I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.
41 sermons cite this verse
… Apart from you, as the Bible says, we can do nothing. But then scripture also says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And it's not by might nor by power, but by your spirit, says the Lord. So now we pray as we open your word and learn more about the Holy Spirit. that you will help us to embrace the work that he wants to do in our lives. We commit this time of Bible study to you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. You can all be seated. Good afternoon. Very hot afternoon. My goodness. It's supposed to hit 100 degrees today. Wow. I'm thankful to God for air conditioning. Let's turn in our Bibles to two passages, John 14 and Romans chapter 8. And the title of my message is The Spirit Led Life. So I heard about this old farmer and his wife and his son who went to the big city for the first time. Never been before. So he left his wife in the truck and he and his boy walked into this towering skyscraper. …
… because it still works. The label that God wants to put on your life is able. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And this identity we looked at last week, just recapping a bit, is because of our position, not because of our performance. In other words, I'm not able because I've always done everything right. I'm able because I'm in Christ. And so I'm living out of my position. That's how I then perform. I'm not able because I performed a certain way. And that's going to be true of every label that we talk about. And the goal is to live out our new position in Christ, to take the positional reality and live it out in our daily lives. We've talked about this before, but it's like when you see an athlete traded from one team to the other. I think enough time has passed by that we can talk about Freddie going away from Atlanta, very loved in this city. and we can talk about Matt Olson coming to Atlanta, also very loved in this city. …
… When you get to a place where you realize that your faith is ultimately in God, you can say things like Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me because my faith is in him. And when your faith is in him, it changes the way you show up in warfare because I don't have to strategize my way out of this. I have a faith that says that Jesus is praying for me. And if Jesus is praying for me and I live in the consciousness that Jesus is praying for me, even when I'm going through all hell, I realize that there's a strategy. I stay close to Jesus in the middle of the trial because I have faith in Him. I have faith that He's going to see me through this. I have faith that He's going to show me how to walk. I have faith that He's going to show me how to navigate this situation and circumstance. I have faith in Him that He'll comfort me when I need comfort, that He'll give me strength when I need strength. I have faith in him and peter has to learn this lesson first i'm closing because if peter learns this lesson first oh there's a lot riding on this sifting and if peter gets this thing right he's going to be the rock that jesus uses to build this church if peter gets this thing it's a lot riding on this sifting i'm not just talking about peter's anymore i'm talking about yours there's a …
… what kind of situation I'm in. And you're like, well, what is the secret? Right here. I can, this is what he said, here's the secret. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. so when I'm flush I've got Christ and when I'm flustered I've got Christ when I can see how it's going to work I've got Christ and when I cannot see how it's going to work I've got Christ when I feel like this is my best day I've got Christ when I'm face to face with a condition or a situation or a circumstance that's trying to label me and tell me I can't I've got Christ and I can do all things. What are the first words? In fact, let's just say this verse together. Say it with me. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 515, Cumberland, let's try it again. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Maybe that's another verse we need to be saying over our lives every day because it starts with the right words. …
… remember when Julie and I first started dating, I was like, I got no chance. But tomorrow we're celebrating 18 years of marriage. Holler at your boy. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Yes, sir. Look at what the Lord has done. Do you remember the 21st night of September? 18 years. She is blessed. I just remember Dayton and Julia like, I got no chance. I remember when we had our first baby, we're in the hospital. I'm looking at this beautiful girl, Georgia. I'm like, I got, I got no chance at raising a kid. I still eat cereal. I'm a grown man. I got no chance. I remember when we moved to LA to start Zoe, we had 11 people in our living room to start our church in Westchester. And I was like, we're going to build a church. I was thinking, we got no chance. I'm just telling you there's things in life that you come up against. You're like, I got no shot unless God gets involved, unless God shows up, unless, oh, come on, clap today if you understand. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. …
… other cheek? How can I go the extra mile? I can't do that in my own effort. So it's impossible for me to live the Christian life in my strength, in my ability. But the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So you need the help and work of the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life. And listen to this. There is no vice. There is no addiction. There is no sin that has to control your life anymore. Because God has given you everything you need to live free in Christ. So you might say, well, I have a problem with gambling, or I have an addiction to porn, or I can't stop drinking, or I can't get away from these drugs. Yes, you can. And yes, you must. You can do it to the power of the Holy Spirit working in you. That's what Christ has done for you. Applaud now. It's true. And if you will yield to the Holy Spirit, you will find for yourself that it is true. …
