GOING BEYOND YOUR ABILITY

GOING BEYOND YOUR ABILITY

Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Your troubles may seem TOO BIG for you to overcome. But whatever your troubles, the Bibles tells us, God Almighty can enable you to overcome them if you are willing to pray and do according his will (1 John 14-15).

JESUS PRAYED AND OVERCAME HIS HUMAN LIMITATIONS. Jesus experienced all kind of trials and troubles, such as we do, and overcame them without sinning (Hebrews 5:14). But, he alone, as the sinless Son of God, was enabled to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16; Acts 4:12). Yet, being born of woman (Matthew 1:20-21), in his human state, Jesus needed the heavenly Father to empower him to die as the sacrifice for whoever believe in his atonement for their sins. The Son said, “I can do nothing of myself” (John 5:19).

Facing the daunting task of dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus said, “I lay [my life] down of my own accord. I have authority [from the Father above] to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18).

PAUL, JESUS’ APOSTLE, EXCELLED BY TRUSTING AND RELYING ON THE LORD. Paul was persuaded he could do all things through the resurrected Christ who strengthened him, (Philippians 4:13). By God’s empowering Spirit, the Lord enabled Paul to endure many hardships as an example of suffering for the Lord (Acts 9:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:23-32).

AS FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD WE CAN GO BEYOND OUR OWN ABILITIES. The Lord said: “You can do nothing without me” (John 15:5). “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). We need to pray and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). The Lord God Almighty tells us that we overcome the troubles of the world, “Not by [your] might nor by [your] power, but by my Spirit” (Zachariah 4:6).