There is a Planetshakers song I love entitled Nothing is Impossible. Here are some lyrics from that song:
I can do anything, I can do all things Cause It's You who give m strength Nothing is Impossible.
Through You blind eyes are opened, strongholds are broken I am living by faith, Nothing is impossible.
Great lyrics and a great song. In Acts 5:29 - 42 the Sanhedrin (The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three to seventy-one men appointed in every city in the Land of Israel. )has given them the ultimatum, "Do not teach in the name of Jesus!" Of course, you know what happened. They immediately went out and keep on teaching about Jesus. The leaders were furious and got together to try and figure out what they were going to do to stop Peter and the other apostles. A very wise man by the name of Gamaliel spoke to them and told them in verses 33-39 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. [b]But he was killed, and all who [c]followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who [d]followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or [e]action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” That was some good advise. The impossibility of them preaching Jesus wherever they went turned to possibility and Gamaliel's wisdom showed the truth of the matter. When God is involved, nothing is impossible!!! Sometimes I get so discouraged when people don't respond to the message of the cross and the abundant life, and that discouragement can turn to thinking that the whole thing is impossible.... But it is possible!!
Like the Planetshakers song says, I can do anything, I can do all things. If that sounds familiar, it is because that comes from Philippians 4:13 were Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." The wisdom of Gamaliel was a truth about the movement that was happening at the time, and Paul confirms the power of God in working through our lives in serving Christ in his letter to the Philippians. All things are possible, so don't get discouraged, just believe. That's why we are called believers!! Duh!!
C.S. Lewis wrote You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it?
When we say that we give our life to Christ shouldn't that belief be a total commitment to what we are believing in? And shouldn't that commitment become a lifestyle of faith? I believe it should and the end result of that faith is the total belief that God has the power to work a great work. I believe that, and you should to. It's kind of funny, I guess, in verse 41 the apostles left that encounter with the Sanhedrin by rejoicing and praising God and of course, sharing the message they were told not to share. What seemed impossible, became very possible and God came through as He always does.
I love the book of ACTS and all it tells of the great adventures of those of the faith and this incident is nothing short of a miracle. Are there miracles happening in your walk? If not, why not? Could it be that you haven't totally given over to the belief that all things are possible with God? Well, they are. Just saying.
The Pilgrimage Continues..
David Warren
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