… You will not for another moment delay my destiny because of what I don't think I have. Because my Bible tells me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And if God be for me, who can be against me? You can't another day. You can't stop. and I dare you in your private time on your way home at the stoplight in your mirror pull that mug down flip it up tell yourself I'm trying to give you a practical step because the enemy's gonna come and you're gonna feel the opposition but you gotta know God's for you so nobody can be against you I'm gonna pray for you because I see people battling right now with who you are and who God wants you to be. Somebody say, I can't let go of those friends and I can't forgive them because that's my only safety net for if they hurt me again, then I can go off on them for what they did. …
… I don't think you said for me to walk. I think your word said I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So God, I'm going to go against everything that you've been providing for me. And I may look stupid and I may almost fall. And then I get off because I was never meant to run at that pace. And I walk away from God and I start making dumb decisions and I start taking on relationships that were never meant for me that give me a moment of relief because I was never meant to walk. And many of us walk away. so that that christ life wasn't for me and god said yes it was i just didn't want you to run into the blessings i wanted you to walk into them i wanted you to know that i'm going to use the foolish things while other people are running and expending all their energy and stunting on instagram and doing all that other stuff i'm gonna build you in the pasture i'm gonna do you like david nobody even gonna see you coming and and then when and then you're not gonna have to position yourself, they'll call for you and you'll be ready when it's time. See, most of us, we get away from God and we start running. We start striving. But the thing is, when God sets the pace, he doesn't change the pace. He wants a pace that's sustainable. So even if I'm like, …
… The Bible says you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Believe what the Bible says, not what your emotions say. That's Philippians 4.13. You might say, well, I'm afraid of the future. But God says in Deuteronomy 31.6, be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or live and dread of them. For the Lord your God goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. You might say, well, I can't go on another day. I can't handle what I'm going through, this hardship, this illness, whatever it is you're facing. And I'm reminded of the words of the Lord to the Apostle Paul. As he talked about his affliction that he described as a thorn in the flesh. The Lord said, my grace is all you need. He'll get you through what you're going through. You say, but I have no future. I've given up on living. I have no hope. Psalm 38, 15 says, you, O Lord, are my hope. You will hear my prayer. …
Verbalize what God says about you. Well, I can't raise this child. It's too difficult. No, I am strong in the Lord. I am well able. I can't take this position. I'm not qualified. No, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Well, Joel, this sickness is too much. I can't deal with the treatment. Turn it around. Greater is he that's in me than what's trying to stop me. You have the strength, the power, the favor for every season, not to just survive, but to thrive despite what comes against you. Imagine with me that I decided to take Victoria on a 40-day surprise vacation next year for our 40th anniversary. Now just imagine, because it's not going to happen. This is an illustration, Victoria. This is not a prophecy. But since it's a surprise, I have to pack her bags and I pick out all these great locations. We're going to spend a few days in the mountains where it's snowing. So I pack her coat, sweater, gloves, a scarf. Then we're going to head to a beach town, get some sun. I pack her shorts, tank top, sandals, sunscreen. We love to hike. We're going to travel to this place where there are great trails. So I pack her hiking boots, blue jeans, backpack, water bottle. Then we're going to finish up the trip in a big city and go to a nice restaurant, maybe see a play afterwards. So I pack something formal, nice dress, high heels, fancy purse. She'll need her makeup. I'll take those four suitcases and …
… to get done what God puts you on this planet to get done. Philippians 4.13 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible you could probably quote it I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need now if you don't have if you're not dependent on Christ you're depending on yourself and you're going to end up fatigued let me ask you a very personal question are you trying to do everything you need to do in life based on adrenaline or based on anointing? hmm because your adrenaline runs out and you get tired and you get fatigued and you get worn out and you want to give up. When you're walking in the anointing, when God's power is flowing through you, it's limitless. It is limitless. It gives you supernatural energy. I can do everything with the help of Christ. I wonder what you're filling in that blank. I can do everything with the help of my medication. …
… victorious. It is always working for your good. You are an heir to the most high God. So walk in your royalty. Get your inheritance. Dare to be different. Know that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. Believe in yourself because greater is he that is in you than he that is in this world. And when you put your faith and trust in your father, you can walk confidently knowing victory is yours. Don't you ever allow the influencing voices of this world to ring louder or rain higher than the affirming voice of your present loving father. Children, young people, go get your inheritance. Amen.
