As long as you have Jesus

 

photo courtesy Chionsu Barclay

It’s important for us to see verses from a different and deeper perspective, especially those familiar, often-quoted verses. Keep in mind that the Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12); it has the ability to manifest when we speak it,

Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. – Psalm 119:89 (ESV)

God’s Word is powerful, it is unchangeable, does not return to Him with no effect (Isaiah 55:11) and it is the creative activity of God, so, we must be cognisant of what we are saying when we are boldly declaring the Word over our lives.

After all, if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, then God will do it for you (Mark 11:23 ERV), more so with His own Word.

It is from this mindset that we are going to look at a verse from Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians that we have committed to memory to quote at will.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Straightforward enough but is it as straightforward as we think? What prompted the apostle to write this to the Philippians?

Philippi, though small, was a bustling city. It’s location in Northern Greece made it a major trade route which exposed the Philippians to many people from various cultures who passed through the city. It was the gateway to the East.

After the battle of 31 B.C., Philippi was constituted a Roman colony and the leading city in that part of Macedonia (Acts 16:12 ERV), making the Philippians Roman citizens just as Paul was however, unlike Paul, without Jewish influence, they were purely pagan.

Apostle Paul’s visit to Philippi as the first European city to hear a Christian missionary, informed his choice of the strategy of his evangelism. As his fellow Roman citizens, his manner of teaching could not take its usual form of Rabbi and disciple but was more of a partnership rather than that typical relationship; it was a mutual relationship, unique in this regard.

Additionally, Paul uses language and concepts that the people of Philippi would understand, so this letter is not like his usual letters.

Several remarkable conversions to Christianity and miraculous events occurred in Philippi (see Acts 16) which created an intimate friendship between the apostle and the members of the Philippian church. Even though the congregation consisted of Gentiles, they were Paul’s joy and crown (Philippians 4:1), in whom he saw the future of the church as the fruit of faith in them was unmistakably evident.

I am so happy, and I thank the Lord that you have again shown your care for me. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it. – Philippians 4:10 (ERV)

Paul, imprisoned for his faith and for spreading the Good News, was writing from gaol to the church. Their long-time concern and support for the apostle never wavered even though at times they hadn’t the opportunity of showing it. Paul’s letter was occasioned by their gifts of funds, clothing and other favours. But he wanted them to know that those things did not constitute their friendship, partnership and faithfulness.

This letter covers a gamut of complex matters and in the final chapter, where our favourite verse resides, Paul is mostly focused on his persecution for the sake of Christ, yet because of his deep affection for and gratitude to the Philippians, he is not only giving them thanks but encouragement for their own troubles as well.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. – Philippians 4:11-12 (ESV)

These verses, which lead us into verse 13, must be taken into account if our oft-quoted verse is to be properly understood. Here, Paul speaks of being “content” in any situation, the Greek word he would have used is “autarkes”.

“Autarkes” is self-sufficient, which was in Roman philosophy a favourite virtue among the stoics and cynics and signified the ultimate mastery over one’s own life. Paul was using this to signify something even deeper by aligning it to Jesus Christ.

He is conveying to the Philippians and to us that he is content, not in his own strength but that his ability to be content, to be self-sufficient comes from somewhere else. Paul’s self-sufficiency was empowered by God through his relationship with Christ. Even imprisoned, he was “autarkes”.

And it is with all this in mind, we can now read what Paul wrote in verse 13,

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Paul had previously identified the source and power of his affection (1:8) now he was identifying the same source as the source and power of his strength.

As long as you have Jesus, you are “autarkes”. This verse has nothing to do with personal goals and ambitions. This is about finding contentment in Christ and not in anything else or anyone else; it’s detachment from the things of this world and attachment to the Kingdom of God.

Beloved, you can do all of things through Jesus who gives you the strength to do so. It is Jesus who gave Paul the ability to survive on very little and it is that same Jesus who gives you that same ability.

Paul was leading the Philippians to rely on and experience the same dependence on God to meet their needs just as God met his needs and, this passage about needing very little, as long as you have Jesus, still rings true today.

As long as you have Jesus, you can rely on Him completely, not needing the things of this world for your joy and satisfaction.

As long as you have Jesus, you can live on little, centring every part of your life on Him.

As long as you have Jesus, you must spread the gospel, struggle for it and give everything to ensure that everyone hears the better than Good News.

And it is in all these pursuits that Jesus gives you His strength; strength to do all things that you may think you’re not good at or the things you believe you’re not worthy of doing or equipped for or meant for.

You and I, as long as we have Jesus, we can do all things through Him who gives us strength to stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. (Philippians 1:27-28 NIV)

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “As long as you have Jesus” ©2026 May 24, 2026