With God All Things Are Possible...Right? (Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27)

Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 loosely state that, "With God all things are possible." This verse and some others (such as Isaiah 54:17 and Philippians 4:13) sound wonderful, but are they true the way people quote them? Table of contents“You Keep Using That Verse. I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.”Does Isaiah 54:17 Teach That No Weapon Formed against You Shall Prosper?Does Philippians 4:13 Teach That You Can Do Anything?What's Wrong with Misinterpreting Scripture?Do Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 Teach that With God All Things Are Possible?Two Applications from Jesus's Statement about Rich People Entering the Kingdom of GodWith God It Is Possible for Man to Be Saved by Divine Grace"But What about All We Have Sacrificed?"Jesus Wants Us Looking Forward to RewardsJesus Didn't Rebuke Peter for Wanting RewardsWhat Rewards Do We Receive in This Life?Jesus’s Sacrifice Puts Our Sacrifices in PerspectiveThe Incredible Victory...the Disciples Didn't UnderstandTwo Possible Reasons Jesus's Death Was Hidden from the DisciplesThe Main Things Are the Plain Things https://youtu.be/hu-SVNg_vUQ Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 loosely state that, "With God all things are possible." This verse sounds wonderful, but is this what they mean? Throughout The Princess Bride, Sicilian boss Vizzini repeatedly describes events as “inconceivable.” When Westley, also known as The Man in Black, also known as The Dread Pirate Roberts is climbing a rope, Vizzini cuts the rope to kill Westley. But of course, because Westley is the hero of the movie, he clings to the cliff. Vizzini says, “Inconceivable!” The honorable swordsman, Inigo Montoya, says, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” This statement comes to mind when I hear people take verses out of context. “You Keep Using That Verse. I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.” Let me give you a few examples with some of the most misquoted verses… Does Isaiah 54:17 Teach That No Weapon Formed against You Shall Prosper? On January 12, 2013, during the NFL divisional playoffs, the number 4 ranked Baltimore Ravens, who were 10-6, played on the road against the number 1 ranked Denver Broncos, who were 13-3. The Broncos defeated the Ravens earlier in the season and they were heavily favored to win this game too. The game went into double overtime before the Ravens upset the Broncos in what came to be known as “The Mile-High Miracle.” After the game, a very emotional Ray Lewis, the Ravens Hall-of-Fame linebacker, was interviewed. He said, "No weapon formed against us shall prosper. No weapon. No weapon. No weapon. God is amazing. And when you believe in Him...Man believes in the possible but God believes in the impossible." Here’s what Ray Lewis was trying to quote… Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord. This is one of the best sounding verses in the Bible. Who doesn’t want to believe every weapon and accusation against them will fail? But the context is God destroying Israel’s enemies in the future. Ray Lewis made his team, the Baltimore Ravens, into the nation of Israel, and the team they were playing, the Denver Broncos, into Israel’s enemies. Perhaps every weapon fashioned against the Baltimore Ravens referred to the Broncos’ Pro Bowlers: quarterback Peyton Manning, offensive tackle Ryan Clady, cornerback Champ Bailey, and linebacker Von Miller. And maybe every tongue that rose against the Baltimore Ravens referred to the Denver Broncos’ coaching staff? Although Ray meant well, when he quoted this verse, instead of God vindicating Israel against their enemies so that his promises to his covenant people were maintained, Ray told the nationally televised audience that God wanted to give the Ravens victory over the Bronco...