Winning Christ

Philippians 3:10

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

We need to manifest what the scripture is saying. Paul said he needed to know Chirst and this would only be accomplished in the power of Christ’s resurrection and through the fellowship of His suffering.

Many still walk under the power of sin, offenses, fear, uncertainties and despair. As sons of God, we are not supposed to walk in this manner. We have been given the same power Christ had when He walked the earth.

Just as the Apostle Paul pressed to win Christ we must also. We have the resurrection power and we need to walk in it. Jesus is just as powerful now as He was back then. The Jesus in us can raise the dead, cure diseases and deliver the crack addict. Please note that to know means to experience and in order to experience resurrection power because we must experience suffering. If we want to win Christ , we must enter into the fellowship of His suffering. If we do not suffer in our flesh, then we cannot fulfill the law of God and we will never win Christ.

REACHING FOR PERFECTION

Philippians 3:1-8

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, . . .

Paul was concerned about winning Christ. He suffered in the flesh and lost all that he had for the sake of obtaining the righteousness of God which is found in Christ Jesus. It is this righteousness that will determine his fate and ours too, in the day of judgment.

Winning Christ has a two-fold meaning. Consider the following passage:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Philippians 3:9-10

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

The day will come when all will stand before the judgment seat of God. Paul so wanted to stand in the righteousness of God, not in his own righteousness. Therefore his lifestyle had to show proof of the death of Christ. His suffering in the flesh gave witness to the power of the death, burial and resurrection of his Savior.

Philippians 3:11

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Paul wanted to make it to the resurrection of the dead. He wanted to be in the first resurrection. By revelation, he knew the day of the Lord would not come before he passed from this life. However, he wanted to die with the assurance that he had attained eternal life. This was nothing to take for granted.

Philippians 3:12-21

12 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.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Our lifestyle, our thoughts, our whole mentality should be established in heaven right now. Our expectation of redemption should always be before us. Behold, the Master comes quickly and His reward is with Him.

This is powerful. Paul says the same power by which Christ is able to subdue all things unto himself (the Holy Ghost) will be the power which fashions our vile human bodies into one likened unto His glorious body.

It is so exciting to think on the glory of that day. The day when we who hold fast to our profession of faith enter into the Kingdom of Christ, the Millennium.

1 Corinthians 9:22-27

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1 Corinthians 9:22-27 shows us that is possible to be rejected from entering the kingdom due to a sinful lifestyle. Note the following passages:

St. John 15:5-8

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the vine, we are the branches. Those who abide or remain in the vine have the potential of bringing forth much fruit unto righteousness.

However, there will be those who choose not to remain in the Body. They will be of the number who fall away from the faith. They are the ones who will be gathered as withered branches and cast in the fire. The fact that they are withered means they started out attached to the vine. However, somehow and because of some lustful reason they fell away from the true vine.

Those who remain in the vine are the disciples of Christ. They are the disciplined ones. They will bring forth much fruit because they are purged by the Father who is the husbandman.

St. John 15:9

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

This is the key. The Father loved Jesus, therefore He could ask anything of Him.

St. John 15:10

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Our love for Christ is expressed by the keeping of His commandments. If we live inside truth and holiness, then the Lord will bestow much love upon us. His love is expressed by allowing us to ask anything of the Father in His name, promising that the Father will do it.

Remember, however, Christ did set the guidelines for the things we should ask of the Father. He taught us to take no thought for the material things of this life, for the Father knows what we need. Therefore, we are to ask for those things which pertain to the ministry of reconciliation.

St. John 15:11

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

There is fullness of joy when one knows he has satisfied his master and his reward is won.

Romans 11:16-22

16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.

20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

I sincerely hope the above scriptures provide you with a determination to make it into the kingdom. I hope you see the seriousness of holding onto the truth and walking in it. Let me just give you some things to consider while in the course of running this race.

Whatever you trust in outside of God the Father is going to be touched; in other words, your money, spouse, children, family name, job, position in society or arrogant pride. Whatever stands between you and the revelation of the simplicity of the sons of God will be an open target for removal or displacement.

Be careful to hear the voice of the Lord as He speaks through your inner-man. This is the voice who will lead and guide you into all truths. Stop waiting for the voice to come from heaven. HEAVEN IS IN YOU. You will be lead from within.

The Lord will not always speedily answer all your prayers. Patience is the only virtue which proves your trust and confidence in the Lord. Patience in waiting challenges you to produce good fruit in the midst of opposition, offense and hard times. This is the proof you have indeed presented your body a living sacrifice.

Love the people of God. Learn to love others as you love yourself. Do good, shun the appearance of evil and the Lord will bless you in every way.

I Love You,

Doc.