Kunnil Wilson
Philippians 3:10-12 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Saul, a Tarshish man who had been killing those who followed the Lord, one day, if he saw any of these men or women in Damascus, took authority from him for the churches there to arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem. As he traveled and approached Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; God caught Saul. Even today, many Sauls are being made God's servants by shining the light of God. So God commanded Saul, who was captured by God, from today you go and preach about me. So when he changed from his Jewish name of Saul to become the Lord's disciple and apostle, we later find Saul using his Greek name, Paul. Apostle Paul. God himself was transformed.
He was caught by the Lord when he was about 36 years old. At the age of 68, he was beheaded by order of the Roman Emperor Nero and placed in front of his beloved author. He wrote his epistles between AD 47 and AD 64. AD 47 Galatians, AD 49-51 First and Second Thessalonians, AD 52-56 1st and 2nd Corinthians, AD 60-62 Ephesians, AD 60-62 Philemon, Colossians, AD 62 Philippians Timothy, Epistle to Titus AD 63-64 2 Timothy. So we can see from the title of the epistles that 13 epistles were written by this apostle Paul. The Epistle to the Hebrews is also generally believed to have been written by Paul. Thus 14 books have been written by this servant of God. God has given us very durable articles for the church. Among these, the epistle to the Ephesians, the epistle to Philemon, the epistle to the Colossians, and the epistle to the Philippians were written for the first time while Paul was in a Roman prison. The second epistle to Timothy was written by Paul while he was in a Roman prison for the second time. The epistle to the Philippians in which our verses are written was written during his first imprisonment. Paul in this prison for Christ's sake. Paul's last words. Being in a lot of trouble. Paul was about 63 years old. Later in his life he was able to live for a very short time. Emperor Nero committed suicide on June 9, AD 68. Paul completed his fifth missionary journey in AD 67. Paul was executed in May or early June AD 68, shortly before Nero's death.
Paul in this prison for Christ's sake. The words of the servant of God in the last days of Paul's life. Life is very hard and difficult. Paul was about 63 years old. Now in a Roman prison. Many questions crossed Paul's mind. 6 types of questions:
1. Why are you suffering?
2. Do you need it?
3. Aren't you educated?
4. Don't you have Roman citizenship?
5. Don't have a good fortune?
6. Not in good standing in society?
Philippians 3:4-6 Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
Why do you suffer in spite of all this? Paul was born of Jewish parents. But since he was born in Tharsis, in the Roman province of Cilicia, he also received Roman citizenship by birth. Is it enough to say that you are a citizen? Answer Verses 7 and 8: But all things that were gain to me I have counted as loss for Christ's sake. Nay, I still count all things as rubbish because of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Everything counts as rubbish for his sake. Philippians 1:21 To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. It is not because of the situation, but because of a person that everything is left behind and counted as garbage. Above all, one is found. When the superior was found, the inferior was discarded. 32 years ago at the gates of Damascus, the light that flashed around, Jesus Christ the Savior who spoke to him through that light. Who is this Jesus to you today? Paul says I leave all these things for his sake. Are we willing to give up something for this Jesus? What is the reason for this, Paul? You must somehow be resurrected from the dead. That is my desire. I had a lot of wealth. But one day I will die. After death, I can't remember. Lie with Satan for all eternity in that wormless, unquenchable hell. These wealth, these titles, these educations, this health, these family glories, nothing will help me.
What is our situation? One day we will die. It may be today, it may be tomorrow, it may be some days, it may be years. One day we will die. Loved ones, family, church members and acquaintances come to the cemetery. Then our wealth, status, education, health, family glory, nothing will follow us. That is why Paul says that he wants to experience and know 3 things for that.
1. Experience Jesus
2. Experience the power of renewal
3. Experience the fellowship of his suffering
What if you say experience? We all ate last night. It merges with the body. Can any doctor in the world think it can be reversed? No one can. This is the experience. Paul says nothing can separate me from the love of Jesus. Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Trouble, sorrow, harm, hunger, nakedness, danger, sword? I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in our Lord Jesus Christ. What is the reason for experiencing Jesus? No one can separate it anymore.
Experience the power of renewal
Jesus' tomb is open. No wonder. The tomb of Jesus is still in the hands of enemies. Sri Buddha's Tomb - in Sri Lanka. Prophet Muhammad's tomb in the hands of his followers - in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. in the hands of his followers. The graves of all the leaders are kept under their followers.
