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Philippians 4
1Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
2I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord.
3Yes, I beg you also, true yoke-fellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, Rejoice!
5Let your mildness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
7The peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
9The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
11Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
12I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
13I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
14However you did well that you had fellowship with my affliction.
15You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.
16For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
17Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
18But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
19My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you.
22All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar`s household.
23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
"Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. And it is through your hands that He works, His strength flowing through your weakness. You can do all things—through Him who works in you." — St.
SermonWise.ai generates complete sermon outlines for any passage across 17 theological traditions. Try it with Philippians.
Generate a sermon →"'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' includes signs and wonders, healing and deliverance. The same power that raised Christ from the dead works in you. This is kingdom power for kingdom ministry—supernatural strength for supernatural work." — John Wimber.
"The enslaved sang and testified: 'I can do all things through Christ.' This was survival faith, not triumphalism. Christ's strength got them through chains, through beatings, through family separation. The 'all things' include surviving what should not be survivable." — James Cone.
"'Through Christ'—here is everything. Not merely by Christ's help from a distance, but through union with Him, through participation in His life. His strength becomes ours because we are IN Him. This is no self-help; this is Christ-help through Christ-union." — Karl Barth.
"Peace is not automatic—it comes through the practice of prayer with thanksgiving. We cooperate with grace by choosing gratitude over grumbling, prayer over panic. Each time anxiety rises, we respond with petition. Peace grows as the practice deepens." — E.
"I can do all things—by the enabling grace that is freely offered and faithfully received. This strength is not ours by nature but ours by grace cooperated with. Christ strengthens those who walk with Him, who use the means He provides." — John Wesley.
"Philippians 4:13 in context is about contentment in any circumstance—plenty or hunger, abundance or need. The missionary learns: I can be content anywhere because Christ sustains me. This contentment frees us for mission; we don't need ideal circumstances to serve." — Tim Keller.
"Peace 'passes understanding' because it doesn't depend on circumstances making sense. God's sovereignty is the ground: He controls what worries us. When we pray, we hand our anxieties to the One who ordains all things. His peace guards because He reigns." — John Piper.
"Paul wrote from prison; I write from prison. Peace that passes understanding comes not when circumstances improve but when Christ is near. 'The Lord is at hand'—this is everything. In Christ, even chains cannot steal peace. Pray, and peace guards." — Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
"Paul wrote this from prison—not from a victory parade. The 'all things' include suffering for justice, enduring for righteousness, persisting when the powerful push back. Christ's strength is for the long haul of justice work, not for personal success." — Jim Wallis.
"As prophetic signs multiply and the world grows more anxious, believers have a resource: prayer that produces peace. 'The Lord is at hand'—His return is near! This blessed hope dispels anxiety. Whatever comes prophetically, His peace guards us until He comes." — Warren Wiersbe.
"Don't worry about ANYTHING! Pray about EVERYTHING! The peace of God will GUARD your heart! This is supernatural peace—not natural calm but Holy Spirit peace that makes no earthly sense. When you should be panicking, you're peaceful. That's God!" — Joyce Meyer.
"Note the balance: prayer with thanksgiving. Petition alone can become demanding; thanksgiving alone can ignore real needs. Together they create the context for peace. This peace 'passes understanding'—it cannot be explained, only experienced. It guards comprehensively." — John Stott. Anglican: balanced, guarding peace.
"The peace that passes understanding is hesychia—the deep stillness of the soul united with God. Through prayer—especially the Jesus Prayer—the nous descends into the heart, and divine peace fills the inner sanctuary. This peace guards against the passions." — Kallistos Ware.
"I can do ALL things! There is no limit to what faith can accomplish when filled with the Spirit. God does not give us faith for small things only. Through Christ's power, mountains move, the sick are healed, the impossible becomes possible!" — Smith Wigglesworth.
"The peace of God isn't just calm—it's KINGDOM atmosphere! When you pray and thank, heaven's peace invades your situation. This peace doesn't just guard; it DOMINATES. Anxiety flees when the King's peace arrives. Declare peace; receive peace; release peace!" — Bill Johnson.
"'I can do all things through Christ'—note carefully: through CHRIST, not through myself. This strength is an alien strength, not my own. When I am weak, then I am strong, for Christ's power is perfected in weakness. I contribute the...
"The disinherited know anxiety—fear of violence, uncertainty of tomorrow, weight of injustice. Yet Paul says: pray, and peace will guard. This is not denial but defiance—the soul refusing to let oppression steal its peace. We pray our way to freedom's calm." — Howard Thurman.
"In this church age, believers have the indwelling Christ—something Old Testament saints did not have. 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' is a church age promise. Christ IN you, the hope of glory, makes all things...
"Be anxious for NOTHING—not some things, but nothing. And pray about EVERYTHING—not some things, but everything. The cure for anxiety is prayer with thanksgiving. When we pray, peace guards our hearts like a sentinel. Worry and worship cannot coexist." — Charles Spurgeon.
"'I can do all things'—not some things, but ALL things—'through Christ who strengthens me.' The power is not in me but in Him. Whatever God calls you to, Christ enables you to do. Not by your might, but by His...
"The persecuted know anxiety that the comfortable cannot imagine—threats, violence, uncertainty. Yet Paul writes from prison: pray, and peace will guard. This is not escapist peace but sustaining peace—strength to continue the struggle, calm amid the storm of injustice." — Oscar Romero.
"Do not be anxious—but pray! Prayer is conversation with God who loves us. With thanksgiving—gratitude opens the heart to receive. Peace guards—the peace of Christ, given in the Eucharist, protecting heart and mind. We receive peace; we do not manufacture it." — Pope Francis.
"The true Christian can endure all things—persecution, loss, suffering—through Christ who strengthens. This is not strength for worldly success but strength for faithful suffering. Paul wrote this from prison; the 'all things' include chains." — Menno Simons. Anabaptist reading: strength for faithful suffering, not triumphalism.