Sermon – “I Can Do All Things”

25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ[b] who strengthens me.

12-14 I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

27 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?

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

This morning a message titled I can do all things. I can do all things say that with me I can do all things. Isaiah Chapter forty verses twenty five through thirty one I’m also going to be reading this morning from Philippians. Isaiah forty. Twenty five through thirty one. There we go. To whom then will you like in me or to whom shall I be equal says the Holy One what a good question write to who can we likened unto God because there is none like God lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these things who brings out their host by number he calls them all by name by the greatness of His might and the strength of his power not one is missing why do you say Oh Jacob and speak oh Israel my way is hidden from the Lord and my just claim is passed over by my god have you not known Have you not heard the everlasting God the Lord the creator of the ends of the earth never faints nor is weary his understanding is unsearchable how a lujah God never ever once grows weary he doesn’t get tired does he Amen he never gets exhausted he doesn’t come to the end of a day and say wow I am so tired I am so weary I don’t think I can go on our God never gets weary he never faints how I love you that is good news for those who believe in Him Those who trust in him because he’s not going to say well I’m too tired today to watch over you he’s going to watch over you every day he gives power to the. Weak and to those who have no might he increases strength. Even the use the use shall faint and be weary and the young men shell out early fall but those who wait on the Lord shall renewed their strength they shall mount up with wings like eagles they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint. Those who wait on the Lord. Shall we knew their strength let that sink in for a minute because friend sometimes we have a tendency to run ahead of God. Don’t wait we get ahead of him and wondering where is he why is he not giving me that drink that he promises is because you ran ahead of him you didn’t wait for his plan you didn’t wait for his direction sometimes we need to slow down a little bit and wait for God amen because it doesn’t always come in our timing but it’s in his timing. Philippians four six to thirteen. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus finally brother and whatever things are true whatever things are noble whatever things are just whatever things are pure whatever things are lovely whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things the things which you learned and received and heard and saw in May These do and the God of peace will be with you but I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again there you surely did care but you lacked opportunity not that I speak in regard to need for I have. Learned in whatever state I am to be content I know how to be abased I know how to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be for end to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need I can do all things through Christ who strengthens May when you heard my title and I had to repeat that you probably thought wow the pastor is having a little bit of a struggle with boasting this morning right saying no I can do all things but I can do all things. Through Christ who strengthens May You got it. Paul had confidence didn’t God wants us to have confidence as Paul had confidence he wants us to have this same coffin as a pole demonstrates here I can have I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me through Christ there is not a thing that I can accomplish if it’s what he is called me to do amen. I found a little story about confidence there was a man and he had went to a couple psychiatry wrist. And they didn’t give him a good report so he goes to a third site carves he said Doc he said I’ve been to a couple psychologists he says and they have both told me that I have in figure in and figured it. Inferiority complex on C.N.N. But I can’t get it from there to here an inferiority complex he says I would like for you to examine me and do some tests and see what you find out see what you think so after many testin sessions the doctor says Surrey says I have good news and I have bad news the good news is you don’t have a complex but the band is news is you are inferior. We don’t laugh we laugh at that illustration but you know what that’s what the devil wants us to believe. You listen that. What the devil wants you to believe he wants you to think he wants you and not to think that we are inferior. He wants you to think that others can be effective for Christ but you can’t because you’re inferior. He wants you to think that you are a failure. He wants you to think that you don’t measure up. But for Libyans for thirteen shatters all that doesn’t it shatters all that negative derogatory remarks because it says I can I can do all things through Christ who strengthens may remember what Paul said in the verse before that I have learned I have learned in whatever state that I am to be content we have to learn how to have that confidence in Christ it doesn’t come natural. You know one of the greatest things that deter people is the fear of failure. The fear of failure you know some people say well you know I thought about starting this kind of this business but I was afraid I was going to fail so I just I didn’t even started you know I was going to go out for this sport but I know that I’m not as strong as I’m other guys so I just didn’t do it I thought about going to this college but you know I’m just not quite smart enough we could go on and on with on Matamata not that’s what the devil wants us to say I’m not a rock can’t. Robert Schuller said this in his book become the person you want to be they are does not mean you are a failure it does mean you haven’t succeeded yet Yeah we haven’t succeeded yet they are does not mean you have accomplished nothing it does mean you have learned something right we learned something from our mistakes but we go warn Amen they are does not mean that you have been a full it does mean that you have. Out of faith. Failure does not mean that you’ve been disgraced it does mean that you were willing to try failure does not mean that you don’t have it it does mean you have to do something in a different way. They are does not mean that you are inferior but it does mean you are not perfect they are does not mean you’ve wasted your life but it does mean that you have a reason to start afresh I really like that one because you know what we can start afresh every day if we fall we stumble guess what God will help pick us up and we can start a new. Each day as long as we have life we can start a new failure does not mean that you should give up it does mean you must try harder so if first you don’t succeed you try and try again they are does not mean that you’ll never make