer hopeless. They shouted for him to stop from killing himself. All was not lost. The answer, the hope, the confidence for us all is found in the great joy that all things are possible with God.

Was not Jesus dead on the cross? Was not Jesus placed into the tomb? Was not the stone rolled closed? But all things are possible. The Virgin Mary did give birth to the Son of the Most High. The Israelites did pass through on dry ground across the Red Sea. The disciples did see the resurrected Jesus in the upper room where they had gathered in fear.

What must we do to be saved? “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”

Praise to God. We can get out of the boat and walk on water.

Soli Deo Gloria

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