That I May Know Him

Posted on April 9, 2015 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Join us this Thursday evening, April 9th for Men’s Fellowship Night. Pastor Ron Schmidt from Davisville Church will be sharing God’s Word. Call for reservations: 800-453-7942

That I May Know Him…

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformed to his death. (Philippians 3: 10)

As part of my Inner Renewal Time I am studying Going Deeper, a book by one of my dad’s favorite authors, J. Sidlow That I May Know HimBaxter. This book is so old (1959) that the price on the cover is $ 1.95. The exciting thing is that books about God’s Word are never outdated if they present the eternal truth of God’s Word. I now realize why Baxter was one of my dad’s favorite writers. Over 80 pages of this book are a commentary on one verse, Philippians 3: 10, That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformed to his death.

Those of us who have a prayer life (and all of us should) have probably asked for the power of God in our lives. But what’s interesting in this text is that the power of His resurrection is tied directly to His suffering. We may desire the power, but are we willing to suffer? Much of our suffering is the general suffering of life. Christ’s suffering was that of suffering for doing righteousness. The apostle Peter wrote, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed… For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3: 14 & 17).

It is also interesting to note that this is directly tied in with discipleship, for in Philippians 3: 17 (KJV) we read, Brethren, be followers together of me. All believers have been called to discipleship. The Great Commission of Matthew 28: 16-20 is a reminder that we are to be discipling others even as we are discipled by others. This is to be done intentionally.

Baxter writes, “In this Philippian verse Paul is not thinking of the order in which we savingly appropriate Christ at the beginning of our Christian life, but of the way in which we subsequently learn to know Him in a heart-to-heart sympathy” (italics the author’s, p. 74). This discipleship is, ultimately, the personal application of what we learn as we dig deeper and deeper into God’s Word. Are you applying what you know of the Scriptures? Do you live it out? Dr. Joe Olachea is Senior Pastor at Lakes Community Chapel in Medford, NJ

Keswick, America’s  (2012-12-13). Real Victory for Real Life Volume 2 (Kindle Locations 4136-4162).  . Kindle Edition.

Daily Bible Reading: Leviticus 13; Hebrews 10:19-39

Think About This: There is no sin so prevalent, so insidious, and so deep as the sin of fearing people more than we fear God. —Kevin DeYoung

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 10:9 ESV

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