verse 12. I know how to abound everywhere and in all things. And I have learned both in being full and being hungry. When I am abounding and when I am suffering need, verse 13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Great verse. We think we're going to find that contentment from a bigger home, a nicer or faster car, a higher salary, or maybe a new spouse, or a new face, or a new body. Because the grass is always greener on the other side. Right? But real contentment, according to the Bible, is not a state of account. It's a state of heart. Let me repeat that. Real contentment, according to the Bible, is not a state of account. It's a state of heart. There's a Japanese proverb that says, quote, even if you sleep in a thousand mat room, you can only sleep on one mat. And that's true. And as I pointed out, Paul was uncertain about his future. And if this wasn't enough, the believers were sort of divided on Paul. Many would think everyone would think Paul was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I mean he's like the living, breathing apostle. Giving scripture to us. But some had turned against Paul. Some were critical of Paul. There was some division about Paul. And then others of course loved him deeply. …
… abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. You may be seated. When was the last time you felt happy? That was the name of an article I read this week written by a woman recovering from depression. She said this was the question that her therapist posed to her toward the end of her counseling sessions after she assumed that she had fully recovered from depression. I was thrown by the question, she said. I sat on her couch and mentally began to trawl through 30 years of memories to try to find the point where I last felt that serene, stable, elusive positivity that we call happiness. oh no, oh no, I thought, don't make me say it. But finally I had to, I can't remember the last time I felt happy. And suddenly she said, my claim that I was on the road to recovery sounded utterly foolish. …
… A he says, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail. He talked about Philippians chapter four, verse 13. He says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Psalm 27 and one, the Lord is my light and my salvation. Who shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? John chapter 16 verse 33 he then gives us this text he says I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace peace not chaos but peace in this world you will have trouble but take heart I have come so that you might overcome the world why because we got it like that. He gives us Romans eight chapter 30, uh, chapter, uh, chapter eight, verse 31. He says, what then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who, who can be against us? And then another passage or text that pastor gives us, um, is Romans chapter eight, verse 37. Um, in all of these things, we are more than conquerors through him who has loved us through Christ Jesus. …
Paul is in prison, but the book lets us know while in prison, Paul says, I ain't tripping on that because I got it like that. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You got it like that. I think it's David who testifies the Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? I got it like that. Jesus, heaven's hero and earth's emancipator as he's getting ready to make his exit from earth to eternity. Jesus says in that upper room on Monday, Thursday, he tells his disciples, watch this, In this world, y'all gonna have some trouble, but be of good cheer. I've overcome the world. You got it like that. Jesus had already told them that the works I've done, you're going to do. And greater works than these are you going to do. You got it like that. I think Paul puts it this way. If God before us, who can be against us? …
… Because if God said it, God basically has a word for you. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. So tomorrow you go to work, go to school, wherever you got to go, and step off in there like you know you the birthday. Your boss may look down on you, but you hold your head up because you the birthday. And if somebody wants to know where you got it from, just know God said word is bond. Word is bond. That's what covenant means. Covenant means God takes the initiative in love to do something for us, hoping we in love will respond. And when we respond, God says, I'm going to do what I said I'm going to do. because word is bond. Y'all didn't get that. God said, I said what I said. I said what I said. All things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to God's purposes. I said what I said. The Lord is my light and my salvation. …
… it fit our situation. Philippians chapter four, verse four, 13. It's this verse that everybody uses. I'm five foot seven on a good day, but I can use this verse. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me to say, I'm going to play in the league one day. Oh yeah. Just, and I will make the verse see what I want to see from it. And I need someone to look at me and say, you're short and you cannot jump. You will never play in the NBA. You need to see it differently. Some of you have this career of wanting to sing and someone just needs to look at you and... Let's see this differently. I wonder how God wants to upgrade your imagination today. I wonder what it is you need to see differently. I want to look at Philippians 4, 6 is where I want to begin this thread from the book of Philippians. It's this passage that if you've been around church, you've heard it preached. …
