Philippians

Could we turn, please, to Paul's epistle to the Philippians, in chapter 1. Philippians chapter 1. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 21. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Chapter 2, please.

And verse 5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Chapter 3, verse 8. In Christ. Chapter 4, please, and verse 13.

I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me. Chapter 1, the purpose of Paul's life. For to me, to live is Christ.

Chapter 2, the pattern for the mind of the Philippian believers. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Chapter 3, Christ, the pursuit and prize of Paul's life.

That I may win or gain Christ. And chapter 4, Christ, the power in Paul's life. I can do all things through Christ, which, or who, strengtheneth me.

I'm sure the Lord will bless his word as we look to him for help in consideration of these wonderful passages. The Apostle Paul, remember, had his plans for Rome. He, on the one hand, was looking forward to being among them, that he might preach the gospel.

Well, it wasn't quite to be like that. He did get to Rome, but he went under armed guard, and eventually he was under house arrest. Was that the end of his hopes and expectations for preaching the gospel in Rome? No, it wasn't.

Here in chapter 1 and verse 12, he says to the Philippians, having assured them of his prayers, he says, but I would, I want you to understand, brethren, I want you to understand, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. The Apostle Paul is telling them that as things turned out, not in the way he'd planned, but now indeed, here were the things that had happened, outside his control, but certainly not outside the Lord's control. And here he was, he'd arrived in Rome, and he'd found there was indeed the opportunity of opening up a new front for the gospel, in a whole new area, to a whole new group of people.

And so he says here, there is the furtherance of the gospel. Things fell out like that. It wasn't as planned.

But this furtherance of the gospel is very interesting, because the Apostle is now telling us that there were a whole group of people who, under other circumstances, under the circumstances that he'd looked forward to, and in a part planned. He says, no, if we'd had gospel meetings there in Rome, what would have happened? Well, maybe we would have rented a hired room for the afternoon. We would have been round in the open air, inviting people in.

And he says, maybe some would, that was in his mind, no doubt. But he said, look, he could have said to them, Look, there's one group of people who'd never come to the gospel meetings. And who were they? The very people guarding him.

It says indeed in Acts 28 that here he was, and there was a captain in charge of him. It says, of course, there was a soldier chained to him every day. And those soldiers would be changed.

And we learn that they belonged to the praetorian guard. Here were very people, indeed, who every one of them was a Roman citizen. None of them were mercenaries, foreign mercenaries.

But they were very proud of their position. And here, the praetorian guard were the very center of emperor worship. And the kind of people who, if Paul had met them on the road, sorry, in Rome, under other circumstances, invited them to gospel meetings, preached the gospel on street corners, in the markets, and got into conversation, they would have said, I'm sorry, we've got our own religion.

And we're very proud of it. They would never have come to the meeting. But now God's taken the meeting to them.

And here's the apostle Paul, and it's not as if so much he's under house arrest, but here are people, and he's got a captive audience. They can't get away. And so as day went on, they were replaced by one another.

And these soldiers, and no doubt the captain supervising, they'd come in and hear the gospel. They'd hear the kind of conversations that went on in Acts 28, when the Jews came in and had their conversation with Paul. And when Paul would have visitors and ask how the gospel was going.

And in quiet moments, no doubt, Paul would get into conversation with such men. And it was a furtherance of the gospel. It was an opening out of a new area, breaking through into a new place.

That's the idea of the word furtherance. And so indeed, the apostle says now, there was a great opportunity. No doubt, and notice, please, he would say, but and rather in verse 12, because I'm sure what he thought was that here were these poor Philippians thinking about me, and thinking, well, poor man, it's all finished.

All that great gospel activity is restricted. It's come to an end. He can't get out.

No, he says, but look, people have come in. And you and I, brethren, sisters, there are opportunities granted to us under adverse circumstances to meet people who would not normally come into gospel meetings. And these people, indeed, who would not normally meet believers.

You and I are taken to situations that we didn't plan, that we wouldn't want to be under other things. But we're there, and it's an opportunity. Paul used that.

Paul used that. And we'll think of that in a moment. And then, of course, the fact not only did this have a great effect directly, he was able to speak the gospel, but there were indirect effects.

For he says, on the one hand, so that my bonds are manifest to be in Christ in all the palace, literally. And the palace here means the praetorian guard. That center, indeed, of Rome, that part of Rome set apart for them.

