Philippians 4:15-17

Hello, good morning, this is truth in love so glad that you could join me this morning. It is a cold morning and it's starting to feel like winter. I'm not sure if you've looked at the the weather yet, but it seems like Which they did this last week seemed like there was some snowflakes on the weather forecast that may be around Christmas Day.

I Talked to a few folks that are looking forward to that and and hoping that that's gonna happen. I'm one of those that's looking forward to it. Hoping it's gonna happen. But we were kind of disappointed last week.

But that's how it goes. That's how forecasts go. But um, I'm glad that you are with me. I'm glad that you're you're joining me to look at God's Word. I'm so thankful to be able to to do this and and we have the freedom to look at God's Word study at worship.

We don't know where things are going in our country right now. Concerning our ability to to do these things and to go to church and to worship but we are we are ones who Should be living in victory because we know that Christ has won the victory.

That we are we can live in victory and that we know we are going to be victorious in the end. No matter what this this world and in the the powers. Powers of darkness the enemy as Ephesians says in in in verse chapter 6 verse 12.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood. But against the rulers against powers against the world forces of this darkness against the spiritual forces of weakness in the heavenly places. Our fight.

You know, it's not against flesh and blood the enemy is is trying to tear down the kingdom of God and. But we don't want to live in a in a pessimistic kind of way. We want to live in a victorious way.

Despite How hard the enemy is trying to attack us trying to attack our world our country? And and you know, there may be some successes some apparent wins from the enemy side. Certain decisions that the governor makes and and legislation may legislators make but we can live in victory.

Christ has won it. We're gonna be victorious in the end. We can live in that victory. Despite what the enemy is doing to attack us. So I'm so thankful that that we can we can do that. We can live with hope.

Again this is truth and love. We get that from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15, but speaking the truth in love. We are to grow up in all aspects into him who was the head even Christ and that's that's our goal.

That's our aim as we spend time together as I Tried to to do this video ministry is is to speak truth. And speak the truth in love with with the goal in mind of growing up in all aspects Into him who was the head even Christ.

We want to grow up in all aspects of all doctrines of Scripture and then. Especially as we're gonna see today in Philippians that's that's of course is is not the end goal the end game in and of itself is to grow up in in just knowledge, even though That's part of it.

That's necessary and. And and the Apostle Paul speaks to these churches about growing in knowledge about growing in wisdom. But that in and of itself we can't stop there. That's not the end game and we're and Paul is gonna address that and it's so amazing.

He's gonna address that in in today's verses. About how that's not the end game book, but what it what it leads us to the this knowledge and understanding so and and I know there may be some out there that may accuse me of being having blinders on.

You know how horses have Have blinders they put the blinders on on the side of their eyes so that they can only see forward they can't see what's around them and there may be some folks that accuse me of having blinders on and Focusing on on one aspect and and of course, I wanted to touch on probably that aspect right now.

In just a minute and make a few comments about that, but that's I want to avoid that I don't want to do that I want to grow up in all aspects of Christ and I want us to do that together. Growing up in all aspects into Christ and so to do that we have to touch on many different things and it may seem and it may come across sometimes as We are focusing on One aspect of Scripture one doctrine of Scripture but That's necessary.

Sometimes if you're going to learn something, you've got to spend some time in it. You can't you can't just You just breeze over something scripture calls us to be To study to show yourself approved. And so if you're gonna study to show yourself approved you've got to spend some time on The different doctrines of Scripture so that you can study them and so you can know them.

Study to show yourself approved and be able to give a defense of the hope that's what that's within you. So, you know, we want to be able to do that and it may come across. I understand that as you know Me or whoever, you know, you're you're thinking of or speaking of they may be just focusing on one issue.

And of course, we want to avoid that we we don't want to be just one issue. Christians In the Bible, we want to grow up in all aspects. So Let's pray for each other that we don't do that. But I just wanted to to remind anyone out there that that's that's not my heart.

That's not where I am. But so if it seems like there there's one aspect of Scripture that I'm focusing on. You know, I want it to be clear that I want to grow up in all aspects. But I we do have to spend Quality time on different doctrines so that you can study them so that you can grow up in them in Christ and The doctrine that I that I wanted to touch on today before we get started in Philippians is.

