Matthew 19:26

26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

We’ve all heard this verse before, and have probably used it! But the question is: is this verse a REALITY to you in your life? Do you really have that much faith in Him? The knowledge of the truth of this verse, or your faith in it, affects everything in your life.

Look at the example of Abraham, when God told him to sacrifice his only son:

Hebrews 11:17

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

If you’ve ever read this chapter in Hebrews, you know it’s basically an Old Testament Hall of Fame. Here’s a little excerpt:

Hebrews 11:4-7

4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (I love that verse!)

7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

You get the idea. Notice that the phrase “by faith” appears every time that something that is impossible with man happened! It’s that faith that puts God into motion to accomplish the impossible!

Hebrews 11:17-18

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED."

In Genesis 12:1-3, God had already promised Abraham land, seed (descendants), and blessings. He had already promised Abraham that his descendants would come through Isaac! But he still had faith to do what God told him to do, and offer up Isaac as a sacrifice:

Hebrews 11:19

19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Raise people from the dead? But that’s IMPOSSIBLE with man! But Abraham had faith that God could accomplish the impossible.

James also talks a little about this faith of Abraham:

James 2:21-23

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (This is not talking about justification in relation to salvation, because Abraham had ALREADY believed, and was saved.)

22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;

The faith of Abraham started out as a tiny seed of faith in the coming Redeemer. That accomplished the salvation of Abraham. But that faith had to grow and be “perfected” or matured. That’s where the works came in. Your faith will never grow without testing and works.

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.

As you continue to grow in faith, the works will be the natural result. When your faith has grown and matured, then you can be called a “friend of God!”

With God all things are possible. Do you believe it?