Empowered through Christ

Philippians 4:13 NKJV

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

EMPOWERED THROUGH CHRIST

PHILIPPIANS 4:13

GOOD MORNING, BELOVED CONGREGATION! TODAY, WE GATHER TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD TO REFLECT ON THE POWERFUL WORDS FOUND IN PHILIPPIANS 4:13: "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME."

THESE WORDS, SPOKEN BY THE APOSTLE PAUL, HOLD A DEEP AND TRANSFORMATIVE MEANING FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS.

TODAY, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THREE KEY POINTS ON HOW WE CAN FIND STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

IMAGINE WITH ME, A YOUNG SHEPHERD BOY NAMED DAVID. HE WAS AN ORDINARY BOY, ONE OF MANY BROTHERS, WHO WAS TASKED WITH TENDING TO HIS FATHERS SHEEP. ONE DAY, HE HEARD ABOUT A GIANT NAMED GOLIATH WHO WAS TERRORIZING THE ISRAELITES.

ALL THE ADULTS WERE AFRAID AND NO ONE DARED TO FACE HIM. BUT DAVID, FULL OF FAITH, STEPPED FORWARD AND SAID, I WILL FIGHT HIM! HIS FAITH IN GODS STRENGTH GAVE HIM THE COURAGE TO FACE THE GIANT AND HE DEFEATED HIM WITH A SINGLE STONE.

BIBLICAL LINK:

IN THE SAME WAY, PAUL HAD A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE EMPOWERING PRESENCE OF GOD IN HIS LIFE.

HE FACED NUMEROUS CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES IN HIS MINISTRY, YET HE NEVER WAVERED IN HIS FAITH.

HE KNEW THAT HIS STRENGTH DID NOT COME FROM HIS OWN ABILITIES, BUT FROM THE INDWELLING POWER OF CHRIST.

JUST AS DAVID DECLARED, I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, PAUL TOO BELIEVED THAT NOTHING WAS TOO DIFFICULT FOR HIM WITH CHRIST ON HIS SIDE.

IN PHILIPPIANS 4:13, PAUL IS EXPRESSING HIS BELIEF THAT HE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS HIM.

THIS MEANS THAT PAUL HAS LEARNED TO BE CONTENT IN ANY SITUATION, WHETHER HE IS AT A LOSS OR IN LUXURY, HUNGRY OR FULL. HE FINDS STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO FACE ANY CIRCUMSTANCE THROUGH HIS FAITH IN CHRIST.

PAUL'S STATEMENT REFLECTS HIS TRUST IN GOD'S POWER AND PROVISION IN HIS LIFE.

POINT 1: ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR WEAKNESSES

BEFORE WE CAN TRULY EXPERIENCE THE STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM CHRIST, WE MUST FIRST ACKNOWLEDGE OUR WEAKNESSES.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS FULL OF CHALLENGES, TRIALS, AND TRIBULATIONS.

AS BLACK AMERICANS, WE HAVE FACED HISTORICAL OPPRESSION, SYSTEMIC RACISM, AND SOCIAL INJUSTICES THAT HAVE DEEPLY AFFECTED OUR COMMUNITIES. IT CAN BE EASY TO FEEL OVERWHELMED, DEFEATED, AND POWERLESS IN THE FACE OF THESE STRUGGLES.

BUT THE TRUTH IS, WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR WEAKNESS. PAUL HIMSELF EXPERIENCED HIS OWN WEAKNESSES AND LIMITATIONS, AS HE FACED PERSECUTION, IMPRISONMENT, AND HARDSHIP IN HIS MINISTRY. IN 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9, HE WRITES, "BUT HE SAID TO ME, 'MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.'" IT IS IN OUR WEAKNESS THAT THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST IS MADE MANIFEST.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT IS OKAY TO ADMIT WHEN WE ARE FEELING WEAK, VULNERABLE, OR HELPLESS. IT IS IN THESE MOMENTS OF HUMILITY THAT WE CAN SURRENDER OURSELVES TO GOD AND ALLOW HIS STRENGTH TO WORK THROUGH US.

AS PSALM 46:1 REMINDS US, "GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, AN EVER-PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE." LET US LEAN ON THE LORD IN OUR WEAKNESS AND TRUST IN HIS POWER TO LIFT US UP.

