For the past two weeks we have looked at what the impact would be if we believers lived with eternity in our hearts. We talked about looking out for the daily Divine “kairos” moments that would trigger a series of continuous events leading to breakthroughs and transformation. For that to happen, we need to change the way we think and do life. We need to come to a place where we live our lives believing that our prayers and our interactions with people around us are intentionally making the impossible possible. We need to change our default setting about what is possible and impossible.

Heaven’s default mindset

The default mindset in heaven is “with God all things are possible”. It has it source from who God is and what He is able to do. God Himself has established this mindset.

Jeremiah 32:27 (NKJV) “behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?

The heavenly beings have the same mindset. We see this in the response the angel gave to Mary during the announcement of the birth of Jesus.

Luke 1:37 (NKJV) For with God nothing will be impossible.

Jesus had the heavenly mindset

Jesus was subjected to the same human limitations we are, but he had a default mindset that believed all things were possible with God. We see this in Jesus’ daily interactions with those who came to him seeking the miraculous.

• In response to the rich young ruler

Matthew 19:23-26 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

• In response to the father of the epileptic child

Mark 9:23 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “if you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

• In response to unbelief at the grave of Lazarus

John 11:39-42 (NKJV) Jesus said, “take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And i know that you always hear me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”

What is noteworthy of this passage is that the mindset that “all things are possible with God” was so engrained in Jesus, so much so that praying for Lazarus to be raised from the dead was unnecessary for Jesus. He not only believed God could do it but he knew God will do it.

• At Gethsemane, the hour before Jesus was betrayed

Mark 14:36 (NKJV) and he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.”

Paul embraced this heavenly mindset

One can only assume that the disciples of Christ adopted the same mindset seeing the miracles that occurred in the early church. We know for a fact that the apostle Paul had embraced this mindset.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

As we seek to bring the supernatural, miraculous, heavenly atmosphere wherever we are, we need to embrace this mindset which was prevalent in Biblical times – “with God all things are possible”. That requires us to think big. Much bigger that our finite minds can ever comprehend. Nothing is impossible with God. When we have that mindset embedded in us, we stop second guessing God possibilities. The only way we can make the impossible seem possible is if we look at it through the lenses that “with God all things are possible”.

Think big

The challenge we have before us is to think big. We need to stop limiting our ideas of God to our finite minds. The problem with modern day Christians is that we have this idea we are far superior in our intellect and understanding and that we know better than the ancient Biblical writers. We think because we are so much more advanced in technology, science and medicine that we are able to demystify the Bible and make it more palatable to the modern day reader. How foolish can we be not to realise that we have reduced an infinite God into our finite minds. Malcolm Muggeridge warned that this would happen. Speaking of humanity he said, “… at last, having educated himself into imbecility, and polluted and drugged himself into stupefaction, he keeled over – a weary, battered old brontosaurus – and became extinct”

Just because we find it hard to believe the things we read in Scripture. Just because it doesn’t make sense to our modern day educated mind. Just because we haven’t seen such things in our lifetime. It does not give us the right to alter the Scriptures. All we have is the right to choose – believe the Scriptures or reject it. That is our only choice. We do not have the prerogative to pick and choose. Neither do we have the authority to tone down the supernatural so as not to offend our intellect. Believe the Scriptures and live or reject the Scriptures at your own peril.

I am convinced that the reason why we aren’t seeing the miracles the early church experienced is simply because we do not have the same belief they shared. They saw God as He revealed Himself in Scriptures, through His Son and through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit manifesting Himself in their midst. They was no question in their mind that God was able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”. We have given too much credence to modern day preachers and less honour to what God is saying through His Word.

Not our faith but our attitude

For a long time, I have been convinced that I needed more faith to see the miraculous occur again in our lifetime. The disciples had the same concern. They asked Jesus to increase their faith. Jesus’ response to that appeal is quite telling. He wasn’t concerned about their level of faith. He was more interested in addressing their attitude towards their service to God.

