Text: Romans 7:24-25, Phlippians 4:13
Almost everyone knows the verse that says “I can do all things…” but not everyone understands that it is “…through Christ who strengthens me”. That is why you see people gambling and doing all sort of shady things and yet say they can win, because the Bible says, “I can do all things”
When the Bible says something, it makes sure it is complete. Now the condition for doing all things is through Christ who strengthens us - nothing more nothing less. The "all things" that God permits us to do must be according to his will.
You shouldn't go outside God's will or instructions for your life and expect to suceed. For example wanting to get married to a person who obviously has a bad character, doesn't respect spiritual leaders, is very arrogant and proud and not accepted by family or friends, yet he/she sings very well in church. If you still go ahead and get married, the wedding will work but the marriage will not work because you took God out of the equation and without him you can do nothing. You succeeded in doing "all things" but not "through Christ".
All that human flesh and wisdom has to offer is sin and more sin that is why you can't say no to sin on your own but when you allow God, He transforms us and makes the power of the flesh to die therefore giving us grace to say no to sin.
When you do things independent of God, it will be a struggle and you will now say Romans 7:24 a," I have tried everything and nothing helps".
God says, “I am the vine,You are the branches, if you remain in me and my word in you, you shall bare much fruits for without me you can do nothing”.
If you want to be fruitful in your growth with Christ, you must stay connected to your vine because once you are not, you begin to die and is soon cut off. Fruits are the results of the tree. You are a fruit of what you allow to constantly school you, so who is schooling you??
Fruits can be refered to as evidence of whose son you are or which source you are drawing from. A mango tree is known by it's fruits so also God should be known by his fruit (children) so if you say you are a child of God, are you looking like him or producing what he wants you to produce?