“All Things Are Possible” – Really, What Things?

A father was questioning Jesus’ ability to cast a demon out of his child when Jesus responded with the following statement:

And Jesus said to him, “If you can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23

What is meant by the words,
‘All things are possible’? What exactly are included in the ‘all things’?

God’s ‘All things’ – God Has No Limitations

And looking at {them} Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27

And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

Man’s ‘All things’ – Are Determined By What We Can Believe

Each time ‘all things’ is mentioned concerning man, a qualifier of belief is added.

And, all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive. Matthew 21:22

“…. All things are possible to him who believes. Mark 9:23

The ‘all things’ is limited to only those items that can be believed. Jesus is saying, “If you can believe it, then it is possible.” The limitation is on our believing. Over-and-over again, the Gospels communicate a simple concept – ‘There are no limitations with God, and the limitations that man received in the Great Fall are neutralized by his faith in God.’ In effect, faith in the ‘God of no limitations’ takes away the limitations of man. This is not elevating man, it is elevating the blessing of God upon man. The source of the power is not man but rather faith in God – “If you can believe it, it will happen.” God is saying, “I have no limitations, if you can believe in me, I can do it.” That is what is meant by walking in God’s authority. Authority is the authorized use of someone else’s power. In this case, it is us walking in God’s power (Ephesians 1:19, 20).

What ‘Things’ Can We Believe?

This begs the question – For what can we believe? Can we believe for ‘all things?’ No, for if we could, then we would be like God. We would be able to have ‘all things.’ Jesus did not say, “It is possible to believe for all things,” but rather, He said, “All things that are believed are possible.” There is a huge difference between the two wordings. The inclusiveness is determined not by a definition of ‘all things,’ but rather on the extent of our possible faith. This makes sense if you understand that faith in God is based solely on items granted to us by His word. The ‘all things’ are determined by the ‘things’ promised in His word.

We Can Believe Only What the Word Says We Can Believe

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, I Corinthians 2:12

So, for man, ‘all things’ equals – God’s promises that are believed. The difficulty then is not with God, but it is with us, our getting to a place of faith. Faith is the God sanctioned ability for man to trust what God can and will do. It is trusting His faithfulness and His character.

..and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Romans 4:21

Search the Word and find out for yourself what is available for you to trust in and believe for. His promises are His will. Find them out, meet their conditions, hear His voice, and glorify His name.