To Know Him Series

“ THAT I MAY KNOW HIM”

Text : Phillipians 3: 7- 14

Main focus of our sermon tonight will be in verse 10 “That I may know him”.

Paul knew and valued the knowledge of The Lord Jesus Christ. But through this knowledge of him brought a greater desire to increase, in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. This knowledge was the subject of his teaching and preaching everywhere. He wish to know Christ increasingly no matter the cost, the sacrifices, the sufferings or afflictions For these were all light and consider as waste to him now, in comparison to the increase enlighten knowledge of Jesus Christ. For this was Paul passion and purpose in his works. To become as Christ and to know the fulfillment for which GOD called him.

CH Spurgeon wrote about the woman with the issue of blood. “ She that touch the tassel of his robe had a knowledge of Christ deeper and truer by far than the crowds that thronged about him: for “ virtue” ( morality, goodness and righteousness) had come out of him and she felt it in her.” Notice also that in the crowd was the disciples and yet this woman knew Christ better than them, for she desired and believe in just the touch of his garment. Not only through her faith and trust was she healed but goodness and righteousness filled her up. She had spent all that she had in vain. It was a loss but just one touch of Jesus Christ was all it took to be healed. This is the excellency of Christ. Oh church That I may Know Him!!!!!!!!!

Definition of the word Know; To perceive directly as fact or truth: To believe to be true: to be certain of: to be familiar with or experienced.

1) In order to know Christ we must first believe that he is the way, the truth and the life. We must realize and understand He is the first and the last The alpha and omega the beginning and the end. We must have faith in Christ.

Hebrews 11: 1 “ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11: 3 Through faith we understand (we have the knowledge of) that the worlds were framed by the word of GOD, so that things which were not made of things that do appear.

Hebrews 11: 6 “ but without faith it is impossible to please him. For he who cometh to GOD must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We must believe that GOD sent his only begotten son that whosoever believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

We must believe Jesus Christ through his obedience to GOD his father came to earth and for his love for all humanity died a cruel death bearing all our sins and shame. Jesus Christ through his death and resurrection brought life and defeated death to all that believe in him. We are then justified back unto GOD, to be reconciled back to GOD, back into the divine nature for which man was created. Genesis 1: 26 “ And GOD said, let us make man in our image after our likeness.” Through faith we are made righteousness of GOD through Christ. This is the first and most important step to gaining the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The first step in getting to know him. We must believe in our relationship with Christ that it brings life and more abundantly. That he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him. He will reward then and restore them in all the beauty of the “GARDEN OF EDEN” for which man was created to enjoy and have dominion over.

THE COURTSHIP

The time in which I began to get know by wife and began to want a life long relationship with her. In today’s world it is called dating, but in the older generations it was called courtship. Please notice the difference between the two definitions; Dating, to make an social appointment with. Not a means of developing a lasting relationship but just appointment for a social outing, a get together to have fun. Courtship: condition or time of courting in order to marry. Please do not take me wrong I am not against dating. I believe this is the first step to see if a relationship is right. I believe young people need to understand that dating is not truly a commitment. To many couples today are going straight from dating to marriage forgetting the courtship period of the relationship. That is one of the leading cause for marriages to fall today for there is not a true commitment nor has there been a time to establish true faith in one another.