Perseverance To Move Forward Needs Jesus’ Strength

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ (Philippians 4:13)

I was reminiscing before our Life Group started last night that I have been teaching and leading the class since 2009, after the initial Life Group leader moved away leaving the group without a teacher. 

In my career, I taught classes before in technical and corporate settings, and several years prior shared in teaching at an assisted living facility on Sunday mornings to those who could not come to church.  I never thought I would be a permanent, long-time teacher.  Then again, I never thought I would become an Elder and also stand in front of the church and preach a sermon. Or write a daily Word-of-the-Day blog, for that matter.

In 2009, the majority of the class also served in the Hospitality Ministry, where many helped out with the ‘café’ that served lunch to those who wished to stay after Sunday services to fellowship with other congregants.  We moved our Life Group to Monday evening so all could attend, and it was then I also began to realize the pre-planned lessons provided by a church-supply company, while good, didn’t always capture the full intent of the book their lessons were outlined for. 

I began to organize and create my own lesson outline to cover each verse of each chapter of the book we would focus on (of course with prayer and discernment from the Holy Spirit), though I felt completely unequipped to do so.

I felt out of my league and prayed that my hubris was not driving this train.  With fears of inadequacy and not necessarily being the Biblical scholar at that time, the class moved forward as we began to cover each verse in each chapter of each book of the Bible. 

Many engage in ‘read the whole Bible in a year’ programs; today our Life Group, though not many original members from 2009 still attend, is almost at the point of completing the ‘read the Bible in 17 years’ program.  There have been some detours to study topics such as ‘Worldview’ and other notable lessons, but pretty much almost every word of the Word has been covered. 

I would not have been able to this without the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  There have been many times I had worked on an outline and up until the class began, with grave doubts on how to teach it.  Each time, though, after starting it, the Spirit gave me the words to speak and provide the lesson with clarity and, more importantly, Truth.  I have learned over these many years not to worry about what I don’t know but to trust Him who knows all to provide the Truth of the message. 

This has carried on into the occasional times when I need to provide a sermon when the pastor cannot preach.  While I feel inadequate to preach, I know the Lord provides the strength for me to stand and deliver His message – not in my strength (and certainly not my desire) but all in His.

Philippians 4:13 is of course a very popular and well-known praise that many use in their daily walk for strength; Tim Tebow used to write ‘Phil 4:13’ under his eyes on his ‘eye-black’ paint when he was leading the Gators to two of their national championships back in the day, for example.  Many folks, though, mistake this verse as meaning that Jesus will allow you to do anything and provide everything for you, based on your own desires. 

This is not what Paul was trying to say; Jesus will not give you Superman-like abilities or suddenly put a $1 million in your bank account; He could in a rare circumstance, but not for everyone and not just for a personal whim.  Philippians 4:13 is not a ‘name-it and claim-it’ verse; it is a verse of perseverance, where the believer can face daily struggles, sometimes overwhelming obstacles, but know that Jesus is walking with them. 

It is to be reliant on Jesus to lead you through your struggles and know He will be there on the other side when it is all done.  This is more of an ‘answering-the-bell’ verse, when you’re tired and lying in bed, or in a funk with too many tasks and not enough hours, or too many bills and not enough money.  Paul is saying that a believer in Christ does not give up, but instead with Christ continues to move ahead with the strength of Christ, reliant that He will provide what you need. 

Countless times in the Bible, and in my own life, there have been those times when it looked like it would be ‘game over’, but at the right time, in the right moment, the Holy Spirit provides that burst of energy or Jesus knocks down a barrier and we move ahead.  I am not uber-rich, nor can I leap tall buildings in a single bound (I’m lucky to get over a curb without tripping), but I am blessed and enriched beyond words to know that I have the priceless gift of Jesus and His strength with me, forever and always.