That I May Know Him
Philippians 3:7-14
The importance of having our priorities in the right order
A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under an eight-point buck.
"Where’s Harry?" he was asked.
"Harry had a stroke of some kind. He’s a couple of miles back up the trail."
"You left Harry laying there, and carried the deer back?"
"Well," said the hunter, "I figured no one was going to steal Harry."
Topic: Our greatest priority is to "know" Jesus.
Application: Knowing Jesus is life’s greatest privilege and our most urgent need.
Along that line we will be looking at the apostle Paul, who had a very remarkable transformation in his life.
He went from a persecutor of Jesus, to a man who was persecuted because of his ministry to Jesus.
What made this possible? Two things:
1. 1st Paul had a personal encounter with his lord and savoir Jesus the Christ.
2. 2nd Paul had the right order of priorities in his life;
Jesus first,
Than the church,
Himself last.
To gain some insight lets look at some amazing statements Paul made when he wrote to the Christians at Philippi. We will be reading from Philippians 3:7-14.
When Paul was addressing the Christians at Philippi, he was thankful for their ministry, he wanted them to know his joy, and he also wanted them know his motivation for serving the Lord.
• Paul wanted the Philippian church to have this experience also.
• Paul wanted the Philippians to Know Jesus in a larger number of ways, in various levels of experience, and the various facets of His character and nature. (Get to know Jesus in depth)
What Paul did say:
1st Nothing is more important than knowing Jesus in a deep and personal way.
Vs 7-8 “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ”
Knowing Jesus is not just knowledge of facts, theories, ideas, or carefully worded theology.
Developing a relationship with someone requires a commitment of time and energy.
So it is with your relationship with Jesus Christ; it takes time to learn some of the basic principles of the Christian life.
2nd Paul was not content with a mere religion, ceremony, or ritual.
Paul was religious before he was saved, but his religion could not save him. He had to lose his religion in order to find eternal life
Vs 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
What did Paul obtain through faith in Christ? Righteousness, for one thing Paul had plenty of legal righteousness, but he lacked that true righteousness that God demands and that He alone can give.
3rd Paul wanted to know Jesus so intimately that he could even suffer for his savior.
Vs. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Polycarp (2nd Century)
Can you imagine what it was like for the church in Smyrna as they watched their beloved and aged pastor burn at the stake? Polycarp was his name. he was a disciple of Jesus’ disciple, the Apostle John. One could tell it immediately because he possessed the same tenderness and compassion as his mentor.
Polycarp was Bishop of the church at Smyrna (present day Turkey). Persecution broke out in Smyrna and many Christians were fed to the wild beasts in the arena. The godless and bloodthirsty crowd called for the carcass of the leader – Polycarp.
The authorities sent a search party to find him. He had been taken into hiding for some Christians but the Romans tortured two young believers until they finally disclosed his location. When the authorities arrival was announced there was still time to whisk Polycarp away but he refused to go saying, “God’s will be done.”
In one of the most touching instances of Christian grace imaginable Polycarp welcome his captors as if they were friends. He talked with them and insisted they eat a meal. Ha made only one request before being taken away – he asked for one hour to pray. The Roman soldiers listened to his prayer. Their hearts melted and they gave him 2 hours to pray. They had second thoughts as well and were overheard asking each other why they were sent to arrest him?
Other authorities also experienced a warmed heart when Polycarp arrived. The Proconsul tried to find a way to release him too. “curse God and I will let you go!” he pleaded.
Polycarp’s reply was: “For eighty-six years I have served him. He has never done me wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King was has saved me?”
The Proconsul again looked for a way out. “The do this old man, just swear by the spirit of the emperor and that will be sufficient.’
Polycarp’s reply was: “If you imagine for a moment that I would do that, then I think you pretend that you don’t know who I am. Hear it plainly. I am a Christian.”
More entreaties by the Proconsul
Polycarp stood firm.
The proconsul threatened with the wild beasts.
Polycarp’s reply was: “Bring them forth. I would change my mind if it meant going from worst to best, but not to change from right to wrong.”
The Proconsul threatened, “I will burn you alive!”
Polycarp’s reply was: “You threaten with fire that burns for an hour and is over but the judgment on the ungodly is forever.”
The fires engulfed him. The witnesses noticed his faith and joy. He was finished off with a dagger. He was buried for the cause of Christ on February 22, 155 A.D.
It was as much a day of victory as it was a day of tragedy.
Polycarp illustrated the power of knowing Jesus intimately. Intimately enough to follow Him into the flames. As Jesus said, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
4th Paul desire was to be like his savior, and was honest enough to admit he needed more of Jesus in his life.
Vs. 12-14 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
What it means to "know" Jesus.
1. Experiencing Jesus’ blessings,
a) An old civil war veteran used to wander around begging for food and a place to stay. He would always talk about his good friend, ‘Mr. Lincoln’.
He had been hurt in the war and was unable to hold a regular job but had pride in a letter from the president which he was not even able to read.
‘You say you knew Lincoln? Prove it!’ The old man pulled out the paper. ‘Here, I have this paper that he signed and gave me’.
He took out an old paper folded many times. ‘Do you know what you have here old man?’ ‘You have a generous federal pension authorized by the President. You don’t have to live like a poor beggar, Lincoln has made you rich!’.
What a wonderful life is possible for the Child of God because knowing Jesus has made us rich.
b) Like this Veteran who knew Lincoln, Paul Knew who he believed in, and because of that he knew of the abundant life Jesus brought.
2. Victorious living,
a) Knowing Jesus is the source of wisdom and strength to endure hard times.
b) Knowing Jesus is the power to resist satan when he attacks.
c) Knowing Jesus enables to sing in the midst of trials and discouraging times.
d) Knowing Jesus enables you to keep hot when others are cold.
3. Personal transformation.
a) Paul was able to uphold Jesus’ reputation
b) Paul once said he could do all things that strengthened him
c) Paul desired to Bring glory to God in all circumstances
Consider the following story:
In recent years a head coach divorced his wife of 26 years when he left coaching a college team to become head coach in the National Football League. He said he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social functions and to show families that he would be looking out for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He said winning football was his number one priority and his two sons second. How tragic!
In contrast to this, Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas cowboys said, "The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me ... I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His glory in everything I do ... whether coaching football or talking to the press, I’m always a Christian ... Christ is first, family second and football third."
Application of the message:
1. Do you have the right Priorities all the time?
The founder of McDonald’s, Ray Krock, was asked by a reporter what he believed in. "I believe in God, my family and McDonald’s," he said. Then he added, "When I get to the office, I reverse the order."
2. Paul wanted to know JESUS the CHRIST, his Life and Influence
All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of mankind on this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
3. What is stopping you from knowing Jesus in a deeper way?
A. Are we sometimes like Peter and deny Jesus because of peer pressure?
B. Are we sometime content to simply know about Jesus
C. Are we content with religion?
D. Are you focusing on the wrong goals, instead of God?
4. Are you honest enough to admit that you need Jesus in a more intimate way?
