 Oh, yes Just for this camera to reset I will log out and log back in very Thank you so much. Yeah, thanks. So, yeah, Philippians chapter 3 Was 12 to 14 if we could have someone read out Philippians 3 12 to 14. Yeah Philippians 3 12 to 14 Not as though I had already attained either we are already perfect But I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended But this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth and to those things which are before amen Yes, so he says over here, you know this Knowing and understanding the resurrection power of Christ are participating in his sufferings All of this he says I have not already obtained all this I have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me So he says it's true that I'm still in the process. I'm still learning to know Christ I'm still learning to participate in his sufferings. You know, the resurrection power of God is still at work in me I'm still in the process of becoming Christ like I have not yet arrived So he accepts all this what he says, you know, I press on To take hold of that for which Christ Jesus has taken hold of me and he says forgetting what is behind and Straining toward what is ahead. So he says, you know all these Past badges of honor that I had, you know forgetting what is behind forgetting what I thought You know, I thought that all of those things would would bring me gain and now I realize that they are nothing but loss So, you know, I have put all that behind me. So forgetting what is behind I'm still straining toward what is ahead. And so then he goes on to say in verse 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heaven word. And so He's saying, you know Whatever is past is past leave it behind But don't give up, you know strain forward press forward to reach the heavenly goal that Christ has for each of us and So he says in verse 17, you know, he says Join together in following my example brothers and sisters So he says in the same way that I am straining forward in the same way. I am pressing on to achieve You know these things that Christ wants to achieve in me So in in the same way that I am cooperating with him and submitting him To him and allowing my life to be hidden in him So in this in all of these things he says, you know, imitate me imitate my example follow my example he says And just as you have us as a model keep your eyes on those who live as we do So he says all those who are following this this method of living Where they are Participating in Christ's sufferings getting to know him allowing his part to work in their lives Follow the example of such people And then he goes on to say in verses 20 and 21 He says, why are we doing all of this? Why am I asking you to follow my example and the example of people who are living in this way? Why because yeah, we eagerly await a savior from there the Lord Jesus Christ Who by the power that enables him it says what will happen? He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body So that is what we are aiming at, you know, that is the goal that we are trying to reach So it's worth it, you know, it's worth it to To to have to put up with a position You know from judicers and and to undergo all kinds of inconveniences to choose to be Genuinely circumcised rather than, you know being mutilators of the flesh So we choose to you know follow this path. Why because we are awaiting that final Goal Where Jesus in whom we have placed our faith He will come and he will transform our lowly bodies into Something similar to his glorious body. So those are the things that he talks about here in Philippians chapter three So moving into chapter four Which starts off with that passage about Yodhya and Sintiq So it may be if we could have someone read out versus one One two and three. Yeah Philippians chapter four one two three Therefore my beloved and longed for veteran veteran, sorry My joy and crown so stand fast in the Lord beloved I implore Yodhya and I implore Sintiq Sintiq To be the of the same mind in the Lord I urge you also true companion help these women who live with me in the gospel With clement also and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life okay, so having talked about You know participating in Christ's sufferings having talked about how one day we know we we are awaiting this final Reward where we will be transformed and have a Resurrection body like Jesus. So having talked about all of these things He says because of this because you know, we are looking ahead to these kind of beautiful things Let us stand firm in the Lord in this way. So, you know In that context, he's basically saying to these two women leaders. He's saying What we are looking ahead for is something so valuable So don't let us get derailed by you know disagreements by conflicts and all of that You know, let us choose to have You know a same mind to be united in our minds regarding different matters Why because we are all you know working towards something very glorious And he goes on to in fact point out in verse three. He says whose names are in the book of life So he says, you know, that is where our names are written down And this is the hope that we are looking ahead to Therefore, you know, let us not get derailed by all these minor things, you know, and we looked in detail last last session into What exactly was involved, you know in this conflict and How these two ladies were being asked to be off the same mind Because it would be a matter that would involve the congregation And so it would be very important to make sure that the congregation doesn't get divided doesn't get divided So, you know, all of these matters, you know, they would have to keep in their minds even as they are, you know Even as they are striving ahead towards this eternal goal that, you know, God has for them So continuing in that context He says in verses verse four He says rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again rejoice. So over here He's not just asking us to, you know indulge in positive thinking You know, when when when things are going bad You