I Can Do This!

This scripture is one of, if not the most popular scriptures that is misused. The idea that usually follows a quoting of the text is that through Jesus I can do anything. And, if you believe that let me pastorally and lovingly burst your bubble and tell you that is not what the text is saying. You cannot do anything.

Steph Curry and Underarmor. His mother instilled this verse into him especially at his time at Davidson University to help him through various difficulties...Nike. Greatest Shooter...not me.

The thrust of this text then is not that Christians are endowed with superpower or special abilities to accomplish anything, because in the real world that is not possible outside of a miracle. This scripture is the the believers reassurance that in all circumstances we may find ourselves in, whether good or bad, we will be able to endure with the strength that only comes through Jesus Christ.

1. Situational Experience

Paul lets us know by no few words throughout his writings that he has been through it. He has been through a lot church, and now he is sharing the bottom line of how he got through it. He is confidence is first explained in the evidence of his bottom line. But, his confidence is that I know, I have learned, I know, I have learned. He has been through this before. And Church here is where I get excited. Paul has suffered (list some). But every time he walked away. You have suffered (list some) but every time you walked away. There was never a time when God wasn’t giving you strength beyond your strength to hand the things life threw at you.

There is a flip side to the coin. He has experienced not just downs, but some ups. And it was his experiences that taught him contentment. The world doesn’t teach being content it wants you to crave more. (contentment run)

2. Secret Knowledge

There is where Paul gets deep. It’s not an easy translation without some familiarity with Greek culture. He uses a word only use once in the entire NT. Myeo, it is the word they used to be initiated into the Greek mystery. Greek mystery cults were secretive religious societies in the Greco-Roman world that offered personal transformation and a path to a better afterlife through initiation into sacred rites and knowledge. But, Paul says, naw...I have learned the secret.

3. Strength through Christ

The strength that we have through Christ is supernatural. It is Power, but its power that is ability. It can manifest as physical strength, mental strength, spiritual strength, emotional strength. But when Christ strengthens you, it will always be when you are out of it.

Car battery problems.

“Paul wasn’t bragging on his own muscle. He wasn’t boasting about his own willpower. He wasn’t flexing his own determination. Paul said, ‘The reason I kept going…the reason I endured…the reason I made it through every season of my life…is because Christ gave me strength!’

Some of you know what it’s like to cry yourself to sleep, but still wake up with a smile. To walk through the storm, but still walk in peace. To be hit from every side, but still not knocked down. To be lied on, but still know the Truth. To be And the only explanation is—Christ gave you strength!

Whatever you might be going through today or tomorrwo, don’t you quit! Don’t you wave the white flag. Don’t you throw in the towel. If God gave you strength to make it this far, He’ll give you strength to take one more step, to run one more mile, to fight one more round, one more day, one more meeting, one more payment, one more test, one more time.

And is there anybody in this house who can testify, ‘I made it through what should’ve stopped me.

I endured what should’ve ended me.

I survived what should’ve killed me.

I escaped what should have trapped me. I defeated what should have beat me.

I succeeded where I should have failed.

I outlasted what should have ended me.

I canceled what should have canceled me.…because I had strength through Christ!’