That I May Know Him (Phil. 3:10-14)
Today, many people are determined to get a promotion, a higher degree or a better 401 K plan. Many students are determined to get good grades. As the election year heats up we hear about hundreds of politicians who are determined to get elected to important offices. Yet,how many are determined to know Christ better? Our determined purpose tells a great deal about our mindset, our character and our usefulness to God. Listen to Paul’s statement of his determined purpose and consider how you measure up.
Illustration: C.I. Schofield, editor of the annotated Bible that is associated with his name used to tell of his resentment that every time he met with Dwight L. Moody, the noted American evangelist, would pray that Schofields’s commission might be renewed. He did not care for the implication of that prayer. But later he came to see that the clear sighted Moody had discerned his Achilles’ heel. Moody saw that with Scofield’s intense preoccupation with the intellectual side of the Christian faith he was in danger of losing his zeal for God and love for his fellow men. Hence the evangelist repeated the petition for his friend.
Every disciple, especially those with a tendency to intellectualize their faith has to guard against this peril.
Application: Let us choose to know (ginosko - understand, perceive and experientially learn) more about Christ instead of merely settling for an intellectual knowledge (oida) about the Lord Jesus.
Illustration: There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.
Billy Sunday in a sermon, "Wonderful," quoted in The Real Billy Sunday.
" For my determined purpose is that I may know Him (that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly. That I may in the same way come to know the power, outflowing from His resurrection (which it exerts over believers) and that I may so share in His sufferings as to be continually transformed (in spirit into His likeness even to His death." (Phil. 3:10 - Amplified)
Paul’s purposed to know more about some of the following dimensions of Christ as we should too:
1. CHRIST’S LOVE - Paul sought to know more about all the dimensions of Christ’s love as He wrote, "May Christ through your faith dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts. May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love. That you may have the power to apprehend and experience what is the breadth and length and height and depth of it. That you may really come to know (practically, through experience for yourselves, the love of Christ." (Eph. 3:18,19)
Illustration: In Christ We Have:
A love that can never be fathomed
A life that can never die
A righteousness that can never be tarnished
A peace that can never be understood
A rest that can never be disturbed
A joy that can never be diminished
A hope that can never be disappointed
A glory that can never be clouded
A light that can never be darkened
A purity that can never be defiled
A beauty that can never be marred
A wisdom that can never be baffled
Resources that can never be exhausted.
Application: Let us seek to know more of Christ’s loving endurance, its limitless ability to be with us in the highs and low times of life and its wide ability to help us relate to people from all backgrounds.
2. CHRIST’S LIBERTY - Paul grew in his experiential knowledge of Christ by understanding more of the Spirit’s liberty. Paul wrote, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." By knowing more of the truth of Christ, Paul gained in his understanding of Christ’s statement, "If you continue in my word then truly you are my disciples. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31,32) We gain greater liberty when we are led by the Word and the Spirit in our decision-making, emotions and behaviors.
3. CHRIST’S LAW - Paul grew in understanding of Christ through his study of the law of God. Surely, during his memorizing of the law as a Pharisee Paul recalled, "The law of the Lord is perfect reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant giving light to the eyes...The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." (Psa 19:7-11)
Application: Let us learn to grow in our reverence, trust and obedience to the law of God so we may experience its benefits as Paul did.
4. CHRIST’S LEADERSHIP - Paul followed Christ as His leader. In Phil. 3:10-14 we learn that Paul followed Christ’s leading through the empowering of His resurrection as well as through His suffering example. Paul understood this from the words of Jesus who said, "If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever will save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake, will save it." (Luke 9:23,24) We can only learn more of Christ as we are willing to allow Him to lead us by taking up the crosses of responsibilities that He gives us even if it means denying our selfish pleasures.
Quote: Each of us has a choice - whether to be proud or humble. Today in prayer, confess any sin of pride to the Lord and seek to clothe yourself in humility.
"Give me humility, in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride, which is the heaviest of burdens." - Thomas Merton
God’s Word: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." - James 4:10
5. CHRIST’S LIGHT - Paul followed the light of Christ as he relied on the enlightening of the Holy Spirit to gain greater knowledge of the Lord and His will. He wrote, "I pray that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened so that you may know the hope of your calling, the glorious riches of your inheritance and what is the exceedingly great power for your who believe." (Eph. 1:18,19) Surely, Paul remembered what David wrote, "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom then shall I fear." (Psa 27:1) When we allow the Lord to be our light and His word to light our pathway, then we can gain a greater illumination of Christ and His perspectives for everything in life.
