I Can Do All Things Through Christ
Introduction;
Mary Groda’s story: "*Mary could not read and write.
*Experts labeled her as mentally handicap
*During her teenage years, Mary was sent to reformatory for 2 years
*It was in this reformatory that Mary spent 16 hour days learning - By the time her 2 years were up, Mary not only learned to read and write, she received her High School diploma.
*After leaving the reformatory, Mary became pregnant.
*2 years later, Mary became pregnant again and during this pregnancy, Mary had a stroke...erasing her memory and the ability to read and write.
*With the help of her father, Mary regained all she had lost.
*Mary was financially poor and on welfare.
*In order to make money, Mary became a foster parent of 7 children.
*It was during this time that Mary started taking classes at the Jr. College.
*Upon her completion, she applied and was accepted by the Albany Medical School to study medicine.
*Because Mary realized her potential, she is no longer Mary Groda, but rather, Dr. Mary Groda-Lewis."
Text; Philippians 4:13
I. “I Can Do All Things”
A. What did Paul mean?
1. Was he saying he could do even impossible things like flying, running 100 miles per hour?
2. Understand the context
3. He could be victorious in every situation
B. Paul overcame all kinds of adversity (2Corinthians 11:23-28)
1) Imprisonments, 2) Beaten times with #, 3) five times whipped 39 lashes, 4) 3 times beaten with rods, 5) 3 times ship wrecked, 6) spent night and day in the deep,
7) In danger of death countless times, 8) In hunger, thirst, cold and exposed
C. Paul achieved his mission in life
1. He overcame adversity, hardships, fear and weakness.
Application; You to can overcome!
II. “Through Christ”
A. Not what Paul himself could do
1. Paul was not a superhuman
2. This is not just positive thinking of self-discipline
B. Through Christ
1. Knowing Christ, having a relationship with Him
2. Surrendering to Christ’s lordship
3. Dependence on Christ
III. “Who Strengthens Me”
A. Paul received divine strength
(2 Corinthian 12:9) “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness” Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
(Ephesians 3:16) “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”
(Colossians 1:11) “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attainment of all steadfastness and patience, joyously.”
B. You can have God’s strength
The Lord is Our Strength
Psalm 27:5
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe
Isaiah 40:28-31
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renewg their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Has Something got you discouraged, down and defeated?
Start believing you can, Stop believing you can’t
Start saying you can, Stop saying you can’t
Surrender you life to Christ