look for the silver lining in the cloud. No, he's not just asking you to do positive thinking over here He says the reason I'm asking you to rejoice Is because you're going to be doing it in the Lord In the Lord, there is always hope In the Lord, there is always a solution You know, even when things look impossible There is still hope in the Lord and we have, you know, Romans 8 28 to 30 which talks about that If someone could actually read out Romans 8 28 to 30 Romans 8 28 to 30 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God To those who are called according to his purpose For whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son That he might be the firstborn among many brethren Moreover whom he predestined this he also called whom he called This he also justified and whom he justified. He also glorified So you see it's because of things like this that we are being asked to rejoice in the Lord So, uh, yes, there was strife going on between these two persons And because of that it probably had generated friction in the entire church, which is why you know, Paul is now Publicly addressing this entire issue in his letter. So, um, something bad had happened out there And so he says in spite of what is going on rejoice. Why because you are in the Lord and What does God do, you know, what does God do for us? He works for the good of those who love him in all things So even in this, you know, if you turn to the Lord if you trust in him He will work it all out for good And why why would God do that because, uh, he has, you know, predestined us He has already written down our names in the book of life So we have been predestined to be confirmed to the image of his son So let us, you know, have the same mind as Christ. Let us, uh, you know Conduct ourselves and and deal with the situation the way Christ would and so he he, you know, You know here in in Romans he talks about how those who have been called have been justified And how one day they will be glorified. So because of all of these things that we have, uh, you know, to look forward to He he is probably advising Yodhya and Sintak to continue rejoicing in the Lord And then he says something important in verse five. He says let your gentleness be evident to all The Lord is near, okay so, um What exactly is this connection between no being gentle and the Lord being near We see that very very clearly explained in James chapter five versus seven to eleven Okay, where we can see a clear connection between the need to remain gentle Uh, you know, especially in a conflict situation And the fact that the Lord is near, uh, so if we could Read James chapter five versus seven to eleven just to kind of gain clarity James five seven to eleven James five seven to eleven and he reads Therefore be patient but brethren until the coming of the Lord See how the farmer waits For precious fruits of the earth waiting patiently For it until it receives the early and latering You also be patient Establish your hearts For the coming of the Lord is at hand All the way tonight ma'am. Yes. Yeah, do not grumble against one another brethren Lest you be condemned behold the judge is standing at the door Behold the judge is standing at the door. Yes. Yeah, so we see over here You know, we kind of get kind of now understand what uh, you know, Paul is probably saying Because James also seemed to have Seemed to have touched upon the same thing let your gentleness be evident to all because the Lord is near You see his is is coming is going to be very very soon And so when he comes, uh, you know, you're going to be receiving your reward So in the same way the farmer patiently waits For you know for for the crop because uh, he knows it's going to be coming soon In the same way because the Lord's coming is also very near Be patient and stand firm is what he says in James says in James five eight And he says don't grumble against one another brothers and sisters Or you will be judged the judge is standing at the door. He's near is very very close So even though these two women leaders are having strife between them It would be good for them to To come to an agreement to come to the same mind regarding whatever it is that, you know, they were arguing about Why because the Lord is near and it's good for them to remain gentle to remain You know To continue having a godly attitude in this matter because when Christ comes there's going to be a great reward So it is worth it. So it is worth it. Uh, uh, you know to to continue with an attitude of rejoicing, you know, rather than growing bitter and Allowing all kinds of negative things to creep into their hearts, you know, they are being urged to make continue maintaining the Right attitude and uh, then he you know, uh goes on to talk about Uh, what kind of a attitude we need to have uh in verse six Where he says not be anxious about anything But in every situation By prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. I mean, um, this is a Wonderful verse It's been a great comfort to me and to a lot of people Because over here he's not just talking about, you know, the conflict situation that was going on in the church He says regarding any matter, you don't need to be anxious Okay, not just about this one particular thing where there's some conflict going on between two leaders of the church No, not just regarding that one little matter Regarding anything it's so beautiful. It says to not be anxious about anything But in every situation, you know, so Whatever your situation may be it may have nothing to do regarding conflict in the church or leadership or anything It may just be something that you are going through at a personal level in your own personal life So regarding anything you don't need to be anxious because in every situation You can come to the Lord and how would you come to the Lord? You would come to him with prayer and petition There are two words being used over here. Uh, the first is, uh, you know, you you go to him with prayer That is the most common word in the greek word that is used over there. Um, that would be prosouche P. R. O. S. E. U. C. H. E. Um, you know, that's that's the word used over there And that's the word that is used in the new testament 36 times to talk about, you know Praying about communicating with God. So it refers to Just about every kind of communication, you know, uh, it may be thanksgiving. It may be a petition. It may be, um You know, uh intercession, whatever different forms of prayer. It's just a common general word, um, which talks about communicating with God So he says, you know, rather than being anxious, uh, you know, don't be anxious about anything Whatever the situation would be, maybe in every situation that you're facing You can come to him with prayer, uh, with with with this word prosouche where you Where you can have this privilege of communicating directly with Almighty God You know, you're not just going to some leaders and hoping that they will do something for you You're not going to any, uh, you know, earthly person and, uh, you know Seeking their help. No, you can directly bypass all of them Go directly to the king of kings and lord of lords and have communication with him I mean, it's like such a great honor. So he says, uh, you know, in every situation go to him Go to him with prayer and then the other word that is used over there is, um, You know, it's translated in English as petition in niv And other words are used. Uh, now this would be the greek word, uh, dss Now this is word which is used. I think it is used 18 times. Yeah 18 times in the new testament And it refers to, um, prayers That have greater urgency because some some More serious matters at hand and so the person is, you know, pressing forward in prayer They're praying with urgency. They need a solution soon They need help, you know, uh, in this thing that they are facing. So, um, this word is a stronger word, um, and one example that we can take Could be james chapter five verse 16 where you have actually two different words for prayer mentioned Um, but yeah, if someone could Steen Yeah, so, uh, here the first time when he says pray james, you know, when he's writing and he says Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray the word used over there is yukomai That's you know, one word for another word for prayer Then in the second next sentence where it says the prayer of a righteous man is powerful Over there that word is used the word that is used over there is dss You know, this is the word where you're praying with urgency And it says over there the the dss, you know, the urgent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful Very effective. So, uh, that's the kind of assurance that we have so here, you know, paul When he's writing his letter to the philippians He says don't be anxious about anything. Whatever your situation may be go to the lord communicate with him and You know, uh, come to him with dss, you know with this urgent prayers where where you urgently need his help Why you know, we like james says, uh, it is all right to do that because uh, your prayer that kind of a dss Urgent prayer can be very powerful and effective when it is being done by a believer a righteous person. Uh, so Um, he urges the people in philippians Uh, you know in the philippian church to come to god with this kind of prayer and this kind of fervent urgent petition And then he says with thanksgiving. So when you come to the lord with this kind of prayer, um It is all right to come with thanksgiving in advance because god will You know answer you he will help you now, uh As we all know god does not always grant us exactly what we want But we can be assured that whatever he gives us it will be uh, it has been given most thoughtfully only with our good in mind so um Sometimes the prayer that you know, we uh pray may not be answered in exactly the way that we would like it to be answered But we can have the assurance that god will you know do his best for us Because of his great faithfulness and therefore it says when you come to him with prayer and petition Come to come to him with thanksgiving With an attitude of thanks where you know where you truly know that he will answer He will resolve your your issue in the best way possible So you can have that assurance and therefore in advance you can already say thank you lord Thank you that you're going to be doing this, you know in in a way that will Bring me the greatest benefit so we can have that deep assurance just one verse, you know, which is very helpful in in In being able to come with this attitude of thanksgiving Um, uh a verse which kind of helps us, you know in in that regard Jeremiah 17 versus seven and eight if someone could read out Jeremiah 17 versus seven and eight Let's say it's the man who trust in the lord Yeah You can just go ahead. Yeah, if you can read. Yeah Let's say it's the man who trust in the lord whose trust is the lord He's like a tree planted by the water that sends out its root by the stream and does not fear when Heat comes for its leaves remain green and it's not anxious in the year of drought or it does not cease to bear fruit Okay, so this is the assurance that we can have in the lord, you know There will be times of heat when the heat is intense when we are going through some tough challenges So in those situations, we do not need to be anxious or worried. Why because Your leaves it says will stay green, you know when it is when it's all over when god has brought you through it all Your leaves will still be green You won't be all, you know shriveled up and you know with all the energy sucked out of you and you know You won't be just left in one corner in one in one defeated miserable condition. No He will bring you through that terrible season of heat Why because he is it says blessed is the one who trusts in the lord So if you are trusting in the lord if you are coming to him with your prayers and petitions and simple faith You are blessed So you're one person whose leaves will stay green even through that terrible time of heat And then it goes on to say this kind of a tree it has no worries in a year of drought And never