“…I count all things loss for THE EXCELLENCE OF THE KNOWLEDGE (personal intimate knowledge, vs. intellectual knowledge) OF CHRIST Jesus my Lord…that I may GAIN CHRIST and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness…but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may KNOW HIM and THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and REACHING FORWARD to those things WHICH ARE AHEAD, I PRESS toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:7-10, 12-14) Paul did not get to spend personal time with Jesus because he did not believe in His deity, until he was struck to the ground and blinded on the way to Damascus. Where his spiritual eyes were opened wide to Christs deity and to his calling of Christ to preach the gospel. Where Paul has discovered:
- Everything is loss compared to the personal and very INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE of Jesus Christ…
- His need now is to gain Christ and be found in Him…
- To intimately be aware of the power of the resurrection of Jesus and to know of His sufferings…
- To forget everything from the past and reach out to what’s ahead…
- Press, (diōkō: to seek after eagerly), toward the goal of knowing and doing the Lord’s calling…
“…join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us FOR A PATTERN. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ…For our citizenship IS IN HEAVEN, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Phil. 3:17-18, 20)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham