As you survey the Cross— you may hear the following:

I. “Nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

It is possible

• To cast all our cares upon Him
• To have the thoughts and imaginations of our heart purified
• To see the will of God in everything and to receive it not with sighing, but with singing
• To take complete refuge in Divine Power and to become strong through and through

Nothing shall be impossible unto him that believes. What is God saying to you as you survey the cross on this April Sunday morning?

II. “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 37:7

Have you prayed and prayed and waited and still no answer?

Are you tired of seeing nothing move?

Are you at the point of giving up?

Perhaps you have not waited in the right way. Romans 8:25- “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

Patience takes away worry. Patience takes away weeping. (He knows your need better than you do.)

James 1:4- “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire— wanting nothing.”

Think about what God could be saying to you.

III. “My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for thee.” (2 Cor.12:9.)

There is always a large balance to our credit in the bank of Heaven waiting for our exercise of faith in drawing it. Draw heavily upon His resources.

IV. “All things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23

Faith adds its Amen to God’s “Yes” and then takes it to hands off and leaves God to finish His work.

Its language is, “Commit they way unto the Lord, trust also in Him.” Psalm 37:5a

I simply take him at His Word. I praise Him that my prayer is heard and claim my answer from the Lord. I take; He undertakes.

Active faith says— I believe it, now I take.

Yes, I know that God is able and full, willing all to do.

He bids me to go forward.

V. “Launch out into the deep” Luke 5:4b

In the devotional, “Streams in the Desert”, we read the following:

“Launch out into the deep.” (Luke 5:4.)

How deep He does not say. The depth into which we launch will depend upon how perfectly we have given up the shore, and the greatness of our need, and the apprehension of our possibilities. The fish were to be found in the deep, not in the shallow water.

So with us; our needs are to be met in the deep things of God. We are to launch out into the deep of God’s Word, which the Spirit can open up to us in such crystal fathomless meaning that the same words we have accepted in times past will have an ocean meaning in them, which renders their first meaning to us very shallow.

Into the deep of the Atonement, until Christ’s precious blood is so illuminated by the Spirit that it becomes an omnipotent balm, and food and medicine for the soul and body.

Into the deep of the Father’s will, until we apprehend it in its infinite minuteness and goodness, and its far-sweeping provision and care for us.

Into the deep of the Holy Spirit, until He becomes a bright, dazzling, sweet, fathomless summer sea, in which we bathe and bask and breathe, and lose ourselves and our sorrows in the calmness and peace of His everlasting presence.

Into the deep of the Holy Spirit, until He becomes a bright, marvelous answer to prayer, the most careful and tender guidance, the most thoughtful anticipation of our needs, the most accurate and supernatural shaping of our events.

Into the deep of God’s purposes and coming kingdom, until the Lord’s coming and His millennial reign are opened up to us; and beyond these the bright entrancing ages on ages unfold themselves, until the mental eye is dazed with light, and the heart flutters with inexpressible anticipations of its joy with Jesus and the glory to be revealed.

Into all these things, Jesus bids us launch. He made us and He made the deep, and to its fathomless depths He has fitted our longings and capabilities.—Soul Food.

“Its streams the whole creation reach, So plenteous is the store;

Enough for all, enough for each; Enough forevermore.”

Have you launched out into the deep?

Some people have cornstalk faith. Oh, so tall and green it stands, until a hard wind blows and down to the ground it goes.

Genesis 13

Arguments cause worry and trouble in the family.

Has your family ever faced a problem that caused worry and trouble.

Have you ever become involved in an argument with another member of your family over something that you both wanted? Most families have experienced this.

If this has happened in your family, you will understand better the experience of the two families in today’s Bible study. The Bible passage relates how two families felt and acted when they were confronted with a serious problem.

“The herdsmen schemed to outsmart each other. Arguments and fights developed among them. Arguing did not settle the disputes. A bad spirit existed among the families of the herdsmen.

Here are some possible solutions to the problem between the herdsmen: (Remember Abram was the chief of the tribe.)

1. Ask Abram to command Lot and his servants to leave and find other pasturelands. Abram already owned the land according to God’s earlier promise.

Abram could have ordered his herdsmen to fight until they defeated Lot and his men. Not only would this have given Abram more grazing lands, but he could have taken what remained of Lot’s flocks, also. There isn’t much doubt that Abram had more men to fight for him.

2. Ask Abram simply to issue a command that the fighting must stop and that those who disobeyed would be punished. He was the chieftain of the tribe and had the authority to do such.

3. Suggest that Abram divide the land and give Lot that portion that he wanted Lot to have and take the rest for himself. By doing this Abram could have assured himself of adequate grazing lands.

However, Abram did not use any of these possible solutions. Abram made this suggestion to Lot to settle the problem. Abram said, “Let there be no strife or fighting between us and our herdsmen.” Abram solved the problem by doing what God planned for families to do when they have problems. Abram acted unselfishly in the situation. Genesis 13:5-18 contains the solution Abram offered. As you read this passage, you will discover how Abram acted unselfishly to overcome trouble.

In many families today there is strife similar to that which Abram faced: fighting, quarreling, and disagreement. Does today’s scripture passage offer some helpful approaches to solving problems within your family as well as outside your family? How?

Lot made his choice. His choice was greedy. He selected the best land, filled with large areas of grassy grazing land and an oversupply of water. Thinking only of himself was the tragedy. Lot had learned many lessons from his Uncle Abram. But Lot forgot the most important lesson— in times of trouble, think about the other fellow.”

Note: The lesson today was printed in 1971 from the Sunday school department of Convention Press, Nashville, TN.

A forty-nine year old Sunday school lesson that is very applicable in 2020.

Text: Mark 16:9-14

For three days:

• They had been living in the shadows.
• Hope had been dead.
• Their eyes had been swollen with weeping.

Oh, if they had only remembered that He had said He would rise again.

Thought: They could have been rejoicing all this time.

Did they forget Mark 14:28?

Matthew 17:22-23?

Matthew 16:21?

Do you believe that He arose? (Discussion)

I. Note the background of today’s text

Luke 24: 1-8

Mark 16:1-8

Note the response of the angel. Mark 16:6

Picture this conversation

• You are looking for Jesus— He is not here— he is risen.
• No grave could hold Him.
• He made the tomb where He was buried.
• Here on earth He showed His power over death.
• He brought three people back from death to life again and now— He exhibits this power over death by coming back to life Himself.
• He told you that He would be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and that on the third day, He would rise again.

Now look in your Bible. (Mark 16:9-11)

II. He appeared first to Mary Magdelene

She went to the tomb while it was yet dark. In John 20:11 we find her weeping. She looked into the sepulcher weeping and as she wept— the angel asked her, “Woman why weepest thou?” and she said, “Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him.” John 20:11-13

Then note John 20:14-15.

Now read Mark 16:10-11

Did the disciples believe her report? No

Why? Was it because of her background? Was it because she was a woman? Was it a lack of faith on the part of the disciples, or was it fear— that had taken hold.

Now read Mark 16:12-13.

III. His appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus

What did they do? Neither believed.

Who were those two disciples? We are told the name of one. Read Luke 24:13-18. About what were they talking? Who joined them in their conversation? How did Jesus respond to them? Read Luke 24:27-31.

Now read Mark 16:12-13

On this Easter Sunday morning— Do you really believe? Do you really believe— that Jesus died and rose again— just for you?

IV. Now read Mark 16:14

Picture the scene— the disciples had gathered into a certain room and locked the doors because they feared the Jews and while they sat in grief— Jesus came and stood in their midst.

For what did he rebuke them?

Conclusion:

• Do you believe that He arose?
• Do you love Jesus?
• Have you told others about Jesus?
• How long has it been since you told others?

On this Easter Sunday morning of 2020, you and I have a message to tell.

Jesus Christ is our only Hope.