The Strength We Need
During this month of May -- I have invited you to wrap yourself in the beautiful 4th chapter of Paul's letter to the church at
In Philippians 4:13 the Apostle Paul made a most radical statement -- when he writes: -- "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." -- I can do all things! -- What a statement! Strange that a man in prison -- with neither clot nor resources should say: -- "I can do all things." Actually, he couldn't do anything at all; -- he was totally dependent. How can he make this astonishing declaration?
If we were to take these words -- "I can do all things" -- by themselves -- we would think that we were meeting a braggart; -- a fellow who thought of himself out of all proportion to what he really was. But this was not the case with the Apostle Paul! Paul had a legitimate reason for saying what he did!
When Paul said he could do all things -- he was not talking about his own abilities -- nor about his personality -- or psychic energy! Paul was not a boaster; -- he was not a braggart! In fact, he was not talking about himself at all! Paul was talking about the One "who strengthens." The emphasis of Paul's radical statement was not on himself -- but on Christ! -- Paul is saying: "I am what I am though Christ! -- I can do what I can do because of Christ! -- I can do all things through Christ." The one thing which made it possible for Paul to do all things was his personal relationship with Jesus Christ! He says: -- "I can do all things" -- & then he adds -- "through Christ who strengthens me!"
It is true that Paul's statement begins & ends with a personal pronoun! He begins with the pronoun I -- & he ends with the pronoun me. No one can eliminate Paul from this radical statement. Paul is at the beginning -- & at the end of it. It wasn't Christ working alone! -- It is Christ & Paul working together! -- But the strength comes from Christ! Paul is saying: "I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need! -- Whatever I have -- whatever I am -- I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Paul drew his identity & his strength from Jesus Christ! Christ was to Paul -- & Christ is to us today -- the Divine enabler! He is able to save -- able to keep -- able to build you up -- able to make you stand -- able to compensate -- able to deliver -- able to restore -- able to do exceeding, abundantly, above what you could ever ask or think! So with that revelation -- we are all able to join Paul in saying: -- "I too can do all things -- through Christ who strengthens me."
As I have studied this great faith building chapter this month -- I saw things in a new perspective! -- I saw Paul's statement in a new context! Paul was not talking about sports -- about playing the piano -- about acting or performing! -- He was talking about things everyone of us face from day to day! -- everyday things!
Look at the context of this 4th chapter of Philippians. The people to whom Paul was writing were facing everyday type problems; -- they were experiencing difficulty on at least three fronts: --
1st -- they were having difficulties in their relationships! Look at vr. 2 -- "I plead with Euodia & I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord" (NIV). Paul is saying: -- "I want to plead with those two woman.... Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement" (NLT). Clearly they weren't getting along! -- They were unable to resolve their conflict! -- Paul is urging them to iron out their differences & to make up.
2ndly -- they were having difficulties in their attitudes! They had allowed anxiety & fear to totally control their lives. So Paul tells them in vr. 6 -- "Do not worry about anything." And in vr. 8 -- he says, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ... think about such things." Paul is saying: "Don't think negatively! -- Don't fret & worry! -- Instead, fix your thoughts on what is true & honorable & right; -- think about things that are pure & lovely & admirable; -- think about things that are excellent & worthy of praise. Instead of worrying -- do your best to fill your mind on the best -- not the worst; -- the beautiful, not the ugly; -- things of praise, not things to curse.
3rd -- they were having difficulties in how to be content with what they had. Paul's own testimony in vr. 11 speaks volumes! -- "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." It's Paul's way of saying: -- "Learn to be happy with what you have! -- Learn to be quite content whatever your circumstances."
Ironically -- I would dare say that every one of us here today have experienced some difficulties in one -- or all of these areas! Paul doesn't want us to be defeated! God doesn't want us to be defeated! So when Paul says: -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" -- he's saying that you & I can overcome our difficulties in all these areas too! You can succeed at resolving conflict in your relationships! You can succeed in having a positive mental attitude! You can learn to be content with where you are at this particular juncture in life -- until God sees fit to turn you over to a new chapter.
Let's look at these three areas in greater depth!
1. "I can" -- Applies to your Relationships! -- vr 2.
We do not know what the conflict was between these two woman in the church at
When we have a problem of getting along with someone -- there is always plenty of advice available! One person says: -- "Change your job." -- "Change churches." Another says: -- "Move to another state." A third one says: -- "Break off your relationship." Such solutions -- called "environmental manipulation" -- seldom work -- simply because we still have to live with ourselves!
But Jesus Christ can help us work through our conflict; -- He can help us in our relationships; -- He can help us to get along with ourselves & with other people. -- Jesus can help us to forgive & to love one another. He can help us see others as He sees them; -- & to realize that in God's sight, everyone has value & worth!
That is true in the church -- & in the family -- in the neighborhood -- on the job; -- in every area of our lives!
I have, at times, found myself praying that God would change some one with whom I may be having difficulty getting along. More often than not I discover that instead God changes the way I perceive that person! -- & He changes my spirit toward that person.
With whom are you having difficulty? -- Someone in the church? -- Someone at work? -- At school? -- In the home? -- Your spouse? -- Your son/daughter? -- An in-law? -- Parents -- Brother or sister? -- Neighbor? No matter how long you nurse a grudge -- it won't get better! A grudge grows bigger & heavier the longer you carry it!
A farmer stood watching his neighbor plowing with a mule. Finally he said: -- "I don't want to butt in, but you could save yourself a lot of work by saying 'gee' & 'haw' -- instead of jerking on the lines to guide your mule." The old timer mopped his brow with his red handkerchief & replied: -- "Yep, I know that -- but this here mule kicked me six years ago -- & I ain't spoken to him since." We say -- "How foolish" -- but it is no more foolish than many of the "spats" people have -- & the grudges they hold on to for years!
When it comes to soured relationships in your life, say: -- "I can -- through Christ -- find the strength to forgive & to love." Start with a smile -- & follow it with a gentle kind remark -- & then forgetting your hurt feelings -- learn to be friends again! "I can" -- applies to your relationships!
2. "I can" -- Applies to your Attitude! -- vr. 8
It is interesting to observe the way people react to the tragedies & disappointments of life!
It is no accident that some people are beaten down -- defeated & anxiety ridden -- while others are productive, effective & useful! It is no accident that some people take problems & trials in stride & rise above them -- while others are disoriented by the least irregularity. The reason these contrasts in people are no accident -- is that they are the results of the attitudes of these different people!
Attitude makes all the difference in the world! We don't, by nature -- need any help in the negative attitudes of self-pity -- resentment & bitterness. We do need guidance in developing a positive attitude of courage -- love -- & deeper commitment. The Apostle Paul gives sound advice when he admonishes us -- "if any thing is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things!"
If you think you are beaten -- you are;
If you think you dare not -- you don't.
If you'd like to win -- but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch that you won't.
If you think you'll lose -- you're lost,
It's all in the state of the mind.
For sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can!
I don't agree with everything in that little poem -- but there is a lot of truth to it -- for attitude makes a big, big difference!
What is your mental attitude? -- Negative or positive? Circumstances are not the barrier! -- Circumstances may hinder the road to victory; -- but the big enemy is attitude! We really are what we think!
Take this man Paul! -- One day he & his companion Silas were whipped & cast into prison! Their feet were fastened in the stocks; -- they could neither sit nor lie down -- nor stand! -- Talk about torture! Their backs were raw from beatings; -- & yet they sang praises! Amazingly -- these unusual men did not allow resentment -- or discouragement -- or even terrible pain -- to dominate their minds. They chose rather to think of all that God had done for them -- & they held a praise meeting then & there! It had happened in
Now -- years later -- Paul was in prison at
Paul was saying to them -- & he says to us today: -- "If there be any virtue -- & if there be any praise -- think on these things!" We sure do a lot of needless complaining & gripping -- when we ought to be giving praise to God instead!
No matter what affliction or crisis you may face -- you can chose to decide how you will respond! Attitude determines how we handle life's circumstances! But our confidence is not in ourselves; -- it is in Jesus Christ! And that is why we are able to say with Paul -- "I can do every thing through Christ who gives me strength!"
3. "I Can" -- Applies to your Contentment! -- vr. 11
Remember -- Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote that he could be content no matter what his circumstances! He explains how he could be a contented person by saying: -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Christ our Source -- is always with us -- enabling us to be content no matter what our circumstances! Contentment is believing that God is good! -- all the time! As we love Him -- trust Him & depend upon Him -- He will give us strength to live with inner peace & joy! Contentment is not just a matter of deciding to be happy -- rather it comes from total dependence upon Jesus, the Source of our strength.