And that's where they guarded him. And so the gospel got out. It got to new people.

It got out, and it had its effect. And no doubt, maybe at the very end, we read at the end of Philippians, he would speak, indeed, the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. How do we know? The gospel might have got there as well.

And then, says the apostle, not only was there a direct effect, there was an indirect effect. Many of the brethren in the Lord, the majority of the brethren in the Lord, growing in confidence by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. I believe the word speak there has the idea of breaking silence.

And maybe circumstances had arisen in Rome whereby the believers had decided just to keep their head down and not to be overt with the gospel. No, let's keep quiet. Let's not draw attention to ourselves that there should be persecution.

But here's one man now, and they hear about him and his behavior in the prison. And if there's one man who should have kept his head down not to bring more evidence against him, it was Paul, but he didn't. He spoke the gospel.

And word of that got out, and indirectly now the brethren are affected. And they get to preaching the word without fear as never before. Their confidence grew in the Lord.

And so here, indeed, is an indirect effect. And the apostle now hears about that, but sadly hears other things. When the apostle wrote to Rome, remember, in chapter 15, he would say he wanted them with one mind and one mouth to glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When he heard about gospel activity, he found there were two minds, two mouths. Indeed, he says, verse 15, some indeed preach Christ, even of envy and strife. Some also of goodwill.

The one preached Christ of contention, party spirit, not sincerely supposing to add affliction, extra pressure to my chains, but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. Now, here are people. Some love him.

Some are jealous of him. Sad, isn't it? Jealous to such an extent that they'll preach the gospel. They preach the gospel.

Paul never had any problems with the content of their preaching. Three times over, he says, verse 15, some indeed preach Christ. Envy and strife, but he's preaching Christ.

And then he will say in verse 16, and one preached Christ of contention. Verse number 18, he says, notwithstanding every way, in pretense, Christ is preached. Christ was preached.

No problem with the material, but every problem with the motive. This is activity that would not indeed gain that reward from the Lord Jesus Christ there at the Bema. But indeed, they preach the gospel.

Now then, why have I said these two things? Paul's behavior there under adverse circumstances with respect to his own condition. And then adverse circumstances in what he hears the saints saying about him. That they were jealous.

And they were doing things to add extra pain to his circumstances. He says now, how do I cope with that? How do I cope with that? And the answer is, verse 21, for to me, to live is Christ. Christ matters.

Most difficult circumstances I would never have chosen, he said, to be restricted in such a way. To be confined within this house. Well, he says now, the answer, the end result of that, furtherance of the gospel, gospel of Christ.

And then he says here, what about these conditions I find that word coming into me of activity among the believers there. And the assemblies in Rome. Well, he would say, what's the answer? Notwithstanding, notwithstanding, I like the word notwithstanding.

It means, look, I know what's going on. I know exactly what's going on. I don't close my ears, I can't close my ears to it.

I know, but, but he says, what's the answer? Christ is preached. I therein do rejoice and will rejoice and nothing will stop me. That's the kind of thing he's saying.

And of course, behind all this is the fact that he could rise above circumstances, rise above criticism. Why? Because to him, to live is Christ. Now, he says very carefully, he says, for to me, he can't say it for everybody.

He can't say it certainly for those who opposed him and others. But he says, for me, for me to live. And you'll notice the word is, is in italics.

He's saying like this to be striking in this way. And it comes over to us so forcibly. For me to live, Christ.

That's what it's about. For me to live, Christ. Having assured the Philippians of his situation relative to the gospel, then turns to them.

And he says in verse 27, only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. That is to say, your behavior should be consistent with the Christ whom you preach publicly. As an assembly, as an assembly.

And so he will say, with respect to that, that he is praying. Hear the affairs that he stand fast in one spirit. With one mind.

Striving together for the faith of the gospel. So he's looking for unity in the gospel preaching. And then he'll say in chapter two.

If there be there for any consolation in Christ. If any comfort of love, any fellowship of the spirit, if any bowels and mercies fulfill you my joy. That he be like-minded.

Having the same love. Being of one accord of one mind. Here are seven things that he stated that he's looking for unity in the assembly.

Unity in the gospel. Unity in a consensus relative to their lives for the Lord Jesus Christ. So this unity, how will it come about? How will it come about? Well, he says in verse three of chapter two.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory. Of course not. That's what's motivating the saints in Rome.

