Can We Really Do "Anything"? (According to Philippians 4:13) Why Tension in the Word is Needed.

Only The Right Tension Will Produce the Right Sound

“The greater the tension, the more acute the sound.” From Websters 1828 app

There is a beautiful tension in the word of God – one truth lying parallel to another and both of equal value. One truth without the other however and the Word of God loses its balance and out of balance doctrines are formed. Just as there is treasure in both the old and the new and the wise scribe relies on both (Matthew 13:52) so too must we pull from both sides of the tension, both sides of the scale as it were in order to be balanced in our theology and doctrine. One other comparison that could be made is someone who only reads the New Testament in which Jesus is fully revealed versus someone who would choose to only read from the Old Testament in which Jesus is there, but concealed. Two different testaments, and two different lens, but together they form a cohesive and harmonious whole. As Jesus said, “Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

Accordingly, here’s a brief synopsis of four Scriptures that are best read, viewed, and understood in the context of another Scripture to hold it in its proper place. Each one of the Scriptures pulls on the other and together a greater weight of truth and wholeness is produced. There is tension between the two verses, but there is truth in the tension. One verse without the other and the proper tension is lost, like a broken string on an instrument that cannot produce a proper note. Rather than a skewed or lost sound however, a potentially skewed viewpoint is produced; or in the worst-case scenario, a skewed doctrine when it stands alone without the harmony of the whole word or at least another word to help hold the word in its proper place. I’ll start with my favorite example:

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Before I continue I sat through an entire sermon on this verse last summer, before I thankfully found my place to call home for fellowship purposes. On and on the preacher preached, as if we were stuck in this place of perpetual unknowing (and according to this pastor a complete unknowing of all things pertaining to the Lord and His ways). Well, anyone with a study Bible can read the notes and see this is a reference and a partial quote from Isaiah 64:4: “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.”

So we see that what this Isaiah verse is actually saying is that men have not seen or heard any God besides the One True God who had chosen to reveal Himself to men. Although Paul chose to quote from Isaiah, there is a discrepancy between this old testament verse and the truth Paul is now proclaiming. And the discrepancy is particularly vivid when 1 Corinthians 2:9 stands alone or is quoted alone without the verse that immediately follows: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” (And a more complete picture continues to form as one continues to read through to the conclusion of the chapter. What I’m saying is this: 1 Corinthians 2:9 does not hold the full weight of truth when it stands alone. It must stand with 1 Corinthians 2:10 in order to convey the reality of the new covenant under which we live. For our reality now, under the new covenant, is that we have God’s Holy spirit leading us and guiding us into all truth (John 16:13) as God chooses to reveal it. Two Scriptures that convey that God does indeed reveal mysteries:

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:26

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of Kings to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

These Scriptures give evidence that there are things we can know, as God chooses to reveal them, and of course He chooses what He will reveal, and the timing of it. Revelation always has a timing. It can also be mentioned here that God rewards those who seek him (Jeremiah 29:23-24) and He also rewards those who earnestly seek to know His Kingdom and His ways.

A second verse that has a parallel truth is: “For without Me you can do nothing.” This is the latter half of John 15:5 and it is true. So very true. So true it can stand alone. However, there’s another truth that runs parallel to this truth and it needs to be mentioned because I’ve heard this “apart from Me you can do nothing” verse quoted as if it’s the one and only trump card, or rather the one and only side of the coin, almost as if to say, “you can’t so don’t even try.” Not by all, but some. And the other truth, if you haven’t already guessed it, is Paul’s triumphant statement (and rightfully so): “I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me” (Philippians 4:13). And to be fair, I’ve heard this also quoted out of context, as if we could absolutely do anything if we set our minds to it, by sheer strength of our own will. I’ve seen this fail to play out twice in my own family – first a niece, then my oldest grand-daughter; both wanted to become doctors, but neither succeeded when the reality became evident that in order to become a doctor, even with a strong faith in God, one must have an aptitude for life sciences and an ability to pass classes such as bio-chemistry.

So what am I saying? I’m saying Paul’s famous declaration must be taken in context, particularly the two preceding verses. Remember, Paul’s learned how to be content in ALL situations with the proof he’s in jail while writing this. He’s also just finished reminding us that he’s learned to be abased and he’s learned to abound, to be full and to be hungry, and to endure suffering. What Paul left unsaid, but can be inferred in the context is that he can do the hard things and he can do these hard things through Christ Jesus. But why and how? Because these were the hard things God had CALLED him to. The conclusion therefore, is that if God has called you to do something then He will give you the strength to do it and to bring it to completion. But if God has not called you to it, then the grace for the endeavor won’t be there. And how do you know if He’s calling you to it? Well, the best way is by abiding in Him, which brings us back to John 15:5. Two truths on two sides of the same coin. In this instance, both truths can stand alone, but each adds flavor and strength to the other.

