In Philippians 3:5-10, Paul gives expression to the fact that there is much that can be apprehended and experienced beyond that which he had previously known.
"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death...not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:10, 12
He has come to know that the Lord can be personally, intimately known.
Paul said, "That I might know Him." This is a "knowing" that transcends all religious doctrine and activities, and finds its fulfillment in deep personal communion with the Lord. It includes not only information about Jesus, but an ongoing involvement with Him, as He leads and directs. We must first come to Jesus, before we can be sent.
"Come, My beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give you My love." Song of Solomon 7:11-12
"The power of His resurrection" can only be experienced after we have surrendered the totality of our being to the Lord, and died to our self-life and ways. Only then can we identify ourselves with Jesus in the "power of His resurrection."
This will lead us toward a place of identification with Jesus that few experience - "The fellowship of His sufferings." Examples of this are the sufferings of the Lord over lost humanity, and the dullness of our spiritual hearing NOT EXPERIENCING HIS SUFFERINGS AGAIN AT CALVARY FOR HE SAID HIMSELF, "IT IS FINISHED."
He desires our fellowship and longs that we come to Him. He has a purpose for each of our lives.
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
We may not understand how the Lord becomes personally interested in us - as though we were the only person in the universe, and how He has a special purpose and calling for each of us.
When we are too dull of hearing to respond, and as a result, come short of all He intends, He suffers; for as a loving Father He longs for us to come into the best, just as we desire the best for our children.
When Paul became aware of the possibility of entering into an active relationship with the Lord in communion and fellowship, he counted all else as refuse 9dung) and began to seek that for which he had been "apprehended" by the Lord. The desire for spiritual reality became the priority of his life.
"If by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead." Philippians 3:11
Paul was not expressing a concern about losing his salvation. Rather, there is a much deeper meaning that speaks of a "resurrection" from the natural course of our life experience, into the realm where the Lord uniquely puts His hand upon us and lifts us into an active, cooperative relationship with Him.
The result is our inner being is changed and prepared to become a usable vessel in the hands of the Lord - that the riches of His presence, with the transformation of lives that is presently taking place, might have its full outworking.
"For many are called, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14
There is another way to say this. "Many are called, but few will pay the price in order to be chosen."
NEVER QUOTE ROMANS 8:28 WITHOUT THE PRECEDING VERSES."(Rom 8:26-27) Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (BECAUSE OF OUR PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT)...we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
I WANT TO KNOW HIM SO I CAN BE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
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