THERE IS A STORY OF A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO DECIDED TO STUDY JUDO.

THE PROBLEM WAS HE HAD BEEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HAD LOST HIS LEFT ARM.

SO HE STARTED THE LESSONS AND WAS DOING WELL BUT HE COULDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY AFTER 3 MONTHS OF LESSONS THAT HIS COACH HAD ONLY TAUGHT HIM ONE MOVE.

SO HE SAID TO HIM, "SENSEI, SHOULDN’T I BE LEARNING MORE MOVES?"

THE COACH REPLIED, "THIS IS THE ONLY MOVE YOU KNOW, BUT THIS IS THE ONLY MOVE YOU WILL EVER NEED TO KNOW."

THE BOY DIDN’T UNDERSTAND BUT HE KEPT TRAINING. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE COACH TOOK THE BOY TO HIS FIRST TOURNAMENT.

TO HIS SURPRISE, HE WON THE FIRST TWO MATCHES. THE THIRD MATCH WAS MORE DIFFICULT, BUT EVENTUALLY HIS OPPONENT GOT IMPATIENT AND CHARGED HIM, AND WHEN HE DID THE BOY USED HIS ONE MOVE AND HE WON THE MATCH.

NOW HE WAS IN THE FINALS.

HIS OPPONENT WAS BIGGER, STRONGER, MORE EXPERIENCED. FOR A FEW MOMENTS HE SEEMED TO BE OUTMATCHED. HIS OPPONENT WAS HITTING HARD.

THE REFEREE WAS AFRAID THE BOY MIGHT GET HURT, SO HE CALLED A TIME-OUT. HIS COACH STEPPED IN AND SAID TO LET HIM CONTINUE.

IN A FEW MOMENTS AFTER THEY STARTED BACK HIS OPPONENT MADE A CRITICAL MISTAKE; HE DROPPED HIS GUARD AND THE BOY USED HIS ONE MOVE TO PIN HIM DOWN.

SO THE BOY WAS DECLARED THE CHAMPION.

ON THE WAY HOME THE BOY AND HIS COACH REVIEWED EVERY MOVE IN EACH OF THE MATCHES.

THEN THE BOY GOT UP ENOUGH COURAGE TO ASK HIS COACH, "HOW DID I WIN THE TOURNAMENT WITH JUST ONE MOVE?"

HE SAID "WELL, YOU WON FOR TWO REASONS: (1) YOU MASTERED ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT MOVES IN ALL OF JUDO. (2) THE ONLY KNOWN DEFENSE FOR THAT MOVE IS FOR YOUR OPPONENT TO GRAB YOUR LEFT ARM."

HIS BIGGEST WEAKNESS HAD BECOME HIS GREATEST STRENGTH.

THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN WHEN YOU LEARN TO ALLOW YOUR WEAKNESS TO BECOME GOD’S STRENGTH….THE REASON SO MANY BELIEVERS LOSE THE BATTLE WHEN THEY FACE TRIALS IS THAT THEY RELY ON THEIR OWN STRENGTH AND NOT ALLOW THE LORD TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES.

PAUL PRAYED THAT THE CHURCH IN PHILIPPI WOULD TRUST IN THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST

IN HEBREWS 11:1, WE ARE REMINDED THAT "NOW FAITH IS CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND ASSURANCE ABOUT WHAT WE DO NOT SEE." OUR FAITH IN GOD AND IN OUR HERITAGE AS BLACK AMERICANS GIVES US THE STRENGTH TO CONFRONT THE INJUSTICES OF OUR PAST AND PRESENT, AND TO STRIVE FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE. OUR ROOTS ARE DEEP AND ENDURING, AND THEY PROVIDE US WITH A FOUNDATION OF STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN.

AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LET US REMEMBER THE STORIES OF OUR ANCESTORS WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM, EQUALITY, AND JUSTICE. LET US DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THEIR COURAGE, DETERMINATION, AND FAITH IN GOD.

