Louie Giglio - The Ultimate Impossibility
I love this gathering of talks that we have been in, the God of the impossible. Has anyone experienced a mindset shift in this series? I know I can’t stop thinking about last week’s talk and that one phrase from an architect that affirmed everything we already knew to be true about our God: we are not limited by known solutions. That’s how you build the tallest building in the world, by the way. That’s how you do great things; that’s how you put a colony on Mars. That’s how you accomplish tasks outside the box. You’re not limited by known solutions. If we are walking with Yahweh today, if we’re worshiping Yahweh today, then our mindset should be different, and it should begin with «It’s possible.» It’s possible! Why? Because I’m walking with the God of the universe, and nothing is impossible with God.
God does not want us to merely share a collection of talks and then move on to the next thing in life. He wants to modify the way our brains process life. When challenges come our way, God wants us to start with possibility, not impossibility. Last week we discussed that if we walk with Yahweh, why do we so often start with «I can’t see a way»? Why don’t we start with «God makes a way where there isn’t a way»? Therefore, I’m going to start with possibility and adopt a new mindset.
Today, I want to delve deeper into the tension that existed last week in Gethsemane. If I went person by person in here today, I’d guess there’s tension in every story. Tension is great in storytelling, which is why we love movies; movies create tension. If there’s no tension, you’ve got no great story, and you’ll lose interest. We want to feel that tension: Is she going to make it? Are they going to get back together? Is it going to resolve somehow? Will they get off this thing and onto another? Is the last guy going to survive? Tension builds purposefully throughout the story. Eventually, a great tale resolves that tension in a way that leaves everyone feeling pretty good about it.
I want to engage in that process today because I feel that, in my life—and I’ll speak for myself, in my journey with Jesus over many decades—this idea that there’s nothing impossible for God has encountered a lot of headwind. Can I get an amen from anyone? This belief that God is the God of the impossible has faced brick walls and created tension we don’t often discuss. But God is very willing to talk about this tension, and spoiler alert: God promises that this tension will be resolved in a remarkable way because God is indeed the God of the impossible.
We see this illustrated in the Book of Acts. I want us to dig into a text together—a text that most of us are familiar with—but I want us to see the very thing we’re discussing. It’s not unique to your spiritual journey to believe that God is the God of the impossible yet to face headwinds that leave you behind. You’re not the only person who has asked the question: «I know God is great, and I love God, and I trust God, but how is it that God has allowed everything to come to this point?» You won’t be the last person to ask that question either. We see this throughout the story of God in Scripture, particularly in Acts chapter 2.
Just to catch us up, in case you didn’t know, Jesus promised that if He went away, He would send a Spirit. The Spirit is now ready to arrive, and the upper room is filled with followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes and empowers people with boldness they’ve never had before. Immediately, Peter stands up and preaches one of the most amazing sermons of all time. By the end of it, 3,000 people get saved. This is a moment we didn’t even anticipate; we didn’t know the Spirit was coming or that we were preaching today, let alone that 3,000 people would be saved. This is the God of the impossible.
In the midst of his message, this is what Peter says: «Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs.» Just to connect a cool point, the word «miracles» in this verse is the exact same Greek word as «possible,» which we’ve been discussing the last few weeks: dunamis—the power, the ability of God. He demonstrated God’s capability to exert His might on any circumstance. This man, Jesus of Nazareth, was accredited by God. What does that mean? It means that this was God’s assurance to you that Jesus was the sent one, through the miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
He’s holding everyone accountable, but then verse 23 elevates things to a spiritual atmosphere we have to reach for. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge, and you, with the help of wicked men—the Roman government of the day, along with the city’s official rulers—put Him, Jesus, to death by nailing Him to the cross. Can you feel the tension? We’ve got a person accredited by God who can perform miracles who is now in a situation that desperately needs a miracle, yet none occurs because God had a purpose that was joined by evil men, leading to Jesus' death. The whole story of walking on water hits a screeching halt right here.
