“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:10–13 (ESV)
Introduction
Now, most of you know that this book was written by the Apostle Paul. It was a letter to one of the churches that he had planted, the church at Philippi. According to Bible scholars, this letter to the Philippians was the last of four letters that Paul wrote while he was in Roman custody, so it is commonly known as one of the prison epistles.The letter is relatively short—only four chapters—and you could probably read the entire book in about twenty-five to thirty minutes without rushing. And even though it is short, we find some of the most inspiring passages about our life in Christ.
Gratitude
In chapter one, verse six, we read,
“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
In chapter two, verses five through eleven,
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”
In chapter three, verses thirteen and fourteen,
“But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
In chapter four, verses six and seven, we read,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
And these are just a few of the gems that we find in this very short letter. Like many of Paul’s letters, he also includes some personal remarks.
In the passage we just read, he is expressing gratitude for some monetary assistance that the church had provided. The implication is that they had supported him in the past, that support had stopped for a period of time, and then at some point, they resumed their support by sending him a gift through a messenger whose name was Epaphroditus.
You know, back then, they didn’t have Zelle or Cash App, and even Western Union didn’t exist. Any gift had to be sent by a messenger. History tells us that the church at Philippi was not a wealthy church, but it was a generous one, and Paul was expressing his gratitude.
If you’ve ever contributed to a ministry or another charitable organization, you’ve probably received a letter acknowledging your gift, followed by another letter—or email—asking for another donation, followed by another, and another. You get the idea.
Learning Contentment Through Christ
But Paul’s acknowledgment is different.
In verse eleven, he says,
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
And that statement brings the context for our key verse, verse thirteen:
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Now, this verse is sometimes misused because many people interpret “all things” as meaning anything at all, rather than all the things Paul has just been talking about. It is not a blanket endorsement or divine support for anything we decide we want to do.
Instead, it is an assurance that we can do whatever God calls us to do with the strength that He provides.
In John chapter fifteen, verse five, Jesus says,
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
In this context, Philippians 4:13 is a biblical promise. It tells us that God will give us the strength to endure, so that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we can face it with confidence.
The Contemporary English Version renders verse thirteen this way:
“Christ gives me the strength to face anything.”
There’s a Bible teacher named Ray Pritchard, and I like the way he explains this passage. He says, and I quote:
“Sometimes I have plenty of food, and sometimes I have nothing to eat. Sometimes I have a roof over my head, and sometimes I don’t. I know what it is to have money in the bank, and I know what it is to be broke. I’ve learned that no matter what my situation might be, through the power of Jesus Christ, I can face whatever comes my way. If it’s good, I can enjoy it. If it’s not so good, I can deal with it. Why? Because I have access to the everlasting strength of Jesus Christ.”
To sum it up in one sentence, he says, “Through Jesus Christ, you can do everything God wants you to do.”
This year, you can face everything He wants you to face. You can fight every battle He wants you to fight. You can obey every command, endure every trial, and overcome every temptation through Jesus Christ.
This year, we may face triumphs, and we may face disappointment. We will experience ups and downs. We may have seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow.
Let me use a football analogy for my brothers: we may score some touchdowns, and we may get sacked once or twice. But in Christ, we can always endure.
So I want you, if you can, to say this after me: I can face all things. I can endure all things. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Strength to Endure Every Season
Now, that last part of the verse is key, because it is God’s strength that enables us to do this. We cannot do it in our own strength.
God’s strength is promised to those who wait on Him, according to Isaiah 40:31. It is a strength that is made perfect in our weakness, according to 2 Corinthians 12:9. It is a strength that fortifies us in our inner being by the Holy Spirit, according to Ephesians 3.
It is only through the strength that He provides that we can join Paul in this declaration. So this year, let us abide in Him and walk in His strength.
And as I close, I want to close with the words of Isaiah 40:29-31:
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
So this year, let us walk in the strength that He provides and know that we can endure. We can do all things through the One who strengthens us, and that One is Jesus. Amen. Amen.
Walking Forward in God’s Strength
So this year, let us walk in the strength that He provides and know that we can endure. We can do all things through the One who strengthens us, and that One is Jesus. Amen. Amen.