Paul knew that giving up was not an option, because with Christ on his side, he had access to unlimited resources. And with access to unlimited resources, Paul had available to him the kind of power that gave him the ability to do the work of the Lord.

But, unlike many of us, Paul did not stop there. He did not get caught up in the "I-cans" or "I-can-potentially-do's" of life. It wasn't enough for him to know what he could potentially do! Paul was not just taking an inventory of the unused/unopened potentialities and possibilities in his cabinet. No! Paul was making a declaration! He was setting the record straight. He was reporting on the strength, which laid the firm foundation for his ministry. Paul knew what he was doing, with whom he was doing it, through whom he was doing it, and by whom he was doing it. He was declaring his actual strength as he proceeded to do the work of the Lord. In essence, Paul was say, "I'm fired up, ready to go!"