But contentment is also something that has to be learned!
Remember that Paul said: -- "I have learned..."
That tells me that contentment does not come naturally!
It must be acquired; -- it must be learned; -- it must be mastered.
It does not happen overnight -- but it can & should happen!
Even Paul prayed three times for the removal of a thorn in the flesh -- but now he had learned the secret of Christian contentment! Paul is saying: -- "I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances! -- I have learned to manage with whatever I have; -- where ever I am; -- I have learned to be content."
Nothing is more pathetic than wishful thinking! You may be thinking: -- "O, If only I were a millionaire -- what things I would do!" Or -- "If only I had good health -- then I would be on top of the world." Or -- "If only I had his/her opportunities ..." Or -- "If only I had the talents or gifts needed -- what wouldn't I accomplish!" But my friends -- the true Christian position is to accept that which God appoints -- & to say: "I can do all things through Christ!"
If this were not so -- I can imagine Paul writing: -- "O, if only I were Emperor of Rome -- how quickly I would issue a decree enforcing the universal acceptance of Christianity." I can imagine Peter writing: -- "O, if only I were a doctor of the Law -- a learned philosopher -- how I would startle the wicked old wiseacres of the Sanhedrin!" I can imagine John saying: -- "If only I were a leading statesman -- I would institute the law of love in every legal code on earth." But the whole attitude of the Christian must be summed up in Paul's words: -- "I can ... through Christ."
Conclusion: In closing, I ask you today: --
Are you having difficulties with relationships?
Are you having difficulty in maintaining a positive outlook?
Are you restless -- lacking real contentment?
You can change all of that -- not in yourself -- but through the strength that is yours in Jesus Christ!
Learn to say with Paul: -- "I can! -- through Christ!"
You can succeed at resolving conflict in your relationships!
You can succeed in having a positive mental attitude!
You can learn to be content with where you are at this particular juncture in life.
I heard of an elderly gentleman who was converted late in life -- & he was advised to read the four gospels -- Acts -- Romans & Philippians. He read them through -- up to Phil. 4:13 -- which occurred at the bottom of a right-hand page; -- part of the verse running over onto the next page! -- The old gentlemen read: "I can do all things ..." Without turning the page to complete the sentence -- the man said: -- "Paul, that's wrong; -- you've gone a bit too far this time." He read it again: -- "I can do all things" -- & again the man looked up saying: -- "No, Paul; you're getting arrogant." Then he turned the page & found the words: -- ".... through Christ who strengthens me." "Ah" -- he said -- "that changes everything! -- You're right after all!"
Paul had no intention of teaching that he could draw square circles -- or walk on water! But he was confident that whatever experiences came his way in life -- he would be capable of facing them! Paul knew that Christ could give him the ability to stay focused on the eternal goal -- rather than on his personal circumstances.
Phil. 4:13 is not a guarantee that you can live to be 150 years old -- nor a promise that you can accomplish foolish or impossible tasks. It is however, a promise that there is nothing in life that Jesus Christ & you cannot handle -- together!
All of nature depends on hidden resources! The great trees we so enjoy -- send their roots down deep into the earth to draw up water & minerals. -- The most important part of a tree is the part you cannot see -- the root system! And the most important part of the Christian's life is the part that only God sees! Unless we draw upon the deep resources of God by faith in Jesus Christ -- we fail against the pressures of life. In ourselves we are weak & prone to failure! But lives rooted firmly in Jesus Christ are never uprooted! Learn to say with Paul: -- "I can! -- through Christ!" "I too can do all things -- through Christ who strengthens me."
In John 15:5 -- Jesus said: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, & I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing" (NLT).
Have you discovered the really of that truth? Have you tried -- & failed? -- or have you discovered with Paul -- "I can do all things -- through Christ"? Jesus says -- "Without me you can do nothing" (KJV).
Mylon LeFevre has written a simple little song titled -- Without Him.
Without Him I could do nothing,
Without Him I'd surely fail;
Without Him I would be drifting,
Like a ship without a sail.
Without Him I could be dying,
Without Him I'd be enslaved;
Without Him life would be hopeless,
But with Jesus, thank God, I'm saved.
Jesus, O Jesus,
Do you know Him today?
You can't turn Him away,
O Jesus, O Jesus,
Without Him, how lost I would be.
Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ
www.wynnechapel.org