fails to bear fruit So even you know when you're going through a time of intense drought in your life Where the answers don't seem to be coming through where the provision that you require has not made its appearance And things seem to be really bad and it looks like you are headed towards Destruction it looks like as if you're headed towards You know total loss But even in such situations you can have the deep assurance that you will bear fruit Because you know you have chosen to trust in the lord. Therefore you are blessed You are blessed. God will bless you. God will take care of you So because of that Because of scriptures like this, you know, we can We can follow what paul is saying over here He says, you know, do not be anxious about anything in every situation by prayer and petition With thanksgiving with a deep assurance that god will answer that he will take care He may not grant you what you want, but he will answer in the best way possible So having that assurance present your requests to god is what paul says in verse six and Then if we can now move on to verse seven, which is connected to what we just talked about It's verse seven, please And the peace of god which surpasses all understanding Will guard your hearts and minds through christ jesus Yeah, so you see when we choose to have that kind of an attitude when we say lord I am filled with anxiety regarding the situation But I choose I make a conscious choice not to stay anxious Rather I choose to come to you with my prayer and petition with thanksgiving You know thanking you in advance because I know what kind of a god you are. I know you're faithful So, you know, we we have this whole attitude of coming to him in trust If we are having that kind of an attitude such people he guards their hearts and minds He personally guards their hearts and minds through his peace. Okay, the peace of god It says will guard your hearts and minds now the the term that is used over here that word guarding That's that's a word which they which was very common in those days It was a military term that was used it referred specifically to a To a unit of gods, you know, who would literally be guarding the city gates So nothing goes in nothing goes out of the city gates without the know without the knowing of the of these guards they they see to it that only Authorized things are permitted inside the city No, and and they make sure that you know, nobody just escapes from the city Who is not supposed to so they guard the city in that sense And now the city of philippi, you know, the way the believers were living that actually had this kind of a guard There was this roman garrison which was, you know, planted at all the gates all the entry points to the city So, um, everything was always guarded Now, uh, so they would have understood, you know, when paul uses this particular term, they would have immediately caught the The significance of what is being said so, um paul says if you have an attitude of trust rather than being anxious if you choose to have this attitude of trust Then the peace of god will be like this garrison, you know, this this this unit of soldiers So the peace of god will be like this unit of soldiers And they god the gods peace will literally stand guard at your at the door of your heart at the door of your mind You know, so that uh, rather than being completely Upturned and you know, kind of churned out in your feelings in your emotions You will experience peace and i'm very sure that all of us have, you know, experienced that at least, you know, once or twice, uh, because There have been occasions where i know i should have been highly anxious But you know because i mean those were big things for me personally so uh, but In those situations god knew that i would not be able to bear it on my own And it's like a piece of a piece which i cannot understand which just kind of took over it says here, you know Peace of god which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your mind So the beautiful thing is it says you will be all your you know your emotions your feelings will be guarded And your thinking will be guarded in both of these things both your thoughts and your feelings God will guard over you with with with peace so that You'll not be attacked, uh by all these uh uncontrollable negative thoughts and you know, uh very destructive feelings and emotions So this is something that god will do for us. It's not something that we can you know cook up on our own From our side, what what should we do? We make a conscious effort and say lord because you have said so in your word I choose not to continue being anxious about this particular issue But rather i will come to you and i will place my petition before you with Thanksgiving knowing that you will answer so i'll do this. This is my part I will do my part lord if with your help and then you o lord guard my heart My feelings and guard my thinking with the peace of god You do that a lord for me. And so you know the lord actually does that uh for us. Um, so That is why you know, we we collusion three two to three which we looked at earlier It says set your mind on things above not unearthly things for you died and your life is now hidden with christ in god So in in these times of trial, we can have this deep assurance that our life is hidden in christ Nothing can ever be done to us that is not permitted by the lord So we can have this assurance that he is guarding over us. He is watching over us. And so uh Rather than allowing ourselves to be anxious and think a whole bunch of negative thoughts We choose to set our mind on things above Because we are hidden in christ, you know, so we can choose to do that. Uh, so, uh For me, uh, personally, uh one way that I have been able to, you know, um, Understand, uh This you know, the scripture about bringing our prayers and petitions to the lord When I picture myself as daily coming to him with my heavy burdens, you know, bringing Dragging along those large huge sacks of worries and you know, placing them at his feet And doing it again all over again