Philippians 4:13

We are Starting a New Series On Sunday Nights Called “Twisted Scripture”

We are Going to Look at Different Verses Throughout the Old and New Testaments That are Commonly Twisted/Misinterpretted

We Can Sometimes Look at the Bible as a Big Book of Individual Inspirational Sayings

And Whenever We Come Across a Verse that Seems to Speak Directly to Our Lives or a Situation We Find Ourselves in…

We Pull it Out of its Context and Can End Up Believing Something that was Never Intended to Be Taken From that Passage

One of the Most Famous Twisted Scriptures is Philippians 4:13

Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

This is a Very Popular Verse for Athletes

NBA Star Steph Curry Used to/Still Does (?) Put This Verse On His Basketball Shoes

Tim Tebow was Known to Wear Bible Verses on His Eye-Black, Including This Verse

(Main Slide)

As a Stand-Alone Verse, It’s Very Attractive

It Sounds Like, Through Jesus, I Can Accomplish Anything I Set My Mind to

In One of His Devotionals from 2013, the Famous Mega-Church Preacher, Joel Osteen, Said:

Most people tend to magnify their limitations. They focus on their shortcomings. But scripture makes it plain: all things are possible to those who believe. That’s right! It is possible to see your dreams fulfilled. It is possible to overcome that obstacle. It is possible to climb to new heights. It is possible to embrace your destiny. You may not know how it will all take place. You may not have a plan, but all you have to know is that if God said you can…you can!

I’m Not Trying to Single Out and Pick On Any of These Men

They are Just Examples of How Many of Us Use This Verse

We Use it as a Short Motivational Proverb to Remind Ourselves that Nothing is Impossible to Us as Long as We Belong to Christ

That We Can Have the Strength to Be the Greatest Athlete

That We Can Reach Our Goals

That Nothing Can Stand in Between Us and Success

Is This What Paul was Trying to Communicate to the Philippians?

That There’s Nothing We Can’t Accomplish as Long as We Use Christ as Our Strength?

Before We Look at the Immediate Context, Let’s Think About the Larger Context of the Book

Some Have Called Philippians the Happiest Book in the Bible

It Has a Very Encouraging Tone

And What Makes That Even More Interesting is Knowing that it is One of the 4 Letters Paul Wrote While in Prison

That Should Indicate to Us That There’s a Flaw in How We Often Interpret this Verse

If Paul is Promising Health, Wealth, and Success to Those Who Place Their Faith in Jesus…

Then Why is He Sitting in a Jail Cell?

That’s the Opposite of Health, Wealth, and Success

He is Either Giving People False Hope

Or We Have Misinterpretted What He is Trying to Say in this Verse

Immediate Context

Philippians 4:10 (NASB)

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

Paul is Rejoicing that the Philippians Have Revived Their Concern for Him

What is He Talking About?

The Philippians (Macedonians) Were Very Generous in Their Giving

We Read About Their Extraordinary Generosity in 2 Corinthians 8 Toward the Poor in Jerusalem

We Also Read in 2 Corinthians of Their Generosity Toward Paul

2 Corinthians 11:8–9 (NASB)

I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so.

They Supported Paul While He was Serving Other Congregations

He Mentions Their Supporting Him Several Times in His Letter to Them as Well

Philippians 4:14–16 (NASB)

Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

The Philippians Made it Their Mission to Help Those in Need Through Their Generosity

(Slide of Original Verse)

For Whatever Reason, They Hadn’t Had an Opportunity to Help Support Paul for Some Amount of Time

Paul was Rejoicing That They Once Again Had the Opportunity and Were Willing to Care for His Needs

Philippians 2:25 (NASB)

But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need

Their Opportunity Came in the Form of Sending Epaphroditus to Paul to Minister to His Needs

Philippians 4:11 (NASB)

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Paul Doesn’t Want the Philippians to Get the Idea that He is Rejoicing in Their Support Because He Wants More Money, Food, Supplies, etc.