The third example is a combination of several verses often quoted, all referring to the same thing – that of Satan being the ruler of this world:

“Now is the judgment of the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.” John 12:31

“Now the ruler of this word is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30

“Whose minds the god of this age has blinded…” 2 Corinthians 4:4

But I’d like to add contrast these verses with Psalm 115:16: “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.”

Because I’ve heard people pray about the devil being in charge as if it’s something we must give in to and accept because we can do nothing about it. As if the work of the cross had absolutely no effect in giving us authority over every word, work, and whisper of the enemy (Luke 10:19), as if we were not called to be the head, not the tail, and above, not beneath (Deut. 28:13), as if we’ve been left with some powerless gospel, not one that comes with demonstration of authority over the work of the enemy (1 Corinthians 2:4-5/4:20), and as if we weren’t told that we could seize the kingdom of heaven by force (Matthew 11:12) and that the gates of hell would not prevail (Matthew 16:18). We are so many so willing to give up so quickly and so easily? Particularly in the prayer room? Hasn’t the god of this world been defeated? Hasn’t Jesus given all authority to us over all the power of the enemy? To trample over every one of his works? (Luke 10:19) Why then have we been so content to allow the enemy to continue to rule? When even creation itself is groaning for the revealing of the sons of God? (Romans 8:19 & 22)

My admonition here is that we not “rest” on these verses speaking of the god of this age and his authority, particular when Jesus said “the ruler of this world would be cast out.” Also, His John 14:30 reference to “the ruler of this world” was before he went to the cross and triumphed over the works of the enemy. At any rate, the main authority the devil has in our lives is either that which we abdicated and/or never enforced on our own behalf. Or through words we needlessly and heedlessly speak which legally grant him authority, since he is, after all, a legalist.

My final encouragement is that we remind ourselves of who we were created to be as sons of God and The Most High God at that.

The fourth verse, and one that is easily taken out of context, is: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) This was especially true in the time it was spoken by God to Jeremiah. For the fulness of revelation on this matter however, one must continue reading. For when one does, this next verse is encountered, given as a prophecy of what was to come, and what has now come: “”I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you’ I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). This was God speaking to the children of Israel through Ezekiel, and though it was a collective word it also has personal application. And God continued, saying, “you shall be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:28). This is a corporate word, but also a personal word, for those who are willing.

So the reality here is that Jesus fulfilled the complete work of the cross which gives all who accept Him as Savior a new heart, just as it was prophesied through Ezekiel. Can we be deceived? I’m sure we can. But we don’t need to go walking around teaching and preaching about how desperately wicked our hearts are when we are “one with Christ.” He is not wicked, and in Him we are found righteous. It’s as simple as that. We are New Creations with new hearts, period. And to refer back to the Jeremiah 17 verse – who can know that (then) wicked heart? God can. It says throughout the Word about the Lord knowing our hearts, but in the very next verse in Jeremiah God Himself says, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind.” God Himself partners with us to make known the contents of our hearts, if we are willing. “Search me, O God and know my heart” David said, “…and see if there is any wicked way in me…” (Psalm 139:23-24). And God is faithful to answer this prayer, and sometimes even if we don’t ask, He will reveal what’s in our hearts to us, whether through our dreams or impressions from His Holy Spirit. We’ve not been left without any avenue or recourse to know our hearts, as long as we’re willing to partner with him.

Yes, it is possible we can fall into error, but God is faithful in that He has given us a recourse and made a way in which we can avoid being ensnared by it. Not only can we ask Him to help us to search our hearts and to reveal to us what’s in our hearts, we can also partner with Him by guarding our eye and ear gates as well as our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), and by asking Him to reveal our hearts to us. He is well able. Also in this respect, it’s crucial we develop, put on, and keep on the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ cannot be deceived. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Period. Truth does not mix with deception.

I pray this brief exploration has given you food for thought. And perhaps you have verses that come to your mind. Or thoughts on how other verses partner together. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Thank you Kindly for reading these words. It’s my heart to serve the Body of Christ through my words. As a retired part-time alternative educator and full-time mom turned Minister, this is now my work.