R sbc
Date: Sept 4th 2005
Series: Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible
Subject: “THE PROVISION OF DIVINE HELP”
Text: Php 4:13
Intro: There is a connecting text also that I wish to read that tells the reality of this text. It is from the Lord Jesus Christ:
John 15:5 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. It is so easy for preachers and Christians to get caught up in the energy of the flesh and began to think that within themselves there is strength to accomplish what they are doing.
THE WORD “I CAN” IMPLIES ABILITY.. When we look at the many verses in the Bible that tells us or gives us commands we wonder if we can, I say that we can. It is so easy as so many kids say to their parents “I can’t, I don’t know how, I don’t want too, we as GOD’S elect do the same thing at times...
It is sin to think that within ourselves is the ability to perform, to act, to go, and to do the things we do without the divine source of help that comes from the Lord. Paul in this text is clear...
I... “MAN IS WEAK IS CLEARLY IMPLIED IN THE VERSE”
There is an inherited weakness from Adam that we all have and it is carried on in our life as a Christian... We see this:
(1.) In salvation:
We cannot save ourselves, we cannot come to Christ in our own strength, we cannot and will not believe on him by ourselves, the LORD must draw us to him..that is fact and we know that by experience here today.
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
(2.) In Service we are weak also:
1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Many Christians in times of weakness was made strong: Hebrews 11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Before we can ever be used of the Lord we must come to the place in our life that we see and feel our weakness... Jeremiah said to the Lord when the LORD was calling him these words... Jeremiah 1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Moses said to the Lord Exodus 4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. Again Moses said to the Lord: Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
II... THE ABILITY TO PERFORM ALL TASK IS NOT SEEN IN MAN’S ABILITIES ALONE BUT WITH THE LORD”...
The Lord said to Paul: 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
It was said of the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Corinthians 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
Help is present with us: Psalms 121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Note the ability is not in us but in him, who is of great power and of great strength to help his people...The Lord told Joshua: Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
We could and will site a few examples:
He was with Moses at the Red sea and they crossed over on dry ground:
He was with Joshua as he took the Land section by section and defeated the enemies:
He was with Gideon who defeated the Philistines:
He was with Daniel and the three Hebrew children:
He was with David as he faced the giant and Saul:
He was with Solomon and gave him wisdom to lead his people:
He was with John the Baptist as he faced the unbelieving crowds:
He was with Paul who wrote most of the Bible...
III.. “ WHAT IS IT THAT THROUGH CHRIST WE CAN DO”
Paul said all things, all things present, all things future. There is nothing that we cannot do with the power of Christ upon us: I am not talking about walking on water, I am not talking about healing every disease I know God can do that but that is not what I am talking about and do not think Paul is either.I think he is talking about where we live:
(1.)We can through Christ bear every burden I am call to bear:
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The word temptation here does not necessarily mean a temptation to sin, although it can certainly mean that, but I think rather it is the many burdens we are called upon the bear in this life.
I believe this to be so by the word “ common” which means that which comes as the result of being a human being... I am saying that no matter what comes our way we have the help of the LORD to get through it.. The word “bear” means to get down up under the load and through the strength of the LORD we are able to rise up and go on.
A. Sometimes we are a burden to ourselves: Job 7:20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved
b. Sometimes refusal to cast our burdens on the Lord is a burden to bear: 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
The Lord Jesus Christ made this very plan to us : Matt 11- 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
(2.) We can through Christ survive every valley he puts us in:
There are so many valley’s that I have been in, in life, and through the grace of the LORD and his help I have survived them. We must never loose site of his ability to pull us out of the valley. Know that he has us there for a reason... we may not know but he does take comfort in that.
a. In the valley we find out who we rally are..
b. In the valley we find out our weaknesses and his strength:
c. In the valley we become more like Christ when we depend upon him.
Even the valley of death that we shall walk through one day: Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(3.) We can through Christ gain wisdom to perform our duties :
The ancient Job said : Job 12:13 With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
David in speaking of wisdom declares this: Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
The source of wisdom : Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
(4.) This is all possible because we believe through Christ in his abilities to do what he says he will do...
There was two blind men that Jesus approached:
Matthew 9:28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.