There's there's a conference going on right now. It's starting again at 9 o 'clock. And so I'm gonna have to wrap this up so I can get back in there and and rejoin that conference. Conference went all day yesterday and it's going to go on all day today and in the conference is on Postmillennialism which I've done a small video on that subject earlier but it's a it's one of the views of the end times that the scripture speaks of prophecy in times and I would encourage you to seek out The conference I'm gonna be they're gonna post the videos.

I'm gonna be sharing the some of the videos so that Maybe you if you have a moment you can and look into this particular view of end times. And the reason and I'm just going to tell you the reason that this this view appeals to me so much is because.

And you may have been like me. Growing up for so long, you know, I only I felt like there was only I felt like there was only one view of end times only one view of eschatology. Because that's the only the only view that was ever brought up only view that was ever taught.

And I thought there was only one view of eschatology. But as I learned as I grew as I studied scripture, I was listening to other other pastors you know, my doctrine my theology on different things has changed and As I've as I've studied and I've as I've listened as I've grown I found out there are other views of eschatology of in times of prophecy that that people look at it and see in scripture and the one of the things that appeals to me so much about this view of in times.

Hey Pam, yeah, we'll pray for you. Absolutely. And and let me say that while you're since you mentioned that if I can pray for you, we always Pray at the end and if I can pray for you, I'd love to be able to do that all you have to do just like Pam is is type me and Depends on which I've The Lord has blessed and allow me to to stream live three different places on my Facebook feed on the ministry's Facebook feed and then also I'm live right now on YouTube on my YouTube page, so You can share from from any platform.

Not not share me. That's another thing that I want to continue to reiterate. You're not sharing me. You're sharing our time together. If this has been an encouragement to you if you've learned anything, I want to share Jesus I want to share God's Word with our community.

I love our community. And and I want to join with you in reaching our community for the Lord Jesus Christ, you know this this platform Is not what God has ultimately called us to he's ultimately called us to get together to be a community Where we meet and join and worship together and help one another this is just an Extra means that he's provided for us right now to get together in studying God's Word.

It's not in person. I understand that and and and that's not the ultimate end goal. If we were able to to get together in person More often I think that would be ideal. But God has blessed and allowed us to have this platform and so many people are on social media right now.

And so it's a it's a wonderful platform to try to Join together and and use this platform to reach people with Jesus and the gospel and God's Word. So if it's an encouragement to you if it's been a help to you if you want to join me and in reaching The community I would love for you to like to share.

Let me know that you're watching. Let me know if I can pray for you. I'm like again. All you have to do is type me and If you want to do anything else Just as far as joining with me to to Advance the gospel in this ministry or any other way.

You know, just shoot me a message. Let me know how you would like to help and join together in doing those things. I like to talk. I like to do videos with with pastors with other folks in ministry. Hello mom and dad.

So anybody that I can join with of course, that's that that has the same goal of reaching our community with Jesus Christ and The love love of Christ the gospel God's Word, you know, I'd love to be able to join with you in doing that so thank you Pam for Reaching out this morning now and we want to pray for you and and anybody else that may won't pray this morning.

All you have to do is type me. But I don't remember exactly where I was at but the the thing about this particular in times view that appeals to me so much as opposed to the one that that I grow with the one that maybe you're most familiar with is this is the difference that I've seen and.

And of course, there's there's folks out there that that hold to this this other view that we're so much so familiar with. So strongly that you know, they are vehemently opposed to to me or to the particular view that I'm leaning towards that they would want to argue against it and You know defend their faith and and that's fine, you know, I'm open to that I'm not opposed to anyone Discussing scripture with me as maybe they are.

As opposed to me as I would be to them. But here's the difference that I've seen and that I've experienced in looking at these two views and and. And being able to defend these two views. It seems like from from the view that that I grew up with that most of you are probably familiar with you know, everyone is looking for looking at what's going on in the world and.

And all the bad things that are happening and and and this view if you hold this view you're looking for Jesus to come at any time and when we say Jesus to come we're specifically talking about The rapture the rapture of the church where Jesus want to call his church to meet him in the air and and then there's going to be a seven-year tribulation and then there's going to be the millennial reign of Christ here on earth and.

