Word of Salvation – Vol.36 No.18 – May 1991
The Heart of Philippians 4
Sermon by Rev. H. DeWaard on Philippians 4:13
Reading: Philippians 4:10-20
Singing:
515,172,116a, 314
Lucy and Linus in the Peanuts cartoon are staring out of the window. The rain is pouring down. Boy, says Lucy: Look at it rain! What if it floods the whole world? Linus answers: It won’t do that. God promised Noah it would never happen again. Lucy smiles and says: You have just taken a big load of my mind. To which Linus responds: Sound theology has a way of doing that!.
Philippians 4 which deals with very practical issues also has a lot of sound theology which can take loads off our minds.
This section of Philippians 4 is really a thank-you note. You recall that Paul is in prison. The Philippians had sent Paul a gift on several occasions and Paul expresses his thanks. He thanks them for their kindness in giving him everything necessary for his well-being.
But it also seems that Paul is a little embarrassed about this gift. Throughout his ministry he had not been slow to ask for gifts for needy churches, but never for himself. As a matter of fact he wanted to be self-reliant so that no one could accuse him of being money-hungry or using the Gospel as an occasion to get rich. So while Paul is grateful, he also makes it very clear that if they had not given anything, he would still have been content and happy. He was ready for anything. Unbelievable! Here is a man who says he is content in every circumstance of life. Whether rich or poor, it does not make any difference. You try telling that to desperate refugees stranded in the desert or to the slum dwellers of Manila or Bangkok. It sounds unreal.
We find it difficult to accept what daily life throws at us. We either get carried away by our prosperity or pulled down by our misery. Life so easily becomes a burden, a bore or a sigh.
What is the answer? I wouldn’t dare give it to you except that the answer comes from the Word of God. It is the heart of Philippians 4: ‘I can do everything through him who gives me strength.’’
Does it sound as if Paul is boasting? I don’t think so. Rather, he is giving a great compliment to Jesus Christ. He is not boasting of what he can do in his own power. He is enabled to do everything in the power of the One who gives him strength. He does not say who this one is. We know who is meant. Elsewhere in his letters he refers to Jesus. Paul’s life was seized by Christ. He gave up everything for Christ’s sake. He gained everything by losing all for Christ He wanted to know Christ and the power of his resurrection. Christ was the source of his true strength. There was an energy, a power, a life at work in Paul. God was working in him. That’s the secret of being able to cope with every need. It is for that reason Paul can say: ‘That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardship, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ (2Cor.12:10)
That’s okay for Paul, but what about us, who find it so hard to cope even with little irritations? Leave alone that we should be able to cope with illness or poverty. The most we could do is simply grin and bear it, harden ourselves in indifference. But that is not a Christian attitude and certainly does not give glory to Christ. It is pessimism, defeatism, cynicism.
What is the secret? Paul is saying that Christ gives so much power and strength that he is able to take all things. He is not struggling alone against great odds. The power of Christ is like a dynamo within him.
I envy Paul. I trust it is holy envy. I am not sure that I can say with Paul that I have such strength and power within that I can face any and every situation. What about you? But I am willing to listen and learn and apply my faith and not use my own weakness as an excuse for inactivity. There are many Christians who spend their whole life trying to find this power. They seek it in the charismatic movement where the power of the Holy Spirit is emphasized as real. Many find it there and we praise God for that. But surely that same power is available to us too! Others, disillusioned with the churches, look for the power within through yoga or meditation practices. Others try to cultivate power through seminars on self-assertion, being more aggressive and the like.
These are dead ends. They may give some temporary relief and stimulation. They may work for a while for some strong-willed individuals who have time to exercise their will power. But there is no Gospel in that for the ordinary person. If all the emphasis is on the ‘I’ – what I can do and what I can achieve – we are doomed to fail!
I suggest that we begin by confessing our lack of real spiritual power. Let’s tell God how unhappy we are that we cannot simply echo Paul here. We are powerless to do God’s will. We even fail to believe what God says. That’s the first step.
Pharisees don’t begin there. They have such a shiny halo around them, they need no one else. But publicans, sinners and prostitutes in Jesus’ day heard him gladly. They had a need. They confessed a need. And Jesus forgave them and they entered into a new powerful life e.g. Zacchaeus, Levi, Mary. ‘I can do everything through him who gives me strength’.
Notice carefully what the text says. It is not I alone. The Christian life is not a life that I live myself and in my own power. Nor is it a life in which Jesus does everything, and I become like a robot.
It is I, through Christ. There are two of us. Not I alone. Not Christ alone. But I and Christ. Through faith in Christ I am related to Him who died and rose again. He has given me a spiritual blood transfusion. His victorious strength is poured into me through the Holy Spirit who unites me with Christ the Saviour. Christ’s grace and power are given to the believer. This is not meant just for spiritual supermen and women who tower above all of us. No, it is meant for every believer. But how do you experience this power?
It is a question of right living, having the right goals and priorities. I must spend time with Christ, meditate upon him, get to know him, get his perspectives, his priorities; see life from his point of view. Then I must obey Him. Avoid everything that hinders me in my Christian walk of life. We must not get into an atmosphere that is bad for us. Like health – you must eat right., exercise, create the right environment to enjoy health. Spiritually too there are rules – concentrate on knowing Christ, read the Scriptures, find Christian fellowship, confess your sins, walk obediently, avoid godlessness. If you do that, Christ will pour His strength into you. I am weak. Sometimes I feel I have no spiritual life in me at all. But because of my relationship to Christ, I find that he infuses strength into me. Precisely when I am weak, I am strong in the Lord. He controls the supply of power. He knows when I need it and when and how much.
Perhaps you say: I have not reached this goal of power and contentment! Don’t be discouraged. The Christian life is like a school. You only get a diploma at the end. In the meantime there is much to be done. The question is not: Have you arrived? But: Are you pressing towards the goal? Do you recognize the need for spiritual power and are you earnestly seeking it as you depend on Christ and accept his priorities for your life?
We need to be moulded by the Holy Spirit so that we can say: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. We can face all circumstances of life in the strength which Christ gives and which is experienced in intimate fellowship with him.
God will bring you through your difficulties to victory and glory.
That’s a promise.
For you and for me.
AMEN