But Jesus Christ gave himself to die for the atonement of my sin, yours, and the human race. He died and was buried and rose again on the third day. During the Roman Empire. The resurrection of Jesus is not something they can bear. The Lord Jesus resurrected by challenging the government and bursting the seal of the Romans who were the hot-headed rulers of that day. Shame they would feel like a dagger thrusting into a Roman's breast. Shame in front of the world. The tomb of Jesus, which was closed on the third day, is now open. When the Roman soldiers entered the tomb, they did not see Jesus. He rose on the third day as Jesus said. Why couldn't the Romans close the tomb again before anyone else found out about it? Dumbly the open grave called out to the world He was not here. Come and see me. Jesus' enemies called the Romans and said he is not here. As time progressed, the place remained under Turkish possession for nearly 400 years. Why didn't they close this open tomb of Jesus when they ruled that land? They also called out to the world and said he is not here, come and see me. After that the land came into the hands of the Arabs. Why didn't they close the tomb when the land was in the hands of the enemy? They also cried out to the world, Jesus is not here, Jesus is risen. The land was later annexed to Judah after World War II. Why didn't they also close this open tomb of Jesus? None of them accept that Jesus is risen, and they cannot bear it either. But the governments themselves have put people to work and are still calling to the whole world. Jesus is not here. He rose again just as he said. There is no other grave in the history of the world that is guarded by enemies. Because on the third day after the Sabbath, when the first day of the week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake; An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards saw him and were terrified. The angel said to the women: Fear not; I know that you seek Jesus crucified; He is not here; He rose as he said; I have come to the place where he lay. When the power of God came down to this earth, the Son of God, the creator of everything, could not be confined in a tomb on this earth created with a word, so this earth could not contain the Lord. It made way for his creator to climb out of that grave. This earth could not contain the Lord and the rock rolled away. Here we see the power of God. Many battles were fought there. But even today, that grave is lying open like that and calling out to the world, Look, Jesus is not here, He is risen.
Here Paul is not saying that Jesus is risen, but that the power of that power must be experienced. Power traded there in that resurrection morning. He is not there. But that Lord is with us today. What is the power of regeneration? All the powers of the world worked together at Calvary. The power of Satan, the power of the government, the power of the race, the power of the way, all have one goal, and no one has a difference of opinion, the same thing, kill Jesus. They were all united in that regard. They killed Jesus. But then they say he will cheat even more after he dies. Reading We remember how the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate on the day after the day of preparation, saying, "Master, while the swindler is still alive, after three days I will rise again." Therefore his disciples went and stole him away, and told the people that he had risen from the dead, and ordered the tomb to be secured until the third day, so that the last deception would not be worse than the first. And Pilate said unto them, I will give the guard; Go and make sure as much as you can. They went and sealed the stone and stopped the guard and secured the tomb. But on the day of restoration, another power, heavenly power, spread there.
4 things happened there.
1. There was an earthquake. It's not to break you. To do something for you. Can't change your bond
2. The stone rolled away. Today is the day when some stones roll away
3. The seal of the Roman government, the seal of the enemy's power, was broken. Satan has sealed many with his seal and power. It should crack. In the name of Jesus.
4. The soldiers fainted. God's power to break the enemy's company that surrounds you.
Feel the fellowship of his suffering
So he delivered Barabbas to them, and handed Jesus over to be scourged and crucified. Then the soldiers of the country took Jesus to the headquarters and brought the whole army to him, stripped him of his clothes and put on a red robe. Placing a crown of thorns on his head, he put a stick in his right hand and knelt before him, mockingly saying, King of the Jews. Then spat on him, took the coal and hit him on the head. When he hit Jesus on the head with the staff, the crown of thorns that was placed on his head sunk into his head, and his eyes fell out of their sockets and fell down. When he had finished mocking him, he removed his cloak, put on his own clothes, and took away the crucifix. Falling and rising, walking in blood and trembling, my Jesus. When he arrived at Golgotha, which means the place of the skull, he was given bitter wine to drink; After tasting it, he did not want to drink it. After He was crucified, they cast lots and tore His clothes, and sat there waiting for Him. And they put it over his head, writing his accusation, Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two thieves were crucified with him, on the right and on the left. The passers-by shook their heads and cursed him: He who destroys a temple and builds it in three days, save thee; If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. Even so the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders mocked: This man saved others, but could not save himself; If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now; But we will believe in him. He trusts in God; If he is pleased with him, let him release now; He said, ``I am the son of God.'' In the same way the thieves who were crucified with him also despised him. (And the scripture was fulfilled, He was counted among the wicked.) One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear; Immediately blood and water came out. From the sixth o'clock until the ninth o'clock there was darkness over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") Some of those standing there heard it; He called Elijah. Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge filled with sour wine and put it on a staff and gave him to drink. The latter: stay; Let's see if Elijah will come to save him. Jesus cried out again and breathed his last. Then the curtain of the temple was torn in two about a foot above; The earth shook, the rocks were split open, the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the sleeping saints were raised.