Those adverse to him. Those jealous of him. The very words are the same.

Strife and vainglory. They were boasting. And they were striving.

It was party spirit. Not Paul's party, but another party. You can speculate and argue.

We don't know what it was. We don't need to know. But we do need to know there was jealousy and opposition.

Well, says Paul, I'll tell you the answer. Tell you the answer. But in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than themselves.

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. The things of others. So here's the secret of unity.

Here's the secret of the same mindness. One spirit. One mind.

And striving together. And one accord. Like-minded.

And what's the answer? Well, it's thinking of the things of others. Having others before you. Not putting yourself first.

Now he says, look, let me give you the very best example of that. The example par excellence is the Lord Jesus Christ. One indeed who thought of others.

We had a very good teacher as a young man. Beloved brother. Scotsman living in Wales.

And indeed he had a great effect upon us. Mr. William True. And Mr. True used to say, you know, with respect to the Lord Jesus, if you could only describe him by one word, what would that one word be? And his answer? Others.

Others. So here's the Lord Jesus. A life for others.

Please not himself. He loved us. And so the answer is now, if only we could have the mind of Christ.

So what about this mind? Look, not every man on his own thing. Literally means, look not every man on his own things only. Of course we've got to look on our own things.

We are responsible people. We've got families and homes. We've got jobs and everything else.

We must be responsible. We have to look on our own things. But every man also on the things of others.

Not that we are busy bodies and nosy and we want to intrude into people's lives. But we think about others. And their needs.

Now then. With that in respect in verse four. And that in mind.

Says the apostle, now think about the Lord Jesus. Let this mind. Which mind? A mind for others.

Let this mind be in you. Which was also in Christ Jesus. Christ the pattern for their lives.

If Paul indeed could have that purpose. And helps him rise above. If only the believers in Philippi could have the right pattern.

They would continue to be united. Unlike the assemblies in Rome. Which were disunited.

Which were groups. Party spirit. But Paul knew that they were united.

He wants them to keep united. And the answer to it all. Is Christ to be the pattern.

For their minds. A pattern for others. Let this mind be in you.

Which was also in Christ Jesus. Now. We know that the verse is following.

They can be contentious and difficult. But if we view it in that context. Then they become a lot clearer.

The Lord Jesus looking not only on his own things. But also on the things of others. So what were his own things? Who being in the form of God.

And being in the form of God. Therefore what were his own things? All the majesty. That went along with being God in heaven.

And the Lord Jesus didn't just think about that. He had every right to think about that. It was his own things.

And the majesty was his to enjoy. But he didn't only think of that. He thought of us.

He thought of the things of others. And in order to fulfill that need that he saw. And it says here.

Who being in the form of God. Who subsisting forever and ever. Was, is and ever shall be in the form of God.

It will never change. Who being in the form of God. Thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

Now this can be translated in a number of ways. But something like this. He didn't seek to hold on to that majesty.

That was his. And his by sovereign right. No, no.

He was prepared indeed to lay aside the majesty and veil the glory. And therefore it says now. But made himself of no reputation.

Literally emptied himself of what rightly was his. That majesty. And took upon him the form of a servant.

Made in the likeness of man. Being found in fashion as a man. He humbled himself.

Now there are three, two things here. We can read. It says.

He emptied himself. He made himself. Of no reputation.

He humbled himself. Three things he did for himself. And all of them actually for us.

Did himself. And all of them for us. Because he was looking.

On the things of others. By the way, the three reciprocal things the father did for him. Wherefore God have highly exalted him.

Given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus. Every knee should bow.

Every tongue should confess. So there indeed is. That wonderful picture.

But go back to the origin. The thought behind it all. Christ the proper pattern.

For the minds of the Philippians. To stay united. Stay united.

Then please into chapter three. Chapter three. And verse number nine.

That I might gain. Christ. Christ the prize.

The pursuit. Of his life. Now the context here.

Is the apostle has told them. In chapter three and verse two. Of problems with Jews outside.

The assembly. Outside the assembly. And he'll talk about them as dogs.

Beware of evil workers of the concision. Etc. Interesting.

In Philippi. When Paul went there to start with for the gospel. There weren't.

There didn't seem to be many Jews at all. There was no synagogue. But now later on.

They appear to come along. And they're very. Very persuasive.

