Morning Moments

Philippians Devotional Outline (cont)

D. A Resurrection to Reckon 3:10-14

"I'm Alive!" "I'm Alive!" Can you imagine how excited Lazarus must have been when Jesus raised him from the dead? Oh, I know how all of us "theologically" minded people are thinking - "But being in heaven is much better." I agree! But the brokenhearted sisters were no longer brokenhearted. Besides, he did get a taste of glory divine. My point is that we are dead and yet alive from the dead through Jesus Christ our Lord. I don't mean that were are merely alive unto God, but we are alive with God in us so that NOW sin no longer has DOMINION over us. I'm not so sure that the average Christian believes that but it is true nevertheless. Consider:

1. A Past Experience 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;

Wait just a minute! My friend use to say, "Hold up cool breeze!" We understand all this about the Holy Spirit living in me conforming me to the image of God's dear Son or making me more like Jesus, Right? And we understand that we can now live in the power of the Holy Spirit, Right? But this verse has a twist to it! Being conformed to his death and the fellowship or joint participation in his sufferings is another matter alltogether. The preacher didn't say anything about this when he whipped out that little booklet and led me in that prayer. Well, don't worry, it gets worse before it gets better.

Here is the deal, we Christians are called to suffer, got it? 1 Peter 2:21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Jesus suffered, then died but we die then suffer so that we in newness of His life might share in "his afflictions" - 1 Thes 3:3. That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. Col 1:24. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Regardless of what you hear from the TV preacher affliction and suffering is a part of the process of the "fellowship of His sufferings and being made conformable unto His death." It takes the RESURRECTION power to carry us through the fellowship of His sufferings, so we are thus conformed to His death by ...

2. A Present Empowerment 3:11

3:11. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

I am referring to this as a present empowerment because the very Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead has raised us from the dead spiritually and will also physically. It is a done deal because He is the Father's seal of ownership in us, and it is He that empowers us to live in resurrection power as we face and move victoriously through afflictions and sufferings. It was for the joy set before him that Jesus endured the suffering and the servant is not above his Lord. As a man, Jesus learned obedience by the things that he suffered and we must learn that we also.

3. A Progressive Endeavor 3:12-14

3:12. 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.

We, as Paul must understand that we are running a race and that the race is not yet finished, so we must press on and run it with patient endurance, looking unto Jesus. When I set up my overhead projector I can adjust the image on the screen until it is clearer and clearer and someone will say, "that's perfect." We are reflecting God's Image in this world and as the Holy Spirit conforms us more and more to that image through the fellowship of His sufferings and the power that outflows from His resurrection the image of Christ becomes clearer and clearer until one day God will say "PERFECT, You're home".

BLESSINGS!