and the power of his resurrection
and the fellowship of his sufferings
being made conformable unto his death
Philippians 3:10
Let us open the Bible and read some from it
Today: Philippians 3:4-14
4 Even though I myself might have faith in the flesh: if any other man has reason to have faith in the flesh, I have more: 5 Being given circumcision on the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in relation to the law, a Pharisee: 6 In bitter hate I was cruel to the church; I kept all the righteousness of the law to the last detail. 7 But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ. 8 Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward, 9 And be seen in him, not having my righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death; 11 If in any way I may have the reward of life from the dead. 12 Not as if I had even now got the reward or been made complete: but I go on in the hope that I may come to the knowledge of that for which I was made the servant of Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before, 14 I go forward to the mark, even the reward of the high purpose of God in Christ Jesus.
Dear brother or sister,
Philippians 3:4-14 is a powerful text in which the apostle Paul begins by talking of his attainments in the secular and religious world. He had social and religious position, but he counted them as nothing compared to knowing Christ.You see that verse 10 contains 4 phrases.
1. That I may know Him:
Paul had been struck down on the road to Damascus. He had seen Jesus and heard Him speak. He spent several years in the desert, obtaining by direct revelation, the gospel he that preached. At some point he was caught up into heaven and saw things that were unlawful for him to utter.
"one like the son of man" and yet he fell to the ground as dead. John had just seen Him in a different light.
And yet he did not feel that he really knew Christ.
I believe that throughout scripture we see a progressive revelation of Jesus.
He is shown from the time He was born as a baby until he speaks with power and majesty from the throne of heaven. The scene at the transfiguration gives us a glimpse of an added dimension, His Deity. I believe that when Peter and James and John came down from the mountain, they viewed Jesus a little differently. This is shown again in Revelation when John saw
When I try to comprehend Him, I realize that I really don't know Him.
I certainly know Him better than I used to, but I really don't know Him.
No matter how much I learn of Him, there will always be more to learn. When I read of Him in the Word, I get a glimpse and a glimmer of Him and yet I know that the writer has just scratched the surface.
- How can a mere man, even with inspiration, describe a God who spoke the world into existence from nothing.
- How can He describe a Creator who makes man from the dust of the earth? Most of all, how do we describe a God who robes Himself in mortal flesh so that He could die on a cross?We read of Him turning water into wine, but is this the limit of His power?
When we read of all His mighty miracles described in the Bible, we realize that we are only seeing a glimpse of the whole, we do not see the whole story. We often, as they say, try to put "God in a box." But because He answered prayer in a particular way back in 1950, it doesn't mean that He must do the same in 1980, or now in 2005. Perhaps He'll chose to answer my prayer in a different way, just to show me a different aspect of Himself.
2. The power of His resurrection:
Jesus told His disciples to wait until they had been endued with power from on high. He said that after the Holy Ghost came upon they would be witnesses for Him to the uttermost parts of the earth. The disciples did not leave Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost. Jesus said the Comforter would teach us all things and bring His commandments to remembrance. We cannot substitute anything for the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost.
3. And the fellowship of His suffering:
We don't like to talk about suffering.
It's not a popular theme that arouses our emotions. It is a necessary theme.
What Paul is saying here is that "If I want to know Him, I must choose to suffer with Him." It has often been said, "No Cross, no crown." Paul had certainly suffered for the gospel. We read where he was imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, betrayed and forsaken.
We read in Acts where the apostles counted it joy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Peter tells us that "If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him."
Jesus had something to say on the subject also.
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
I'm certainly not looking for suffering, but I can't run from it either.
I get very concerned about popular themes that substitute power and prestige for the suffering of the cross.
The next time you hear someone preaching about using the gospel to get rich, ask yourself this question. Will I use the cross to obtain the riches of this world, or will I use the cross and all it's sufferings to obtain the riches of the world to come?
4. Being made conformable to His death.
Paul said that he bore in his body the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the Life of Jesus might be made manifest in his mortal body.
2Cor4:10
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. That says it all and can hardly be amplified upon.
In summary,I can simple say with Paul I haven't attained."
I can also say with Paul, I'm pressing on towards the mark to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Yes I know Him, but there is still much more to know of Him.
If I would know Him, I must share in the suffering of His cross.
This is accomplished by the infilling of the Holy Ghost, which is the power of His resurrection.
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