“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

For as long as I can remember, I have either heard this verse quoted or have even quoted it myself. When faced with any type of situation that may feel overwhelming to me, I would be reminded of this verse and tell myself I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

There is no doubt that the truth of this verse is evident, and Jesus himself said apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5), which means the inverse of this is true – that with Jesus you can do everything. This is the main truth of this verse in Philippians. However, I would like to highlight another truth from this verse that we can easily miss. To help make the point, let’s look at the verses before we get to verse 13. For these passages I am going to turn to the NIV.

“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:10-13).

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Animals were formed by the word of God, and when he spoke they were able to exist and operate in their full capacity. Man was formed by the hand of God, but it wasn’t until God breathed life or a spirit into man that he became a living being. This is the identifying marker between animals and humans.

 If we are going to be honest and understand this proverb, then we must acknowledge that God’s love for us is proven by his discipline just as your love for your child is proven in the same way. This is the truth behind spare the rod hate your child in Proverbs 13:24.

Miriam was Moses’ older sister and though she is not talked about a lot in Scripture, she played an important part in the life of Moses and the nation of Israel. There are four key places where Miriam is mentioned in the Bible during her lifetime.

Whether you recognize it or not these four people will be in the building or watching online. Let’s make sure to create an atmosphere that gives people not only the ability to hear the word, but allows the possibility of the word taking root. It is only then that these people will grow in their walk with Jesus.

One of the first things we must recognize is that we are not just called to share or preach the gospel, we must also live the gospel. Our salvation is not just about the things we say or profess, it is also about how we live.

It goes without saying that this Christian life comes with its share of struggles and challenges. Jesus himself told his disciples that in this world you will have trouble (John 16:33). Surprisingly, dealing with trouble in your Christian walk is not the hardest thing you will ever do. Trouble is really a mask for what the most difficult thing you must do as a Christian really is, which is to trust God. If there is one thing God is trying to get every believer to do, it is to trust him more. 

In Proverbs we are encouraged to trust God.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

With this and all the other verses we have in Scripture that encourage us to trust God, why is it we still find it difficult to trust God?

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Many people read this verse, but I believe they may overlook the truth in it. It seems to me more than ever before that there are many people who say they have prophetic voices that are attempting to speak in these times. And if there is a rise of prophets, then there will also be a rise of false prophets.

There must be something hidden within all of us that could tempt us to fall away. Jesus saw it and he was preparing his disciples for what was to come. Because we have this tendency, it is important to consider the signs that may indicate you are in danger of falling away.

When you think of deception it is normal to think about someone attempting to trick you or steer you in the wrong direction. One of the greatest stories of deception that comes to mind is Adam and Eve. As you probably know, Satan deceived Eve into eating the fruit from the tree. He promised her an outcome that he knew was not possible. From that point until now, Satan continues to try to deceive even those who are in the body of Christ.

However, there is another type of deception that plagues the body of Christ that is not caused by Satan. Believe it or not, the Bible talks about a type of deception that we actually cause ourselves. In other words, we become our own deceiver. I want to show you what that deception is and see if you are falling victim to it.

What Is This Deception?

To find this deception, we need to turn to the book of James. Here is what it says.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22, emphasis added).

There you have it in plain English. You can deceive yourself. What I want you to focus on is how this happens. So let’s break this down to help you understand it better.

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The idea of vanity is a frequent theme that appears throughout the Bible. It is a unique word because it applies in a variety of situations and can affect both people who are believers and people who are not. Vanity can be about how you see yourself, or it can be about what you are pursuing. The influence of vanity can be subtle and other times it can be obvious. Because of its destructive nature, it is critical to know what the Bible has to say about vanity.

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Most of us are a little unsure what is evangelism, or whether we are qualified to do it. The Bible confirms that evangelism is both easier and more mysterious than we expect.

When you attempt to answer a question like what is the purpose of the Bible, there are many different directions you can go in. The Bible can be seen as an historical book because it is filled with history. It can also be seen as an instructional book. Some have even coined an acronym about the Bible, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

I think the best way to sum up the purpose of the Bible is to recognize that it is a book of revelation or a book that reveals. When you understand what the Bible reveals, you will understand what the purpose of the Bible is.

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Each day at the beginning and at the end of the day the question that should be resonating in your heart is have you given God your best effort today? If you have, then you can sleep well. But if you haven’t, that’s what the new day is for. You can start all over and give God your very best, because after all that is what he wants.