And forceful. Kind of Jewish people. And they're saying.

Now look. We've got something. You've got nothing.

And they seem to have a lot of confidence in the flesh. And they're boasting. About their Jewishness and their advantages.

And Paul to answer that. He will say to the Philippians. You tell them this.

Verse four. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. Okay.

Speaking as a fool. As he would say elsewhere. I'll tell you.

If you want to be proud. Of being a Jew. Think about me.

Well he goes then through his seven full boast. Doesn't he? And he says circumcised the eighth day. Etc.

And then. Down to verse seven. But.

What things were gained to me. And they could have been. Couldn't they? Here indeed.

Could have. Been these things to Paul's credit. Could have been in the credit column.

Of the spiritual account of his life. He says. Yes.

That was it. But he says. I took them all.

And moved them over to the debit side. He says. No.

I count. One big loss. For Christ.

First of all. It's what things. It's plural.

But then. The word loss. Is singular.

He says. I bundle them all together. And I just moved them all away.

What was gained to me. I counted loss for Christ. So.

What made me something. Was also. With respect to salvation.

Holding me back. Holding me back. What I was.

And now it says Paul. But the time came when I counted. That's verse seven.

And counted is indeed. An attitude of mind. He says.

I counted it. But verse number eight. Yeah.

Doubtless I count. He's still doing it now. I count all things but loss.

For. The excellency. Of the knowledge.

Of Christ Jesus. My Lord. I've made an exchange.

If anything gets in the way of this. It goes. If anything gets in the way.

Of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus. My Lord. It's got no place in my life.

I count. All things but loss. On account of.

For. The excellency. Of the knowledge.

Of the Christ Jesus. My Lord. Then he goes on to say.

For whom. I have. Suffered the loss of all things.

So that's not a mental. Thing now. That's a physical thing.

He has. He's got nothing. He's got nothing.

No home. Nothing at all. No career.

Respect to this world. And he will say. I've suffered the loss of all things.

And do count them but done. Awful. Garbage.

Why. That I may gain. Christ.

In what sense gain Christ. I take it. Is what he's just said.

The excellency. Of the knowledge. Of Christ Jesus.

My Lord. That's the simplest view of seeing. Gaining Christ.

That's what he wants. And nothing else must get in the way. So Christ is the prize.

And the pursuit of his life. That's his pursuit. That's his prize.

That's what he wants. That's what he wants. He says that I may gain.

Christ. And then he will say. With respect to that.

Verse 12. Not as though I had already. Attained or obtained.

Neither were already perfect or perfected. Matured. But I. Follow on.

I press on. If. I may apprehend.

That for which also. I am apprehended. Of Christ Jesus.

That I might get hold of the reason. In this thing. The reason for which Christ got hold of me.

What's that? I think we can still. All the time go back to what he said. The excellency.

Of the knowledge. Of Christ Jesus. My Lord.

He wanted to know more about Jesus. No more about him. There was nothing better in life.

No greater prize. No happier pursuit. Than the knowledge.

The excellency. Of the knowledge. Of Christ Jesus.

My Lord. One day he'd see him. And be satisfied.

But then. Until then. He wants to know more.

He wants to know more. About. Jesus.

Then please. Chapter four. Chapter four.

Verse thirty. I can do all things through Christ. Who.

Strengtheneth. Me. Present tense.

Paul knew the daily. Constant strengthening of Christ. And so.

He was able. Literally. To be strong.

For all things. Now the context here. Well remember.

Verse number ten. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. The reason.

For Paul. Writing to the Philippians. Was that one day.

He got this unexpected visit. From Epaphroditus. Who'd taken that long.

And as it turned out. Dangerous journey. To get to him.

And here he's delivering. Here the gift from the assembly. At Philippi.

We'll think of that in a moment. And now having delivered the gift. Poor Epaphroditus falls ill.

Desperately ill. Next door to death. But God had mercy on him.

Now we'll think of that. At another time. But look.

Think of this now. Verse ten. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly.

Now he says. At the beginning. Remember verse four.

Rejoice in the Lord. And then he says. Now but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly.

Not that the gift had come. But the thought. He understood.

That was behind it. Now at last. Literally.

Your care for me. Has flourished again. It's revived.

It's revived. Wherein ye were also careful. But ye lacked opportunity.

For some reason. There was no way. For a long time.

