I Can Do

Leader: Today our verse in “Ten For Life” is Philippians 4:13. (All of a sudden the music theme from “NFL On Fox” or “Monday Night Football” begins playing. Referee Ricky comes walking in slowly—he is visibly sad)

Ricky: Hi everyone.

Leader: Hey there, Ricky! You don’t look so great today!

Ricky: I really don’t feel very excited today. Sorry, everyone.

Leader: Oh really? What’s wrong?

Ricky: I’m afraid I got some devastating news last night. My mom just found out that her best friend died.

Leader: Ricky, we are so sad to hear about that. How’s your mom handling all of this?

Ricky: She’s handling it very well. She said that God is giving her the strength she needs to face this. But, I don’t get it.

Leader: What do you mean you don’t get it?

Ricky: I don’t get how she can be so strong in the middle of all this. I mean, I am about to fall to pieces. I could barely sleep last night worrying about her. I just want to freak out and lay down and give up. But, she’s so strong through all of this. And SHE is the one who lost her friend. How is that possible?

Leader: Well, Ricky, looks like your mom has learned the lesson of Philippians 4:13.

Ricky: The lesson of Flippy who?

Leader: No, not Flippy. Philippians.

Ricky: Who’s that?

Leader: Philippians is a book in the Bible. It was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in jail.

Ricky: Why was he in jail? What did he do?

Leader: Well, he was actually put in jail for preaching to people about Jesus. The Romans didn’t like the fact that he was telling people about Jesus. So, they arrested him and threw him into jail. He was in jail for a long time. He was beaten, bruised, and treated unfairly just for preaching about Jesus.

Ricky: Well, that’s sad and all. But, what does that have to do with me or my mom’s best friend dying?

Leader: Ricky, the Apostle Paul was going through some terrible stuff and yet he wrote our Power Verse in Philippians 4:13. I want you to watch Dr. Boing and Dr. Von Hinklesnot as they teach it to us, OK?

Ricky: OK.

Leader: So, you see Ricky, it’s not possible for you to make it through things like this on your own strength. But, THROUGH GOD, you can make it. He will give you HIS strength to make it through this and any other difficult problem you will face in life.

Ricky: So, that’s probably how my mother is able to handle all of this with such strength. She knows that when she is weak, then God will give her strength to make it through. She CAN do it THROUGH GOD!

Leader: You’ve got it!

Ricky: Wow! Suddenly, I don’t feel as down as I did when I walked in here.

Leader: That’s fantastic!

Ricky: That’s right! Even though my mom’s best friend died and it is very hard for me, I CAN make it through HIM (points to the sky) who gives me strength!

Leader: You’re exactly right!

Ricky: You know what that makes me want to do?

Leader: What’s that?

Ricky: It makes me want to...(blows whistle like crazy)! WOW! I can’t believe how strengthened I feel when I let God’s strength help me make it through! I will see you later, everybody! (runs out blowing his whistle while his theme music plays)

Kids, just like it got very hard to hold these books up, sometimes life can get very hard. If we rely on our own strength, then we can’t make it. But, we CAN do everything through Him who gives us strength!

(hold up the Mountain Dew can with the eyeball glued on it) This is a strange looking soft drink isn’t it? Obviously, it’s not a real drink. But, I think it is a great visual that will help you remember today’s scripture in TEN FOR LIFE. Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Many of us have heard this verse many times before. Some of us have even memorized it before. We’ve used it in different ways. Many times, it’s been used in sort of a bragging way. Somebody says you can’t do something as good as someone else, you quote, “Oh yeah? I can do ALL THINGS… so there!”

“I can shoot this 3-pointer and win the game” – I can do everything!

“I know I didn’t study for this test, but I am gonna make an A” – I can do everything through him!

“I’m gonna go out there and knock a home run” – I can do everything through him who gives me strength!

But, that is not at all the way that the Apostle Paul meant it to be used. In fact, when Paul wrote this verse he wasn’t playing a basketball game, taking a spelling test, or hitting a home run. Paul writes this verse as he is in a damp, cold, prison cell. He has been beaten, flogged, and chained because he refused to quit preaching the Gospel of Christ. Paul now faces intense pain, suffering, and even the possibility of being put to death.

Paul is facing the toughest stuff that life could possibly bring him. Yet, it is during this moment of intense pain that Paul says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” WOW! How could Paul say that in the middle of such a terrible time? Most of us can’t imagine having that kind of faith if we were suffering like that.

Maybe you are here and you are facing some very hard times. Maybe you are being picked on at school. Maybe your Mom and Dad are going through a tough time. Maybe you have a friend or family member who is very sick. Perhaps someone in your family has died recently, and you are hurting inside and feeling like you don’t have the strength to go on.

Today, I want to walk through this verse a few words at a time and help you understand the lessons that Paul was wanting us to learn through this verse. If you are facing a tough time and you feel like you just can’t go on, look at Philippians 4:13. It says...

Who can? I can! When we face tough times in life, it’s easy for us to look at others and believe that THEY can, but we don’t believe that “I can.” We think, “Well, of course the Apostle Paul can because he’s like a Bible superhero.” Or, “My pastor can because he’s a pastor of a church.” But, when we face horrible times in life, we think, “I just don’t have what it takes to make it.” I believe others can, but not me. I’m too weak. I’m too young.”

You may be facing the worst days of your life – but, just like the Apostle Paul you can look at those terrible days and say, “I CAN do everything through him who gives me strength.” YOU CAN!

It doesn’t say, “I can do easy things…” or “I can do most things…” It says, “I can do everything…” Many times we trust God when things are going well, but when we face a terrible situation, we begin to think there’s no way we can make it.

There is not a list of things He can see us through and a list of things that are impossible for Him to see us through. There are no limits to what God can do through us and in us. Instead of looking at how BIG our problems are, we need to look at how BIG our God is! I can DO EVERYTHING—no matter how big, no matter how tough! Why? Because it’s not about US, it’s about HIM!

Through who? Through Christ! It is through Jesus and Jesus alone that we can survive the storms of life. It is not in our own strength or abilities. It is THROUGH HIM. God does the work - we just get to share in the victory. The reason I can do everything is because CHRIST lives in me! He is working in me! He is working through me!

How could Paul face prison, pain, and possibly even death? Because he knew that no matter where he was or what he faced, God was there. Paul could do it THROUGH HIM! How?

We can do everything through him – because His supernatural strength is at work in us. No matter what we face, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

• When I’m sick – He gives me strength

• When it seems impossible to live a Christian life at school – He gives me strength.

• When I’m being hurt and abused - He gives me strength.

• When it seems all hope is gone – He gives me strength.

You might be here this morning and saying, “I don’t feel very strong at all. In fact, I feel weak.” That’s OK! Because when you feel weak, that’s when God can show His strength. When you are weak, He is strong! He will give you the strength you need to make it through the tough times!

1. What was today’s Big Idea? Answer: “I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Gives Me Strength!”

2. What was the name of the guest on “The Ten Show” today? Answer: Sven

3. What happened to Sven’s mom? Answer: she got cancer

4. Why was Referee Ricky so upset today? Answer: his mom’s best friend died

5. Who was the Apostle who wrote our Power Verse? Answer: Paul

6. Where was Paul when he wrote the verse? Answer: in prison

7. Why was Paul put in prison? Answer: for preaching the gospel

8. Is there anything that is impossible for God to handle for us? Answer: no

9. True or False: I can do only some things through him who gives me strength. Answer: False—EVERYTHING

10. Where was our Power Verse found? Answer: Philippians 4:13