The Power of Knowing Him...Thursday

6/19/14 

Victory comes out of your relationship with Him.

Philippians 3:1-11 (Amplified Bible)

 ¹FOR THE rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord and continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety.

    ²Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

    ³For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges 

and physical advantages and external appearances--

    ⁴Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more!

    ⁵Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law 

I was of [the party of] the Pharisees,

    ⁶As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law's standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless 
and no fault was found with me.

    ⁷But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider 
[as one combined] loss for Christ's sake.

    ⁸Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs),
in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

    ⁹And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God,
which comes from God by [saving] faith.

    ¹⁰[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], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

    ¹¹That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

Taking no confidence in our flesh Phil3:3

We must stop identifying with the old man.  Identify with the new man that we are.  We must not have any confidence in our gifts or abilities. 

Counting all things loss Phil 3:7

What would you pay to KNOW HIM?  How far would you go to follow HIM? Did you know He is so crazy about you?  Our confidence must be in Him.

In Pursuit of the excellent knowledge of Him Phil 3:8
We must go after HIM!  Our mind must be so focused on Jesus.  Are you in hot pursuit after HIM?  Oh He is so crazy about you.  What are you filling up on?   

⁶Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! 

Matthew 5:6 

Hunger- to seek with eager desire.  

Thirst- Pain full longing or want.

The guy in the desert he is thirsty, the guy who has not had any water for days in the hot dry sun and desert.  We should be that hungry and thirsty.  We should pursue with all we are.  Oh I want to know all things about my God, My Jesus, My Holy Spirit.  The hungry thirst part that should be us.  We are bankrupt without our God.  Do not settle for only 2^nd hand revelation, do not be satisfied with what others teach you.  Go after it yourself.  Never be satisfied where you are in Christ.  The teaching that you get should put a desire in you to go after it yourself.  We should always want more and more of our King, our Jesus. 

To what extent will you go to know Him? 
How full do you want to get?  How much do you want?

And this is eternal life:
Jesus  [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize,
become acquainted with, and understand) You,
the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him,
Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah),
Whom You have sent. John 17:3

You bless His socks off getting to know Him.  To know Him equals experience with Him, to sit with Him.  We can know Him on the pages of His Word, but get in His presence, get quiet with Him.  If you hang out with the one who knows the truth He will show you things. 

If you do not know the plans that He has for you, get to know Him because your plan is in Him.  As you focus on Him He talks to you about our tomorrows.  Glory to God. 

Counting the cost of going on Phil 3:8 

So you ask what will it cost me?  Well it could cost you friends, family, occupation, reputation.

But what will you gain 3:8

Christ, different friends, friends that believe as you believe, think as you think. New family, purpose for your life, your calling, when you spend time with Him you will learn your purpose and your calling.  To be known by Him, he wants to know you personally.  You say but he already knows everything about me.  He wants you to talk to Him, share with Him your heart, your desires.  Oh how He loves you.  We were made for relationship.  He loves to get to know you.  Come away with your Jesus, stay in love with your Jesus.

When hard times come we will be able to go through them because we will know the love He has for us, because we have spent the time with Him  As we go through things we will get to know Him better by getting in His presence.  Each thing that comes you will know His faithfulness to you.  You will count all things lost because you know you can get through it, because He loves you.  He has so much to give to us, so much to show us.

To know and relate to His suffering and death 3:10

Is to really understand life and its purpose and to die to self.

To know the power of His resurrection 3:10

Is to have His power operate through you, to live free from fear, to understand who you really are.

³But if one loves God truly [with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience, and grateful recognition of His blessing], he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him]. 

1 Cor 8:3

³³But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things ^[c]taken together will be given you besides. 

Matthew 6:33

Father when I rise in the morning thank you that I have Jesus.  When I am alone thank you that I have Jesus. And when I come to die thank you that I have Jesus. 

Written by
Kathryn Hansen