… show you something that I almost miss. Because a lot of the times when I read the Bible, I'm not like Pastor Stephen. When I read the Bible, I like to go to the good verses. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I'm like, I just need that today. I just read that one. Or all things work together for good. And then I stop after the end of the good verse, and I sometimes miss the context of the verses around it and being able to understand what the verses really mean and who they were spoken to and how I can actually apply them to my life. So I want to get back to read these verses again, and I want to show you the events that were surrounding what Jesus is saying right here. And I want you to watch for the action. So we'll start back at Matthew 11, verse 28. It says, come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. …
… food. I can be full without being selfish. As a matter of fact, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. He then wraps that thing up by saying, but my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory. And he writes all of this in jail. He's in prison and writes this but here's the shout he says I'm in prison it's Good Friday but I have an Easter faith I have a resurrection faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection I want to participate with him in his suffering I want to be made conformable to him so I can become like him in attaining death, but also resurrection. I'm going to unpack that and then y'all can go experience brunch. Here it is because I want you in this Good Friday world assaulting your mental health to know that our resurrected Savior is a heart fixer and a mind regulator. And as a consequence, the good news is resurrection has the last word, not Good Friday. …
… And we're really good on the breakthrough. God can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. You're an overcomer by the blood of the lamb and by the words of your testimony. You're blessed coming in. No weapon formed against you will prosper. In a moment, God can heal you. We're good at speaking to the difficult times. It's a longer walk than I realized. And we're good at celebrating the breakthrough times. But what about when you're not falling apart and you're not fully restored either? Where is God when you're stuck in the middle? If you've been there, or maybe you're there right now, not horrible, not great, I wanna tell you that you are not alone, that God is with you. And I wanna promise you, our good God is still at work, even when you feel stuck in the middle. So today, would you pray with me? Father, we need you in the desperate times. We need you in the breakthrough times. And God, we need you in the ordinary days when we're stuck in the middle. …
… Amen means no weapon formed against me will prosper. Amen means I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You didn't know amen meant all that, did you? Say it again. Amen. If he says I'm blessed, I'm blessed. Say amen. If he says my family will be saved, my family will be saved. Say amen. If he said, I'm more than a conqueror, I'm more than a conqueror, say amen. Come on, everybody in the comments right now, even watching this on social media, put an amen in the comments. Let the devil know, I agree with God. I belong to Jesus. He's the one who never lets go. On every mountain, I belong to him. In every valley, I belong to him. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. I'm guided. I got a good shepherd. I'm guarded. He's the gate. He's the light of the world. He is my risen, resurrected King, and I'm getting up out of this situation, and I came to praise the Lord. …
… and get up and say, but Jesus said that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I'm going to ask you all over this room and at every campus reverently to stand to your feet. And I'm going to ask you if you know this sermon is for you, and you failed and you've messed up, and you've denied and you've fallen, and you know that God's grace is reaching for you. You're watching me right now, and you don't even know why you're watching. But the Holy Spirit sent you here today, young man, young lady, businessman, husband, father, dad, wife, mother, single lady, divorced, broken. Dealing with things, dealing with the fragments of what's left and of bad choices and failures. We are all human beings. and that's why Simon Peter fell. He was a human being, and so are you. God knows that we're just flesh, and he says, I still love you. I still got home runs for you if you'll give me your life completely. …
… i don't play by the rules you're not too old the rules say you're too old but the spirit says you're right on time. The rules say you can never do it, but the Spirit says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. The rules say you won't survive this, but the Spirit says when I finish trying you, you will come out as pure gold. I don't play by the rules. I play by the Spirit. I don't talk by the rules. I talk by the Spirit. I don't walk by the rules. I walk by the Spirit. I don't create by the rules. I create by the Spirit. I don't preach by the rules. I preach by the spirit. I don't raise my children by the rules. I raise them by the spirit. And if the spirit wants to break the rules, the spirit can break the rules. If the spirit wants to break me out of my shame, out of my depression, because who wrote these rules anyway? Who wrote these rules? …
