I Can Do All Things

I Can DO All things

Philippians 4:10-13

A couple of weeks ago I preached a sermon where I debunked a misunderstood spiritual truth. I told you: It is not true that God will not put more on you, or allow you to bring more on yourself, than you can handle.

I am sure there were some who did not like that sermon. Well, those same people may not like this sermon either because I am going to debunk it too.

I know that many of you if not all, have used this verse when you were facing some difficult task… “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Right??

Here comes the bad news… God never promised that you can do all things and He never promised that He would help you do all things.

What?? But I have heard that all my life. I have heard preachers preach that verse and tell me how God can do all things and He will help me do anything.

Well, maybe you have always believed it still wrong

Maybe you have heard preachers say it still not true

God CAN do all things but you can’t

I can promise you… You cannot beat Tiger Woods

You cannot outrun Usain Bolt

You cannot do a 360 slam dunk

You cannot hit a 103 mph fastball

Yes, God can do all things. And if there was some really unbelievable reason why God needed you to… for His glory or for His kingdom… you could reject a Lebron James slam dunk. But let’s get real… that ain’t going to happen.

Philippians 4:13 does not promise you that you can do all things.

As a matter of fact… and here comes the real shock…that verse does not even talk about ability… or being positive… or faith.

Preacher, I think you are crazy.

Without a doubt… but not because I say you can’t do all things.

And even if I am crazy… I am right about this.

((I may be crazy…but I’m not stupid))

Now… some of you are upset because you think I just stole something from you.

I did not steal anything… you didn’t have anything… you never had a promise that you could do all things… how could I steal it??

Just because you have a verse… and think you know what it means… does not mean it is true

Case in point: read letter

That guy is wrong… and crazy.

How can we get the right interpretation of a verse and avoid misunderstanding?

By remembering this… CONTEXT IS KING… you cannot pull a verse out of context and make it some magic bullet.

This promise was part of a larger section and a larger issue, and only if you keep it in that context can you understand what Paul was saying… what God was promising.

So… I want to read the verse IN its context

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether

living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

What was Paul talking about CONTENTMENT … being content with his circumstances… not doing more or getting more… being CONTENT

When Paul said DO… I can DO…he did not mean accomplish or be victorious in a pursuit…

For Paul… as we see in the context… Paul meant HANDLE… I can handle

And the ALL THINGS Paul spoke of… that did not mean doing some difficult thing or accomplishing some monumental feat

ALL THINGS referred to “any and every situation” of verse 12

So… What Paul was saying in verse 13 was the same thing he had been saying in verses 10, 11 and 12… I can handle/do any and all situation…

I can DO hungry or I can DO full…

I’d rather do full BUT I CAN DO hungry

I can DO free or I can DO prisoner…

I’d rather do free BUT I CAN DO prison

I can DO lonely or I can DO friends…

I’d rather do friends BUT I CAN DO lonely

I can DO naked or I can DO well-clothed…

I’d rather do well-clothed BUT I CAN DO naked

THROUGH CHRIST… by His strength and with His help, I can DO whatever circumstance

Now… you may think I robbed something from you because I ruined this verse, stole the power of it.