“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13)
Are you aware that it has been scientifically proven that by worrisome thoughts, one can cause themselves to have ulcers? There may be an incident that I am unaware of, but there is no medical evidence of anyone ever curing themselves of their ulcers with happy thoughts.
I have also never heard of anyone healing a broken leg, restoring a limb or receiving their sight by simply thinking it will happen, or by praying about it, save for in the Scriptures.
No one, but Elijah, Elisha, Peter, Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever brought back a loved one from the grave.
So, what are all these “all things” that we can do through Christ if they are not those in the physical realm, if they are not done by the power of faith towards our desires, what can we then do through Christ?
“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matt. 17:20)
See anybody moving mountains lately? See anyone casting trees into the ocean?
The supposed “faith healers,” as they like to call themselves would like you to believe so, but they are charlatans, leading the weak to even greater depression, fooling the unwise. The prosperity preachers believe that if you have the correct frame of mind, if you devote yourself to the pursuit of wealth, it will come knocking at your door. The Charismatic “name it and claim it” clan base nearly all they do on emotions, good emotions bring good things, negative ones will do the opposite. The Roman Catholic cult and every other works-based religion state that if you obey the rules, adhere to the traditions and precepts each of them have concocted, the Almighty has to bless you.
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (2nd Tim. 3:13)
And that is oh so easy for our adversary.
Could the Lord have made bread out of stones? Of course. If we can do all things through Christ, can we? Ever seen anyone do that?
Part two, if you will then.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5) I can walk today, chew food with the teeth I have left, breathe the air, drink the water. Did I seek the face of God and find Him on my own, or did He call me and choose me? Do I write these letters to you of my own volition and strength, or does the Holy Spirit guide my hand? Does the desire of my beautiful wife to type them up for me and place them online come from a desire to serve her husband, or to see the Most High glorified?
The “all things” that I can do through Christ I could in no way perform on my own, the love I have for Him is expressed in actions, actions I could never accomplish if He did not lead me. The heart of my lovely wife that was once solid stone but now is more flesh than I could ever hope to attain to, was given to her by her heavenly Father. The need I have to write these letters, the compulsion I feel to make the videos, the unquenchable fire in me that reaches out to the lost is not from me.
I cannot do anything of any eternal value without Him, but I can do all that He places before me through Him.
Ask yourself this question, are you exceptionally talented in the things of the world, or are you a humble servant that seeks for the glory of God in all you do? If you are the former, know this, not one of those deeds is recorded in heaven.
Everything the Living God has placed before you to do, you can do, because He is the one strengthening you.
Remember that.
