I Can!

(Thoughts from this message came, Dr. Neil Andersons devotion)

I Can!

Philippians 4:11-13

I want to begin by asking you this question, and later we will go back to this question with the answer. “If God wants it done, can it be done?” “Does the Bible say with God most things are possible?” No, it says, “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

If God tells us to do something, can we do it? I can’t imagine God assuring a command that cannot be carried out.

That would be like God saying, “Son, this is what I want you to do. You won’t really be able to do it, but give it your best shot anyway!” -That’s ludicrous.

Even secular research and theory has proven that authority will be undermined. If an order is given that cannot be obeyed.

Here’s what we are to believe and obey. Philippians 4:11-13NKJV ”Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.“

If we can do it, then what is the ‘everything’ that we can do?

Certainly, there are some limitations. The key, as in all biblical interpretation, is found in the context.

The apostle Paul states, he has learned to be content in all of life’s situations.

In other words, the circumstances of life do not determine who we are, nor do they keep us from being what God wants us to be.

No person, and no circumstance can keep us from doing the will of God, which primarily is our sanctification, 1 Thessalonians 4:3NKJV For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;

-It is Christ who strengthens us.

This I’m sure of, we may not be able to rearrange the external events of life, nor have we been called to, but we have the assurance that God is rearranging our internal world and using the external world to do it.

Romans 5:3-5NKJV ”And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.“

Our hope lies in proven character, not in favorable circumstances, and that is where Paul learned the secret of contentment.

“-Paul stopped trying to change the world and allowed God to change him.”

Romans 6:11NLT So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

I want to give you several points:

Point 1, We have to allow God to be the controller.

Listen, you can’t kill it but God can. And He does it in many facets. Why? -He created the external!

Galatians 5:22-23 ”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.“

Notice, the fruit of the spirit is not spouse, control, or child control, nor does it assure us of the ability to control the circumstances of life.

The fruit of the spirit is, self control! Giving God the externals, by yielding your internal.

Point 2 when we turn control of our lives over to God, we will move significantly closer to doing all things through Christ.

We will stop trying to control, and we will be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 5:17-19 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,“

Again, Gods wants us to turn control over to Him. --Be Filled with the Spirit means, “Be spirit controlled!” P.H

Back to the text, Philippians 4:11-13TPT ”I’m not telling you this because I’m in need, for I have learned to be satisfied in any circumstance. 12 I know what it means to lack, and I know what it means to experience overwhelming abundance. For I’m trained in the secret of overcoming all things, whether in fullness or in hunger. 13 And I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty.“

Again, Point 2, Turn control over to Him. Philippians 4, Verse 13AMP once more, 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].