I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me is one statement that seems to be misunderstood by many. Therefore, we should talk about it.

Some years ago, I remember going out to make a withdrawal and having to use a Point Of Sale (POS) machine. I cannot say what led to what, but I told the POS personnel that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You know what? The agent challenged me based on that comment and got me thinking.

I thought about the verse that said my God shall supply all my needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus, yet I wondered if that was a correct reference to make.

In this message, we will look at where Paul said he could do all things through Christ and understand what he meant and how it applies to Believers Today.

Meanwhile, have you seen the message, Do Not Quench The Spirit Explained? You should give it a read.

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me Verse

There is one verse in the Bible with that statement, and it is Philippians 4:13. It says:

Paul acknowledged his ability to do all things, but all things there were not in the general sense of doing everything. It was specific.

Before making that statement, Paul had told the Church in Philippi many admonishing, instructive, commending, and encouraging things, then he said:

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8–9 NASB.

He went further in verses 10, 11, and 12 to express his gratitude towards their show of concern and care for him, saying:

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” Philippians 4:10–12 NASB.

Then, he said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. What did Paul mean by that saying? We will see that in a bit.

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me Meaning

The pretext of Philippians 4:13 shows Paul knowing how to do several things, including:

1. Living with few and in plenty.
2. Living in any and every circumstance.
3. Learning to be filled and to go hungry.
4. Learning to be abundant and needy.

So, we see that Paul had little and prospered and found himself in all kinds of circumstances where he learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, abundant, and needy.

The contrast in his statement shows the journey was not heaven on Earth, nor was it Paradise. It was full of ups and downs, and what he realized, which I believe was the secret he learned, was that He could do all these things through Christ, who gave him strength.

So when Paul said, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, he was not referring to the ability to do miracles, get cars, houses, money, or the like, as some do. He was referring to the ability to go through the good, bad, and worse situations or circumstances of life with the strength of Christ.

Therefore, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me means I can go through good, bad, and worse circumstances and come out strong because my sufficiency is of God. It is an acknowledgment that God made, is making, and will make a way out for me in whatever situation I find myself in and strengthen me through and through.

Overall, Paul admitted that he always had strength and was strong in the One, strengthening him (panta ischyō en to endynamounti me). And looking closely, Paul was contented.

“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NASB.

Furthermore, he commended the Church in Philippi for their generosity and support for him in difficulty. He recounted how they sent him a gift while he was in Thessalonica and how he received their gift, which was to him a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God, from Epaphraditus in verses 14 to 18.

Paul then prayed for them in the following verses (Philippians 4:19–20) saying:

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

In conclusion, even the statement, My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus was in the prayer Paul made for the Church in Philippi in response to their generosity towards Him. And we can do and say likewise.