Philippians 4 : 13 A new perspective

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.    ---Philippians 4:13

 

We are all familiar with this bible passage and many of us use this as part of our daily prayer affirmation. I would like to share a few thoughts over this verse.

Many of us use this verse and claim it over things like our past bills or job etc.- I think it is misunderstood in that perspective

I am going to split this up as below

A – I CAN

  This is the reassurance that we get. The inner motivation that we need all the time when we face circumstance. It is very much needed when we are in situations, we feel it is not in our control

B – DO

  I have some work to do. Am I doing that work or am I simply sitting down waiting for luck to favour me? I have to do the work and then expect results. In whatever work I do I can expect result. If I have to sell insurance, I need to go out and meet people, If I need to excel in my studies – I need to put time aside and study, If I need success in my business – I need to work at my business

C- ALL THINGS

This is where most of us think that it is for ALL THE things that we think in our mind. I differ and I would say it is for ALL THE THINGS that God has given us ability to do. So, for a farmer it is farming, for a doctor it is in treating the patients and likewise for all the other professions. We need to do our part of it – Work at it

 D- THROUGH CHRIST

 We will be assisted by God in the work that we do – if we do it diligently. We need to pray to God before we do any work Ask God to be with us and help us in what we are going to do. Give us the right knowledge, give us the right direction and moreover help us from falling astray. 

E- WHO STRENGTHENS ME

 This is most important, when we face trails and tribulations, we should realise that God is our strength. It is not our might or strength. Rely on his more. When we go through situations that are not in our control, we should rely more on him.

 

Think Through this and May God bless you

FOR WITH GOD NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE

 

  Luke 1: 37  For with God Nothing will be Impossible

These words are spoken by the angel Gabriel when he brings the good news to Mary.

Let us look at the people around this statement and see why this can be of use to us today.

 

Luke chapter 1 , begins with the details of the birth of John the Baptist.
John was born to Zacharias and Elizabeth. Zacharias was a priest. Elizabeth was of the daughters of Aaron.

They were both righteous before God.

They were blameless before God.

They were both very OLD.

But they did not have children because Elizabeth was barren.

 

When you are putting in the work  but not getting any results human tendency is to grumble at God , grumble at our circumstances. It is in these moments that we do not go to God for help. We usually rely more on ourselves.

But look at what Luke is saying about this couple – THEY WERE BLAMELESS before GOD. Meaning what ever it was that life had given to them thus far – they did not blame it on God or circumstances. They still continued to be faithful in the work given to them. Zacharias continued to do his priestly ministry even then ---faithfully.

It was while doing his work – offering incense at the alter that the angel Gabriel appeared to him and announced to him that his prayer is going to be answered.

I take it that even while in his old advanced years Zacharias still prayed for a child and so it was granted to him. But he could not believe it and so the Angel had to give him a small punishment. He could not speak till the child is born. The angel also gives to Zacharias the details of what this child will do.

Zacharias came out of the holy place lingering longer than usual inside and when he came out he was mute. He goes back home after his duty at the temple was over. Then Elizabeth conceived – She was happy now Her reproach in front of her people were taken away.

 

Mary is the second person we see in this chapter.

She was a virgin

She was highly favoured in the eyes of God.

She was praying for the coming Messiah.

 While Mary was betrothed to Joseph, the angel Gabriel announces to her that she is going to have a baby. She was a virgin and she was confused as to how she will be with child. The angel informs her that her cousin Elizabeth who was very old is now with child. The world told that Elizabeth is barren and cannot have a child anymore.

This gave hope to Mary. She believed and said  “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”  (Vs 38)

She submitted herself to the will of God.

In the days that followed Mary goes to visit Elizabeth.  As soon as Elizabeth saw Mary -she was filled with the Holy Spirit and Elizabeth – “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Vs 42-43). 

 Even in very old age , even if the womb is barren  - with GOD all things are possible.

Are we people who will trust God in all our circumstances and believe that with God all things are possible.

What might be impossible in worldly eyes are Definitely possible with God.
Can we hold on to this promise and wait till God replies to our prayer. Zacharias waited till he was VERY OLD. Some of our prayers are answered immediately Some in a short time and some take a long time. Don’t give up on your prayer.

Trust in God Always.

 

May the Good Lord Bless You.

Trusting God in Trying Times ( The complete script of the sermon)

 

Trusting God in Trying Timesrying Times

 

We are all living in unprecedented times that this generation has not seen. All that we hear now is of lockdown, testing positive etc.

 
In these times when work is affected, family life is affected, education is affected – How will we put our trust in God? Many wonder is GOD really in control?  We are overfull with message over social media about things around us.

It is in these TRYING TIMES that we must trust God more. For some it is too hard. - For some who have experienced a miracle in the last year God is great. Let us look at a few people from the Bible who went through problems and let us learn from them on how we can go through these times.

 

JOB

Job is by far the most afflicted person in the Bible. We often hear of rags to riches stories in the world. This is a story from Riches to rags and followed by a portion of double blessing.

Job lost everything His family, His Money, His livestock His name. While he was going through this hardship, when he questioned God Why -there comes to him three well meaning friends. They told him

Eliphaz the Temanite represents the view that—Job is being punished for his sins; "Who that was innocent ever perished?" (4:7).

 

Bildad the Shuhite, says much the same. “See, God will not reject a blameless person nor take the hand of evildoers” (Job 8:20).

 

Zophar the Naamathite, repeats the refrain. “If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, do not let wickedness reside in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure, and will not fear.…Your life will be brighter than the noonday” (Job 11:14-15, 17).