6. CHRIST’S LORDSHIP - Paul began to plummet the depths of the understanding of Christ by learning more about His total Lordship, Providence and sovereign control over all things. He wrote, "Keep all His precepts unsullied, flawless, irreproachable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, the anointe One. Who appearing will be shown forth in his proper time by the blessed only Sovereign ruler, the King of kingds and the Lord of lords." (I Tim. 6:14,15)
Paul worshiped the Lord Jesus Christ as his boss, master and sovereign controller of all things, may we do the same.
7. CHRIST AS OUR LIFTER and LISTENER - Paul gained greater insights about Christ by realizing that He constantly intercedes for us with groanings and travailings to deep for words. (Rom. 8:26,27) Paul knew Jesus as the one whom David wrote about, "For thou Oh Lord are a shield for me. The glory and the lifter of my head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice and he heard me out of his holy hill." (Psa 3:3,4) Like Paul we gain a greater appreciation for Christ and His capacities to renew, revive and reinvigorate us when we cry out to Him for deliverance from our depression, discouragement or distress.
8. CHRIST’S LONG-SUFFERING - Paul understood that Christ’s enduring love, patience and perseverance was inexhaustible, so we can count on Him to take us to the end. Paul wrote, "Being conformed to Him even to His death." (Phil. 3:10,11) Paul wrote, "Love is long-suffering." The greek word is macro-thumeo, meaning the ability to endure under the heat of trials. Just as Christ had the endurance to go all the way to the cross of Calvary for us, so He will give us whatever we need to finish the work He has called us to do. Never doubt, never grow weary in well doing, knowing that the power of Christ will help you confidently say like Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:13)
9. CHRIST AS OUR LESSON GIVER - Paul knew that Christ was continually teaching him knew lessons everyday and in everyway. Surely Paul memorized the words of his friend James, "Count it all joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the trial of your faith works patience. Let patience have it perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2,3) Let us never get so wise that we are beyond the point of learning knew lessons from the Lord. Let us ask God to teach us through the trials as well as through the pleasant times. In order to be perfect in Christ, we need to remain humble, teachable and available for whatever school of tribulations He wants us to graduate from.
10. CHRIST’S LIMIT-SETTING - Paul learned that Christ sets limits to keep us humble. He wrote, "Three times I called upon the Lord and besought Him about this thorn in my flesh, but He said to me, My grace (my favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you (sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully) for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and complete) and show themselves to be most effective in your weakness. Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ may rest, yes may pitch a tent over and dwell upon me. So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses, for when I am weak (In human strength) then am I truly strong (able, powerful in divine strength)." (2 Cor 12:9,10)
Application: Let us learn how to rejoice in Christ’s limits that He sets so we can depend more upon Him for His working through our weaknesses, hardships and life’s perplexing limitations.
Song: Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way!
When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way!
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way!
In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress,
In failure or success, teach me Thy way!
When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way!
When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me Thy way!
Shine through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil and pain;
Make Thou my pathway plain, teach me Thy way!
Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way!
Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way!
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way!
