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Trusting God for the Impossible

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. MATTHEW 1:18-25 NLT

A disciple of Jesus Trusts that God can do the impossible

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” MATTHEW 1:20-21 NLT

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” MARK 10:27 NLT 

Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; REVELATION 1:4 NLT

perfect love expels all fear. 1 JOHN 4:18 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” JOHN 14:1 NLT

A disciple of Jesus creates a desire to do what God asks no matter how challenging

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. MATTHEW 1:24 NLT

A disciple must move from focusing on what’s impossible to what is obedience

So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 1 PETER 1:14-15 NLT

Where is this week do you need to work on holiness?

Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 1 JOHN 5:3 NLT

A disciple of Jesus connects the need for private purity to experience public power

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, MATTHEW 1:18 NLT

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus. MATTHEW 1:24-25 NLT

Sexual sin robs me of spiritual power

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 CORINTHIANS 6:18-20 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place that will help you to become calm in your thinking and feelings. Ask God to help you do this. Take a few deep breaths and commit the time for His purposes. When you sense you are ready, ask Him to guide you through this time of reflection. Read Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT). What amazes you about Mary and Joseph’s trust in God? Imagine yourself in the passage and what your response would have been to what God told them to do. Ask God to bring to your mind a challenge you are facing that is impossible for you to accomplish in your own strength. What are your thoughts and feelings about this situation? Imagine what it would look and feel like for you to trust Him in this challenge, believing all things are possible through Him. What is God asking you to do? Take action this week to obey Him. Pray that God will help you discern an area where you need more holiness in your life. (Are your words a blessing? Are your actions honorable? Are you generous with grace? Are you consistently faithful? Are you serving with humility? Are you quick to forgive?) Talk to God about what He wants you to do to cooperate with Him in growing in this area. Ask Him if there is anything in your private purity that is hindering your spiritual power. If He brings anything to mind, trust Him to do the impossible in helping you to change. Commit to obeying Him in whatever actions He leads you to take.

Discussion Questions

For our Matthew series, we’re offering a couple options for how to discuss the sermon and scripture. Choose option A or B to guide your group’s discussion time.

(A) The R.E.A.L. Bible Study Method:

1. Read the Passage. Start by reading Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT) out loud.
2. Explore the Theme. What is the main point or theme of the passage? What does this passage reveal about God and/or humanity?
3. Ask God. How do we apply this passage to our lives today? How might God be encouraging or challenging you?
4. Live It Out. What prayerful and specific action will you take based on this passage?

(B) Choose a couple of questions from each section below to discuss as a group:

  1. START HERE: How easy or difficult is it for you to believe the Bible? Or what is something in the Bible that is difficult for you to believe?
  2. START HERE: When you’re facing an “impossible” situation, what do you tend to focus on?
  3. START HERE: What do impossible situations teach us? Can you think of an example from your life?
  4. KEEP GOING: Read Matthew 1:18-25 (NLT). What seems to be most significant in this passage?
  5. KEEP GOING: How do Mary and Joseph’s obedience inspire or challenge you in your faith?
  6. KEEP GOING: Read Mark 10:27 (NLT). Mary and Joseph trusted God with the impossible. What is something you are facing that seems impossible? What would it look like for you to radically trust God in this situation?
  7. KEEP GOING: Read 1 Peter 1:14-15 (NLT). Holiness isn’t about being perfect, but set apart for God. Why does it matter to God that we live holy lives?
  8. KEEP GOING: Read 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NLT). Do you see your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit? How are you treating your body in a way that reflects that?
  9. LIVE IT OUT: What would it look like to live in awareness of God's love for you this week?
  10. LIVE IT OUT: Choose an area of your life where you are not living in holy obedience or trusting God for the impossible. What would you need to change in order to trust and obey God?