 

Finally, a frustrated Job goes to God. We see him communicating to God and he accepts in Job 42:3” I uttered what I did not understand – things too wonderful for me which I did not know”

Job accepts that some questions are too great to answer. Through a series of questions that God asks Job, He is able to accept that God does not act the way he always thought God would and should act.

The book of Job is a revelation of Job’s experience and the answers within this experience.

Job teaches us that WE SHOULD SIMPLY TRUST GOD even when we do not understand the circumstances.

T -TRUST GOD FOR ALLTHE ANSWERS

 DAVID

 

Another person that we are going to look at is David. He is called the chosen one of God.  He too faced troubles. David grew increasingly frustrated from his constant running and hiding, living in caves, surviving on the food that his men could find or what others gave them. 1Samuel Ch 18-30 shows us how long David had to be on the run from Saul.

Saul was trying to chase him down but he was afraid because God was with David (1 Sam 18:12)
David behaved wisely because God was with him (1Sam 18:14) Even though he had opportunities to kill Saul and become the kind he did not do so because his heart was good.

Most of the psalms we see David crying out to God Ps 142:1-2- I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.

 

Even though David struggled mightily with his faith, he always concluded every psalm by reiterating God is always faithful. He trusted God Completely.
Ps 142: 7 – You will deal bountifully with me

PS 141:10 Let the wicked fall while I escape safely.

Many of the praises we see in the end of most Psalms were written in the middle of adversity and calamity Although David did often declare his misery to God, He always managed to end his words to God in praise and thanksgiving.

While we face the present world, we should also learn to RELY on the promises of God. We need to do it now more than ever before.

 

R -RELY on GOD for the ANSWERS

The Third person we are going to see is MOSES.

Moses also went through some troubled times. Infact he was in trouble right from his birth. Later we know we ran away from the house of Pharaoh because he committed murder. Then God appeared to him in the burning bush and gave him a mighty job to do- “Bring out His chosen people from slavery to a promised land”. Moses replied – Whom am I to go to Pharaoh?

From there he went back to Egypt & brought the people out. It did not happen easily. First, he had to deal with a stubborn Pharaoh who kept changing his mind and his word each time the plagues stopped. Then he had to deal with about 6,00,000 men excluding, women, children and livestock. (Exodus 12:37)

Once the people crossed the Red Sea, they started murmuring and grumbling first for food, water - then chicken in today’s terminology – they were not satisfied with the veg food that was supplied. All this took a heavy toll on Moses. He cried out to God in Numb 11:11 Why have you afflicted me? Why have I not found favour with you?

Moses did not have a Bible like we do today to go back and refer to. He had to go back to God both for advice and direction. He YEARNED for the comfort of GOD.

Today when we face situations – DO we Yearn for God and his Wisdom?

Let us YEARN for God.

 

Y -Yearn for GOD And his WiSdom

 

Let us now look at a couple.  Zechariah and Elizabeth.

The book of Luke describes them as being very old and childless. They had a longing which was unfulfilled. Yet they trusted God. They continued to serve God faithfully. Zechariah could have stopped serving at the temple saying God is not answering my prayers, then how can I intercede for the others. In fact, he was in the temple ministering to God when an angel appeared to him and gave him the promise of a son.

They were faithful in all they did. Let us take inspiration from such stories in the BIBLE of people who trusted God no matter what circumstances they were in.

 

I -INSPIRE yourself from the word of god

 

From an old childless couple let us now shift our focus to three young adults. Gen Y in todays terms
Shadrach, Meschah and Abednego.

We have all learnt this story from our grandparents even before we could read or write. What was special in these three young adults?

They were in captivity yet they trusted in God for all their needs. When asked to bow down to the golden image – they refused. When threatened to be put in the fiery furnace too they were bold enough to declare that the God whom they serve will save them.
What courage? Where did they get it at this young age? They got it because they experienced God providing for them even in captivity.

We need to need to depend on God for all our needs.

Many of us go through situations which are not always in our control. We ask God why me? Why now? And so on. We cannot see the full picture of our lives and the dots don’t seem to be connecting at all.
I lost my job in 2017. After a few months of being jobless, I was offered a job in a partner location but with a lower salary. Seemed ridiculous then but circumstances forced me to accept it. But today when I look back it was God’s perfect plan. This job gave me an opportunity to drop and pick up my younger son from his classes and that helped me bond with him more. Also, in the year 2020 the company where I originally worked for had a massive layoff.  I feel it was God’s master plan to get me off in 2017.  There are so many things I can look back now and see the dots of my life being connected perfectly. Yet in each of those circumstances it was not clear at all.

Our needs will be met by God – we just have to trust him.

 

We are all here for a specific purpose of God.  The old testament is full of promises.
We go through the Bible we see many times that even when God is angry with his people for not obeying Him, they are punished, led captive etc but in all cases he mentioned that there is a remanent people that is kept back.  God Will definitely keep us also in His care if we continue to put our trust in HIM.

N – Recognise that your Needs are met through gOD

 

Finally, before I close the last thing that we need to follow is Being grateful to God at all time.

The Book of Psalms as mentioned earlier is so great and example. David is always grateful to god even though he is going difficult times.
         G give god the glory always

 

I would urge each of you to

 

T  TRUST GOD FOR THE ANSWERS ALWAYS 

R  RELY ON GOD ALWAYS

Y  YEARN FOR GOD and HIS WISDOM

I   INSPIRE YOURSELF From HIS WORD. 

N  Recognise that all your NEEDS ARE MET BY GOD

G  GIVE GOD THE GLORY ALWAYS

 

 

God Bless You

 

TRUSTING GOD IN TRYING TIMES