JUST AS THEY OVERCAME SLAVERY, SEGREGATION, AND DISCRIMINATION WITH THE POWER OF CHRIST WITHIN THEM, SO TOO CAN WE RISE ABOVE OUR CHALLENGES AND OBSTACLES WITH THE SAME STRENGTH AND CONVICTION. EMBRACE YOUR ROOTS, FOR THEY ARE THE WELLSPRING OF YOUR POWER AND RESILIENCE.

POINT 2: TRUST IN THE POWER OF CHRIST

ONCE WE HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED OUR WEAKNESSES, WE CAN THEN TRUST IN THE POWER OF CHRIST TO STRENGTHEN US. THE VERSE IN PHILIPPIANS 4:13 IS A POWERFUL DECLARATION OF FAITH IN THE LORD'S ABILITY TO EMPOWER US TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE OR CHALLENGE THAT COMES OUR WAY. WHEN WE PLACE OUR TRUST IN JESUS, WE CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL PROVIDE US WITH THE STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND PERSEVERANCE WE NEED TO NAVIGATE THROUGH LIFE'S DIFFICULTIES.

THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT:

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS , THIS VERSE TEACHES US AN IMPORTANT THEOLOGICAL TRUTH - THAT OUR STRENGTH IS NOT FOUND IN OUR OWN ABILITIES, BUT IN CHRIST ALONE. AS BELIEVERS, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO THE DIVINE SOURCE OF EMPOWERMENT - THE HOLY SPIRIT.

WHEN WE PUT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST, WE ARE FILLED WITH HIS STRENGTH, HIS POWER, AND HIS COURAGE TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE. THIS IS NOT A POWER THAT IS LIMITED BY OUR HUMAN LIMITATIONS, BUT A POWER THAT IS LIMITLESS BECAUSE IT COMES FROM GOD.

IN PSALM 28:7, WE ARE REMINDED THAT "THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; MY HEART TRUSTS IN HIM, AND HE HELPS ME." THIS VERSE SERVES AS A POWERFUL AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH IN GOD'S ABILITY TO SUPPORT AND SUSTAIN US IN TIMES OF NEED. WHEN WE TRUST IN THE POWER OF CHRIST, WE CAN FACE OUR STRUGGLES WITH BOLDNESS, RESILIENCE, AND HOPE, KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR JOURNEY.

AS WE REFLECT ON THE LEGACY OF OUR ANCESTORS WHO ENDURED SLAVERY, DISCRIMINATION, AND SEGREGATION WITH UNWAVERING FAITH IN GOD, LET US DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THEIR RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION.

JUST AS THEY FOUND STRENGTH IN CHRIST TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR TIME, SO TOO CAN WE FIND STRENGTH IN HIM TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.

LET US TRUST IN THE POWER OF CHRIST TO GUIDE US, PROTECT US, AND EMPOWER US TO FULFILL OUR GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE.

THE VERSE IN PHILIPPIANS 4:13 REMINDS US THAT WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US. THIS IS A POWERFUL DECLARATION OF OUR FAITH IN GOD'S ABILITY TO EMPOWER US TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE, FACE ANY CHALLENGE, AND ACHIEVE ANY DREAM THAT WE SET OUR MINDS TO.

AS AFRICAN AMERICANS, WE HAVE A LEGACY OF RESILIENCE, CREATIVITY, AND EXCELLENCE THAT IS UNPARALLELED. FROM THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TO THE REALMS OF ART, MUSIC, LITERATURE, AND SCIENCE, WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD DESPITE FACING ENORMOUS ODDS.

OUR STRENGTH LIES NOT ONLY IN OUR PHYSICAL ABILITIES, BUT ALSO IN OUR SPIRITUAL FORTITUDE AND MENTAL RESILIENCE.

IN ISAIAH 40:31, WE ARE TOLD, "BUT THOSE WHO HOPE IN 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 BE FAINT." WHEN WE PLACE OUR HOPE AND TRUST IN GOD, WE ARE INFUSED WITH A SUPERNATURAL STRENGTH THAT ENABLES US TO SOAR ABOVE OUR CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS. LET US HARNESS THE STRENGTH WITHIN US AND UNLEASH OUR FULL POTENTIAL AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A COMMUNITY.

