Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Can It Be?


 
I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. 
Philippians 4:13 
 

Does this really mean that I can do all things? Yes!...  even fulfill all the will of God! Oh what precious joy! I have Christ's in me, my hope, my glory, for all things! I have His indwelling strength, by the anointed power & authority of the Holy Spirit, to obey the Great Commission. I have the strenth to resist the temptation to sin by commission or omission. I have the strength, by the grace of My Savior, to resist the temptation to be anxious about my children, our future, our finances. Where does my strength, my help, come from? The first scripture I ever memorized provided the answer to the fearful, sin-laden anxiety of my heart: "I will lift up my eyes unto the hills - Where does my help come from? My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven & earth." (Psalm 121:1,2) My aid cometh from Him who giveth me power.  By virtue of my living union and identification with Jesus Christ, who is my strength, I can trust & obey His laws & precepts! I can do all His will, without boasting for ... "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.; & the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me & gave Himself for me." (Galations 2:20)

Glory to God for His amazing grace on a wretched sinner like me!

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

Philippians 4:10-19 It is a good work to succour and help a good minister in trouble. The nature of true Christian sympathy, is not only to feel concern for our friends in their troubles, but to do what we can to help them. The apostle was often in bonds, imprisonments, and necessities; but in all, he learned to be content, to bring his mind to his condition, and make the best of it. Pride, unbelief, vain hankering after something we have not got, and fickle disrelish of present things, make men discontented even under favourable circumstances. Let us pray for patient submission and hope when we are abased; for humility and a heavenly mind when exalted. It is a special grace to have an equal temper of mind always. And in a low state not to lose our comfort in God, nor distrust his providence, nor take any wrong course for our own supply. In a prosperous condition not to be proud, or secure, or worldly. This is a harder lesson than the other; for the temptations of fulness and prosperity are more than those of affliction and want. The apostle had no design to urge them to give more, but to encourage such kindness as will meet a glorious reward hereafter. Through Christ we have grace to do what is good, and through him we must expect the reward; and as we have all things by him, let us do all things for him, and to his glory.

 
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

Colossians 1:11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously

1Timothy 1:12, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into this ministry ..."

Patte Smith

Sanctuary Ministries

www.sanctuaryministries.blogspot.com

 

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