“Nevertheless” City Church Chicago | October 25th, 10:00AM Service Pastor Marcus Mecum
Introduction: In the English language there are a handful of words that can completely change, redirect, and redefine the meaning of a statement. The power and significance of nevertheless, does just that. In Hebrew, nevertheless = finality, completion, end-of-discussion. In Greek, nevertheless = a transition from what is happening now, to what is new and possible to come. In American English, nevertheless = “in spite of.” Key Scriptures: Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey,and this is its fruit. Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. – Numbers 13:23-33 NKJV When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon,“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Luke 5:4-5 NKJV He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 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.” Mark 14:35-37 NKJV Main Texts: In the 13th chapter of Numbers, the Israelite nation has found what they believe to be the land that God has promised them. Moses sends out a group of twelve spies to scout the land. On their mission they discovered the great fruits that the land produced. The witnessed the greatness of the land and everything that was in it. While on their mission, they also took notice to the different nations that inhabited the land. The Amalekites, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites all dwelled in various regions of the land. All of the spies reported of the goodness of the land, and Caleb, was full of zeal and faith that the Israelites could overtake the nations that inhabited the land. However, his fellow spies reported that the cities were fortified and large. The other spies reported that the men of the other nations were bigger and stronger, and therefore reported that the Israelites had no chance of defeating them.
In the 5th chapter of Luke, Jesus instructs Peter to set their nets out deep into the sea. Peter replies that he has been fishing along with his brothers all day and night, and yet they have caught nothing. Peter was a fisherman by trade. Peter possessed the unique knowledge of the waters and the mitigating factors like the weather, the seasons, and even the best time of day for fishing. Peter is what we would consider an expert fisherman. However, Peter understood the power of God. Peter knew that at the word of Jesus, what he witnessed earlier meant nothing. Peter believed that a miraculous change was going to take place. In the 14th chapter of Mark, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemane. At this time Jesus was praying and awaiting the betrayal that was imminent. Jesus knew that the stage was set, and that the time of his crucifixion was upon him. Jesus called out in prayer, asking God that if there were any other way, would it be possible to take that path. The burden was heavy and although Jesus asked if there were another way, he understood that he was the only way. Jesus had foregone his own will and sought to uphold the will of God. In his death, Jesus could see that God’s will was to bring life. What we learn from Nevertheless: In Hebrew: The Israelites allowed “nevertheless” to serve as a roadblock. In the instance of the spies that scouted the Promised Land, they put a limit where God had not put
one. Although they saw the greatness of the land, they allowed the circumstances to serve in the form of a “nevertheless” that prohibited them from receiving all that God had for them. In Greek: Peter didn’t allow the present circumstance to dissuade him from believing. Peter was an expert fisherman, and in the natural sense it appeared that the situation was final, but he allowed his faith to act. Peter saw a roadblock in front of him, but he used “nevertheless” as a tool to turn what seemed practical into something supernatural. Peter exercised faith that what was happening at the moment could transition into something completely different. At the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus used “nevertheless” to turn a painful, sorrowful situation into one of joy and celebration. Our salvation is tied to the fact that Jesus said, NEVERTHELESS in the face of circumstance! Conclusion: What is your “Nevertheless?” In our daily lives we encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable. We have to understand that in God, the situation is not final. If God brought us to it, He can bring us through it! “Nevertheless” has the power to change everything. The God that we serve is so awesome, He can even redeem a word (i.e. nevertheless).