Useful Bible Studies > Philippians Commentary > chapter 4
Paul declares: I can do all things through Christ, who places his power in me. Paul’s words are bold, but not proud. Paul is not depending on himself; he realises that he himself is much too weak to carry out his work for God. So instead, he depends and trusts completely in the strength and power that come from Christ (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Christ is active and he works in Paul’s life (2 Corinthians 4:7). That is what gives Paul the strength to live for God in so many different situations (4:12).
This power is not for Paul alone. Anyone who truly believes and trusts God will see his power in their own life. That is what Christ was teaching in Mark 11:23-24. Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37); and he is working in the lives of his people (Romans 8:28). God will always do those things that he has promised in his word, the Bible (2 Corinthians 1:19-20). He always acts in the way that is right and proper for him to do (1 John 5:14-15). His power has no limit (Jeremiah 32:17).
So, God sends his Holy Spirit into the life of every Christian (Romans 8:9). The power of the Holy Spirit, which raised Christ from death, is working in their lives too (Romans 8:11). Their Christian lives began by the Holy Spirit’s power; so they must continue to live by the Holy Spirit’s power (Galatians 3:1-5). Christians must not live to satisfy their own selfish and natural desires (Romans 8:5-8); they must live to please God (Ephesians 5:10). With Christ, they can do all things (Mark 9:23); without him, they can do nothing (John 15:5). In other words, Christians need God to work in and through them for their efforts to achieve a worthwhile result (Psalm 127:1; compare Ecclesiastes 2:17-23).
Next part: The correct attitude towards gifts for God's work (Philippians 4:14)
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© 2020, Keith Simons.