it it does mean it may take a little longer. To get there they are does not mean that God has a band and you but it does mean that God has a better idea. As we said we sometimes got to wait on God We don’t want to get ahead of it. God’s plan is that we can say as Paul we can positively say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me no matter how big no matter how severe or trial or crisis that we are going to whatever problems whatever difficulties we may have or God is able to make us overcome he is able to help us overcome I can do all things through Christ according to the earliest manuscripts this reads I can do all things in the one empowering may amen the one that empowers me we do not need to worry about. Being about and giving more than we can handle because he will empower us cry supplies the resources sufficient to help us complete will. He has called us to do. First Timothy one. Twelve through fourteen and this is coming from the message version the Bible says I am so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work isn’t that awesome to make me adequate to do this work he went out on a limb now this is Paul so we have to understand where this is coming from he won out on a limb you know in trusting me with this ministry the only credentials I brought to it were in victim of and witch hunts and arrogance but I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing didn’t know who I was doing it against Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me and all because of Jesus think about that and we spoke about and talked about it so many times Paul when he was Saul he was then victim he won out on which ons he was trying to destroy all those that claim Christ those that followed Christ. Christ went out on a limb. And entrusted him with the Ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ made him adequate to do the work that it called him to do. God says My grace is sufficient for you in John four fourth or six you’re of God Little children and have overcome them because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world do you believe that today Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world today they are of the world therefore they speak as of the world and the world hears them we of our God We are of God He who knows God hears us he who does is not of God does not hear us by this we know the. The Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. If he has called you he will empower you he will enable you. If we are to say we’re not strong enough we’re not good enough. We’re not talented enough well maybe we need to look at the Exum of the examples of the people that God used. Listen to some of the people that God use Isaac was a daydreamer. He was Jacob was a cheater we know the story Jacob cheated his brother out of these birthright and then the blessing Peter had a temper and he not Christ but he had a temper he drove that sort out and cut your ear off quicker than you could blink or ah. David had an affair and tried to cover it up with murder Noah got drunk in LA She was suicidal Jonah ran from God Paul was a murderer and he was way too religious Timothy had too many all Cers Gideon was in secure Mary and was a gossip or Martha was a worrier Thomas was a doubter Sarah was impatient Elijah was moody is any of these hidden all. I hope this one doesn’t have was a prostitute. Sampson like prostitutes Isaiah preach naked for three years John the Baptist’s a bugs and had second thoughts about the very Messiah that he baptized Jeremiah was way too emotional Moses stuttered Zacchaeus was way too short and Abraham was old and Lazarus he was dead. God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called Amen so if any of those things fit God can still use you have good news. He can still use you even if you’re too short or if you have an anger God can use you he can qualify you he can work in your lives to make you able to do what he’s called you to do. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians he told them not many of you were wise according to the worldly standards not many were powerful Not many were noble birth of noble birth but God shows what is foolish in the world to shame the wise God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong God shows what is low and despised in the world even things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are so the things that look foolish as to the world. Can be God’s ways a man. You know when God called David. Think about that story I will go back and read it but you remember the prophet. Was sent to David’s father’s house to find the next king all David’s brothers was bought brought before the prophet he said that’s not the one No that’s not the one no not yet God said that’s not him they were all gone he’s like is that all the sons you have you sure there’s one Is there any misson Well yeah Number seven the literati one he’s out in the field then in the sheep will go getting. They bring him in. That’s to warn all the others were stronger. More powerful looking ages are right a little youth but God says that’s the one I can use right there. Because he had a heart it was after God because he trusted God that young boy was able to slay the giant my friends in the flesh that’s impossible. But with God. All things are possible way man David was weak but the lies. It was strong. So we need to keep that in our minds to know that when we trusting God when we think we are weak we can slay the giants in our lives whatever they are with God all things are possible. What is God calling you for. What is he calling you to do remember it may have very small beginnings. David was a shepherd boy he continued to shepherd the flock and watch and God was preparing to all this you know he killed lions and bears and all these things he was preparing him. So don’t think because it’s small beginnings that God doesn’t have something great in mind for you but whatever he’s calling you to do you can do it when you trust in him and have faith in him. You know not all are called to preach not all are called to teach not all are called to be evangelists not all are called to be missionaries we may just be called to be mothers and dads or grandparents or employees we might be called to a public office I don’t know maybe a position in the church I don’t know but you can do all things with the strength in the power that he supplies a man. Don’t let the world tell you that you’re too weak. Because Greater is He was in you than he who is in the world. Found a story. About a God It seemed kind of timid. Truck driver pulled up to a diner one day and because in Gary smiling as I think he’s heard this goes into the diner and sets down the order of his lunch he gets a soda a hamburger and a piece of pie well just right before he was ready to begin eating three hoodlums came in Radnor motorcycles not all motorcycle riders or hoodlums. But these three hoodlums come in and. Or con a rowdy may run over and I guess give him a bump from one of them steals he’s hamburger and another one shoves him in he steals the soda and the