And then the the end in comes after that. So that's that's the the view. That that I grew up with that I thought was the only view. But when it comes to defending that view, this is this is what I've experienced.

I was One of the reasons and and it may be It may be common with with other folks to this experience that I had. I always found it hard to To study that subject because I I didn't know where to go. I didn't know where to look I didn't know how to defend it.

So it's it's always been a Subject that I would avoid. Because this is the view that was taught to me. This is the view that I held but I didn't know where to study it how to defend it. And and you know, everybody wants their pastor to study the book of Revelation but because it's so difficult to understand and interpret and You just don't know where to go and and you know, if you and I want you to reflect in your heart.

If you hold this view what or whatever view of in times that you hold it, but if you hold this view of in times Examine yourself real quick examine yourself. Are you able to defend? that particular view.

You say that's the view that I hold yes, we're looking for the rapture. We're looking for the tribulation. We see all these bad things happening. Can you can you defend? that that particular view. Now I know that especially right now I have seen quite a few Pastors going through Revelation going through in times the end time subject right now.

Locally there's there's quite a few that are doing it and and they are able to teach it. They have studied this view and the interpretation of this view enough to where they can they can share it. They can so we you know those that can do that.

We view them as experts and you know, at least there at least my pastor is able to defend it. He's he's able I don't have to but our pastor. But you know We're gonna go back to scripture that says study to show yourself approved.

And so it's not just our pastor that has to study and show us up approved and know it. We need to be able to do it, too. But what they are able to teach what they are able to defend from my point of view is is what they've they've accumulated from from other people the meanings of the text and when it comes to from those who Defend that particular point of view of in times they will they will take a certain scripture about the end times and Read it and explain it and say well, this is what this has to mean.

And and it has to mean this and then and it has to mean that. But they don't really defend it from scripture. But when it comes to this other view From from me studying it for me listening to other folks that hold to this view.

When it comes to explaining and defending this view of in times of scripture. We you will look at a passage that is concerning in times eschatology and. And then to be able to defend it what they will do is they will go to other Passages of scripture and say I know this is hard to understand but this is what it what it means.

From other places in scripture. This is where they are getting it from. This is this is the other places in scripture where you can interpret and understand what those in time verses are talking about.

So that's the that's the difference that I've seen in trying to defend these two views and on the one hand you have a view That will look at a scripture concerning in times and and just say this is what this has to mean.

It just has to mean that and the reason it has to mean that is because if if it doesn't mean that then They're in times view just falls apart. So it has to mean certain things even if you can't find any other scriptures to back it up.

But this this view that I'm leaning towards the post-millennial view. You look at an in times verse and You are able to find other passages many other passages to help interpret that passage. To understand it and see what it means and see what scripture is talking about what God wants us to know.

So I believe that you should be able to defend a certain verse From the rest of the Bible from the from other other scriptures. That's what a that's what appeals to me so much about this this particular in times view is you're able to defend it from other passages of scripture.

For instance just just one example and I've got to hurry because I want to end so that I can get back to the conference. The Antichrist. Very popular doctrine everybody's familiar with that term. That's probably one of the most popular terms worldwide is is the Antichrist.

And so we are looking for an Antichrist to come on the scene. During the tribulation. Well a lot of folks that believe in this particular view where that an Antichrist is coming. He's gonna be a world leader come on the scene.

Um. Where do you do where do you defend that where do you come up with who this Antichrist is and they go to all Several passages all throughout scripture and say this is this is the Antichrist. This is this verse is talking about the Antichrist and this is who he's going to be but they rarely go to The passage of scripture that actually mentioned the Antichrist and then define the Antichrist.

And you won't find the Antichrist in Revelation or anywhere else you only find the Antichrist in First John and second John. I think those are the only two places that you find the Antichrist spoken about and defined and if you go with the definition from first and second John about who the Antichrist is or the mindset of Antichrist.

Then you go to these other verses that they use to defend Antichrist and it doesn't match up with John's definition of what Antichrist is and so that's. That's how it appeals to me. That's why it appeals to me so much is that you you can't say.

This is what this means without being able to defend it with the rest of scripture and that's just one example. A lot of folks go to to Daniel chapter 9 and we that was one the verses that we in my other video that we Talked about a lot of folks go to Daniel chapter 9 to say that the Antichrist is in Daniel chapter 9, but in the context Daniel chapter 9 is speaking of the Messiah.