tomorrow and then having to go through that whole process again the day after that Uh, just the very thought of it just makes me feel so tired. And then uh, one day, you know, just kind of occurred to me Uh, it's not like you're coming to jesus every day and bringing those heavy weights, you know, dragging them and putting them at his feet No, you're in him. You're abiding in him. Your life is in him So you're already there. You don't have to come to him and you know, place it at his feet like as if you know, you You know, it's it's your the burden is on your shoulders and you have to somehow shoulder it and endure it and bear it And bring it to him daily and remind him of it No, you are in him. Your life is in him, you know, so you can rejoice in the lord because you are in the lord You can rejoice in the lord. You can wait upon him and he is already aware of what you are going through So now all you need to do when you come in prayers, you know, rather than saying lord I've dragged it all the way here and now I'm bringing it to you. No, you're already in him He is already aware of what you're going through. So you just talk it through with him Lord, this thing has come upon me and you are aware of it. I am abiding in you How lord, how do I handle this? I need your strength a lot. I need you to guard my heart and mind so that I don't I said I'm not overwhelmed by this thing. Show me what to do. Oh lord Show me how to approach this. Give me scriptures that I can just stand upon so that they can guard me You know guard my heart So I realized that it's much easier for me to think of myself as already abiding in him Where he is already aware of what is going on and he is already, you know, working, you know On those situations. So it's not like as if I am, you know, living independently separately somewhere and every day I have to drag all that stuff and put it in front of him I'm already in him and he's already he already knows now all I need to do is discuss it You know talk it out with him. Uh, so, uh, that way of looking at it kind of, you know, helps me Let's, you know, move on very quickly To maybe oh, yeah, maybe we could read versus eight and nine Because these two are connected with, you know, the god of peace and the peace of god, which guards So versus eight and nine if someone could read out Finally Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble Whatever things are just whatever things are pure Whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report If there's any virtue and if there's anything press worthy Meditate on these things The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me These do and the god of peace will be with you You know, if you could just give me a few seconds this, um Battery seems to be going out if you could just give me a few seconds. I'm okay. Yeah, very sorry Looks like this laptop is getting a bit old Um, yeah So, um Yeah, so he says paul says, uh, you know, let your mind dwell upon these things Because when you do that then the god of peace will be with you. So, um The our part the role that we play is to keep our minds on what is true You know, that's placed first in the list There are many things which I mentioned, you know Noble things and right things and pure things and lovely things and all of that But the very first thing that is mentioned is whatever is true Because usually the battle in the mind is regarding the truth No satan says, oh, it's not going to work. Oh, you know, god is not going to come through. Um, you know, uh Oh, the the what how god is telling you to deal with the situation is it's not really very effective So there's a lot of stuff that is uh, there are a lot of attacks that come against the truth of god's word So if we can just keep our minds focused on the truth of god's word and choose to believe what god's word is saying Even when all circumstances are pointing in the opposite direction and it looks like as if you know, um Uh, your your life is going to be destroyed You know, even when things look like that even when things look that bleak You choose to just stand on the truth of god's word and say I'll keep my mind on the truth of what scripture is saying rather than on what Circumstances seem to be saying, you know, when we take that stand The god of peace in whom we are trusting he will be with us He will guard our hearts our emotions our feelings and you know and keep them from becoming overwhelmed He will guard our thinking And enable us help us to you know dwell on those positive things which are from him rather than You know, we're dwelling on upon upon all these destructive scenarios, which which you know satan Throws at us, you know saying things will go in this way things will go in that way No, things will not go in any of those ways because God is for us and if god is for us who or what can ever be against us, you know So we we choose to Place our minds on what is true and what is pure and noble and So he says not only do we think those things even in our actions We choose we choose to put into practice, you know the kind of things that paul has been practicing so so that In all of this the god of peace will be with us and he will you know guard us and help us So then here after this he kind of moves on into the next topic Where he's now talking about the help which he has received from the philippians, so If we could have someone just read out verse 10 Yeah For me Yeah, he says At last you renewed your concern for me. So which means for a Certain period of time they had not shown concern towards him I mean And then he clarifies and says indeed you were concerned throughout But you had no opportunity to show it Simply because you know they were sitting in the city of philippi He on the other hand was all over the place, you know ministering in so many different places And now of course right now when he's writing this letter is in rome during his first imprisonment So they were concerned for him all along, but they didn't have An opportunity to show it And so what do they do? They finally decide that we can't just