Read Philippians 3 Joy of Knowing Christ

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, (Philippians 3:10 NKJV)

How can one know Christ? Here Paul meant of an experiential knowledge of Him. It begins with the new birth (John 3:3) and grow in intimacy, communion, partnership and expression of His life within. For Paul it was the initial encounter with Christ while on his way to persecute the Christians had given him a glimpse of Christs lordship.

Thereafter, "to know Him" was a price, It motivates and presses him on first to know Christ above everything, everyone else. He gives out whatever that might come between him and Christ for this one purpose, Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8). From then his goal to reach the lost regardless of the suffering he would have to face.

Paul in knowing Christ included the power of His resurrection. He experiences living Christs life. It is Christ living in and through Paul (Galatians 2:20). He would see through Christ who strengthen him that he is able to do all things (Philippians 4:13) in weakness His sufficiency (II Corinthians 12:9),

He shares in the fellowship of Christs sufferings not that of the cross for salvation but when he faces the enemy oppositions as well as from those of the world. We share in His suffering through sonship (Romans 8:17), the mortification of our flesh, facing trials and persecution for righteousness sake.

While paying the price of knowing Him, we experience the power of His resurrection, the suffering of Christ that brings us into conformity of His death. Thus the degree one knowing the power of His resurrection is through the degree one dies to self (flesh), the law (Galatians 2:19) and through sharing of His suffering. This is the process of sanctification (Romans 6:5-8; 8:13: II Corinthians 4:10). We shall live with Him (II Timothy 2:11)

Prayer: Lord whatever I do is an occasion that I might know You and the power of Your resurrection. I thank You for the partnership of the Holy Spirit who empowers me to live out Your resurrected life.

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