Paul Wasn’t Rejoicing for His Own Sake

Philippians 4:17 (NASB)

Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

He was Rejoicing On Behalf of the Philippians

Their Generosity Will Be Paid Back in Blessings and Eternal Life By God

That’s Why Paul was Rejoicing in Their Gifts to Him

Paul Had Learned to Be Content in Whatever Circumstances He Found Himself in

This is Not Something that Comes Naturally But Must Be Learned

The Word for “Content” is Only Found Here in the Entire New Testament

It’s a Word that Means Self-Sufficient

It’s the Attitude of “I Have All that I Need” Whether that is a Lot or Nothing at All

It is the Opposite of Worry and Anxiety

Paul is Saying, “I’m Rejoicing Over the Support You’ve Given Me, But Not Because I Wanted or Needed it…”

“I’ve Learned How to Have Enough Regardless of if I Have Anything at All”

Philippians 4:12 (NASB)

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

I Like the Way the NIV Puts it

Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Paul Had Experienced Both Ends of the Spectrum

He Had Experienced Having Pretty Much Nothing

He Had Experienced Having Pretty Much Everything

But No Matter the Circumstance, He Had Learned the Secret to Always Having Enough/Being Content

The Word for “Learned the Secret” is Also a Word that is Only Found Here in the New Testament

But it was a Word that was Used to Stand For Being Initiated into a Mystery Cult Religion

There Were Several Mystery Cult Religions That Initiates Had to Swear Secrecy in Order to Join

Paul Says He Has Learned the Secret to Always Having Enough, to Being Content in Every Circumstance in Life

And in this Lesson We Have Already Heard the Answer

Because the Answer is Our Main Verse

Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

What is the Secret to Having Enough and Being Content in Every Circumstance?

Paul is Able to Do This By the Strength He Receives in Christ

Being a Follower of Christ, a Citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven With the Holy Spirit Living Within Him…

Paul is Able to Have Absolutely Nothing and Still Have Enough

He is Able to Be Physically Starving and Still Be Content

To Paul, to Have Christ is to Always Have Enough

Paul Expressed an Interesting Paradox With This Statement

He’s Been Known to Say Paradoxical Things Concerning His Relationship to Jesus Before

In 2 Corinthians 12, He Records How He Asked Jesus to Remove His Thorn in the Flesh

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NASB)

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.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

The Light of Jesus Shines Brightest in Our Lives When We are Weak, Insulted, Distressed, Persecuted, and Going Through Difficulties for His Glory

Paul is Never a Stronger Warrior for Jesus Than When He is Weak

In Our Context in Philippians, Paul Says that He Has Learned to Be Self-Sefficient in All Circumstances

How is He Self-Sufficient (Independent)?

By Being Totally Dependent On Jesus

“I Am Strong When I Am Weak for Christ”

“I Am Independent When I Am Dependent On Christ”

Philippians 4:13 TWISTED

Through Christ I Can Accomplish All of My Hopes and Dreams Because He Will Provide Me With the Strength to Do So

Philippians 4:13 UNTWISTED

What This Verse Actually Teaches is So Much More Wonderful

In Christ, it Doesn’t Matter if:

I’m Rich or Poor

Hungry or Full

Naked or Clothed

I Have a House or Am Homeless

Because No Matter the Circumstances, I Have Jesus

And He is Enough

And He Gives Me the Strength to Remain Faithful to His Will

Whenever I Am Fully Dependent on Jesus, He Will Always Supply My Needs

Whenever I Am Fully Dependent on Jesus, I Will Always Have Enough

Whenever I Am Fully Dependent on Jesus, I Can Make it Through Any Storm that Satan Sends My Way

Whenever I Am Fully Dependent on Jesus, I Know That Jesus Has a Home Prepared for Me

A Room in His Father’s House, Where My True Treasures Can Be Found, And Where a Life of Abundance Will Never Come to An End

So Regardless of Our Circumstances in this Life, Jesus Will Always Be Enough

And Having Him As Our King, Guarantees Us that He Will Always Provide the Strength We Need to Make it Through and Remain Faithful to Him

What is Philippians 4:13 in a Nutshell?

No Matter What, Jesus is Enough