Elvis Has Left The Building!

"Elvis has left the building..."

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

When you say things like, “There’s something I'd really like to do for God, but I don't think that I can do it," congratulations!  You have just graduated! You're absolutely right - YOU can't and God knows this. That is why God supplies us everything that we need (2 Tim.3:16,17) and works in you and with you to give you the power and means to do what He asks you to do (Ph'p.4:11-13).  

The famous phrase "Elvis has left the building..." tells us a lot. We cannot stay in the realm of  “I can’t” or "I don't know how" and expect God to reward us for the effort of just thinking that we can.  This is what Paul is trying to get across to us in Ph'p.4:13, that God gives us the strength to move past these types of things. When we stay in the realm of "I can't" it quickly changes into "I won't." We actually become less likely to even try great things for God because we are content to be a "one talent man (Mt.25:24)."

God pours his power into your life and gives us HIS strength and HIS grace (2 Cor.12:9) to do what he’s called to do. Quit speaking about faith, and do something about faith (Jas.2:18). Faith is acting in confidence that God’s power is active within you and through you. Faith is trusting that God’s power will be YOUR strength to do everything through him.

Its time to leave the building! Its time to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every individual." Its time to get our big boy/girl workpants on and understand that God is not asking you to live life under your own power or through your own strength. That would limit what you can do. God’s power and strength are unlimited and it is HIS vineyard, HIS world that he calls us to work in.  Its time to get past going to church like we're going to school and understand that we have graduated! You've got your degree - now get out there and get busy!

God is calling you to an open world. His power is available to you: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT). The question is - will you let him take you where HE wants you to go?

Jim