Luke 17:5-6 (NKJV) and the apostles said to the Lord, “increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Jesus was debunking the myth that the bigger the miracle, the bigger the faith that is required. He uses the smallest of seeds and the most inconsequential of miracles to explain to them that faith is usually not the problem for the servant of God. All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed to do an act so impossible and of no significance, yet it will happen. A minute amount of faith to do what we would consider unachievable and unnecessary. So if it is not the size of our faith or the nobility of the act we are seeking the miracle for, what then is the obstacle that stands in our way to see the miracles Jesus did?

After the brief treatment to address the plea for more faith, Jesus goes on to uncover the real reason behind the lack of ability to make the impossible possible. It isn’t faith that is the issue, it is our attitude. Using the harsh expectations of human masters, Jesus highlights the effective nature of true servanthood when applied in the service of God.

Big thinking requires an attitude of a servant

As we delve a little more into Luke 17:5-10, we can see two attitudes that get in the way of the mindset that is needed to see the impossible become possible. I’m calling them trappings – the trappings of instant reward and the trappings of entitlement.

Luke 17:7-10 (NKJV) And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Within this passage I can see two unhealthy attitudes that may be inadvertently cultivated by a disciple which hinders the miraculous from becoming a norm in our daily lives.

The trappings of instant reward

Luke 17:7 (NKJV) and which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘come at once and sit down to eat’?

There is an implied expectation that servants may expect instant reward when the tasks of the day have not been completed yet. After completing one of the tasks half way through the day does a servant expect a red carpet rolled out and he be served by his master? Jesus is not saying a servant should not expect a reward at the end of the “day”. It is the expectation to receive reward when the job is halfway completed.

The “give me now” attitude stems from the modern day microwave, “ultrafast fibre” generation we live in today. Isn’t that what the younger son suffered from in the prodigal son story. ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ He wanted his inheritance now. He wasn’t prepared to wait for the process of natural transition of wealth from father to sons. He didn’t appreciate the time it takes to form character in a person who was to inherit such a glorious inheritance. We all know the tragic events that would unfold in this young man’s life once he received his instant reward. He squandered his inheritance in “wasteful living”.

We expect instant responses from God, as if He is the waiter in a five star restaurant and we are highly valued patrons. We don’t say this aloud, but there are times when we feel we have done God a favour, toiled for hours and served Him in the field – did a fast for a week, prayed on the matter for nearly a year, spoke in tongues for 30 mins a day for the past year – I’ve done what I’m supposed to do now where is my reward? Like a servant who has become so familiar with his master, we begin to expect an invitation to the table before the “day” is complete.

This “instant reward” attitude nearly cost Abraham his promise. Tempted to sit at the table before the “day” was complete, he opted for a quicker option. Ishmael was not the promise. He had settled for something that would have long term consequences. We are still experiencing the ramifications of the son born out of a “give me my reward now” attitude. Abraham had to learn that the “day” was not over yet. There were tasks to do before he could sit at the table and feast on his promise. It took 25 years from the when the promise was given, for the “day” to be over.

The prophet Jeremiah is an example of a true servant. He struggled to stay focused on his chores for the “day”. He had to learn to keep preaching to a crowd who was not only hostile to his prophecies but threatened his life. Even though the first part of his prophecy was fulfilled in his life time, the people of Israel who now were in exile, still refused to believe the second part of his prophecy that the exile would last for seventy years. He wasn’t able to see the fruit of his ministry in his life time. The fulfillment came after his death.

The trap of instant reward will get in the way of big thinking. We need to make an attitude change if this is something we are struggling with.

The trappings of entitlement

It’s not just the “instant reward” expectation that will effect our ability to see the impossible become possible. Another dangerous attitude that can creep up on us is the trappings of feeling the sense of entitlement. Here the servant not only has an expectation for reward, he has developed a sense that he is entitled for the reward.

