Greetings, my friend. Do you remember the children's story of the little train who said, "I Think I can! I think I can! I think I can!?" Well, it's the story we heard as children, and, you are probably teaching it to your children. It's about positive thinking-- and there is power in a positive mental attitude; of course there is! But, the Christian has access to even more power than that to overcome his problems. That's our message today.
Say, we are so glad for your invitation into your home for this half-hour of Bible study. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We're studying the Bible in search of the Lord's way to become and to be a Christian. The Bible is the only way we have of knowing the Lord's way for anything, you know!
Several years ago, when I was in local ministry, a friend called whose wife had been a semi-invalid (confined to her house for, well, most of the time) for more than 15 years. He had been a very active, hard-working, outdoors man, but for about fifteen years, he had stayed with his wife and cared for her. It had been an extremely difficult experience for both of them, but he said, "You never know what you can do with God's help until you are put to the test."
Well, more recently, another friend, one whose friendship was made through this program, he came to see me. He told me how with the help of God, he had gotten his life turned around again. He had renounced his faith in God; he had been into drugs (well, that meant the hard stuff, too). And, he had had a lot of problems, but he had rediscovered his faith now, kicked the drug habit, turned his life around, and now the future looks good for him. Well, that gives us the title for our program today: "I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me." We're glad you have joined us. We pray through the study of the word of God that we'll find some help for you if you are seeking help.
If you think you might want a free printed copy, a CD or an audio cassette tape of this study, please write us, In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, OK 73083 or by e-mail, searchtv@searchtv.org. Or, you may use our toll-free telephone number and just speak to one of us; it is 1-800-321-8633. It's all free. We don't sell anything on this program. And we don't put the respondents’ names on a mailing list for a series of letters asking for donations or anything of that kind. This is a ministry of some members of churches of Christ in the area served by this station. Ken Helterbrand is going to lead us now as we sing and then I'll be back.
Our scripture reading today is from Philippians, chapter 4, beginning at verse 10 and we will read through verse 13. “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And that is through verse 13. Now let’s go to God in prayer. Holy Father, we are so thankful to You for that You are ever present with us and always ready and helpful when we need You. And we are thankful that You are present with us even when things are going well, but especially are we thankful for the times when we need to cast our cares upon someone and we know that You understand and that You strengthen us. In Jesus’ name, we thank You. Amen!
We are a "success" oriented society. To say that "Every one wants to succeed" may be too much of a generalization, but it's nearly so, isn't it? Most of us have a strong aversion to the thought of failure at anything. We want to succeed on the job, in business, in the sports arena, in our homes with our families, yes even in those things that relate to our spiritual lives we want to succeed. We want to be able to handle whatever life hands to us in a victorious manner. There is nothing wrong with that. There are books of all kinds that you can read and cassette tapes you can order and courses you can take on the internet to learn how to be a winner. All of them mention one thing in common, though: a positive mental attitude. You must think you can. Well, you can't argue with that. It's said that "Attitude is everything!" A bad attitude can kill you, friend! But success comes in cans. However, our text is not speaking of P.M.A. No, what God's apostle is writing about when he says, "I can do all things," is far, far more meaningful than a positive mental attitude. Suppose we see what it is all about. What do you say?
Well, the Christians at Philippi had generously supported Paul, monetarily and spiritually from the very beginning of the church there. When he left them to go and preach to other areas, they sent once and again to his needs. In this passage Paul is saying, "Thank you." He assures them that he isn't bringing it up because of more wants and more needs, because he had learned in whatever state he was to be content. He said in verse 12, "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound." In other words, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to live in abundance, or to do well." Well, he had been in circumstances of want, and he had been in circumstances that were well for him when he was more than adequately filled, and he had learned how to live victoriously in both situations. The preacher who tells you that if you really believe, you'll never be in want, that God gives all His children health and wealth all the time, -- well, he is just not telling you the truth, friend. I'm sorry about that. He-- or she-- is not the kind of a preacher the apostle Paul was, because Paul knew both sides of the coin or the road. And, in either case, he'd learned to be content.
Furthermore, he wrote, "I am instructed." (Perhaps experience is one of the best teachers.) "I am instructed," he said, "both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer." From the experiences in these various conditions, he comes to the very positive conclusion, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." He could bear any trial. He could perform any duty. He could subdue any evil propensity of his nature. He could resist any temptation. He could overcome any physical handicap. He could win over worry and stress; and he could prevail over all discouragement that came his way. He could do all things through Christ who strengthens him.
Well, you see the difference between Paul and the modern proponents of positive thinking as a religious faith; and you see that it is the power to become and it is not in the person himself or herself, nor in their own skills and talents-- but it is in Jesus Christ. He said, "It is God that works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). Not only that: He "Is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations" (Ephesians 3:20 and 21). And, "God did not give us a spirit of fear (or timidity) but of power, of love, and a sound mind (or self discipline)." That is 2 Timothy, chapter 1, verse 7.
"I have been crucified with Christ," he said, "it is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). Never have man's puny powers been a significant factor in the accomplishment of the will of God. Moses knew that he was no orator, when God chose him to go to Pharaoh and to demand freedom for the Israelites. But God said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, or deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall say." That is Exodus 4 and verses 10, 11, and 12.
