You Can't Do It

Impossible Christianity / Week 01

Matthew 11:28–30

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

"Joy is the serious business of Heaven." — C.S. Lewis

God Is Serious About Our Joy

Happiness is the fleeting feeling of joy that comes from anything but God.

Joy is the remaining feeling of happiness that only comes through God.

"Jesus was, and is, the happiest and most joyful being in the universe." — Dallas Willard

"The people of God ought to be the happiest people in all the wide world." — A.W. Tozer

"There is no joy in this world like union with Christ. The more we can feel it, the happier we are." — Charles Spurgeon

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Psalm 4:7

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

John 15:11

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

John 16:22

"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you."

Matthew 11:28–30

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

"No doubt there is a cross to bear, if we follow Christ; no doubt there are trials to be endured, and battles to be fought: but the comforts of the gospel far outweigh the cross. His yoke is no more a burden than the feathers are to a bird." — J.C. Ryle

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

The Problem: You Can't Do It

Christianity is impossible without Christ.

Romans 7:15

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Matthew 5:20

"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

The Answer: The Gospel of Fig Leaves

Genesis 3:7–10

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

"Hide your weaknesses from God or He'll punish you."

Genesis 3:11

He said, "Who told you that you were naked?"

The Answer: The Gospel of Perfect Provision

Genesis 3:21

And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

"Bring your weaknesses to God and He'll clothe you."

"Yea, the fear of God will cause a man to flee, not from Him, but from himself; not from Him, but to Him, the Father of himself…" — George MacDonald