DIGGING DEEP 72 Topic: That I May Know Him – Part 1

INTRODUCTION: many people believe that Paul the Apostle was the greatest of the Apostles of old. Definitely, he did much for Christ. II Corinthians 11:5. But one of the most profound of his statements in our opinion is in Philippians 3:7-14. These verses of the Scripture are what we want to look at more closely in this beginning from this study. It is our prayer that by the time we finish those series, we shall know Christ the more.

1) TO REIGN IN THE NEXT WORLD, YOU MUST FORSAKE THIS ONE:
a) Since this world is going to perish with all its wealth and admirers, those who will reign in the next world are those who are prepared to forsake all. And if all you have in this world and all the world can offer you be forfeited in exchange for the kingdom of God, it will be a good bargain indeed. If it costs you the loss of friends and relations too, it is still a very light loss. However, if you prefer this world to the next then you better enjoy as much as you can now, because there is no enjoyment in hell. And without doubt, if you cling to this world and its deceitful riches, you are doomed forever, Genesis 19:17-26, Matt. 13:44-46, Luke 14:26, 33a, Luke 16:9, Luke 17:32-33.

b) YOUR SOUL IS TOO PRECIOUS: DO NOT JOKE WITH IT: Solomon, the richest man ever to live, considered losing your wealth to save your life a reasonable deal. He said that wise men will pay any price for the truth, but we know that Jesus Christ, the Truth is priceless. Jesus considers your soul more precious than the whole world. He should know, because it cost him His own life to redeem your soul. Surprisingly, even the devil knows that your life is more precious than your possessions, Proverbs 13:8, 23:23, Matthew 16:26, Acts 27:18-19,38, Galatians 2:15-17, Job 2:4.

2) TO KNOW CRIST IS TO HAVE THE WISDOM OF GOD, PHILODOPHIES ARE VANITY:
a) There is not glory in human wisdom; your children cannot inherit your certificates. There is not glory in human might or riches: they do not last forever. But it is glorious to know Christ. Moreover, many of the wise men of this world do not know the only person they should know in order to become truly wise. And those of us who know Him did so through the grace and mercy of God and not by our own wisdom or cleverness, Jere.9:23-24, Matthew 11:25-27, I Corinthians 1:18-20, Matthew 16:16-17, Luke 10:22, I Cor. 2:2.

b) TO KNOW CHRIST IS TO LIVE FOREVER, BECAUSE IT IS GOD WHO REVEALS HIM TO PEOPLE: what is life eternal? It is to know the true God and Jesus Christ his Son. Those who believe not are blinded by the devil and those of us who believe must rejoice and glorify God because it is God who commanded His light to shine into our hearts. It is through the mercy of God, who had known us before we were born, that we know Jesus Christ today as our Saviors and Lord. To some people, Jesus Christ means nothing. But to those of us who know Him, He is the most precious thing in our lives John 17:2, II Corinthians 4:4-6, Gal. 1:15-16, Ephesians 1:17-18, John 14:19-21, I Peter 2:7-10.

3) BLESSED ARE THOSE THAT MOURN NOW: THEY SHALL LAUGH LAST, AND SOON TOO: saying good-bye to all your former dreams may cause you some initial sorrow, but at the end you will rejoice. We may suffer some hardships because of our determination to follow Christ completely, but then the glory to come is just incomparable with sufferings of now. Consider how Jesus suffered and how he now reigns supreme. Moreover, the end is much nearer than you think. Keep up the race; the glorious day is fast approaching.
Psalms 126:5-6, Romans 8:16-19, Isaiah 53:7-12, Philippians 2:5-11, Revelation 3:21, II Peter 3:17-18, I John 2:18.