“Can't” Transformed "With God"

“Can’t,” “Not possible,” “Not able,” and “Hopeless” all come from perceived factors that disallow attempts to try. Those factors involve relationships, resources, and time elements. “If I had relationships like they do, it might be possible, but I don’t, so I can’t.” “Because of this person or these people, I’ve been kept from my potential.” “If I had wealth and opportunities, I might be able to succeed, but I don’t, so I can’t.” “There isn’t enough time necessary to do it.” “I could spend the rest of my life trying and still not get there, so why try at all.” There will always be plenty of factors that give reason for lethargy and inactivity. However, it’s the areas once thought impossible where the greatest potentials lie—defying gravity to fly, wireless communication, and, with the other side of the world instantly, space travel… It’s when disabling factors are removed that incredible liberating discoveries are made.

For every impossibility that rises as an impassible obstacle, there is liberation from its constraints in the power of God. Jesus demonstrated this in fulfilling an impossible list of prophecies, especially His death and resurrection. He indicated that everything He did that would have otherwise been impossible was because of His Father. It’s from Him that innovation and creativity have also come for the incredible mechanical and technological developments that have liberated people worldwide to regularly participate in actions that were once thought impossible. We Facetime with Asia, fly there on a plane, and speak into an instant translator that communicates thoughts in a language we’ve never learned. “How to do” anything is readily available to accomplish things never before imagined. All these have come from a progressive development of God-given ingenuity. Yet, physical, relational, and time factors still maintain perceptions of “can’t” that disable, discourage, and paralyze. For every impossibility with man, though, there is a provision in God that will transform it into a blessed possibility. “With God” all things are possible. The only factor that will disable this God transformation is not being “with God,” knowing His promises, believing in His faithfulness, and acting on His Word. He will take us past worldly “can’t” factors if we believe and are “with God.”

Notes

Jesus’ triumphant procession – 1 element of statistical impossibility.

Matthew 21:4-5 (NLT) 4 This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, 5 “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

Professor Peter W. Stoner was Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College and Chairman of the science division at Westmont College. In his book, Science Speaks, Professor Stoner outlines the mathematical probability of one person in the first century fulfilling just eight of the most clear and straightforward Messianic prophecies. Josh and Sean McDowell quote Stoner in their book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict: We find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 1017 (1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000). In case you’re wondering, the Mega Millions had a $1.6 billon jackpot in October 2018, and the odds of winning it were merely 1 in 302,575,350. [1] Stoner went on to calculate the probability of one person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 in 10157. https://nickcady.org/2020/02/18/the-statistical-probability-of-jesus-fulfilling-the-messianic-prophecies/

How did Jesus fulfill what couldn’t be done? With God.

John 5:19 (TLB) 19 Jesus replied, “The Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing, and in the same way.

All the factors for “can’t” - transformed in obedience to a Word from God.

John 5:1-11 (TLB) 1 Afterwards Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish religious holidays. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was Bethesda Pool, with five covered platforms or porches surrounding it. 3 Crowds of sick folks—lame, blind, or with paralyzed limbs—lay on the platforms (waiting for a certain movement of the water, 4 for an angel of the Lord came from time to time and disturbed the water, and the first person to step down into it afterwards was healed). 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” 7 “I can’t,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to help me into the pool at the movement of the water. While I am trying to get there, someone else always gets in ahead of me.” 8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, roll up your sleeping mat and go on home!” 9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up the mat and began walking! But it was on the Sabbath when this miracle was done. 10 So the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! It’s illegal to carry that sleeping mat!” 11 “The man who healed me told me to,” was his reply.

There is a God-enabled possibility for every moment of our life.

Psalms 139:16-17 (NLT) 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!

In His plans – significant good.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

“Can’ts” for fulfilling God’s directives for our lives:

People
Resources
Health
Opportunity
Time

Human impossibility is transformed “With God.”

Mark 10:23-27 (NLT) 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, 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!” 26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. 27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

Loving = Believing = Obeying = Eliminated “Can’ts”

John 14:23 (TLB) 23 Jesus replied, “Because I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me. The Father will love them too, and we will come to them and live with them.

Only Impossibility – separation from God/faithlessness

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Where there is a “can’t” inhibiting obedience – solution = “With”

Matthew 17:20 (NLT) 20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

With God – hope is given faith’s action in loving belief.

Hebrews 11:1 (TLB) 1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.

From a “can’t” to a fulfilled dream – today’s possibility “With God”

Proverbs 13:12 (NLT) 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12 (MSG) 12 Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.

"Can't" Transformed "With God"