Focus: The Strengthening Of Christ

Text: Phil.4:13

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Our text has two words in it for power - ischus and dunamis. "Can do" is ischus, and "strengtheneth" is dunamis. Paul is describing his capability to bear or endure anything and everything by the strengthening of the indwelling Christ. Paul is not boasting, but expressing divine reality in his life. By the strengthening of the Christ, who lives in me, I have the ability to live above the circumstances of life, regardless of whether they are favorable or adverse. The Amplified Version says, "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." A believer in Christ lacks nothing whatsoever, and that includes the power of God. The believer's power is quite enormous and impossible to subdue. What differentiates Christianity from all other religions is the supernatural power of God.

In 1Cor.1:24 Paul presents Christ as "the power of God, and the wisdom of God" to the believer. In Jh.15:5, Jesus Christ says to His disciples, "For without me you can do nothing." We can never accomplish anything of eternal significance without the presence and power of Christ in our lives. In 2Cor.3:5, Paul says, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." Our sufficiency or competence flows from God. We are capable, competent and relevant because Christ lives in us. We are adequate in Christ and content with Him. In Col.1:29, Paul says, "Whereunto I also LABOUR, STRIVING according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." One translation says, "I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me." Paul is determined not to waste an ounce of Christ's energy in him. He is using Christ's strength to achieve God's goals. He is putting God's power to work and exerting the power of Christ to the extreme. He is utilizing every bit of divine energy available to him to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. As Christ is infusing into Paul His power, he is in the same vein influencing the world with it. He is constantly putting out the energy Christ is putting in. That is exactly what the church of Jesus Christ and every believer in Christ should be doing - counting on the power of Christ and making it count in this world.

The Christ in us is consistently, constantly and continuously replenishing our strength. It is not possible to run out of resources as long as we stay connected to Christ. Our power is current and ever fresh because we are ever abiding in Christ.

We just can't afford to lay waste our God-given power. We can't afford to trifle with the power of Christ. We can't afford to be weary in our walk with and work for the Lord, for the strength of God is surging in us. This year, the Lord is saying to you, 'Go in this your strength. I am strengthening you to conquer all odds and accomplish My purpose. Avail yourself of My presence and power, and you shall prevail over the hordes of hell and perform My will and desire.'

by Bishop Moses E. Peter