leave it like this, you know We need to be there for Paul. I mean we are partnering with him, you know in the gospel So we can't just leave him like that And so they actually take a decision and send off what they need us to go and be there with him and serve him and help him Which is how epiphyroditus, you know ends up in rome So he's sent over there to rome and it takes You know these things we get to know in philippines chapter 2 Verse 25 where it says that epiphyroditus was sent to these people Uh whom you sent to take care of my needs is what he says in philippines 225 So the philippines believers could not personally come to paul But at least they sent This man so that he would take care of paul's needs and the same thing he again says in philippines 230 He says that this man after coming over there He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me So they were very concerned for him and they were not willing to just sit back because you know Circumstances did not allow them to personally do anything for him. So they didn't just sit back and say okay fine You know, we have no responsibility. I mean we are very far away. Uh, there are you know, um, a lot of kilometers separating us from paul So we are under no obligation to do anything No, they still had the desire inside them to do something for this man of god And so they finally actually send one of their own To serve him to look after him and so he really appreciates This concern that they have for him and that is why you know He he goes on to say the words that he speaks in versus 11 to 13 Uh, if someone could read out versus 11 to 13, please and really thank you so much that you know, so many of you are You know coming forward to read. Uh, that's just so encouraging. So thank you so much. Yeah versus 11 to 13 Not that i'm speaking regarding me I'm so sorry. Um, so sorry. Yeah, go ahead Not that I speak in regard need for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content I know how to be abased and I know how to abound Everywhere and in all things I've learned both to be full and to be hungry Both to be abound and to suffer need I can do all things through christ who strengthens me Yeah, you know, um He goes on to say something more, uh, which you know will touch upon Later, uh, but Yeah, right now, you know, let's just focus on this particular passage, you know, uh So he says over here, um, I'm not saying this because I am in need For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances So he says yes, there was a need and I'm very very glad that you have fulfilled it You know met that need, uh, but I would have continued to be content Even if that need had not been met So he's kind of sharing this with them because there's a very important truth that he's trying to convey over here Uh, so he says, you know the secret of this He says in verse 12 he says I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation And what is the secret the word the secret is found in verse 13 where he says I can do all this Through him who gives me strength. So, uh, why is paul able to stay content in even the most adverse circumstances because Christ gives him the strength to do it This man has decided a long time ago. I no longer live Christ is is living in me. So if christ wants to bring hardships, you know and put me through a time of suffering Fine, I will participate in the sufferings in this way So, um, god puts me through a time of hunger, you know, where my needs are not being met. All right My life isn't christ. I'm hidden in him. So christ is taking me through this particular phase for something So, you know, I'll just go through it keeping my eyes focused on him because he says right I live this life by faith in the son of god. So, you know, he's he's he actually practices all these scriptures Which he talks about and so because he's living like this, you know, he has discovered that When there is a time of need when he requires the strength Christ gives him the strength which he needs and so on his own he would never have been content It would have been impossible He's able to be content only because christ is giving him that strength Christ is guarding his heart and mind and keeping it at peace keeping it contented even when things are, you know, um rather difficult And so he says I can do all this through him who gives me the strength, you know, going back to Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10, you know Over there he says when he's just before he starts talking about the armor of god Something that he says over there. He says finally be strong in the lord and in his mighty power So, how does the person stay strong? They stay strong when they are in the lord And they how and they stay strong in his mighty power, you know, it's that resurrection power which he talks about In in the earlier chapter in Ephesians. That is what he's referring to so It is possible to be strong to be content In all situations how Through the resurrection power of god, this is not something that can be humanly done So from his side, I suppose every time a challenge would come along Paul would make a conscious choice not to be anxious But to come to god with his prayer and petition with thanksgiving So he would just do his part and because he has maintained that attitude of trust Jesus christ would do his part by imparting divine strength to this man To be content his heart and mind would stay at peace because the god of peace would literally guard him And from his side, Paul would just continue to know keep his mind on what is true What is noble what is pure rather than you know Dwelling upon all these negative scenarios which satan is you know bringing into his mind He chooses rather to dwell upon the things of god and even as he does that the god of peace is with him So it's all you know, it kind of ties together Um, so what he's saying, you know makes sense when we when we understand all of this now You know, we are kind of running out of time. So just very quickly to to to run through some things Later on, you know after paul had