This One Thing I Desire
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Philippians 3:8-11 (KJV)
- Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but dung, that I may win Christ,
- And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
- That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his
sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
- If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
This One Thing I Desire
Philippians 3:10-11
"The Apostle Paul's object in this whole passage is, as we have seen, to denounce all types of
religion which would add anything to the Christian faith beyond what has been accomplished by
our Lord Jesus Christ." D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Why do I consider everything I do "dung" or worthless? Why do I place no confidence in
myself? Why do I not trust in my good works? Very simply -- that I might "know
Him."
The one thing I desire is not to know of Him, about Him, but to know HIM! Granted, this can't
happen unless I know about Christ and what He has done, but remember the context. I can't
know HIM until I forsake all trust in myself. I can't experience Him until I die to self!
"I am crucified with Christ (I died), nevertheless I live (here on earth), yet not I, it is Christ in
me" (Galatians 2:20). Why is it that the one thing I should desire in life is to know Him?
- Knowing Him leads to a changed heart . . ."and the power of his
resurrection"
- Without Christ, the heart of a person is desperately corrupt . . . we are all
selfish, egotistical, and deceitful by nature. We make promises to reform, turn over new leaves,
etc. . . but "unless there is a change in the atmosphere, what thaws in the sun will once again
freeze in the shade." It takes the power of Christ to change the heart.
- It takes the power of God through Christ to change the heart.
Paul prays for the Ephesians that their eyes of understanding may be enlightened, that they may
know, "what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he
raised him from the dead" Ephesians 1:19-20. This is the power of His
resurrection.
- Knowing Him leads to a changed life . . ."and the fellowship of his
sufferings"
The more you become like Christ, the more you will suffer like Christ. It is a fact of life. The
word "fellowship" is koinonia, which means "to share with" Christ in His suffering.
- The world . . . will assail you for your faith, your beliefs, and your life.
- The flesh . . . will assault you like never before. Before you met Christ, you
were not bothered by your selfish conduct, your immoral behavior, or your secret sins.
- The devil . . . will attack you. Your enemy will seek to destroy you as he did
Christ.
"But greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4).
- Knowing Him leads to a changed destiny . . . "being made conformable to his
death."
This has the idea of one laying down his life for Christ, just as Christ laid down His life.
"That I might attain to the resurrection of the dead." The glorification of God's saints is
what the Apostle has in mind, not the general resurrection of every dead person.
Paul is describing in these verses the three phases of the Christian life:
- Justification --- "knowing Him."
- Sanctification --- "sharing in His suffering."
- Glorification --- "made conformable to his death, attaining to the
resurrection."
My one great desire is to see the Lord do this work in me for "Salvation is of the Lord."
Questions? Comments?
Pastor Wade
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