Section 9
filled and to hunger, both to abound and to be in want. I can do all things in Him who empowers me" (Phil. 4:11-13). Before he charged the saints to let their forbearance be known to all men, he exercised forbearance himself. No doubt, Paul's forbearance was made known to those around him. He was full of understanding, wisdom, con siderateness, sympathy, mercy, and kindness. He was also full of the life supply.
If we read the book of Philippians carefully, we shall see that 3:17-21 is a separate section. This means that, spiritually speaking, Philippi ans 4:1 is the continuation of 3:16. After exhort ing the saints to walk by the same rule, Paul charges them to "stand firm in the Lord" (Phil. 4:1). Then he urges them to rejoice in the Lord (v. 4) and to let their forbearance be known to all men (v. 5). Later in chapter four he testifies that he can do all things in the One who empow ers him. Thus, Paul could make his forbearance known to the saints because he was in the One who empowered him. Furthermore, he was con tent, having learned the secret both how to be abased and how to abound.
THE NEED OF GROWTH
It is not easy to make our forbearance known