… for the impossible in the great line of the faithful who, having come to know God in Jesus Christ have always been ready to say with St. Paul, I can do all things. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Amen. For free online resources, archived audio, and more, go to LutheranHour.org. Now back to Lutheran Hour speaker Michael Ziegler and his guest, Dr. Ryan Tinetti. Thank you, Mark. What a powerful sermon from Dr. Hoffman. If you think this is the summer of 1963, in just a few months, President Kennedy is going to be assassinated. And this word that comes from the preacher, from this kind of obscure Old Testament event and strange events and an unlikely figure in Gideon. But what Dr. Hoffman has emphasized in this sermon is that God is a God of action, that he speaks through actions. So, Pastor Tonetti, we've been talking about how God reveals himself through characters, through figures in the Old Testament. Let's talk some more about how does God speak and reveal himself through events, through actions? …
… on, Pastor Chad. I am all about learning 100%. You got me. I want to learn about God. Living 100%. I'm so radical for God. I'm going to put it in my Instagram bio. One verse. Philippians 4.13. Here we go. I love God. I'm not ashamed. I'm not ashamed. I want the world to know, Romans 16, I'm not ashamed. Okay, great. But the problem is you keep stopping and learning and living when the Bible says out of you, rivers of living water are going to flow. Oh, come on, clap like you want to teach somebody about how good God is. Clap like you want to let somebody know in your neighborhood, in your family, in your friendships that they need to know the Lord. See, you keep thinking you need to go to Bible college to tell somebody about God. You need to know these verses by heart. My God will use a donkey. My God will use a willing vessel. My God will use anybody that will testify. If God did it for me, surely he can do it for you. …
… than he that is in the world elbow your neighbor say you must not know about me I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me but haven't you had a rough time though he slain me yet will I trust him you ain't had to deal with no depression we been made endure for a night but joy is coming in the morning haven't you seen other folk blessed before you they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength Adam said to the Lord, I heard you coming and I was afraid. Y'all, it's going to mess you up. Adam said to God, I was afraid because I was naked. That's what Adam said to God. I was afraid because I was naked. Okay, this is going to mess you up. I was afraid because I was naked. Hear this. Not I was afraid because I sinned. not because of the forbidden fruit nobody ever told me Adam was a narcissist he was so caught up on what he looked like that he forgot who he was God I can't hear no worshippers in here some of y'all are thrown off because you don't know what to do because in your old grandmother's church you don't come to church in no t-shirts man looks at the outer appearance but God looks at the high it's a whole lot of dressed up devils that come to church but I'd rather have ripped up jeans and have the Holy Ghost than be dressed up on my way to hell. …
… When Paul said, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, Philippians 4.13, they were like, how do you know that? He's like, because it's in the Bible. Well, it's going to be. It's going to be in the Bible in just a few verses. but but to teach like paul that's that's very different than teaching like you because for those of us who are parents in the room we are trying to coach them knowing so little and still wrestling ourselves and so paul is teaching us the great apostle paul who is writing the illuminated inspired word of god the great missionary statesman and he's telling this church at philippi whatever you saw and heard and learned from me, do that, and the God of peace will be with you. Well, that's different for us because we're not writing the Bible, as far as I could tell. We're not the example of grace God has raised up for this century. I think that for the majority of us in here, it's amazing how much we're coaching with how little we know. But if Paul was coaching you, He could teach you about pieces that I couldn't teach you. …
… It's very aggressively strong. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Every head bowed, every eye closed. If you're in this room and you would say, Pastor Jensen, you're preaching to me. I'm tired of just struggling. I want the strength of God, an infusion of the strength of God to hit me this morning. I need, and then the last part of that verse, I shall be anointed with fresh oil. the most important part of any church service is not the singing or the preaching, it's your response. It means nothing, only compared to your response. That's on you now. If you know this message is for you and you're in a struggle and you need strength over that struggle, get out of your seat and come stand down here this morning and say, in the name of Jesus, I receive the strength of the Lord. I believe, I believe what you're preaching was for me. Come on, at every campus, do it. The pastors are coming, the teams are coming, but every person at every campus that is going through the struggle, it's just a struggle. …
… and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Talk about a misused passage. This is an FCA favorite. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can win this battle. I can win this race. I can win this game. Because Christ strengthens me to win. Paul says, I've learned to be content in all circumstances. That's what this means. Why? Because what we need is Christ. Failure to grasp this will lead to frustration and confusion. Listen to Calvin's comment here. We ought to bear in mind that our happiness consists in this, that his hand is stretched forth to govern us, that we live under his shadow, and that his providence keeps watch and ward over our welfare. Although, therefore, we have abundance of all temporal good things, Yet, let us be assured that we cannot be truly happy unless God vouchsafed to reckon us among the number of his flock. …
