“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST THAT STRENGTHENS ME”, PHIL 4:13
This verse is part of a letter where Apostle Paul encourages and reinforces the faith of a group of poor saints. In his delivery, he testifies that he has learned how to be content in whatever condition he finds himself. He knows the highs, lows, and in-betweens of life. He has faced want and abundance with the same fortitude that comes from the Holy Spirit.
Almost two thousand years later Satan has deceived believers and unbelievers with a lie about Paul’s statement. The lie is that you can do whatever you put your mind to and Christ will help you. The lie is that you can live any way you want and when you need a little help just call on God and he will help you through it.
Christ is not in the business of promoting sin. He is not in the habit of assisting the unrighteous and disobedient bent on rejecting his Lordship and Salvation. Carnal/worldly Christians (usually false believers aka unsaved) fornicate, use drugs, lie, and steal then try to sprinkle they’re conscious with a few mis-used scriptures or come to a church service for emotional release. What a waste. Remember Simon the sorcerer in Acts. Before meeting Philip he spent his time practicing sorcery and bewitching people. When the gospel was preached Simon found religion but he didn’t find Christ. When the Holy Spirit was received and characteristic signs and wonders were witnessed Simon tried to purchase the ability of the Holy Spirit. Simon was immediately rebuked for his carnal and wicked heart. All he wanted was to be in the center of the excitement. Sadly, people who falsely profess Christ are only looking for a cheap imitation of the true fellowship Christ has to offer. They look for emotional satisfaction without a spiritual connection. They look for human rhetoric and religious interaction to invoke a sense of Godliness in their lives worldly lives.
This placebo religiosity breeds a weak and beggarly forgery of real Christianity. Shout, get happy, talk about being too blessed to be depressed, or being blessed and highly favored and folks think you’re really a child of God. But go through trouble in your life, get abused or mistreated and suddenly we transform from a child of light to a minion of darkness. We can’t curse enough, gossip enough, and seek revenge enough. We’re ready to call down fire from the sky to bring “righteous indignation” against heathen vermin. We have no problem being mean, hateful, and bitter about our problems or mistreatment but prayer, forgiveness, and trusting God through our troubles – we’ll deal with that later. Fruit of The Spirit – that for old folks and preachers. Patience and long-suffering that’s for the other folks, I’m more than a conqueror. All this hypocrisy is spiritually unhealthy and self-serving.
When Paul spoke of doing “all things through Christ” he was referring to the supernatural ability to be used for the purposes of God consistent with His will. He was talking about depending on the Holy Spirit (fueled by a healthy knowledge of God’s Word) to rise above the petty, immoral, and selfish desires of the flesh that defile a man. He was talking about the ability to love agape style, to serve humbly, and to give generously without seeking acknowledgment or reward. He was talking about denying the flesh of sensual and sinful experiences in order to be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can prove the good, perfect, and acceptable will of God in your life. He was talking about not letting circumstances define your relationship with God. That’s why in Romans he said, “I’ll let nothing separate me from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
You can only do through Christ what Christ wants to do through you. You can only be empowered with the supernatural ability for divine service and divine suffering. If you aren’t looking to be used for divine purpose then don’t expect to call on the divine one to assist you. If you, in spite of your lack of ability to see the future, are willing to let God place you on his potter’s wheels and mold you into a vessel for his honor and glory, then you will be able to “do all things through Christ who strengthens you.