All things through Christ

1. All things throughChrist –13th
May 2016
“I can do all thisthrough himwho givesme strength.”( Philippians4:13).
We can learnwhenthe apostle Paul statesinPhilippians4:13 “Ican do all this throughhim whogives
me strength.” The “him”of thisverse is referringtoourLord Jesus Christand that throughour faithand
belief thatwe canderive strengththroughHim. Inadditiontosame Paul teachesusthat Jesusis,of
course,all-powerfulaswe learnfrom Colossians2:10,“…andinChristyouhave been brought to
fullness.He is the head over every power and authority”.Butdoesthisverse meanthatwe can do
anythingandeverythingwe setourmindsto? The answerisYES… we can achieve anythingthroughfaith
inChrist!We can learnwhenJesussaid: He replied, “Because you haveso little faith.Truly I tell you,if
you have faithas small asa mustard seed, youcan say to this mountain,‘Movefromhere to there,’
and it will move.Nothingwill be impossibleforyou.”
In thispresentationwe focusonthe God-givenpowertoendure anycircumstance. We canread in
Philippians4where Paul explainsthat evenwhenhe hadtimesof abundance, yethe hadalsofaced
manytrialsfor his faith.Buthe learned the secretof beingcontentinanyandeverysituation.We can
learnthisfromPhilippians4:12, “Iknow what it is to be in need, andI knowwhat it is to have plenty.I
have learned the secret ofbeing content inany and every situation,whether well fed or hungry,
whether livingin plentyor in want..” We can a;splearn in 2 Corinthians11:24–27, where Paul shares
some of hissufferingsuptothat pointinhisfaith: “Fivetimes I received fromthe Jews the forty lashes
minusone. Three times I was beaten withrods, once I was pelted with stones,three timesI was
shipwrecked,I spenta night anda day in the open sea, I have been constantlyon the move. I have
been in danger fromrivers, in dangerfrom bandits,indanger from my fellowJews, in danger from
Gentiles;in dangerin the city, in dangerin the country, in dangerat sea; and in dangerfrom false
believers. I have laboredand toiledandhave often gone withoutsleep; I have known hungerand
thirst andhave often gone withoutfood;I have been coldand naked.” Despite these andother
problems,Paul believedandtaught Christians he couldpersevere because he coulddo “all things
through him who givesme strength.”
In Philippians4,Paul tells the believerwhatthey cando throughthe strengththat Christ gives.Thisis
not a promise thatChristianswill have superpowersorthat theywill be invincible orimmune tolife’s
challenges.Instead, he states the promisethatwe read above inPhilippians4:13 “Ican do all this
throughhim whogives me strength.” We can learnthatthe “him”stated in thatpassage is inreference
to JesusChristandthat we can derive the strengthfrom the Lord tofaithfullyendure the difficulties
that arise inlife. Thispassage isnotabouthavingfinancial abundance.Some wrongfully teacha
prosperitygospel thatsaysGodwill blessusfinanciallyif we are faithful;in contrast,Paul taughtthatthe
believerwillenduresufferingbutcan be contentinany circumstance,givenChrist’sstrength.Justas
Christfaithfullyenduredonthe cross,Hisfollowers alsofaithfullyenduredthe problemstheyfacedat
that time which wasfar worse duringthe Romanoccupation. Infact, Philippians4:11 states, “Ihave
learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Paul focusedoncontentment, not earthly

2. abundance”.
Finally, Philippians4:13 ispart of a largerpassage that addressesChrist’sabilitytomeetourneeds.
Christcan give contentmentduringtimesof plentyandof poverty.He canhelpus do all thingsthrough
His strength.InPaul’scase,itwasthe strengthtoserve as a missionarydespite facingintensesuffering.
In our lives,thissame strengthisavailedtousas Christians.Whetherwe serve inanothercountryor
helpsomeone inourowncommunity,Christ’spowercanenable ustostandfirmon His promises that
we can absolutelytrustanddepend sothatwe couldendure the mostdifficultof life’schallenges. We
can learnwhen Paul concludesthispassage with the followingwords:“AndmyGodwill meet all your
needs accordingto the riches of hisglory inChrist Jesus.To our GodandFather be gloryfor ever and
ever. Amen”( Philippians4:19-20).
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
( Philippians 4:13).