Moments in the life of a Pastor

Walking with God

Author Archives: Giles


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1 Strength training – Part 1

Philippians 4:13– “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength”

It’s here in Philippians that we come across several famous little words that many have been quick to claim but few have ever stopped to really consider. We are quick to claim these verses because we want the power that they speak of but what is interesting is that they don’t start with power but with a personal pronouncement:

  • “I” – Personal

This passage is personal, it’s not about they or we but I. So many people today fail to realize that God wants to have a personal relationship with them; Paul says  I. God sent His Son to die for you so that you could have a relationship with Him. Sin has separated us from God but when we come to Christ and confess our sin and call on Him to save we step into a life of faith and freedom. Instead of being at war with God we get to walk with Him. It’s here that Paul reminds us that it is personal and it’s about people. God wants to work in and through you to reach people. Sometimes God uses angels, on occasion, he used an animal. But almost always God calls people, He invites I to influence the world. What about you where are you at, for Paul it was personal and he responded to God’s call I, not somebody else. Second Paul says:

  • “Can do” – Productive

“Can do” So often we look around and we see what others can do and we say I could never or I can’t. So many of us focus on the problems and fail to see the possibilities. When you go to a scrap yard and look around at first all you see is junk, the scrap, and the left overs. But what we may see as a problem to get rid of someone else sees as a profit. Hidden in the trash is the treasure. You see the productivity of “can do” is more than just positive thinking it is a promise. God has moved mountains, toppled kingdoms, and turned the world upside down through ordinary people who believe in the “possibilities and the promises. What about you do you have an I can, or an I could if mentality? Third Paul points the potential as he says:

  • “All things” – Potential

This is the potential of faith “all things.” Do you see the scope of our Savior, He includes all things, not something’s. You see with God nothing is impossible even using a lowly servant girl named Mary to be the vessel to bring His Son into the world to die for our sins. All things is a massive promise made by a mighty God, but it’s not the only all things promise in the Bible. Look at these “alls”?

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Do you see the potential that when we give our lives to God the limits are removed for the redeemed. When we live for the Lord we don’t have to live in the limits. Fourth Paul reminds us of the power as he says:

  • “Through Christ” – Power

This last phrase is the key. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This final phrase reveals the true power of faith. Again it’s not the power of positive thinking, this is not some kind of pull yourself up by your bootstraps slogan. It isn’t a promise that you can do anything if you dream big dreams and reach for the stars. The power and the secret is that it’s not about you but the One who is in you. The power is in Christ. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Unless Jesus Christ is in you, unless he is the Lord of your life, you have no promise of God’s power. There is no guarantee of personal or spiritual success. Even if you do get ahead in this world, it won’t matter in a hundred years. As Jesus warned his disciples, “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but lose his own soul?” The truth is “all things through Christ” or a few things through me. The real power and strength are seen not in life but in death. Because Jesus Christ conquered death on the cross, the I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength includes rising from the dead. Now there have been many who have memorized Philippians 4:13 but have forgotten the context and the circumstances surrounding it. Paul penned these words from personal experience, he knew what he was talking about. He knew Christ was the Lord of all circumstances, not just the good ones. Listen to the context, “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” Philippians 4:11-12. Then he adds, “I can do all things through Christ.” Paul is reminding us that we can do ALL THINGS, not just the easy things, not just the things that everyone else is doing, not just the things you have always done but the things Christ has planned for you. These seven little words are packed with promise. Remember them, believe them, but most of all live them.


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31 – Dealing with difficult and discouraging days – Part 5

Nehemiah 4:11-20

11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what’s happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.” 12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!” 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows. 14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” 15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm. 19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”

When it comes to the cure for doubt and discouragement, first Nehemiah revealed the need to request God’s Help and second to reorganize your life and priorities. Third, he reminds us of the importance of:

  1. Relying on others

In verse 13 it says “I stationed the people to stand guard by families.” Nehemiah grouped them by families. The truth is that we need each other, that is why throughout the Bible, we hear the phrase “one another”. We’re told to “love one another”, “encourage one another”, “serve one another”, “pray for one another.” We need the support of our families to keep from getting discouraged. Are you down maybe what you need is to reconnect with your spiritual family. We talk about going to church, but the church is not a building it’s a body. A body of believers who come together to build each other up. The devil uses discouragement to cause us to want to disconnect, but relationship rejuvenate because relationship deals with the real problem:

Fatigue – Relationship brings rest – Someone to lend a hand.

Frustration – Relationship brings satisfaction – Someone who understands

Failure – Relationship brings success – Someone to lift us up when we faltered

Fear – Relationship brings security – Someone who has your back.

Our problem is that we are trying to do life alone. Our culture cultivates a go it alone, independent mentality, but remember even the Lone Ranger had a sidekick. When Elijah got depressed part of God’s commission involved the call to go and get a helper. Not only is there help in the herd but there is also protection. Scripture says that the devil goes around like a roaring lion looking for those he can devour. Lions hunt by separating someone from the herd and then taking them down. Who are you relying on, if it is self it won’t be long before you are taken down and taken out. The fourth cure for doubt and discouragement is to:

  1. Remember who God is

In verse 14 we read, “Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” How do we overcome the opposition, by remembering and returning to our Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent Father. Stop focusing on your fears and start focusing on the Father. Are you going to give priority to the problems or to His power and presence? The truth is problems don’t diminish God’s power, they just provide a pallet on which God’s power can be plainly seen. The people complained about all the rubble, but wasn’t the rubble there in the beginning? At the start of the project, they were focused on God and His glory, the purpose, and the priority not the problem. Now, they are rubble-focused instead of Father focused. It’s easy to become fatigue focused, frustration focused, failure focused, fear focused instead of Father focused. Remembering who is in charge recharges us. The fifth cure for doubt and discouragement is to:

  1. Return to God’s Work Vs 15

Verse 15 says, “When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall.” Satan wants to sidetrack you so he can sideline you. The question is are you going to spend your energy worrying or working? Serving God is difficult and when we get discouraged it’s easy to want to walk away from the work. Peter got discouraged, walked away and tried to go back to his former life of fishing. But Christ called him to return and re-engage in God’s work. Where in your life have you walked away from God’s work? God’s call is for us to return and recommit. Lastly, we see that they:

  1. Rallied Together

In verse 19 and 20 we read, “Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!” It’s a team approach where we need to be willing to serve and support each other. The reason the church is struggling is that we are bashing each other instead of backing each other. Now I want you to notice the people had to call out for help if you are struggling to tell someone don’t suffer silently. What Nehemiah did was remind them to focus on the real fight, the fight for their families. Are you fighting for your families or against them? God didn’t call us to be worriers He called us to be warriors. What about you are you going to focus on the cause of your doubt and discouragement or the cure? Satan’s plan is simple, he wants to sideline you but God’s plan involves resting in his power and learning to team together with His people.