IF
by Dr. J.C. House
09/21/2023
Mark 9:22-23 - “And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but IF thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, IF thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Notice the two ifs in our text. First, a man uses it in reference to God's ability and second, Jesus puts the responsibility for the sought-after result back on the man. “If thou canst believe…”
The ifs of man hinder the Christian from achieving God’s purpose in their life many times, and we are always placing the reason for our failures on other things. You can perhaps find yourself in the following IF list.
IF I only had time to read my Bible...
IF I had more power...
IF I was healthy like he is...
IF there was something they would ask me to do...
IF my work didn’t make me so tired...
IF I had the energy the young people have...
IF our Church wasn’t like it is...
IF I were talented...
IF the other members would get on the ball...
IF my kids would read the Bible and practice it...
IF I made the money he does...
IF I had a better Pastor...
IF God did it like that in our day...
IF I didn’t live next door to them...
IF my spouse loved God more...
IF I could forgive myself...
IF I didn’t have to go to work so early...
IF they bragged on me like they brag on him...
IF I didn’t have to live with my past...
IF my parents could just understand me...
IF they would elect me as a deacon...
IF I could have had an easier time growing up...
The common denominator in all these excuses, they all put the blame somewhere other than where it belongs. IF robs us of our God-given dreams. IF wrecks our confidence and destroys our incentives. IF is a word of delay, despair, and destruction.
May I suggest a better IF...
2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
And remember, Mark 9:23 - “Jesus said unto him, IF thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Don’t let the devil IF away your potential. Determine to live for Christ.
09/21/2023
Mark 9:22-23 - “And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but IF thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, IF thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Notice the two ifs in our text. First, a man uses it in reference to God's ability and second, Jesus puts the responsibility for the sought-after result back on the man. “If thou canst believe…”
The ifs of man hinder the Christian from achieving God’s purpose in their life many times, and we are always placing the reason for our failures on other things. You can perhaps find yourself in the following IF list.
IF I only had time to read my Bible...
IF I had more power...
IF I was healthy like he is...
IF there was something they would ask me to do...
IF my work didn’t make me so tired...
IF I had the energy the young people have...
IF our Church wasn’t like it is...
IF I were talented...
IF the other members would get on the ball...
IF my kids would read the Bible and practice it...
IF I made the money he does...
IF I had a better Pastor...
IF God did it like that in our day...
IF I didn’t live next door to them...
IF my spouse loved God more...
IF I could forgive myself...
IF I didn’t have to go to work so early...
IF they bragged on me like they brag on him...
IF I didn’t have to live with my past...
IF my parents could just understand me...
IF they would elect me as a deacon...
IF I could have had an easier time growing up...
The common denominator in all these excuses, they all put the blame somewhere other than where it belongs. IF robs us of our God-given dreams. IF wrecks our confidence and destroys our incentives. IF is a word of delay, despair, and destruction.
May I suggest a better IF...
2 Corinthians 5:17 - “Therefore IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
And remember, Mark 9:23 - “Jesus said unto him, IF thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Don’t let the devil IF away your potential. Determine to live for Christ.
Posted in Living for God
Posted in Mark 9, ability, responsibility, purpose, reason, excuses, 2 corinthians 5, potential
Posted in Mark 9, ability, responsibility, purpose, reason, excuses, 2 corinthians 5, potential
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