Attributes of God to Praise and to Know More Intimately to Enhance Our Relationship and Love for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit:
Face of Truth, Faith, Love & Hope
Facer of challenges
Facer of our sin and shortcoming
Facer of Reality
Facilitator
Facilitator of Evangelism & C. Planting, Growth and Revival
Fact Giver and Determiner
Faculty giver and enabler
Failure Exposer
Failure preventer
Fair One who has the right to what He wants
Fairest Lord Jesus Ruler of all Nature
Fairest of ten thousand
Fairest of the ten thousand
Faith Author and Guider
Faith author and perfecter
Faithful friend
Faithful in love, truth and companionship
Faithful One
Faithful till the end
Faithful witness and true
Fall Preventer
Fall redeemer, reconciler, recognizer, realizer, response prompter & rescuer
False Detector
Family creator and maintainer
Family Giver and Connector
Family giver and placer and maturer
Family Need Provider
Famous One
Far Above all that we ask or think
Far Above Man & His Problems
Far Above Our Thoughts
Farmer as one who harvests & multiplies
Far-sighted as you see the end from the beginning
Far-sighted One
Fascinating One
Fascination
Father
Father giver and shaper
Father of all
Father over all creation
Father who has compassion
Fault finder and deliverer
Faultless Presenter
Favor giver
Favor giver
Favorable One
Favorite one
Fear not for I am with you
Fear Overcomer
Fear replacer with power, love & s/control
Fear the Lord teacher and enabler
Fearful in praises doing wonders
Fearful One
Fearless against all enemies
Featured One
Feeder of the hungry souls
Feelings of sadness replaced with joy
Feels our pain
Fellowship of the Holy Spirit
Fellowshipping Spirit
Fence Provider to Protect & Preserve
Fervent in passion
Fidelity
Field owner and harvester
Fighter against all evil in world, flesh & devil
Fighter against all that opposes His kingdom
Fighter of the battles for us
Fighter of the good fight of faith
Fighter of the opposition & challenges
Filler with your Spirit
Fills the longing soul w/ what is good
Fills us with joy
Filter of all that is not in His will
Final Judge
Final judge
Finance giver, controller & limiter
Financial investment director, producer
Financial security
Finder of answers to our problems
Finder of our needs
Finder of Solutions, Words & Ideas
Finder of the Lost, Lonely & Hurting
Fine example
Finisher
Finisher of what He begins
Fire Inspirer, Illuminater
Fire that ignites, inspires and inflames
Fire-fighter
Firm support
First and the last
First and the last
First place in our lives
First seeker of Your Kingdom & Righteousness
Firstborn over all creation
Fisher of men
Fitness trainer and enabler
Fitter of what is best, right and appropriate
Fixer of broken hearts
Fixer of our problems
Fixing our eyes on Jesus
Flame Giver
Flanker of the enemy
Fleece Provider
Flight director and pilot
Floats Us In the Storms of Life
Focus of all creation
Focuser on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith
Focuser on the essentials
Focuser on What is Best
Foe to the opposers of God’s will
Follow-up Director
Food provider for all who look to you in faith
Forbidder by refusing to allow anything not in accordance with Your will
Force Above All
Force for our weaknesses
Forebearer and Ancestor
Forecaster
Forecloser who takes possession
Foregoer who procedes ahead
Foreknowledge Holder
Foreman Who Supervises Us
Forerunner who went before us entered in on our behalf
Foretaste of glory divine
Foreteller of what is to come
Forever past and future God
Forgets Not His Own
Forgetter of what lies behind
Forgiveness giver
Forgiver of our past, present and future sins
Formalizer giving definite legal form
Former, Shaper & Carver
Formidable Inspiring Fear & Awe
Formula for What Is Needed
Forsakes us Never
Forswears & Renounces Sin
Forthcoming King & Judge
Fortifier of the weak and vulnerable
Fortress in times of trouble
Fortress in whom we take refuge
Fortune owner & giver
Fortifier of the weak
Forum Provider
Forward looking God
Forward marcher
Forward our messages to the others
Foundation
Foundation as the basis for every good construction
Foundation layer
Foundry Shaping & Molding Us
Fountain of living water
Fragrance of the knowledge of Him in every place
Frank and true
Frank speaker of truth
Fraternity Provider & Preserver
Fraught Deliverer & Reliever
Free to do whatever You want with anyone
Freedom enhancer and giver
Freedom giver and breaker of all bondages
Freedom provider and Limiter
Freer from the bondages of sin
Frees us from the law through the Spirit
Freeway Provider & Director
Frequent Reminder
Fret Not for I AM With You
Freshwater Giver
Fresher of our souls
Friend at all times
Friend from my youth
Friend Giver
Friend if we do what He commands
Friend in times of trouble
Friend of Sinners
From Our Youth Faithful & True
From You & Thru You & To You are all things to you be the glory forever
From You and Through You and To you are all things
Fruit giver
Fruit Giver and Pruner
Frustration reliever and replacer w/satisfaction
Fuel at work in us both to will and do of your good pleasure
Fulfillment and satisfaction
Full Time Intercessor
Fullness of joy in His presence
Fully Trustworthy
Fully Able
Fully Revealing His Attributes & Truth & Love, Grace, Nobility, Honor & Glory
Fun Giver and Limiter
Furbisher for all good works
Furnisher of what is needed
Future knower