… Your ability. Philippians 4.13, put it on the screen. I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. How about Proverbs 28, verse 1? I love this one. The wicked flee, though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Something about someone that's got character that, you know, when you hang around a weasel or if you ever hang around a compromiser, they got slouchy, you know, they just weasel with it. You know what I mean? They're just weasely. Yesterday, we got haircuts at my house last night, and the lady was cutting my hair, and there's a girl in our church, and she cut everybody's hair. and I was sitting there and I caught myself like this, slouched over. And all of a sudden I told myself, don't you act like that. You ever catch yourself slouching? Yeah, yeah. When you got character, you got confidence that if God be for me, who can be against me? Come on, clap if you believe. …
… Christ who healed me. Tell yourself I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Remind yourself though he slay me yet will I trust in him. Tell yourself the Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? See some of y'all can't say those things because you don't know the word. But if you get in the word and you know the word you can talk and speak the word over your life who know what I'm talking about right here somebody give somebody a high five and say I know what I'm talking about it here I'm gonna encourage myself Remind yourself that I serve a God that can make a way out of no way. Remind yourself that I'm not going to judge my future by my present circumstances. Tell yourself, remind yourself that where I am is not my destination. It's not what I'm going to, it's what I'm going through. Oh, I feel like shouting right now. Somebody tell your neighbor, speak right things over your life. …
… against me shall prosper. You got to think I am more than a conqueror. You got to think I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Y'all not hearing what I'm saying today. You got to think positively. Think about the fact that God has forgiven me of my sins. God has washed the slate clean. God has given me the ability to come boldly. Here's what I love about the scripture. The scripture says, come boldly to the throne of grace. Y'all missed a great spot right there. That devil tells us, oh, you can't go to God because you done did this, you done done that. You can't talk to God. But the scripture says, come boldly to the throne of grace, that I might find grace to help in the time of need. Y'all not hearing what I'm saying to you today. Somebody look at your neighbor and say, you got to think differently than the way you're thinking. You got to think the way God wants you to think. I wish I had more time. I got to stop. …
… You ever heard of Paul? You ever heard of Philippians 4.13? Paul, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me? Well, before he was Paul, y'all, he was Saul, Saul. Saul, Saul. He called his name to get his attention. He knocked him off his horse to get his attention. He blinded him with a light to get his attention. He restored his sight and gave him a vision. And the gospel came to the Gentiles because it was a pivotal moment. Saul, Saul. Put it in the chat. Saul, Saul. What else y'all got? While y'all are guessing, Touch your neighbor. Say, Better Call Saul. What else do you have? Guns and roses. Oh, Moses, Moses. I'm worldly. Pray for me. Moses, Moses. That's right. Take off your shoes, Moses, because you're about to pivot. Take off your shoes, Moses, because the place you stand is holy. This is a pivotal moment, Moses. This is a personal moment, Moses. When God calls your name once, that's personal. When he calls your name twice, that's pivotal. When he calls your name once, it's powerful. When he calls your name twice, it's a pattern. There are some of you under the sound of my voice, and God is trying to get your attention. He is repeating patterns in your life. It's not just that you keep seeing Range Rovers on the road so you think you need to buy one. It's deeper than that. God keeps sending you the same message different ways. …
… is coming to replace your strength. And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. So look now in Deuteronomy 18. The priest, the Levites, the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel, nor shall they eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire in his portion. Therefore they shall have no inheritance among the brethren, The Lord is the inheritance. The Lord is their inheritance. As he said to them. Verse 3. And this shall be the priest's due from the people. This is what the people are to bring to the high priest when they bring their sacrifice. Sacrifice is a major part. All we hear about is grace today. And I'm a grace preacher. I believe in grace. but there is something that God says about sacrifice. I never outgrow it. I never, ever need to lose sacrifice in my walk with God. And listen to what he says. Tell the people to bring and offer a sacrifice, which is a bull or a sheep, and they shall give the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. …
… what will we report? I'm not saying that Paul was a pessimist, because I don't believe he was. He wrote amazing verses like, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and now unto him who is able to do immeasurably more. So, I am not throwing Paul under the bus. But Barnabas had the gift of encouragement. I think while they were going back, they were probably going through their log of everything that happened over the next 12 months. Okay, what are we going to tell them when we get there, Barnabas? And they're going through their notes. Because how do you condense 12 months into one talk? Because it said they gathered the church together and told them. I imagine the first place they realized they had to talk about was Cyprus. When they got to Cyprus, the island called Cyprus, that's in Acts chapter 13. And while they were there, God was using them. Paul's like, you remember that guy, that sorcerer in Cyprus? Barnabas is like, yeah. …