He's speaking of the Messiah. He's speaking of Jesus Christ, not the Antichrist. And so it's just it's amazing if you if you study the scripture in context. It will reveal itself to you and so I just wanted to share that with you.

Just to appeal to you not to a certain point of view but to appeal to you to Be obedient to scripture when it says study to show yourself approved that that's all I'm reaching out for is being open-minded.

All of us being human. And not in our glorified state yet. We all have room to grow and learn. No matter how knowledgeable we are. No matter how studied we are. We are we can all grow and learn in scripture.

So we shouldn't if someone wants to Examine scripture. We shouldn't shut them down. Because we may we may be able to help and someone may be able to help me so It's it's frustrating when when someone wants to shut me down when I want to examine scripture.

And I hope you don't have that experience if you truly desire the the milk of God's Word. I hope when you reach out to someone they don't shut you down because it's a very disappointing experience to be shut down.

So let's jump into Philippians this morning. And sorry for that that long introduction. I just wanted to speak on those things for a moment. But if I can pray for you. All you have to do is type me and what we'll pray at the end, but we are we are coming towards the end of Philippians we're in Philippians chapter 4 and I'm going to specifically look at verses 13 through 17 13 through 17.

But we're going to read a few other verses so that we are interpreting this this particular section in context and I think looking at the context will help us to understand where Paul is is coming from and Paul is going to bring out what I was speaking of just a moment ago that When I said, you know, he calls us to knowledge.

He calls us to wisdom. He calls us to grow in in our doctrine of Jesus Christ and and all the doctrines of Scripture. He calls us to that. But he's going to show us that that's. Even though that's necessary.

There's a purpose. There's a purpose in that there's a there's a another step after that that he wants us to to be working towards and almost as if it's a our hearts motivation for Growing up in all aspects into him and in our doctrine and our knowledge and wisdom.

So let's get started. Verse 13 in Chapter 4 of Philippians is one of the most popular verses in Scripture. And it says I can do all things through him who strengthens me and of course that that verse is oftentimes taken out of context.

So What we want to see Paul saying here is He is. He's writing to the Philippian church and and over and over and over again in Philippians. He he continues to to speak of their giving of their their their heart of giving to him and and how much They're taking care of him and and the gift that that was sent to him where he's at in this location.

Through Epaphroditus. He is so thankful and he he repeats this thankfulness. Concerning their their willingness to share and and give gifts to him and provide for him and take care of him over and over again we see.

Starting in verse 10 kind of is the beginning of this session. He says but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. That now at last you have revived your concern for me indeed you were concerned before but you lacked opportunity.

You know, they they they wanted to help him. They just didn't have the means and the ability to help him. But now it's been revived and that ability to help him has has Come back around and they're able to to provide for him and take care of him and send gifts to him.

But then he has this little section verses 11 through 13 13 kind of kind of wraps up. This little section 11 through 13 He says not that I speak from won't for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance.

I'm in or Whatever circumstance I am I know how to get along with humble means and I also Know how to live in prosperity in any and every circumstance. I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry both having abundance and suffering.

Need and then verse 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. So you have his on one hand you have his gratefulness for their provision. For for always taking care of him and the gifts that they give him but then on this hand, he begins to speak to them and say Even though I have this provision I want you to know that I've learned to to get along without it and And be content in whatever circumstance God has me in I'm content.

I have joy. Even without the provision even without the gift, but he doesn't want them to misunderstand his point. That he is still grateful for the gift for the provision that they provide for him. And so that's he he goes on to say in verse 14 going in that direction.

He wants them to learn to be content in whatever circumstance God has them in. They don't have to be prosperous and and and rich filthy rich. They he wants them to follow his example of being content and joyful in whatever circumstance God has them in.

But so that they don't misunderstand him and think Okay, maybe he's not grateful for what we're doing for him and the provision that we're providing in the gifts that we're giving. Maybe he's not grateful.

He doesn't want them to think that. And we know that but by what he goes on to say Next he says nevertheless You have done well to share with me in my affliction so They're giving their provision. They're joining with him all the things that they are doing.