That they could send a gift to Paul. In a moment we'll see they had. Consistently.

But for some reason may. Reason indeed. Number one would be.

Well they were in Macedonia. And according to second Corinthians chapter eight. The saints in Macedonia were in deep poverty.

Maybe. You know they'd run out of resources. Took a long time to accumulate.

Enough to send. Maybe there wasn't anyone to send it. To take it.

And the Epaphroditus. The like. Wasn't available.

But forever it was. The opportunity came. The care was always there.

But the opportunity was missing. But now it had arisen. And now.

Says the apostle. It's come. And I rejoice greatly.

Not that I speak in respect of want. Now this comes the amazing thing. Because he says.

For. Because. I have learned.

Now the I there is emphatic. He's not saying it about anybody else. He's just saying it about himself.

I. Have learned. I learned. In.

Whatsoever state I am. To be content. Whatsoever state I am.

To be content. Now this was the state. He wasn't waiting for the next gift.

To come. He was content. With the state that he was in.

In prison. One day. He would say.

Well. One day it was hunger. The next day plenty.

Now Paul. How can you. How can you live.

In such extremes. You know. We get.

We get used to. Living. In situations.

Where. Things are fairly normal. And we know what's coming in.

That's if we have jobs. Or pensions. Or whatever it is.

And. We're fairly. Happy with.

The situation. But not so with Paul. And so things went one way.

And another. As he'll say in a moment. But he says.

Not that I speak in respect. The one I've learned. I learned.

He had to learn it. He didn't learn this in higher education. Which gave him all kinds of things.

But this was a new lesson. To learn. This was learned in the university of life.

And here indeed. It wasn't up at Jerusalem. Where he'd gone.

With family funds. Not all. Funds had run out sometimes.

But he could. He said I've learned. In what so ever state I am.

The idea is. Maybe. Indeed.

It was sufficient. I've learned to be sufficient. And to cope.

So he says. Now. What those things were.

What so ever state. What state. Paul verse 12.

I know how to be abased. I know how to abound. So on the one hand.

He says. Here we were. Some days.

There wasn't enough. Other days. It was abounding.

Coming here. You see. That the river.

Has abounded. It's gone beyond the banks. Beyond the limits.

That's what he says. That's what he means. Literally.

To abound. To go beyond the limits. And sometimes.

He says. It was an abounding day. Plenty.

More than we needed. Other days. Nothing.

So that some days. We were hungry. Now.

Then he would say. Verse 12. Half way down.

Everywhere. And in all things. I am instructed.

Both to be full. And to be hungry. Both to abound.

To suffer. Need. I'm instructed.

Paul. Loves borrowing words. And this word means.

I've been initiated. Paul had a lot of trouble. With these mystery religions.

All around him. Perverting the word of God. And trying to.

Pervert the truth of Christ. You'll find that in Colossians. For instance.

But here. He's happy to borrow a word. And one of the secrets.

Indeed. Of these people. Who say.

Now you join us. We'll initiate you. Into the great truths.

You just join us. We'll initiate you. We'll.

We'll. Bring you into the secrets. Of the thing.

Now he borrows that word. And when he says here. I am instructed.

I have been initiated. Initiated. It's a new thing for me.

It was new. And he says. I've been initiated.

Both to be full. And to be hungry. What an amazing initiation.

Full and hungry. Abound. And suffer need.

And then he makes this remarkable statement. Paul. How can you cope with such things? Difficult circumstances.

Unexpected shortages. Excess. How do you live with too much Paul? How do you live with too little? He says.

I'll tell you why. I am strong. In Christ.

Who strengthens me. You know. Later on.

The apostle. Would say. Later on.

In his last letter. He would say. Remember now.

All men forsook me. Here he was. Writing to Timothy.

And he would say. Look. Here was I. It was my second hearing.

And my hearing. And he says. Now.

There was an opportunity. For others. Literally.

To step forward with me. To give character witness. He says.

No man. Literally. Stood forward with me.

But. The Lord stood with me. And strengthened me.

The Lord was with him. In these difficult circumstances. Now.

Says Paul. Wait a moment. Let me tell you here.

That day. The Lord stood with me. Says.

Look. He's actually standing with me. Every day.

Who. Strengtheneth. Me.

Wonderful. Authorized version. We know.

His present tense. With this. Ending of F. It's happening all the time.

