Philippians 3:10
“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death”.
This passage would shock most people. “God can be known?” They would ask. Yes. This is the passion for believers, to know Him. The way is quite amazing. Romans 8:14-16 says, ‘For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.’ This passage is rich.
Upon accepting Christ, He first gives us a new spirit. One that’s tuned into His frequency. It’s a spirit of adoption. We are now His children. We are born of Him. Our spirits cry out to Him, “Abba! Father!” Like a sea anenome reaches up to receive nutrients, so our spirits reach to Him. The end of that passage says that “The Spirit testifies (or bears witness) with our spirit that we are children of God”. Amazing. The Spirit responds to our reaching up. There’s a connection. We say “Father”, He responds, “Child”.
This connection is continuous. That’s why sinning or disobedience is so jarring. That relationship is disrupted. His peace is normally present. Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Disobedience disrupts that. It’s misery. The norm is usually a wonderful state. We rush back to repair it.
I would admit the motive for repair isn’t usually because of the best motives. It would be better that we loved God and were sorry. Sometimes it is that. We miss the benefits of His presence. In time it’s often more pure.
To know Him is to know His ways. The way He guides. We’ve mentioned His peace. That can be a guidance factor. We may do something or think to do it and the peace is disrupted. It might not be wrong, but He uses it’s absence to get our attention or to redirect us. We usually will never know the reason. We could also read it wrong. It’s no harm. Better to be safe.
This attention to God’s peace in our lives is the exercise of one of our spiritual senses. Hebrews 5:14 says, “And solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.” Our consciences acts as another spiritual sense.
Discerning circumstances is yet another spiritual sense. He opens and closes doors. Acts 16:6-9 is an interesting passage, ‘They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, after being forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; and passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and pleading with him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”’ How was the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Jesus preventing them? Probably circumstances weren’t working out. When doors appear to close, say a prayer about it. Should we persist or is the Lord redirecting us? We are learning of Him and His ways. Amazing.
As we grow in Christ, go to church, spend time with other believers, the bible and it’s messages become a big deal. All throughout it the bible is called spiritual food. It’s also called God’s Word. It not only informs us, but fills us with joy.
Matthew 13:3-9 has Jesus sharing the parable of the sower. How the words of the bible enters our hearts and how it grows or can dies is fascinating. ‘And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. The one who has ears, let him hear.”’ The point is when the Lord shares something with us it’s time sensitive. If we don’t act on it, it dies. As we read and hear the bible we are to do it.
We learn that He blesses obedience. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” We learn that He greatly rewards us as we respond to Him. If’s far from fair. He out gives us. He loves to give and is so generous.
In time we say like Paul, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection”. Lord, help us to know You better. Thank You for all You do for us.