POINT 3: LIVE OUT YOUR FAITH BOLDLY

FINALLY, AS WE EMBRACE THE STRENGTH THAT COMES FROM CHRIST, LET US LIVE OUT OUR FAITH BOLDLY AND COURAGEOUSLY. IN MATTHEW 5:16, JESUS DECLARES, "LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE OTHERS, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD DEEDS AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN." AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST, WE ARE CALLED TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE, HEALING, AND TRANSFORMATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE MUST NOT SHRINK BACK IN FEAR OR DOUBT, BUT RATHER STEP FORWARD IN FAITH AND OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WILL. WHEN WE LIVE OUT OUR FAITH BOLDLY, WE BECOME A SHINING BEACON OF HOPE AND LOVE IN A WORLD THAT IS OFTEN FILLED WITH DARKNESS AND DESPAIR. OUR FAITH IS NOT MEANT TO BE HIDDEN OR KEPT TO OURSELVES, BUT RATHER SHARED AND EXPRESSED THROUGH OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS.

AS WE STRIVE TO LIVE OUT OUR FAITH BOLDLY, LET US REMEMBER THE WORDS OF PAUL IN 2 TIMOTHY 1:7, "FOR THE SPIRIT GOD GAVE US DOES NOT MAKE US TIMID, BUT GIVES US POWER, LOVE AND SELF-DISCIPLINE." LET US BE COURAGEOUS IN OUR WITNESS, COMPASSIONATE IN OUR SERVICE, AND DISCIPLINED IN OUR DEVOTION TO GOD. LET US SEEK TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN OUR FAMILIES, OUR CHURCHES, AND OUR COMMUNITIES, SO THAT OTHERS MAY SEE THE POWER OF CHRIST AT WORK IN OUR LIVES.

IN JEREMIAH 29:7, WE ARE INSTRUCTED, "SEEK THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE CITY TO WHICH I HAVE CARRIED YOU INTO EXILE. PRAY TO THE LORD FOR IT, BECAUSE IF IT PROSPERS, YOU TOO WILL PROSPER." AS AGENTS OF CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION, WE ARE CALLED TO BE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST IN OUR COMMUNITIES, ADVOCATING FOR THE MARGINALIZED, UPLIFTING THE OPPRESSED, AND STANDING UP AGAINST INJUSTICE.

DURING THIS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, LET US RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO THE WORK OF BUILDING A MORE INCLUSIVE, COMPASSIONATE, AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY. LET US USE OUR GIFTS, TALENTS, AND RESOURCES TO EMPOWER THE VOICELESS, UPLIFT THE DOWNTRODDEN, AND FIGHT FOR THE DIGNITY AND RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE. TOGETHER, WE CAN UNLEASH THE POWER WITHIN US TO BRING ABOUT LASTING CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

CONCLUSION:

DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AS WE REFLECT ON THE WORDS OF PHILIPPIANS 4:13 IN THE CONTEXT OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, MAY WE BE INSPIRED TO EMBRACE OUR ROOTS, HARNESS OUR STRENGTH, AND TRANSFORM OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF CHRIST. LET US DRAW STRENGTH FROM THE STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS OF OUR ANCESTORS, AND LET US STAND BOLDLY AND COURAGEOUSLY IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY.

MAY THE POWER OF CHRIST WITHIN US EMPOWER US TO ACHIEVE OUR DREAMS, OVERCOME OUR OBSTACLES, AND MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD AROUND US. AND MAY WE CONTINUE TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE, RESILIENCE, AND FAITH THAT DEFINES OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. AS WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE, MAY WE DO SO WITH HEARTS FULL OF HOPE, MINDS FULL OF VISION, AND SPIRITS FULL OF DETERMINATION.

MAY WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE WITH RENEWED COURAGE, CONFIDENCE, AND CONVICTION, KNOWING THAT WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US. AND MAY THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, GUARD OUR HEARTS AND MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.

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LET US PRAY, HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THE PROMISE OF PHILIPPIANS 4:13 THAT REMINDS US OF YOUR EMPOWERING STRENGTH IN OUR LIVES. HELP US TO HAVE UNWAVERING FAITH AND TO TRUST IN YOUR POWER TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE WE MAY FACE. MAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM YOU ALONE. IN JESUS NAME, WE PRAY. AMEN.