David knew he was no match for Goliath, too, but he believed and he said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (1 Samuel 17:37). King Saul wanted to help all he could, so he armed David with his own personal armor, and he put a helmet of brass on his head and armed him with a coat of mail. David put it all on, and he said, "I can't use this stuff." So he took his staff in his hand and five smooth stones from the brook, and a sling. And God did deliver him out of the hand of the Philistine that day. And don't you remember; remember this: Gideon's army of 32,000 people had to be reduced to 3,000 in order to be used of God? Don’t you remember that? Read it in Judges, chapters 6 and 7. So our strength is not in ourselves, but in God.
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant..."; so wrote the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verses 5 and 6. Well, if we may use his words again, he said "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31). Of course there will be opposition. There is certain to be opposition, but what can it avail if God is for us?
Well, so, that is what he's talking about. It's not just a positive mental attitude (PMA as we call it today). That is alright. You must have it. It is not even that "If you walk the faith walk, it’s not even that you'll prosper, be in good health and live a trouble free life." Well, that isn’t what it is all about. No, that’s not it either, friend. It is God and Christ and the Holy Spirit in us. And with that we can handle whatever life brings to us today. The apostle is saying that by using the strength which God supplies, we can handle the prolonged illness or terminal illness maybe, that may come upon us or one of our loved ones. He is saying that with Christ, we can cope with the injustices and the inhumanities that men often deal out to their fellowmen. He's saying that through Christ who gives us strength we can forgive those who have dealt dishonestly and deceitfully with us and tried to destroy us. He is saying that we can suffer the loss of our jobs, our businesses, our farms; and we can live through great depressions and even recessions and even be in want, if it should come to that. He's saying, we can overcome temptations; we can overcome peer pressure; we can overcome any other kind of pressure, because we have the help of One who will not permit us to be tempted (or tried) more than we are able to bear and can make a way out of every tempting or difficult situation in which we find ourselves (1 Corinthians 10, verse 13). He is saying we can break every sinful habit that drags us down, and tends to destroy our morale, our self image, our families, our health and even our lives. We can do all of this through Christ, who strengthens us. He is the one who gives us the strength. He's saying because of the strength which God supplies we can turn our lives around and live life in a triumphant way. But, he is not even implying a miracle, friend. So, don't even expect one. We must supply the will and God will supply the power! Our will does not prevail without His power; His power does not prevail without our will. Remember-- "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." I can!
So, let's not shrink from duty. Let us not fear misrepresentation or persecution. Let's not fear illness-- or death, itself. In all circumstances, Christ our unchanging friend is able to uphold us and strengthen us. Let us set our affections on Him. When trials come; when temptations assail; when duty presses; and when a crowd of unholy and forbidden thoughts come rushing into our hearts and minds, let's make our simple, believing prayer to God in the name of Christ His Son. And we, too, can say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Let’s pray. Thank you, Lord, for the assurance that You stand by us; and You supply all of our needs even in time of abundance when we have more than we can enjoy in this life, and troubles press upon our hearts and upon our lives-- we know that You stand ready to help us in the time of need. When temptation comes and trials come, when illness comes, whatever they may be, we know that You are ready and willing and able, fully able, to supply all our needs and we can all things through Christ who strengthens us. And it is in His name we pray, Amen!
The apostle Paul could say with confidence, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," because when he approached the city of Damascus as a sinner that day, with full intent of binding all that called on Christ's holy name and bringing them bound to Jerusalem for further persecution, He made a firm commitment to God. He committed himself and his life to the Lord. When he was confronted that day by the risen and living Savior, he asked, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (Acts 9 and 6) From that moment he was obedient to Christ in everything that Christ told him to do. Being told to go into the city, he would be told what he must do, he arose and went. So penitent was he that while he waited for someone to come and tell him what to do, he prayed three days and nights without eating, ceasing long enough to eat or drink a bit of bread or a swallow of water. When a disciple of the Lord came and said, "Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16), he arose and was baptized to "wash away" his sins. My friend, he didn’t question: “Well do I have to? Is that necessary? Or do you think I should? He immediately began preaching Christ in the Jewish synagogues, that he is the son of God.
My friends, if you are to enjoy this strength from the Lord, you too, must be obedient to the heavenly teachings. It's out of the question that you could ever enjoy such confidence in Christ and such strength from Him, with only an assenting faith, which is simply saying I believe in Jesus. It must be a firm, an obedient faith, one that does the will of God. Why not turn your life around this very day by repenting of your sins and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and making a strong commitment to do God's will in your life, for the rest of your life? Oh, I hope you will. I hope you will do that today.
Thank you for seeing the program today. If you would like a free audio cassette tape, a CD, or a printed copy of today's message, just write us: In Search of the Lord's Way, P.O. Box 371, Edmond, Oklahoma 73083. If you can’t remember the title, then remember the date and we will know. By e-mail our address is searchtv@searchtv.org. Our toll-free telephone number is 1-800-321-8633. And worship with a church of Christ when you have opportunity, will you? You may have enough time yet today to do it. Join us again next week, will you? God bless you. We love you.
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