third one he grabs his pot so the guy just very quietly gets up leaves the diner. And the guy say he’s not much of a man Izzy Kahnawake the waiter says he ain’t much of a truck driver age is ran over three motorcycles. He once a week after all. Where do we get this strength from. Where do we get it where do we get the strength to say that I can do all things again the answer is through Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit it would be foolish to say that I can do all things without adding the tag through Christ who strengthens me. By the end welling of the Holy Spirit’s power. Burst for thirteen said for the strength comes from N word signifying twisted together when you look that word up that’s used in Philippians four thirteen strength is twisted together what does that teach us the buyer sells Yes we can be weak or are weak but when we are twisted together with God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We are unstoppable. You believe that we are on stoppable you know think of a rope one strand is weak but you twist many together it is unbreakable that’s why the psalm is says Psalms twenty seven one 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 when we are twisted. Gather with him we need not fear we do not have to be afraid of anything Soames twenty eight seven says the Lord is my strength and my shield my heart trusted in him. And I have helped therefore my heart greatly rejoices and with my song I will praise Him He is my strength he is my shield. And there are two cities in Canada. That share the highest tide on the planet Earth. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia one billion tons of sea water flow in and out of Bay fundy every single day the Bay of Fundy not only experienced a fifty foot tidal range but in some parts of its bay the tide retreats as much as three miles every six hours and thirteen minutes and you know as I was thinking about this when we go down to the the coast and go fishing and sometimes we would go out on the bridge and you’d see the tide go down and it may very maybe sixty seven fi somewhere in that neighborhood just guesstimating but fifty feet could you imagine what a difference in the tide fifty feet every day for many centuries people didn’t understand this kind of power contained by the Bay of Fundy and even less how will process force in their daily lives until one thousand nine hundred four they built the first tidal power station and it resulted in incredible power. You know I think about think way back when I worked at that CO way back in one thousand nine hundred nine while I was there they built a hydro power station What were they built there’s there was a lake up on the top and down the bottom they made. A lake they may in made lake to hold the water so during the peak time they would let the water drain out create a power during the load time they would pump it all back up so they would use the same water back and forth but a God supplied to power. It Lake fundy didn’t God supplies it as Christians we have an infinite power source flowing that can be tapped into. Christ in the Holy Spirit. Acts one eight says but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and all Judea. And some area and to the ends of the Earth we can have that power we can receive it the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is the key. That releases. Us from the prison the fear releases us from the prison of doubt but we must be leave. You know psychology will tell us tells us that you will become what you imagine yourself to be if we say I can’t all the time guess what we won’t or we can’t if we had all we say is I can’t I can’t I can’t I can’t do this and you’re not going to do it. It’s confirmed in Proverbs twenty three seven says for as a man thinks in his heart so is he so if you is all you can say is I can’t guess what you’re already defeated but if you can say I can I can I can I can through Christ you will have the victory you will have the victory. It’s what we think in our minds this is a crazy illustration and I found there was a very wealthy lady in New York City she did decided to throw a banquet for friends while they was waiting for the meal to be prepared to cook color to the kitchen. And he said some of these mushrooms the mushrooms that were delivered they looked like they’re poisonous toadstools So the woman said well let’s just do an experiment let’s just feed him to the dog and see what happens so they fed the mushrooms to the dog and they watched for thirty minutes and nothing happened no adverse effects so they want to head prepared to mushrooms and served them to the guest but during the meal this pale faced cook comes out to the lady and she says he says your dog is dead she says all my what amount to do so well the only ethical thing to do is tell the guest so she tells all the guests about the fear of the mushroom being poisonous in a pet of the dog but now the dog’s dead they all began to rise in pain some of them was rolling around the floor and they was gasping and just carrying a lot all over the place but all of a sudden she says well I’m not feeling bad and I just as mushroom many mushrooms as the rest of them so she goes back to the cook she goes I want to see the dog he says Oh ma’am you won’t want to see or because that truck that ran over made an awful mess of it. Those people in their minds thought they’d been poisoned and they really weren’t what’s in your minds what’s in your hearts is it positive that I can or are you going to be rolling around the floor right and saying I can’t. It’s I can in Christ I Can we need to believe the Word of God We need to stand on it and believe it we need to believe that greater is He is in me than he was in the world. Forget who you are him remember who God is. You know I think back to the temptation of Jesus. And whenever he went out into the wilderness and after forty days and Satan came in Tanzania what was one of the things he said to him if you will throw yourself down. Send his angels pick you up. Satan didn’t grab a hold of him to throw him down he says if you will throw yourself down. You get that are you picking that up you have to do it. He has no power over you I hope you’re getting that he didn’t have any power over Jesus Christ to throw him down and sell for he would have. He would have destroyed him if he could have but he couldn’t and we are the children of God We are co-heirs with Christ and the devil has absolutely no power over you if you believe in Jesus Christ when you receive that today because he will tell you throw yourself down he’ll tell you you’re a failure he’ll tell you you can’t and if you believe him you’re casting yourself down I’m telling you get up and say I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me because Greater is He was in me that he was in the world who is in the world the devil and you have power over him a man a man I hope you go home today with a positive attitude that I can I can do be encouraged be strengthened you can overcome by the power of Jesus Christ in the power of His Holy Spirit Amen However you.