Luke 17:9 (NKJV) does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

This very subtle attitude can hide behind feelings of disappointment, discouragement or even a sense that God has let us down. I like to call it the “I deserve better” attitude. If the first attitude was similar to the youngest son in the prodigal son story, this attitude is more closely aligned to the eldest son.

Luke 15:29 (NKJV) so he answered and said to his father, ‘lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.

Notice the language of entitlement in the eldest son’s response to the father. “I have been serving you – you never gave me”. I’ve been doing my part, you have been slack on yours. Basically I’m saying to you “I deserve better”.

The psalmist gave us an honest assessment of his struggle with the trappings of entitlement.

Psalms 73:1-3 (NKJV) Truly God is good to Israel, To such as are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

The psalmist was able to recognise his folly because he had a good foundation in his relationship with God. “Truly God is good”. It is never God that is the problem. When there is a need for an attitude adjustment it will never be on God’s side. It will always be mine. God is truly good – all the time. Realising that God is not at fault, he begins to take stock of the feelings he was having as he looked at the proud and wicked all around him. They were prospering in their wicked deeds and it just seemed that God was favouring or rewarding such evil behaviour. He walked into a very slippery slop when he began to think “I deserve better”. I’m the “pure in heart” and they are getting the reward.

Thankfully he enters into the very environment that medicated his soul.

Psalms 73:16-17 (NKJV) When I thought how to understand this, It was too painful for me. Until I went into the sanctuary of God

This is the key to understanding God’s ways. From within His sanctuary and not without. The worst thing we can do in the midst of our toxic thinking of “I deserve better than this”, is to try and figure things out without God. For the psalmist, he credited his attitude adjustment to him being in the presence of God and experiencing the goodness of God afresh. The antidote for the trappings of entitlement is experiencing God afresh on a daily basis.

The trappings of “instant reward” and the trappings of entitlement, will get in the way of big thinking.

Big thinking requires the attitude of a true servant

Luke 17:10 (NKJV) So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘we are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’

If this sounds offensive to you, I recommend an attitude adjustment. If we want to see the miracles the man Jesus did, and greater things because he is now with the Father, we need to embrace the attitude he had in his service to the Father. Look at the language of a true servant:

John 5:19 (NKJV) then Jesus answered and said to them, “most assuredly, I say to you, the son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the son also does in like manner.

Matthew 26:39 (NKJV) he went a little farther and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

If we want to see the impossible happen in our lifetime we need a change in our default thinking. We need to adopt the heavenly mindset “with God all things are possible”. Such big thinking however requires an attitude of a true servant. Watch out for the trappings of “instant reward” and the trappings of entitlement. They get in the way of big thinking.

Think big but start small

As we draw this reflection to a close, I want to point out that big thinking does not necessarily mean big acts. Sometimes we have lofty thinking and it can stop us from doing anything at all. We get paralysed by the magnitude of the possibilities God can do, that we fail to do anything at all. We look at the things we are doing and assume it they are just too small and insignificant to make even a dent in this mammoth task that is before us. We need to remember that small is big in the economy of God. Let us not despise small beginnings. The parable of the goats and sheep in Matthew 25:31-40 emphasise this idea that small acts done for Christ have eternal impact.

Matthew 25:40 (NKJV) And the king will answer and say to them, ‘assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’

The servants were surprised at the impact they had on Christ. “When did we do such a lofty thing like serve the King of kings? When did we feed You, as if we had the capability to feed one who owns the universe? When did we cloth You, the One who clothes the lilies of the valley? When did we visit You? We would have known it if we did such a spectacular thing like this.”

The response of the king must register in the depth of our being. Small acts of kindness have eternal consequences.

The flip side to this parable is passage the in Matthew seven, where Jesus warned those who think it is the big acts that get them top marks.

Matthew 7:22-23 (NKJV) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Big thinking does not require towering acts of service. Big thinking merely requires small beginnings. Start somewhere. Do small acts and see what that mindset that “with God all things are possible” will produce in those small acts. So think big – “nothing is impossible with God”. But start small – even the most insignificant act of kindness matters when we do it with eternity in mind.