This Roman prison where Paul was in St. Paul's church compound. This Roman prison was not like the prisons we see today. His father owned 3 ships and had a net worth of $650 million. He lived in a palatial house. It's bone-chillingly cold here, baby. I need to get a blanket here as soon as possible. Who has a net worth of 650 million dollars, is now living in a rock-hewn cave without a blanket to cover him against the cold for Christ's sake. But at the sight of a son of God who had a vision, Paul smiled, thinking that he was being inspired by the vision of eternity from the dark cave. Finally, Paul was kept in a rented house and the trial continued. At last he was imprisoned in this historic cave of Marmatin.
Speaking of this prison, it's a prison cell dug deep into the rock. A gate opens out to the river Tiber. When it is time to judge the guilty, a healthy soldier descends these rock steps. The culprit would be cut to pieces and thrown into the Tiber River. But Paul's clan doesn't plan that way. A special market day has been planned to discourage conversions. Talking about this cave, there is a 15 feet descent into this cave like dirt trenches. On top there is a layer covered with black rock. Light is filtered into the planet through a hole in the top of the layer. He used to write ordinary letters by sitting on a rock that was pushed against the wall and facing the light coming through it. Pieces of bread are placed from top to bottom to sustain life. Paul realized that his death was not an ordinary death, but that he was going to be killed by slitting his throat. Paul is facing death, realizing that the blood that gushes from his throat will flow to the foot of the pedestal used to cut his throat. As death looms before his eyes, the black cold things of death are about to grip his neck. Dear listeners, look into that dark cave for a moment. I know whom I have believed, not bowing my head like a loser, but holding my head high like a warrior, holding his pen in hand to the power of heavenly anointing, climbing that jutting stone with the commission of the soul, facing the light barely filtering in from above, straightening the leather scroll, with the courage of the soul, and the face of an angel. He is my deputy. I am determined to be strong enough to keep it until that day. I have fought the good fight and finished the race, I have kept the faith and now the crown of righteousness is laid up for me. Not only for me, but also for everyone who loved his appearance. Paul is the servant of God who raised the torch of the gospel like a storm that hit more than 30 cities and more than 39 islands that were known at that time. When Paul was arrested from the house of Carpos in Troas, he was arrested without his clothes on. On the day of his beheading, the executioner came and asked him to kneel. Paul leaned his head against a stone pillar two and a half feet high. The glittering sword of the executioner went up and down, and history says this head 3 rolled to the left. That body bent backwards. That devotee left and joined Christ.
Dear listeners, what have we achieved with our one lifetime? What have you achieved in one lifetime? I will tell you what has been achieved, the devotee reached there without leaving eternity. Beloved, if you do not achieve anything in your lifetime, but you reach eternity without losing it, that is the most auspicious and best thing. If you think today that you have a trial like no one else has, God is preparing an eternity for you. Why sorrow when the mighty One is with you to guide you on the golden streets of eternity? The Word says that God works all things together for good to those who love God and to those who are called according to predestination. The apostle Paul, who despite having a fortune of 650 million dollars, gave up all pleasures for Christ and was finally beheaded, says "I know whom I have believed. He is my treasure. I am sure that he is strong to keep me until that day".
What Paul has to say, conforming to his death, to experience him, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, and thus somehow attain the resurrection from the dead, I forsake all things and count them as rubbish for his sake. Why must somehow be resurrected from the dead? Not that I have already received it, or that I have become perfect, but that I can also catch it because I have been caught by Christ Jesus.