Says Paul. Who. Strengtheneth.

Me. So. I am strong.

For all things. The all things. In the context.

Are difficult. Circumstances. Extremes.

That you and I. Would find it. Very difficult. To cope with.

Had no control. At all. He didn't know.

Was going to knock the door. He didn't know. The day.

The cupboard. Would empty. He didn't know.

These things. Totally outside. His control.

But he says. I'm strong. For this.

I'm strong. In Christ. Who.

Strengtheneth. Me. And that's the lovely.

Secret of his power. Paul's. Power.

And then. He would say. Then.

In verse fourteen. About this gift. We may as well spend a few moments.

Thinking about it. Notwithstanding. Here we are.

That word again. It's a lovely word. You collect together.

Some of them. And Paul says. I know exactly.

What the situation is. Notwithstanding. All this.

You've well done. Don't think. That I'm ungrateful.

Please. I've learned. These great secrets.

How to live. With. And without.

But please. Don't misunderstand me. I'm very appreciative.

What you've done. In fact. He says.

You've well done. One day. Indeed.

The Lord. Jesus will say. To those.

Who he really appreciates. They've served him. Well done.

Now. Says Paul. You've well done.

You've done well. That you did. You shared with my affliction.

Now. You Philippians know. Also.

That in the beginning of the gospel. When I departed. From Macedonia.

No church. Communicated with me. As concerning.

Giving and receiving. But he only. I don't think it's so much.

As Paul is. Criticizing. Other.

Assemblies. But only they knew. Where he was.

And only they. Were able. Therefore.

To communicate. Consistently. And they've done it twice.

For he says. Verse 16. There.

For even in Thessalonica. By the way. We've gone backwards.

Slightly. In time. Now.

Because. We're still in Macedonia. Even in Thessalonica.

Back. Before even. I left Macedonia.

When I was in Thessalon. Thessalonica. He says.

You sent once. And again. And so.

They. No church. Communicated.

So in Thessalonica. Twice. When he left Macedonia.

Again. In fact. You read in Corinthians.

You'll find that they. There. The.

Those. Paul. Co-workers.

Came down to Corinth. With gifts from Macedonia. I take it Philippians.

Were some of them as well. So they were consistent. In their giving.

To the Lord's servant. Now then. Verse.

17. This is the point. Not.

Because. I desire. A gift.

Paul. Wasn't thinking about. Himself.

He says. I desire. Fruit.

That may abound. To your account. But.

I have all. And. Abound.

He says. The gifts come. I'm in receipt of it.

And it's an abounding day. The day soon. Might come though.

When it's. An abasing day. He didn't know.

But Paul. You're saying all this. You're not.

Desiring gifts. You're not. Over.

Thoughtful. About these things. You're thinking of others.

All the time. How can you do it? How can you cope with it? Well. He says.

It's not me. It's the Lord. I am strong for all things.

In Christ. Who strengthens. Me.

The secret of his life. In every aspect. At every turn.

Was Christ. So that he could. Indeed.

In chapter one. As we've said. He could say.

That behind it all. His great motivation. The great purpose.

Of his life. For to me. To live.

Christ. And then he could happily. Commend.

The mind. Of Christ. To the Philippian.

Believers. That they should use it. As their pattern.

They should base their lives. And thoughts. Of themselves.

And others. On the Lord. Jesus Christ.

Himself. And then he would. Indeed.

Think. Of the Lord. Jesus.

With respect. To the great pursuit. Of his life.

When. He's just thought. Of all the.

Advantages. And all the boasts. He could have had.

He said. No. They've gone.

If they've been replaced. Now. By my one.

Pursuit. And prize. That I want.

The excellency. Of the knowledge. Of Christ.

Jesus. My Lord. That same one.

Who helps me cope. With every circumstance. Whatever life.

Seems to throw at me. I'll cope with it. I'll cope with it.

Whether it's hunger. Or whether it's. Indeed.

Abounding. I'll cope. I'll cope.

Indeed. And I'll do it. Because Christ.

Strengthens. Me. May we know.

Something. Indeed. Of these things.

As we go on. Day by day. As indeed.

We go through. Our circumstances. We have.

Our opportunities. In the gospel. We have.

Indeed. Our circumstances. To live with.

May we know. The Lord. In each one of them.

Day by day. As. To some extent.

In a little way. As the apostle did. As indicated here.