Calvary Vero Home Groups

Week of 11/23/25

Pastor Jim Gallagher

Philippians 4:10-23 – God Empowering Us and God Providing For Us

In this passage, Paul thanks the church for their continual and generous support in ministry. Within the text, Paul wants us to learn a few key things:

Paul wants us to learn something about God and he wants us to learn how God interacts with His people.

We understand that we are in a covenant relationship with God – we are a sinner, we understand and acknowledge that we need a Savior, and we enter into relationship with Him.

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

The word strengthen in the Greek is the word Dunamis which means power or strength, but this word has a prefix which takes the word from “power” to “empowering”. This word speaks of not only the power of God but how He empowers us. In Luke 24:49, Jesus spoke to the disciples and told them to wait until they are endued (to put on or to clothe) with power from on high. Here below are just a few of some of the verses which Pastor Jim shared with us which speak to this concept:

2 Chronicles 16:9 – “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…”

Psalm 73:26 – “My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Psalm 121:2 – “My Help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”

Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.”

Ephesians 6:10 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.”

2 Timothy 4:17 - “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear...”

As Christians, we simply need to receive from Him and not act in our own strength. He is the one who empowers us, not ourselves. When we step out in faith, our weakness is met by the power of God which strengthens and enables us.

Q: God wants to put His power on you like you would put on a jacket. What keeps a person from being empowered by God?

Q: How have you seen God empower you? Think of a time where God has empowered you and share with the group.

We need to remember that God knows that we are needy and He is our supplier. James 1:5 states “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  He is our supplier and our enabler.

Paul wants us to be content

Paul, as he references in verses 11 & 12 notes that he has learned to be content in whatever season, whatever state he is in to be content regardless of circumstance. The word “learn” means to discover a secret mystery; the secret which he has learned is not the Philippians 4:13 which is recited at half time as a rally call for the varsity football team but is rather a trust in the promises of God and that the Lord is His strength and His strength is sufficient for us in whatever season we are walking through. As we go through various seasons, we should put into remembrance verse 19 and know that we have a supplier who cares for our needs, understands that we are needy individuals and that He desires to supply according to His riches.

Q: When you are in a low season, is it your natural response to turn to the Lord for strength?

Q: What keeps you from turning to the Lord for strength?

Paul wants us to learn something about the Gospel

Paul states “Greet all the saints, especially those who are in Caesar’s household. This verse refers not only to Caesar’s family, but it also refers to his cabinet of governmental leaders. The Gospel message has worked its way into the highest positions of power. We may ask, how did it get there?

Paul was arrested and put into a holding cell in Rome for a year. He was continually shackled to a guard during that time and continued to share the Gospel to the guards and God’s Word spread from there.

Q: As we head into Thanksgiving, pray that the Lord will empower you with boldness to share the love of God with those in your family (or friend group). Is there a particular family member or friend that you will be spending time with who needs to hear the Gospel? Share that name with the group and pray for them to have a receptive heart.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1