ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

Phil. 4:13-17

Morning Meditation 6/16/2015

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account."

Verse 13 is an amazing verse. If you took the first part of the verse, it might seem that it was a boast on Paul's part. But when you take the whole verse, it is a statement of a man who had learned the life of victory in Christ.

The first time I was introduced to the victorious life was when I came into possession of the THE SAVING LIFE OF CHRIST by Ian Thomas. I read that book with such a hunger that I could hardly put it down. As I read those truths, I asked myself, "Why haven't I seen this before?" I memorized the phrases that Thomas used to make his points. Then I began to try to put into practice what was written in the book. I got on my knees and said, "Lord it is no more me. It is you. I invite you to take over my life completely so that Christ will be the very life manifest. In Jesus name amen." I got up from that prayer meeting I thought I was a changed man. I told my wife I was going to make a hospital call. The adrenalin was surging through my body. I though I could just jog to the hospital. But my better judgment told me to use the car. As I drove down Broadway in West Memphis, Ark. where I pastored, a little old lady pulled out in front of me driving about five miles an hour. I discovered I didn't have what Ian Thomas talked about at all.

I'm serious. I read the book again to see where I missed it. The same thing happened again. Well, not exactly the same thing, but close enough for me to know that I didn't have it! I put the book on the shelf and left it there for six or seven years. Every once in a while I would look at it sitting on the shelf and growl like a dog!!!

Well, I've learned a lot since then. Ian Thomas wrote a great book. But what I learned is that the victorious life cannot be reduced to a formula. I believe that Paul knew that walk and he is talking about it in our text. Let us notice,

THE EXAMPLE OF THIS LIFE OF VICTORY

Here, it Phil. 4:13, we have a living example of one who actually lived such a life of victory. "I can live this life," says Paul; and if he could do so, then so can we. If there is a secret which was open to Paul, that secret is open to us also. Watchman Nee wrote a book on the same principle. It is called THE NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE. These books set forth the same truth. There is no doubt in my thinking that they are absolutely right. But I think it is easier to write about it than to live it!!! I hope you don't think that that last statement means to take away anything from these great men who did, in my thinking, live out the life of Christ.

I do not believe Paul was a super man. He had all the same qualities of the Old Sin Nature in him that we have. Romans 7:18 says, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Was this statement made by a victorious Christian? Absolutely! Living a victorious Christian life is not denying reality. And the reality is this. Until we die physically or are raptured out of this life to be with the Lord, we are chained to an old sin nature that multiplies our sorrows until we have to cry with Paul "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord . . ." (Rom. 7:24-25).

Paul was a very outstanding man, and the fact that he could be master of every situation is not surprising. But he was not outstanding because of his personal wisdom or strength. His strength was in the Lord. He said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Paul simply states the source of his strength. It is "through Christ which strengtheneth me." He was a man incarnated by Christ. Christ lived in Paul with Paul's continued yieldedness. It is possible for me and you to do the same. Next let's look at,

THE EXTENT OF THIS LIFE OF VICTORY

What is the measure of this life of victory? How far is victory possible? Notice what Paul says, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in what so ever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." A careful reading of the above text will let us see that the life of victory was not doing away or avoiding "being abased" or "to suffer need," it was enduring those things in the power and spirit of Christ. Let's just notice some of the things mentioned in chapter four:

1. In verse 4: "Rejoice in the Lord always . . ." Most of us rejoice when things are going well, but we become sad and depressed when they are not going well; but to live victoriously means to rejoice at all times. Psalms 34:1, "I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."

2. In verse 5: "Let your moderation be known unto all men . . ." This means your gentleness, your meekness. Some one has said it means "sweet reasonableness."

3. In verse 6: "Be careful for nothing . . ." In nothing be over-anxious. How wonderful to go through life with out a care, to meet sickness, losses, setbacks and not to be perturbed by any of these testings.

4. In verse 6: In every thing by prayer . . ." Not many of us succeed here. We pray about the big things in life, but we often fail to pray about the less important matters. We should pray about all things and live in the atmosphere of prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

5. In verses 8-9: "Think on these things." What a list, and how these virtues are needed today? We need to take heed to these "marks" of the victorious life, for that is what they are. To live a life of victory means to be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and good. Notice that in verse 8 we are exhorted to "think" on these things and verse 9 to "do" them.

6. In verse 11: "I have learned . . . to be content." In sickness or in health, in poverty or in wealth, in failure or in success -- content!

7. In verse 22: "Saints in Caesar's household." Christians are in unlikely places,. More than that -- Christians live in difficult places!

THE EXPLANATION OF THIS LIFE OF VICTORY

How was Paul able to say, "I can do all things . . . be master of every situation"? How can I say it and experience it? The answer is in the word, "through Christ which strengtheneth me." These simple words mean:

1. I cannot live the victorious Christian life apart from Christ. The life of victory is an impossible achievement apart from Him. The victorious life in not my life at all. It is His life being lived out through the yielded saint.

2. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Victorious life.

3. He who has lived this life in one body is able and willing to reproduce this life in any body that is yielded to Him. The victorious life is the life of Christ reproduced in and through the Christian -- His life and His victory.

4. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White