Foundations: His Strength (Philippians 4:13)

A sermon preached on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain.

Sermon Series: Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living
“His Strength”
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)

Introduction
You probably didn’t know this but September 13, 2010 is “Positive Thinking” Day. Perhaps you remember reading the story to your children, "The Little Engine that Could." The climax of the story is when the little train pulls its oversized load to the top of the hill, finding strength to keep going by repeating the words, "I think I can; I think I can; I think I can." Because it thought positive thoughts, it accomplished the impossible.

Motivational speakers abound reminding us that it’s all in our mind. If you think you can do it, then surely you will. This idea gets imported into Christianity by the use and misuse of our verse today in Philippians 4:13. Why is this verse so popular? Because it has such a positive message, a message very much in line with what we know as the “American Spirit.” For years Norman Vincent Peale preached his “positive thinking” message. His book, “The Power of Positive Thinking” published in 1952 sold almost 20 million copies in 41 languages. And on the West coast, Robert Schuller promoted a similar idea in “possibility thinking.”

Paul’s message in Philippians 4:13 is not so much positive thinking as it is “right thinking.” Positive thinking alone is “humanism,” but when you combine the “I can do” with the “through Christ” or “in Christ,” it is right thinking.

So here is one of the great promises in the Bible, the promise of God’s strength, God’s power, God’s victory in our circumstances.
I want to talk with you today about experiencing God’s strength as expressed in our text today from three aspects: The Sufficiency of His Strength, The Sphere (or operation) of His Strength, and The Source of His Strength.

1. The Sufficiency of His Strength – “I can do”
Here we are talking about what God’s strength can do. Paul is not a victim of his circumstances, he is a victor. He knows that the Lord is in control and he also knows that it is a choice for him to trust in the Lord in all of his circumstances. Paul is choosing to trust God even in the dark. What are the “I can do’s” that Paul is referring to? (1) For one, they are the life experiences that Paul has faced. In these experiences, difficult they may have been, Paul has learned to be content. He has learned to rely on God’s strength.

A casual look at Paul’s difficult experiences, shows us just what he had to endure. For example, in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33 Paul 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 came to realize the sufficiency of God’s strength, that when he was weak, he was strong. Paul knew the truth that whatever God led him to, God would lead him through. That’s why he was able to say, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

In your life experiences, good and bad, you have a choice to be content, you have a choice to trust in God and His strength. Many times we feel that we are powerless victims of fate. Our attitude is “I can’t” endure, “I can’t” overcome, “I can’t” make it, but Paul reminds us that in Christ our “I can’t” becomes “I can!” What’s important to see is that this “Can do” spirit is “learned” (v.11), which means to “learn by experience.”

During this eight week emphasis, we are asking you to memorize a Scripture verse each week. The value in committing Scripture to memory is obvious – when you need a word from God, the Lord is able to retrieve it from the hard drive of your soul. We are asking you to commit to memory this great promise of God’s strength found in Phillipians 4:13, yet memorizing this verse alone will not give you His strength, you must learn to rely on God’s strength in your life situations as you exercise your faith muscle your ability to trust Him grows. You learn to rely on God’s power through your life experiences, one choice at a time, and what you find is that your faith grows even greater the next time a difficult situation arises. That’s why Paul’s faith grew as he walked with God. He learned to trust in God’s strength day-by-day. Paul learned that the “joy of the Lord” was his strength (Neh. 8:10).

Think of it like this. No one wakes up one morning and decides that they are going to run a marathon that morning. No, you first discipline yourself by running shorter distances, by getting in shape, so that when it’s time to run the marathon, you are conditioned to do so. In every endeavor that requires conditioning you have to take incremental steps to reach your goal. But over time through discipline you begin to see changes and you become conditioned to reach your goal. That’s what Paul is saying when he says to us that he “learned” the secret of being content. Rely on God’s strength today in your situation. Then when tomorrow gets here, it will be easier for you to trust in His strength by default.

