“That I May Know Him”
Philippians 3:10
The book of Philippians has been called the “Song of Solomon” of the New Testament because of its intimacy and the passionate desire that Paul has for the church of Philippi. The manner of his writing is the same kind that distant lovers often communicate in. Though we are far apart you are right here in my heart and I just can’t wait until we are reunited and it will feel so good. Understand that Paul was in prison in Rome separated from the church of Philippi, yet his desire was to be with the church.
While Paul was in prison, the church had come under attack by false prophets that were trying to destroy the church with the corruption of sound doctrine and causing a division to come in between the people of the church. So Paul writes to the church a love letter to encourage the church to hold on to God’s unchanging hand. In the 1st chapter he exhorts them to have patience, because it is through patience that ye possess your soul and unity because nothing works without unity. The Bible says “No man is born alone and no man dies alone” in other words I need you and you need me in order to survive; therefore he encourages the church to come together and have unity, letting them know that united they stand, but divided they will fall. In chapter 2 he encourages them not to esteem themselves as individuals highly, but to become humble, for in order to be exalted you must first become humble. The Bible says “He that humbleth himself God will exalt and he that exalteth himself God will abase.” In the 3rd chapter he impresses on them not to put confidence in this flesh, but stresses the importance of an interpersonal relationship with God. In the 4th chapter he lets the church know you don’t have to worry about anything, you don’t have to be afraid of going to the Lord, but you must always be thankful, giving God thanks even in hard times, because if it were not for the storms and problems in your life how would you even know that God could solve them.
In our text Paul says “That I may know Him…”
One of the greatest desires of a child of God is their enthusiasm to truly know God. The Bible says in Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness…” What this is saying that there are plenty of people that have gone on into glory that had the desire to have a relationship with God. If we were to look through the pages of scripture we will see how the desire to truly know God is the nucleus of a child of God’s walk with God.
Moses said “show me your glory”
David said “my soul panteth for thee oh Lord”
The Disciples said “teach us”
Paul said “That I may know Him.”
Their determination was to have an interpersonal relationship with God.
Relationship: - is the state of affairs existing between those having dealings with each other. In its broadest terms it simply means that one object has a connection or a correlation with another object. Our world is based on relationship, mechanically if there is no relationship between the key and the ignition, the ignition and the starter, the starter and the engine, regardless of the amount of money that you paid for that automobile unless there is relationship that car is no going to run. The way the moon affects the oceans is called a cosmological relationship. There is a correlation between the two and depending on the position of the moon the oceans are affected in cosmic ways. Einstein’s theory of relativity, how one thing affects another, is based upon relationship. However this is what is known as an impersonal relationship.
Then we have what is called a personal relationship. A personal relationship must involve at least one person. It is defined as how something affects a person. Therefore you can have a personal relationship with a dog, a cat, a car, a ice-cream cone. However something affects you or whatever affects you is a personal relationship, because there is one person that is involved. However in this personal relationship there is a key ingredient missing and that is unity. No man is an island and no man stands alone.
Then we have the 3rd and most important type of relationship and that is called an interpersonal relationship. An interpersonal relationship is based upon interaction between two people. The Bible says in Matthew 18:20 “Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them.” In other words two or three is the minimum requirement in order for God to be in the midst, WHY, because it enforces unity and establishes an interpersonal relationship.
WATCH THIS: Me and my friend have an interpersonal relationship based upon the Greek word “koinonia”, which simply means that we have communication and fellowship between the two of us. HOWEVER my wife and I have another level of interpersonal relationship, not based just on koinonia communication only, but established upon “dokime” which is experience and because of our experience we have a level of intimacy that neither of us have with anyone else because our relationship is built upon “dokime” experience.
Understand association does not constitute a relationship because on my job I am associated with people because we work for the Veterans Administration but there is no relationship because there is no koinonia or dokime, no communication or experience. Many people have an association with God because mom & dad or grandma & grandpa had a relationship with Him and they were made to go to church so they are associated with Him, but they don’t have koinonia communication or dokime an experience with Him; therefore they do not have a relationship. Just because you read the book, just because you pay your tithes, just because you sit in someone church edifice does not mean that you have a relationship with Him. I think about the Army commercial that said you won’t read it in a book you’ll live WHY because a book will cause you to have an association, but to live means you have experience with it which develops your relationship.
Paul said “That I may know Him.” Understand that Paul had been carried into the third heaven and seen things that were not lawful and heard things that were not lawful for man to hear yet in-still he didn’t count himself to have apprehended, I don’t fully understand it yet myself he said, but I know that I have this desire, that I may know Him. He counted all as dung, for he had a yearning and a burning desire to have an interpersonal relationship with God. That I may know Him. In other words Paul wanted to experience a level of intimacy that he had never had before. He wanted to experience a high that nothing in this life could even come close to. He said that I may know that I may dokime Him, and the power “dunamis” of His resurrection.
Paul was saying here that he desired to have such a relationship with God that he would be able to experience what it is truly like to live a resurrected life, to no-longer be in the shackles of bondage of this old flesh. He wanted to feel the transference of the dunamis power of God and overcome sin in the flesh like Jesus did. He said I want to know, I want to experience what it is like to bring this flesh, this flesh that no good thing dwelleth in under subjection and defeat sin. He wanted to be able to have such a relationship with God that the transference to those around him would be utterly affected by his relationship with God. Just like if you put a piece of metal in a fire, let it experience the heat, have the dunamis of the fire transfer to the piece of metal, remove that piece of metal and place it near some source of fuel, that fuel would be affected and catch on fire why, because of the relationship that that piece of metal has with the fire.
That I may know Him.
Not only did Paul want to know him intimately. Not only did he want to experience the dunamis power of His resurrection, but he said and the fellowship “koinonos”, which means partner, of His suffering. Paul understood that there are going to be bad times, he knew that he would be tried, tempted, and tested because of his relationship with God, but Paul also knew that there is with trials and hardships a simultaneous call to another level of intimacy.
For he said the in Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Paul knew that there is a reward that is laid up in glory for all those that love His appearing so he was willing to suffer the good and the bad regardless of the consequences just as long has he had an interpersonal relationship with God. I ask the question are you will to lay it all on the line for an interpersonal relationship with God. Are you willing to know God intimately? Are you willing to suffer in order to get closer to Him? Do you want a relationship with God? Do you want to know Him?
Paul goes on to say being made conformable unto His death. Paul wanted to have such a relationship with God that he was even willing to die in order to have that relationship. He said I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished my course, I am now ready to be offered up. In other words I am now ready to go to another level of intimacy in my relationship. My mind goes back to Esther she said If I perish I perish, but I’m going to see the king. I have a relationship and even if it cost me my life I got to have this relationship.
So many people in this world today are trying to get to another level. Many are trying to achieve a promotion on their job, a better and bigger house, prestige and power, but few people are trying to get an interpersonal relationship with God. Do you want a relationship with God?
My mind goes to the book of St. John the 15th chapter and the 15th verse the Bible says “Henceforth I call you not servants; for a servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I call you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Henceforth, from this time on, what does this mean? From the time that our relationship changes from you being just a servant to being my friend.
When you have an interpersonal relationship with God He becomes your friend and how many of you know there’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus no not one. He will stick closer than any brother, he will never leave you. In times of trouble he will comfort you. You may be troubled on every side, yet you will not be distressed, you may feel perplexed, yet he will never leave you in despair. There may be times that you are persecuted, but he will never forsake you. You may even be cast down, but he will never let you be destroyed why because He’s that kind of friend.
That I may know Him.
Somebody might be wondering how do you get to know God. How do I get that relationship with Him?
A relationship with God requires that: -
You meet God. This doesn’t mean that you have to visibly see Him, but that He reveals Himself to our eyes of understanding. It doesn’t matter how many books you read, or which seminary your go to, it doesn’t matter if you get to carry the brief case of some super preacher, you cannot study God. God is a spirit and He reveals Himself to you. In order for Him to reveal Himself to you there must be relationship.
It requires that you hear God. This doesn’t mean that you will hear and audible voice all the time, but you hear what he is saying to you in His word. God is constantly speaking to us through His word, the problem is that we don’t want to hear what He is saying, why the lack of relationship.
It requires that we get close to Him. This is not a matter of location naturally, but spiritually. Understand that this doesn’t mean O.K. I’ll go to church Sunday that will get me close to God. You can go to church 7 days a week and still not be close to God. James 4:8 says “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.” The word nigh means close, we accomplish this by fasting, praying, and reading the Word of God.
Do you really want to know God? If you want to know God you must follow His commandments you must pick up your cross deny yourself and follow Him. If you haven’t yet, you must repent of your sin, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Do you want to know Him?
There is a song that goes my relationship with you is the entire world to me. You give me joy, peace and happiness my relationship is all the world to me. Are you willing to deny the world in order to have a relationship with God?
THAT I MAY KNOW HIM………….
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD NOT JUST BECAUSE YOU READ ABOUT HIM IN THE BOOK OR SAW SOME MOVIE, BUT DO YOU WANT A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM?
The song writer put it this way “Just to be close to you is my desire.” Do you want to know Him. Can’t nobody do me like Jesus He’s my friend.
What is your Relationship?
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr
Boanerge Ministries.
