Confession

Let me make a confession here about my ignorance and total limiting of the boundless words of God. Like you, I know this Bible verse like the back of my hand.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4: 13. Nevertheless, it is only now that I have been made to stand and see the expressed and foremost meaning of these words, spoken to the Church at Philippi. For all who already know, thank God for revealing it to me. For those who do not know, thank God for revealing it to you.

When I heard this phrase, I can do, straightway, the verb, do, became most aloof, wide and beyond my reach. My eyes went on what I knew of Paul, and all the things which he did, which truly had people, including me, in awe of him. Follow me and my mind here, as I tell you what I heard Paul saying. I’m also quite confident and sure that many have also shared my mind in this matter.

I can do - I hear Paul saying that he can do unusual miracles through the authorative power of Jesus, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Acts 19: 12

I can do – I believe that he is saying that he can do unnatural things, through Divine power, like withstanding a deadly viper, startled by fire that fastened itself to Paul’s hand. But he shook off that creature into the fire and suffered no harm. Acts 28: 5.  I see him able to do this thing, to survive this experience and not die, to the disbelief of all the natives, who think that he will swell up and die from the venom of the deadly viper, coiled around his hand. But nothing happens to him.

I can do – I perceive him meaning that he can do great things in the Name of his Master, Jesus, in his zealously ardent and great work among the Gentiles. He is open in speaking about the way he makes the most of it, and how he says, I magnify my ministry. Romans 11: 13b.

I can do - I can hear and see him, beaten and bleeding, being carried away by soldiers, from a violent, hostile mob, asking to address that same noisy, uncontrollable crowd. I am a Jew from Tarsus, in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city; and I implore you, permit me to speak to the people. Acts 21: 39b.  With the full grace and wisdom of his Master’s Spirit, he is able to get that unruly crowd quiet, to be able to speak to them. And when there was a great silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language. Acts 21: 40b 

These and many other grand things which Paul did do, in the strength and power of his Master, made me keep my mind’s sight fixed in one area, one spot, as it were. However, this is not so today. I am literally shoved away from my insular and most limiting thoughts. Being taken back to the occasion of Paul speaking this to the Philippian Church, we need to remember this fact. It was a time when Paul had just received a generous gift from the Church at Philippi. He is very happy and thankful for their loving care and kindness in helping to care for his physical needs.

It’s something of what we see with the women who ministered unto Jesus’ physical needs and who provided for Him out of their substance. Luke 8: 3b. So too, Paul received help from the Philippian congregation. But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Philippians 4: 10. This seemingly was one of those poor times for Paul, when he knew how to be hungry, be dead broke and suffer need.

You see, the Church was unable to provide for his needs as they had been doing. We know that the Philippian Church was most generous to Paul’s needs as has been stated by Paul himself. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Philippians 4: 15 – 16. However, now they have been able to provide generously for him in a time of poverty and need. We gather this as Paul, in telling them thanks, said, you have done well that you shared in my distress. Philippians 4: 14b.

So what is Paul saying to these brethren when he tells them this? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

What is Paul saying to us? What message is he conveying to all who have access to these words of his? The answer comes from what he has said to them in the previous verse.

Tomorrow, we shall conclude with those words.