MegaFaith (3): Impossible

2014/06/29
Christ Church, Mountain Top; VBS & baptism
Prayer,
Psalm 56
Children,
Matthew 14.13-21
Message,
Matthew 17.14-21
Review:
      Centurion – under Jesus’ authority
      Canaanite woman – depending on Jesus’ mercy
Today:
“Nothing will be impossible to you”
Impossible
tasks
      The four-minute mile
      Weight loss
      Juggling – with your feet
      Learning English
      Teaching VBS
      Parenting
“Nothing
will be impossible to you”
Unable,
from root “dunamis” (for English “dynamite”) – used 3x:
      “but they were unable to heal him”
      “why were we unable to cast it out?”
      “nothing will be ‘unable’ to you” (see Bruner,
186 and 193)
Impossible
– unable – disabled
“Nothing
will be impossible to you”
A
church without persons with disabilities is a disabled church (Moltmann)

Epilepsy?
Seizure disorder?
      Greek: “moonsick”
      Related Latin: “lunatic” (Bruner, 187)
      For the ancient world, these were demonic
powers at work
“Why
were we unable to cast it out?”
“Because
of your little faith”
      “bring him here to me” (Mt 17.17)
      A prior “littlefaith” story, Mt 14 feeding
(Bruner, 188)
            “we have nothing here except five
loaves and two fish”
            “bring them here to me” (Mt 14.18)
“Littlefaith”,
a measurement word (“little” tends to be little “in number”)
      Focuses on me and my ability
      Obsess on what I lack
      Acts without Jesus present – acts without prayer
Mustard
seed faith (show mustard seeds)
      Is little! “Size matters not” (Yoda)
      Moves mountains (not mountain-sized faith,
Bruner)
            A legalistic approach to faith – it
measures!
            I have “1st degree
mountain-moving faith”, but …
            Measured, limited faith – no matter
the size – is “littlefaith”
      From measured faith … trust one whose love
cannot be measured
      From limited faith … trust one whose power
cannot be limited
“Nothing
will be impossible to you”
      Not because of who you are, but because of
who Jesus is
      Your 5 loaves and 2 fish … bring them to
Jesus
      Your afflicted child … bring him to Jesus
      Your very self, your life
Jesus
doesn’t guarantee any miracles, but he guarantees us his very self, his very
life …
No
wonder he tells us:
      “Nothing will be impossible to you”
Resources:

Frederick
Dale Bruner. 1990. Matthew, A Commentary:
Volume 2, The Churchbook, Matthew 13-28.
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.