He wants to remind them even though I'm content and whatever I have I want you to know what you're doing for me. You've done. Well, it's a beautiful thing. I think the the original language tries to bring out it that it's a beautiful thing.

What you're able to do what you're doing for me, and I want you to know that I am thankful for it. Because it's a beautiful thing. It's a godly thing. It's a wonderful thing. So you have those two things going on and he doesn't want them to misunderstand Where he's coming from, but he wants them to to understand and and know that he is grateful.

You have done well with to share with me in my affliction verse 15 and You yourselves also know Philippians. That at the first preaching of the gospel After I departed from Macedonia. No church and here he is going to lift them up.

He's going to lift their hearts. He's going to encourage them In this area. I know that I spoke to you just a second ago of being content. And I know it come across as me being ungrateful for your your sacrifice your provision for me.

I want you to know Despite the fact that I can be content and you can be content He is going to encourage their hearts here and reiterate How grateful he is for and how good it is Where they are in their hearts in their desire to give and provide.

He says after I departed from Macedonia no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone. What an encouragement and the language that Paul is using here is it is. And he does it quite often here in Philippians.

He's using a business type language where there's a there's like a Ledger and you have Someone in debt and you have a place where you can mark where they're they they give to pay off the debt. They're they're in the hole or they're they're in the In the black or the red on the on the ledger.

So these are business type terms when he says in the matter of giving and receiving. He's speaking in business type terms. So if you if you look at Acts where he Paul is going on his his journeys. And he's he's going to these churches and you look here specifically like in Philippians.

Where he is he there he's giving to them The gospel he's given to them Jesus Christ and when I say Jesus Christ and the gospel. We're speaking of course the the saving power of the gospel the the justification aspect of the gospel but if you if you look at these books you also see the the rest of the the aspects of The gospel and Jesus Christ and it and it doesn't just stop at justification but Paul can teaches them how to live in Christ how to walk in Christ how to walk in the Spirit and so It's not just that one aspect of the gospel that Paul gives them and it leaves them alone.

He is he is teaching them how to To live that out and and I think you know, we looked at that in Philippians. Was a verse 12. Yeah, verse 12 in chapter 2. So then my beloved just as you have always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence.

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. So yeah, it's not just that first aspect of the gospel it's it's all the other aspects of the gospel that Paul is teaching them to work out their salvation and.

So Paul is giving giving giving to them Jesus Christ. And they are receiving. They're receiving this this payment of Jesus Christ. And so they they feel an indebtedness to Paul because he shared with them so much.

That they want to give and and they they felt this gratefulness so much after receiving What Paul has given them that they continue to to give and to provide and share with Paul. Gifts and provisions and of course Paul as we've said before he is thanking them he is encouraging them in their heart of giving and You know, he says here you know other church shared but you alone and We can see their heart of gratefulness for what Paul is Has done for them in teaching them about the Lord Jesus Christ and how to walk in him.

And then he says in verse 16 for even in Thessalonica. So when Paul visited and he visited this church and he was teaching at Thessalonica, you know. Of course the same thing they of course every church had had different issues.

But he was teaching them Jesus Christ. He was teaching them salvation. He was teaching them how to live and walk just like he did with the Philippian Church. And so when he was there at Thessalonica for even in Thessalonica, he said you sent a gift More than once for my needs how he said I was even at another church and that that church.

You know, you could have expected that church to do their part in taking care of me and providing for my needs. He said but even when I was at another church you didn't just expect them to take care of my needs and provide for me and Take care of me you continue to send gifts and take care of me and provisions no matter where I was at and he just didn't leave it up to another church.

That was how grateful they were for Paul and That's how grateful Paul is for them. That he wants to continue to encourage them the verse 17. Here's here's where we get to the part where Paul wants them to to not misunderstand again.

He didn't want them to misunderstand his his Contentment as ungratefulness and here he doesn't want them to misunderstand the the goal of Giving. He doesn't want them to misunderstand the goal of giving and and I would say that he doesn't want us to misunderstand the goal of giving.

So what is the goal of giving verse 17 not that I seek the gift itself. So he I think he says all this After The contentment part and before this part. He says all this other stuff. Just to ease their heart.

He doesn't want them to misunderstand In teaching them the the true where their heart needs to be the the true interpretation or I. He doesn't want them to misunderstand the fact that he is grateful for their provision and what they do.

