THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION

The knowledge of God is truly essential to all humans. For the Christian, we can say that we know him. Although our level of knowledge is different from person to person. The Apostle Paul was one who knew God and Christ at a very personal level. The Lord appeared to him and spoke to him upon his conversion; he also had many experiences of divine guidance. So, he is an example of one who KNEW the Lord. But beyond this, Paul knew much more. He knew that knowledge puffs up (1 Cor 8:1-2). One can become proud because of the knowledge that he or she has been able to acquire, including the knowledge of the Lord and his ways. In Paul’s example his heart and desire could be seen through the things he wrote down. He sought something beyond knowledge, and that is the resurrection power and sharing in the fellowship of the suffering that brought about the resurrection.

Before we talk about the resurrection power, we must mention the willingness of Christ to lay down his life. You see, there could never be a resurrection power without the willingness to go to the cruel cross. The power comes from the willingness. Little wonder Paul also mentioned this in his writing to the Philippians 2:8-11, about how Christ humbled himself to death and from thence came exaltation, where he has been given a name that is above every other name that at the mention of the name of Jesus every knee must bow. Christians, we are called to do the same, humble ourselves in similar fashion. Ours might not be to the point of death although some Christians find themselves in those positions even today, but it is important to yield our will to him.

So, knowing God and Christ should not be all that we seek to achieve, for it is but a start of a glorious journey with the Lord. Beyond knowledge lies the understanding of the resurrection power and having fellowship with the sufferings of Christ. In Paul’s case he wanted to be conformed to His death. What does it mean to be conformed to the death of Christ? Well, this is seen in total surrender; Christ had the power to say no to death, yet he chose to die because of us. Conforming to his death is to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, it is to surrender ourselves fully to the will of God. It is to live a transformed live. It is to count all things but loss for the sake of the knowledge of Christ – Phil 3:8-9. Something must give, in order to gain this knowledge. We only lose other things to gain this knowledge and gain with it a glory and amazing promises that outweighs the losses. Also, we gain, true transformation into the image of God.

A transformed life is a testament of the resurrection power. It is through transformation that the resurrection power is seen in action. It is that power that transforms us and gives us the grace to obey. Because we cannot obey God on our own. We can but allow the spirit of God in us to so work in our hearts to yield to God every day and by so doing witness the amazing power of resurrection. We can only pray that God helps us to seek him beyond peripheral knowledge but to walk daily in a manner that expresses the resurrection power and a fellowship of His suffering.

BE STILL AND KNOW

If there was any time in recent modern history that humanity has been brought to its knees, it is these few months. As everyone scampered home in search for protection against the current global pandemic, a message that is perhaps profound is the message of hope. And the best source of hope is to draw from the eternal well of the words that poured forth from the mouth of the maker of the universe.

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

In the above, God says that we should be still and remember that he is God, that he will be exalted among the nations. And yes, sometimes it may be difficult to see how God may be exalted in our current situation but it is important to hope and expect to see him exalted. It is important to remember that his promises never fail, that he will do what he says he will do.

But what does it mean to be still and why should we be still? To be still is to drown out the voice of the world, it is to seclude oneself from every voice and activity that makes it difficult to get close to God, activities and daily routines that drive us away from his presence. To be still therefore, is to make ready our hearts to receive his words; it is to set ourselves apart and say, here I am Lord send me. It is to flee from all appearances of evil and let go of the sin which so easily beset us.

To be still is to return to the place of prayer, it is to be the watchmen that we ought to be, it is to open our hearts to the voice of reason, the voice of God which echoes and calls us to himself. To be still is to leave all worries and fears at His feet. Stillness is indeed a place of consecration.

When we are still, it becomes easy to listen, it becomes easier to see God in action, it becomes easier to connect the dots and to let go and let God. It is when we are still that knowledge of the father oozes like a stream from his throne and flows towards us. Then can we truly see how God will be exalted in the earth during these trying times.