… I can't. But my history says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. God kept Pastor Jenkins. God kept Reverend Evans. God kept Dr. Tara. God kept my mate. And God kept Deacon Johnny. God kept Deacon Joe Dixon and Deacon Ephraim Pugh. God kept Mama Dangles. God kept Linda Shaw-Poyle. So don't tell me what God can't do for me. Same God knew you. same God, new battle, same God, new opportunity. So for me, it grounds me. It grounds my faith. But leave me alone now because I'm getting happy because the more I think about it, the happier I get because, yeah, man, you got to know where you come from. It's important, especially black church history. Black church history is black history. So what we're talking about is not just a local experience. We're talking about a local experience in a global context of suffering, pain, discrimination, struggle, resistance, resilience. And so all of that on a micro level and a macro level, that ought to fill your soul with possibility and hope of what can be because of what you've already seen has been. So I feel like God has promised some things to fellowship. And just because the person in leadership has changed does not mean the promise has changed. …
… but he'll give you the strength to say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, even though it's difficult. We want you to come talk with us, seriously. You don't have to be afraid or ashamed. We know that there is more forgiveness and acceptance and help in Jesus than there is sin in us. And that includes you. For all of us, for those of us with sexual sin, for those with messed up desires, twisted desires, we can all alike be washed and sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus and by the spirit of our God. That's good news, amen? Which brings me, which brings me to baptism. Let me be very clear, just so there's no confusion. This is not just an invitation for people with sexual sin. that just happened to happen on the same Sunday. Arguably not the greatest Sunday for them to be on. But we are baptizing today. And so this message, it just coincided. All sin makes us defiled. …
… I want to see God show me that whatever I'm going through, no weapon formed against me shall prosper. I want to see God reveal that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Is there anybody watching today that wants to see what God said? And I, God, I don't want to die till I see you show yourself strong. Don't call me home till our eyes witness the goodness of your glory. God, I want to see it. I want to see what God said. I believe it will be as he said. So watch this. So they begin to move in the darkness to go see. They move in the darkness to go see. Because the darkness is not an excuse for disobedience. The darkness is not an excuse to disobey what God has called. Don't let darkness cause you to be disobedient. They move in the darkness to go see. Now, here's the tripped out part for me. They're shepherds. They know they're at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder. …
If Jesus is the author and finisher of my faith, that means that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I am a joint heir with Jesus. And then I kept on reading. And I realized my praise was premature. And before you prematurely praise on being a joint heir, I want you to keep on reading and see what it is we inherit. According to Paul, to be a joint heir with Jesus means that we inherit his suffering. That being a joint heir with Jesus literally means I suffer with him. See how quiet you get? See how quiet it got all around you? The shouting stopped. Ain't no chatting going on right now. To be a child of God, to be adopted by God, means that I've inherited the right to suffer, to suffer with Jesus, which means whatever happened to him is bound to happen to me. since he was betrayed I'm going to be betrayed since he was abandoned by his disciples I'm going to be abandoned by my friends since he was lied on by the Sanhedrin I'm going to be lied on since he was persecuted I'm going to be persecuted since he was ridiculed I'll be ridiculed since he had enemies I'm going to have enemies since he suffered I'm going to suffer since he struggled I'm going to struggle. Beloved, don't think it's strange when you suffer. Suffering is the sign that you've been adopted. Suffering is the sign that you've been adopted. Struggle doesn't mean …
… will trust in the Lord until the day that I die. I will rebuild. I can get back up again. I can conquer what tried to take me out. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And because he strengthens me, I've got a reason to rebuild. Let's pray. God, we bless your name today. For indeed, oh God, you are God of hill and valley. You are God of prosperity and adversity. God, thank you that in every season of your life, you speak a word of encouragement to remind us that we have what it takes to keep moving forward. Thank you, oh God, for not closing the book yet, but reminding us that this is the dawn of a new chapter. So now, oh God, I pray for each and every one of your sons and your daughters, praying that she would strengthen hearts, praying that she would bandage wounds, praying, oh God, that she would send a healing and a confidence and a faith and an assurance to allow them to know that out of the ashes of defeat, they can rise again. …