But he wants them to understand correctly what Jesus is doing in their hearts. Not that not that I seek the gift itself. The the gift that Epaphroditus sent the gifts that he sent when he was at Thessaloniki.

Excuse me all the provisions that they provided and it's grateful as I am to you Philippian Church. It's not just the gift that I seek and he's gonna say this and it's not just the gift itself. That you should seek to give.

Not that I seek the gift itself. But I seek for the profit Which increases to your account. So there's a spiritual aspect of this behind the physical giving we can be grateful For a gift a physical gift.

We can have a desire to provide a physical gift to someone to provide and meet the needs of someone. Physically we can have that desire and that's a good desire and and Paul says it's a beautiful thing.

It's a beautiful thing for us to have that desire and for us to to not just have the desire. But to fulfill that desire and to give physical gifts and to meet other people's needs. But we under we need to understand that there's a spiritual aspect behind The the physical giving you know, if we just stop at the the physical giving.

And stay in the physical realm. That's where we we begin to move into. The the sinfulness of it the pride creeps in. Look how much I gave look how much I have done. You need to and we can then hold it over somebody else's head.

Look how much I've done for you. You need to you need to treat me this way. You need to do this for me in return because look at what I've done for you. We can move into that realm when we stay in the physical and and focus on the gift.

We can move into a Sinful behavior that that pride that manipulation. And whatever else Can be conjured up in our heart when it comes to staying in the physical realm Of giving gifts and providing and meeting needs of somebody else.

Paul says we need to move and out outside of The the physical area or realm of giving physical gifts. Because there's a spiritual nature behind it. That we need to focus on. He says but I seek for the Prophet.

Not for himself. He he's enjoying receiving the gifts from the Philippians. Not so that not because he's receiving a gift and how much the gift benefits him. He's enjoying receiving the gifts that benefit him physically because it provides a spiritual growth for the giver.

That's that's the reverse. That's the spiritual side of this. It's it's taking the focus off the gift. So that we we don't fall into the the sinful realm. But it looks at the spiritual nature of gift giving.

So that we can focus on it rightly glorifying God. Growing in Christ. He is enjoying this physical gift because it it profits them. Spiritually, I seek for the Prophet which increases your account. Their account the folks at the Philippian Church their account it profits them.

And what does that word Prophet mean? It can be interpreted as fruit. They begin to bear fruit because of their gift giving it bears spiritual fruit and. And where else did we see that? We saw this at the beginning of Philippians and I want to look at Philippians chapter 1.

It seems like this this mindset is Where Paul begins and where Paul is ending and so he's he's going to. He is going to speak to this spiritual nature. Of where he wants them to be and then here of course in chapter 4.

This gift-giving is is part of that growth that spiritual growth. And that's why he points it out. But let's look at Philippians chapter 1 where he he speaks on this the same subject of their their spiritual growth.

And I'm just gonna start it at verse 1 and we're gonna make our way to. We're just gonna read through verse 11, but we're making our way to this. Similar idea that he's revisiting in chapter 4 verse 1 Paul and Timothy bond servants of Christ Jesus to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi including the overseers or elders or pastors and deacons grace to you and peace and I Read this and and I wanted to make this comment in in verse 1 he's speaking to and writing to the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi and then he makes this comment including including the overseers pastors elders and Deacons and that kind of hits on what I was speaking of earlier.

No matter how how much how long you've been in ministry how how much you studied. Paul says I'm including you pastors and deacons. You need to hear this too so if if someone is in ministry and someone Has been in ministry for a long time.

This is the attitude that I think we we should have as as folks being in the ministry and being in the ministry for years. Took to maintain this type of attitude that Paul's letters Paul's teaching Are still for me and and I can still grow and I can still learn and grow up in Christ.

I'm not. I've not arrived. And Paul speaks to that in Philippians as well. We don't we don't need to have the attitude that I've arrived. I've made it. I've learned all that I can learn. You need to start learning from me.

Paul says this thing. This is including you pastors and deacons. He says in verse 2 grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all remembrance of you always offering prayer with joy.

Am I in my every prayer for you all in view of your participation? And this is where he begins to get in to this this idea that he's revisiting in chapter 4 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now remember he was.