God’s strength is sufficient in our trials and burdens. (2) God’s strength is also sufficient in whatever the Lord calls us to do. God empowered Paul to fulfill his mission, and God will empower you, He will strengthen you to do what He’s called you to do. (3) God’s strength is also sufficient to empower us to face whatever the future holds.

The Sufficiency of His Strength
2. The Sphere of His Strength – “everything” or “all things”
Where does this “can do” spirit operate? Does it operate only when things are going well. No, the “can do” spirit included “everything,” or “all things.” Paul is saying that my circumstances have no bearing on my ability to be in a perfect state of contentment. The actual context for this promise is important to see. Paul is not saying he can do just anything and everything. Paul is not all of sudden superman. The context here has to do primarily with his life and especially his economic status. Paul’s in prison, he’s destitute, he has nothing but God, but God is all he needs. And even thought he has nothing, he has everything, especially the strength of the Lord to deal with his circumstances.

Some people feel that if they are going through a rough patch, then somehow there relationship with God must not be right. We feel that “Christians aren’t supposed to go through this,” or “I’m not supposed to feel this way.” The truth is much different. You can be right where you need to be with God and go through difficult times. Paul is exhibit “A.” But the beauty of the Christian life is that God’s strength comes to us “more so” in difficult times not less. It’s not always the good times that we sense God’s strength, it’s when the bottom falls out that we experience the tender mercy and strength of our Lord. Because in those times we come to know that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea . . . [thought life falls apart we know that] The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps. 46:1-2, 11).

Many people feel that when there economic situation improves, or when their health improves, or if _____ improves, then they will be happy, then they will feel God’s presence and blessing, then they will be strong and content. But this is usually not the case. God gives us His joy and the strength of His presence in “everything,” and even “more so” when things are bad.

The Sufficiency of His Strength, The Sphere of His Strength
3. The Source of His Strength – “through him who gives me strength”
What was the source of Paul’s hopeful outlook even though he was in prison? What was the source of Paul’s strength to endure the unimaginable suffering he endured? Who enabled him to be happy when he was hungry and without food? Who gave him peace when he was persecuted for preaching the Gospel? Who gave him joy when others deprived him of what he had? Who strengthened him to courageously preach God’s Word? It was the living Lord Jesus (called “The sovereign Lord” by Habakkuk 3:19) who strengthened him in every situation he faced. The same sovereign Lord promises to give you His strength too.

The source of strength is in Christ and it is experienced as we grow in our personal relationship with him. Proverbs 24:5 tells us that “a man of knowledge [experiential] increases strength.” This reinforces the truth that God’s strength is enjoyed as we relate to Him daily as living Lord. That is exactly what Jesus meant in John 15:5 when He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, [i.e., salvation and sanctification] he will bear much fruit [strength being a fruit]; apart from me you can do nothing.” In our strength alone, all we can produce is “I can’t.” You can do nothing of yourself, but you “can do” “everything through him who gives” you strength.

There is a balance at work in this verse. Some people just emphasize the “I can do.” This alone is pure humanism, positive thinking. Other people just emphasize the “through Christ” as if He does it all and there’s nothing that I need to do. The key to the balance is found in the phrase “through him” or “en Christo,” which literally means “by means of.” So, “I can do all things by means of the strength of Christ in me.” I am the instrument, He is the power!

Warren Wiersbe explains the source of God’s strength in this way: All of nature depends on hidden resources. The great trees send their roots down into the earth to draw up water and minerals. Rivers have their sources in the snow-capped mountains. 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 on the deep resources of God by faith, we fail against the pressures of life. Paul depended on the power of Christ at work in his life. “I can—through Christ!” was Paul’s motto, and it can be our motto too.

Are you relying on His strength today? Where do you need God’s strength today? In what area of your life do you need to claim the promise of His strength? His grace really is sufficient. 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. Jesus Christ called Himself the Alpha and the Omega, and we do not have to go outside of him for anything that we need. He is God’s “everything” – for all situations. He is sufficient! God’s Word is true: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe