“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4:13)
• This is a verse we all love. We’ve seen it on bookmarks, cups, t-shirts, bumper stickers… It is a line we all like because it is very positive.
• In fact, some people take this verse out of its context and apply it simply – that they can surely achieve their goal because God will give them to strength to reach it.
Is this what Paul meant? Let’s take a look at the context and appreciate why Paul made such a remark.
[Read Phil 4:10-20]
Paul was thanking the church for their financial support. He has been serving the Lord by faith, without drawing any salary from the churches.
• He was dependent upon these freewill offerings. In fact, Acts 18 tells us at one time, he has to work as a tentmaker for period of time, until support came and he devoted himself exclusively to the preaching of the Gospel.
• There were times he has plenty and times when he was in greater need.
But whatever the situation, the Lord has given him the strength to go through.
• When in plenty or in want, well fed or hungry, God led me through.
• And he made this classic statement – “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” He is not saying he can do just anything and everything.
• The context here has to do primarily with his financial or economic status. Paul wrote this from the prison.
• In a sense he has nothing but God, but God is all he needs.
“I CAN do everything…” refers to his ability to deal with every circumstance, including adverse ones, by the strength of God.
• The first words I CAN tells us of his faith in …
(1) The SUFFICIENCY of God’s Strength
Paul did not see himself as a victim of his circumstances. He did not pity himself for the times when he was experiencing lack.
• He sees himself as an overcomer, because of the strength that God gives.
• He has learnt to trust God is EVERY circumstances. He says he has learnt to be content. Happy with the lot he is in.
• This is a good lesson for us. Trust Him in EVERY circumstances, not just for the good times.
Learn from Paul. A casual look at his life shows us just what he had to endure.
• In 2 Cor 11:22-33 he tells us that he was in prison (23), flogged (23), repeatedly exposed to death (23), whipped five times (24), beaten with rods three times (25), constantly on the move (26), in constant danger (26), he went prolonged periods without sleep, food, or a place to stay (27), he carried the burden of the churches (28), and he struggled with internal battles of the soul (29).
• If that’s not all enough, Paul experienced what he called “a thorn in my flesh” (12:7), and this he called “a messenger of Satan to torment me.”
• This was probably some type of physical problem that Paul experienced. Three times he “pleaded with the Lord to take it away,” but God did not.
• Instead though, God did say “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power [strength] is made perfect in weakness” (12:9).
Paul has come to learn of the SUFFICIENCY of God’s strength, that when he was weak, he was strong in the strength of God.
• Paul knew the truth that whatever God led him to, God would lead him through.
• People usually see themselves as powerless victims of the situation. Our attitude is I CAN’T. “I cannot take it” or “I cannot make it”.
• Paul reminds us that in Christ our “I can’t” becomes “I can!” I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
What’s important to see is that this CAN DO spirit is LEARNED – “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Phil 4:11)
• Where did he learn it from? Experience. In ministry. In his encounters.
• Paul learns that God is enough for him, through his walk with God over time.
• He learns to rely on God, one circumstance at the time, one hardship at a time, one difficulty at a time.
If you make a constant choice to trust God, one choice at a time, you will find your faith grows even greater the next time a difficult situation arises.
• Paul’s faith grew as he walked with God. He learned to trust in God’s strength day-by-day. And now in all circumstances.
• I don’t think he got to know this right at the beginning. He learnt it, he says.
What have you learn in your walk with God?
• Start today, with the first problem you are facing. Rely on God’s strength. Whatever you are facing, say: “I can overcome all circumstances through the strength He gives me!”
• Remember, it comes through LEARNING it. If you are not going to trust Him, you won’t see anything.
God’s strength is always sufficient in our trials and burdens.
The second word I like to share on is the word EVERYTHING or ALL THINGS.
(2) The SPHERE of God’s Strength
Where does it cover? Is there some things that God cannot do?
• In our mind, we have the model answer for this. He is Almighty. Nothing is beyond Him.
• Yet in reality, this is something we find it hard to accept, when God is not doing the things we expect.
• If God is all so-powerful, why don’t He ratifies the fault, stops the accident, resolves the conflict, eradicates the suffering, clears the haze and sends the rain, and make the world a better place.
Where does this CAN DO spirit operate? Does it operate only when things are going well? No. To Paul the CAN DO spirit applies to EVERYTHING.
• In ALL THINGS, I CAN. By the strength of God.
• In order words, Paul is saying that my circumstances have no bearing on my ability to overcome and be in a perfect state of contentment. My ability rest in God!
Sometimes, we get this feeling that if we are going through a rough patch, something is wrong. “Christians aren’t supposed to go through this.”
• The truth is, you can be right at the place where God wants you to be, and go through difficult times.
• Paul is a true life example of this. He went through countless hardships, in preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. God led him TO them and THROUGH them.
• The beauty of the Christian life is that God’s strength comes to us MORE SO in difficult times, not less, than in good times.
When Paul asked God to remove the “thorn in his flesh”, the Lord says: “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” (2 Cor 12:9-10)
• If you are in a difficult situation and feeling helpless, then you are at exactly the right place to experience His strength.
The last line Paul says, THROUGH HIM WHO GIVE ME STRENGTH.
(3) The SOURCE of His Strength
Why was Paul able to sing even when imprisoned? Why was he so content even when he was hungry and without food? Who gave him the courage to preach on and on even when persecuted and stoned?
• Why wasn’t he complaining, like we do in similar situations?
• It was the living Christ in his life. He was there to strengthen Paul in every situation he faced. He knew Christ the way we have not, yet.
Jesus is here today doing the same, in your life and mine.
• Some of us knows that and appreciates Him. We draw near to Him and tell Him we need Him.
• Others are not so keenly aware of His strength because their eyes are focused on the problems they are facing.
God’s strength can only be enjoyed as we relate to Him daily as our Lord.
• That is what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:6)
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Let me close with this thought.
• Some people just emphasize the ‘I CAN DO’. This is positive thinking, with a focus on self.
• Other people just emphasize the ‘CHRIST WHO GIVES STRENGTH’ as if He does it all and there’s nothing that I need to do.
• The key to reading this verse correctly is found in the phrase ‘THROUGH’. Christ gives ME the strength to do it. I am the instrument. He is the strength.
• If you choose to do nothing, nothing will change.
Are you relying on His strength today? In what area of our life do you need His strength today?
There are 26 letters in the English alphabet and all of the books in the world printed in English use those 26 letters. The authors did not have to go outside of the alphabet to assemble this massive collection of knowledge. The alphabet provided for them everything they needed for this one task.
You can write whatever you want, express whatever thought you want, just by using these 26 letters.
Jesus Christ called Himself the Alpha and the Omega, the 1st and last letter of the Greek alphabet. We do not have to go outside of Him for anything that we need.
He is our EVERYTHING for all situations. He is sufficient!
God’s Word is true: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
Sing: HE WILL CARRY YOU