finished writing this letter to the philippians This is something this this incident has not yet happened You know when paul is still writing this particular philippian letter I'm talking about second timothy chapter four was 16 to 17 So second timothy four 16 to 17, you know, we know that was his last letter Because sometime after that, you know, he gets martyred and so he's in the final stages of his life And he's supposed to have had his first defense at which time everyone deserts him because by now, we know people can Begin to see that this is not heading any way. This man is going to be killed So if you're not in touch with the man who's going to get killed chances are that you will also not get killed So you know that everyone kind of you know pulls back Nobody wants to show support to him because you know, who knows if they if they support to him In a supportive towards him in his last days, you know, they too may be thrown to the lions So in that stage of life, you know where everyone has abandoned him This is what he goes on to say in second timothy chapter four verse 17 But the lord stood at my side and gave me strength. I mean amazing You know, it's like Jesus christ was literally standing there next to him Giving him the strength that he needed to go through that situation So that is the confidence that we too can have that in our time of trial and difficulty If we choose not to be anxious but instead to trust him Jesus christ will literally stand there next to us and give us the strength which we need you know to go through those particular situations and You know, like we have literally two minutes left But I really want to just know emphasize this he says in verse 17 You know kind of repeating the same thought which he had mentioned earlier He says not that I desire your gifts. What I desire is the is that more be credited to your account? So he says I'm really happy, you know with the way you have, you know Lavishly sent me gifts with through epiphyroditus and I'm really grateful for all that you have done for me But not that I desire your gifts. So you see, I really like this attitude of Paul He's not desperately clutching on to these Philippians because they are the one party who are like, you know Kind of showing him kindness and showing him mercy he Because the tendency of believers who are in deep need Especially if they're in deep financial need They just clutch on to any person who kind of shows a little bit of kindness and they they're so desperate And they keep asking you again and again, you know to to give them money to help them And you can only do so much right because there are so many people in need And you try to do whatever you can for a whole bunch of people and you're not God And you don't have unlimited finances And the thing is that these people are so desperately clutching on to you And no one like as if you're the one hope and so finally when you when you when you when you reach a point where you say No, I cannot help they get really angry. They say, what kind of a person are you? What kind of a christian are you and they get really angry with you? Paul when you look at him over here, you know Two times he emphasizes that first, you know, he says I am not saying this because I am in need You know, he says that in verse 11 and again here in verse 17 he says not that I desire your gifts What's actually making me happy is not the gift though. I'm very very grateful for that I'm just so happy that now God is going to give you a great reward because of what you have done for me And that fills me with joy Here is a man who's not desperate Here is a man who is so Secure in his identity of being hidden in Christ. He knows Christ will take care So he's he's not desperately clinging on to people He just clings on to his lord knowing that his lord will take care and that's the way We people of god should be because when we desperately cling on to people those people may not have the capacity to be god and And to do everything for us that we are expecting of them They're just people Rather, let us be people like, um, you know Paul who are so secure in their identity in christ And they are so hidden in their life is so hidden in christ that they just rest in him Trust him and just relax in him and he takes care of the details Lovely attitude that this fall had, you know, so that's just something that I wanted to point out Um, and yeah, we've totally run out of time. Uh, so, you know, we'll just close with a word of prayer Please Lord we just thank you so much for all the lessons that we could learn Today from philippines three and four I pray oh lord that we will remember these things Long after and that we would continue to apply them or lord in our lives lord We pray that That we will not be anxious But rather we will we will recognize that our lives are hidden in you and we will be confident in you oh lord I pray that we will be people Who want to be found in you and because we are so Eager to be found in you. We are so eager to know you That we are not help us to be to to know to want this to an extent where we are willing to even participate in your sufferings even if it means um Allowing christ to live in us even even if it means that we will have to suffer That we will have to undergo hardships and trials We will be willing to do that because by doing that We will experience more and more of your resurrection power in our lives And one day we will have our reward or lord of being glorified in you So we pray that we will keep our eyes on these eternal things and um and go through the Current situations that we are going through because we know that christ is standing right next to us And you will give us the strength which we require to face all our situations Thank you a lot for the great faithfulness in you for your great faithfulness in our lives And I pray a lot that you would be with the students For the rest of the week even as they um attend to so many different things. Thank you lord in jesus name amen Amen. Yes. Thank you so much and yeah, we'll meet again next week