But then we know the story unfolds differently, and we see the tension resolve in verse 24. But there’s always a «but» as the tension resolves. But God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, for it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. Peter reaches back to connect the dots for his Jewish audience who knows the Scriptures. He references Psalm 16, one of my favorite texts: «I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also live in hope, because You will not abandon me to the grave; You will not let Your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.»
Any of us can claim that promise from Psalm 16, but it specifically points to Jesus, saying that no matter what happens and what tension is created, ultimately, the end of Jesus' life is that He is going to be with God as God in the fullness of God. God is going to restore all things, but in the middle, there is plenty of tension.
Where does this leave us? It leaves us with where we were in Gethsemane, starting with possibility but surrendering in confident hope about God’s ultimate plans for our lives. Luke 22:42 (ESV) records Jesus praying: «Father, if You are willing…» Some translations say «if it is possible,» but here He says, «if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done.» What is God saying? He’s saying, «I know there’s tension, and when there’s tension, here’s what I want you to do: I want you to pray for the possible in the impossible. I also want you to posture yourself to say, 'Nevertheless, not what I can see as the best outcome, but what You are already seeing as the best outcome.' That’s what I want more than what I want; I want Your will to be done.»
And I love this translation. The King James Version echoes this sentiment: «Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done.» The ESV picks it up as well, and I want to underscore today that when you pray «nevertheless,» it’s «nevertheless.» When I say to God, «I believe it’s possible,» but «nevertheless Your will, not My will,» the outcome is never «less,» because God works in the tension to resolve all the tension in His time.
So while you’re in detention, what do you do? A couple of points: Remember, number one, that God is accomplishing His will in a flawed and failing climate. God is doing something supernatural in your life right now, but He’s doing it in a context that is both flawed and failing. He’s operating in a deteriorating world, fulfilling restoration plans. God isn’t just working outside of time, although He exists beyond time; He’s working in real time within your life, amid flawed and failing circumstances. That’s why everything doesn’t instantaneously resemble what we expect because the environment in which God operates is perpetually failing due to its fatal flaws. You must recognize this context of life.
Even with Jesus in Gethsemane, God didn’t send a notice—He sent His Son. He didn’t work outside the flawed and failing system, crafting a plan to bring people back to Him through some redemptive process and then notify them via text or email about what He accomplished. No, He chose to enter time and space, diving into the messy middle—where it often seemed like the entire plan hit a brick wall. Yet God is working inside a flawed and failing climate.
The second aspect to remember as the tension builds is that God supersedes the failed and flawed climate. In fact, He uses this failing environment to achieve the impossible. This text is astonishing. Jesus was handed over to you not because you were clever or because Judas betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver or because someone tipped you off about His whereabouts. You reached this dead end because this was God’s predetermined plan. He had foreknowledge of it and determined that it would unfold, but for it to do so, He needed the involvement of this flawed climate to execute His predetermined plan, allowing Him to create the impossible and transcend the flawed environment.
Sure, that might not feel super practical, but it is transformational. Remember, in every moment of your life, God is likely using a failure to enact something impossible that couldn’t occur without Him. Often, we do not grasp how this dynamic plays out. The disciples in Gethsemane had no idea what was going on. They were there, witnessing the events unfold, yet they couldn’t stay awake long enough to comprehend Jesus' prayer. They didn’t realize that God was utilizing a flawed situation to accomplish the impossible—that Satan’s defeat was occurring while they were panicking, reacting in the moment.
The third point to remember during times of tension is that our present reality doesn’t always validate supernatural activity. Anyone relate to this, or is it just me? We come in professing that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which is entirely true, but then we face the headwind of our current situations, and we’re like, «I don’t see any evidence of yesterday, today, and forever.» We must cultivate a mindset that declares, «My God is the God of the impossible.» While my present reality might not illustrate that, it doesn’t negate His capabilities.
For me, that tension mirrors John 14:11. Has anyone wrestled with that scripture? Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, recounting the incredible works He has done, and assures His followers, «You will do even greater things.» This has created tension throughout the Church; we wonder, where are those greater things? What’s greater than walking on water? How do we measure more significant works than Lazarus coming back from the dead? This has created frustration for many, including myself. Where are the examples? How do we reconcile this tension?
I believe the key to overcoming this lies in starting with the possible. In every circumstance, we should trust God for miracles. Lean into His potential and recognize Him as the God of miracles. I’ve seen God perform wonders, acts that had no identifiable solutions.
Yet there have also been moments when we prayed fervently, and what we desired was not granted. Tension remains palpable. In that same passage, Jesus stated, «Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it.» That too creates tension. Maybe Jesus is guiding us to see everything, experience everything, and understand that our journey begins with possibility but ends in surrendering to the confidence that He operates beyond our visibility.
This greater understanding is that you and I have encountered and participated in exponentially more than those people could even conceive. I remember Christine at Passion discussing Paul shipwrecked at Malta. Though he didn’t have the gospels in hand, he must have heard countless eyewitness accounts of Jesus' life. So, when the ship began to sink, one might assume he would just fall asleep like Jesus did. But that’s not what happened. Instead, Paul stood before them, knowing he had to share what God had communicated.
Here’s the miracle: an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me and said, «Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand trial before Caesar, and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.» So keep up your courage, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.
We know that when Paul reached the island and a snake bit him, he shook it off. He proclaimed God’s word, leading to a revival that broke out. Because of God’s predetermined plan to bring revival to that island, the ship needed to sink. Men made reckless decisions, sailing at the wrong time, but they were ultimately saved. Paul’s faith reassured them: «The ship is going down, but we’re all going to make it.» God was working through the tension.
I know our present reality often obscures God’s supernatural presence. You may ask, «Why didn’t the wind stop when we commanded it?» A few things occurred: we ultimately held an event as the weather cleared. It wasn’t the muddy red clay of Georgia, but sandy soil in Texas. A steady wind from Canada blew throughout the day, drying the ground. When thousands needed shelter in high school gyms, about 20,000 people arrived that evening, and Beth Moore expressed it perfectly: «We’ve fasted and prayed for God to show up but didn’t realize how terrifying it would be when He did.» Ultimately, we were brought to holy ground.
While expenses exceeded our means due to the unforeseen circumstances, God miraculously provided, allowing us to continue. A foundation had made a unnoticed six-figure gift that covered our finances weeks later. I still don’t fully understand why the wind didn’t cease, but I trust that God executed His intentions effectively that day.
You might not walk on water, but God is still communicating: «Fear not; everyone is going to make it through.» Two more points to stress before we close:
1. Remember: The bank of Yahweh is not going under. During 2008, many financial institutions collapsed because they didn’t expect everyone to demand their money simultaneously. They used our deposits to generate profit, resulting in an overflow of chaos when people demanded their funds. Fortunately, banking regulations have changed; now, they are well-capitalized, ensuring that we can all access our money when required.
But I advise you to depend solely on one bank: the bank of Yahweh. Its resources are immensely superior. Paul emphasized this in his letter to Timothy: «I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.» In other words, I believe that by the end of history, everything will achieve beautiful resolution and restoration.
Lastly, your tension will resolve, ultimately leading to restoration. If you are committed to Him, placing your hope in Him, if your faith is not merely a safety net but a genuine engagement with Jesus, I assure you it all culminates in ultimate restoration. This is the ultimate impossibility: it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.
Do you believe He will rescue us from the agony of death? No, death won’t control Him or us. Your future is not decay; your future is restoration through Almighty God. If you’re in tension today, I invite you to start with the possible, knowing you will never receive less if you assert, «I believe You are the God of miracles, but I also surrender to Your will and plan. I’m prepared to step out, even if I sink. I’ll just get back up and say, 'Praise God; what’s next? ' I’ll live with the mindset that begins with the understanding that God is able. Therefore, I will continue entrusting everything precious to me, believing God for miracles, expecting to witness the impossible unfold in the end.»