Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Growing up in the 80’s there are many “Christian” fads that stick out in my memory. I remember going to Sunday school at the Southern Baptist church and seeing the rainbow poster on the wall with the words “Jesus is Lord” taped to the wall. Later on, as a young adult with children it was the “WWJD” craze complete with rubber arm bands and bumper stickers.
Believers are just suckers for a good slogan! One of the most enduring of them all has become the mantra of many a false prophet, even though it is scriptural; “I can do all things through Christ!”.
So if it’s scriptural, why am I attributing the phrase to false prophets?
The apostle Paul had known hardship.
2 Corinthians 11:24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
(25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
(26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
(27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
The apostle Paul had a very blessed life planting churches and preaching the gospel. Those early apostles were accused of “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) having only shoe-leather and parchment. The apostles had sold themselves out for their Messiah and never looked back, but although their lives were blessed of God, they were not well off by earthly standards.
Paul, before making his boast of being able to do all things through Christ had told the Philippian church the following;
Philippians 4:11-12
(11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Contrary to modern beliefs that God wants us to have all the creature comforts of this world. That He would have us among the wealthy and powerful, Paul had just told the Philippians that he knew how to be hungry. He knew how to suffer in this flesh for the furthering of the Kingdom of God.
God is not interested in having His children walking the halls of power of this present Babylonian system. Our time is to come. When His Kingdom is here on this earth in power, then it will be our time to shine.
So the next time you hear some false prophet trying to get you to pad his pockets with your money, just remember this quote from Spencer Smith from YouTube;
“I can do all things through a scripture taken out of context”
because truthfully, that’s what is being done.
Brother Jason
