Talk

God of the Impossible

Louie Giglio

June 16, 2019

Louie Giglio journeys through the book of Jeremiah, reminding us that God is a God of the impossible. There is loss in life on a broken planet, but even in the loss, God is working a redemption story. He encourages us to have ears to be attuned to the Word of God and to stand firm in our corner of faith, believing that God will do what He says He will do.

Key Takeaway

Over and over, scripture repeats, "Nothing is impossible with God," so even in the darkest days when all hope seems lost, you can be sure that God is working His ever-present redemption story.

Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet and he had an assignment to bring a message that wasn't really welcome by God's people. He was to tell them that because they had forsaken His ways, judgment was coming to them.

Jeremiah 29:11 is an often quoted and clung-to verse, but most people don't know the context of it. Some of the best and brightest had been taken into captivity in Babylon. They're already exiled from their own land. He's writing to a people in captivity. In 586 Jerusalem completely falls, but God has a redemption story. "God of the impossible" isn't a message of escapism or bumper sticker theology. There's real loss in life on a broken planet, but even in the loss, God is working on a redemption story.

1) No matter what your season, your story can end in restoration... because God is the God of the impossible.

Jeremiah 32

Nebuchadnezzar is building a siege ramp to overtake Jerusalem. It seems like an unconnected moment, but God tells Jeremiah to buy a field from his uncle as it is his right to redeem that land. At the very same time, Jeremiah's cousin comes to him and asks him to buy his uncle's field. In verse 15, God promises that life will be brought back to the land. In verse 17, Jeremiah recognizes and proclaims how great God is and that nothing is impossible for the Lord. Jeremiah goes on to explain what exactly is going to happen to the land and how it will be laid to waste, but regardless he will buy that field in faith, knowing God will remain true to His Word. In Verses 36-44, God repeats what He will do for their good.

2) God says that He is the God of the impossible, so stand on your corner of faith.

Jeremiah knew that the city was going to fall, but he bought the field in public to show that he believed God when He said that they would again prosper in the land. He placed the deed in a clay jar that would stand the test of time. God is always true to His Word. It's a fight of faith. It's not the size of your faith; it's the object of your faith.

The power of man changes hands constantly, and God is still seated on His Throne. He never changes. Rulers come and go, but He remains.

Not only do the people return to Jerusalem as God promised, but Jesus comes to the same place and gives His life as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of mankind, including the ones that got them into captivity in the first place, as well as the sins of the present and future. A miracle happened in that city. The tomb proved to be useless, Jesus ascended, the Spirit fell, and the Church was born in the same city—and praise God, Jeremiah has a clay jar that has signed deeds in it that says God is going to do what God said He is going to do.

3) You were created on purpose for a purpose.

Anathoth is where Jeremiah bought the field from his uncle. It's the place of his birth. Why is that a big deal? Because in Jeremiah 1:5 God tells Jeremiah that he knew him before he was born and had set him apart. God wants to take you back to your Anathoth, where He said to you before you were born...He knew you, He set you apart, and He gave you a purpose. He is true to His Word and has spoken this over you. Trust Him and take Him at His Word.

“

You might be in a section of life that the melody feels a little off key, but you're still in a divine symphony of God's redemption story.

”

Louie Giglio

Discussion Questions

What does Luke 1:37 say? Where else in scripture is this phrase used?
How have you seen Ephesians 3:20 at work in your life?
Jeremiah faced the demolition of his city and life; what are you facing today that feels impossible?
What is the context of Jeremiah 29:11, and does that change how seriously you take the verse?
God is constantly writing a story of redemption. What needs to be redeemed and restored in your life?
In Jeremiah 32:15, what does God promise?
How does Jeremiah respond in verses 25-26?
Where do you need to "stand on your corner of faith"?
Just from this message alone, how many amazing things happened in Jerusalem because God kept His Word?
What is the purpose you have been created for?

Scripture References

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

37For no word from God will ever fail.”

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

1The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

2The word of the

Lord

came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

3and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

4The word of the

Lord

came to me, saying,

5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I set you apart;

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

1This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

10This is what the

Lord

says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the

Lord

, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

14I will be found by you,” declares the

Lord

, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the

Lord

, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the

Lord

in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

2The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.

3Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘This is what the

Lord

says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

4Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape the Babylonians but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes.

5He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the

Lord

. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’ ”

6Jeremiah said, “The word of the

Lord

came to me:

7Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’

8“Then, just as the

Lord

had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’

“I knew that this was the word of the

Lord

; 9so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. 10I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— 12and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

9so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.

10I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales.

11I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy—

12and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

13“In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions:

14‘This is what the

Lord

Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time.

15For this is what the

Lord

Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’

16“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the

Lord

17“Ah, Sovereign

Lord

, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

18You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the

Lord

Almighty,

19great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.

20You performed signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.

21You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror.

22You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.

23They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them.

24“See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague, the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said has happened, as you now see.

25And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign

Lord

, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.’ ”

26Then the word of the

Lord

came to Jeremiah:

27“I am the

Lord

, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

28Therefore this is what the

Lord

says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it.

29The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down, along with the houses where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods.

30“The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the

Lord

31From the day it was built until now, this city has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove it from my sight.

32The people of Israel and Judah have provoked me by all the evil they have done—they, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem.

33They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.

34They set up their vile images in the house that bears my Name and defiled it.

35They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek, though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind—that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

36“You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the

Lord

, the God of Israel, says:

37I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.

38They will be my people, and I will be their God.

39I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them.

40I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.

41I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

42“This is what the

Lord

says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.

43Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’

44Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the

Lord

.”

Louie Giglio

Louie Giglio is the Visionary Architect and Director of the Passion Movement, comprised of Passion Conferences, Passion City Church, Passion Publishing and sixstepsrecords, and the founder of Passion Institute.