Impossible

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

How do you read the bible? Do you see it as a history book of interesting and compelling stories, a book of incredible miracles, a book of wise sayings, a book of rules for living life, or God’s love letter to those that call on his name? Of course, the answer is all the above. Every word of scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit to reveal the heart and mind of God to His creation, to those that receive the gift of redemption through the blood of Jesus and are living in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 77:14 NLT states, “You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.” Without question, the Bible is filled with accounts of God sized miracles that are impossible for any man: the parting of the Red Sea; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego surviving the fiery furnace; the sun standing still for Joshua; Lazarus being raised from the dead; or Peter walking on water. But God also instructs us to do a number of things which are equally impossible for man but too often we just read these as nice sayings. “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4); “Honor everyone: love the brotherhood, fear God, Honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17); “Never worry about anything; instead, pray about everything” (Philippians 4:6). And if none of those were hard enough, how about Jesus telling us “be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

If Paul had only said, rejoice a lot, pray often, and try to be thankful, maybe we could try to do that! But who can honestly say, “I rejoice always, pray constantly, and continually give thanks!” What are we do with these impossible commands? Why would God give us commands that are humanly impossible to follow or obey? That last phrase in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 gives us the key to how we can obey these commands: we must be “in Christ Jesus.” Without having surrendered our lives to Jesus, knowing that our redemption cannot be earned or purchased but only received as a gift, being in union with Him through the filling of the Holy Spirit, we will never fulfill these commands. Then we can begin to understand the reality of John 15:5 that “apart from him we can do nothing”.

Paul explains that the remedy for fulfilling these commands is not to try harder or do better, it is to surrender more fully and to be filled more with the Holy Spirit. The results are the fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in your life, allowing him to govern your life, and allowing him to empower you. God has placed in us a spring of “living water,” but it is our choice whether we drink from it. Too often, we are prone to rely on ourselves for everything and to forget how totally dependent we are on God.

The Holy Spirit does not make the Christian life better, He makes it possible. Without the Spirit, we cannot even come close to living the life that God has called us to or fulfill these impossible commands. Are you trying to do the impossible or are you trusting in God’s promises, fully surrendering, and receiving the power of the Holy Spirit?

God empty me of myself and show yourself more in my life. Strengthen me with your power and give me the Holy Spirit to enable me to do the impossible. Ask for and receive the Holy Spirit today!

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Luke 11:13 NIV If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Luke 18:27 TPT What appears humanly impossible is more than possible with God. For God can do what man cannot.

Philippians 2:13 NLT For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Luke 24:49 AMP Listen carefully: I am sending the Holy Spirit, the promise of My Father, upon you; but you are to remain in the city until you are clothed and fully equipped with power from on high.

Acts 17:28 TPT It is through him that we live and function and have our identity.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen

John 20:21-22 NIV Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.“

Hebrews 13:21 NLT May He equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.

Hebrews 11:6 NLT 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.

Ephesians 3:16-20 NLT I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything —every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.

Job 42:2 AMP I know that you Lord can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained.