What More Does Paul Want?

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 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. 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:7, 10-10, 12-14 KJV!

There is a lot more to ponder about the writings of Paul! What could be his intent in penning these few verses of scriptures? Peter had confessed somewhere in the Apostles that most of the things written by Paul are hard to understand. This scripture certainly ranks among those class of least understood scriptures!

What else does Paul want? Past and present it won't be out of place if Paul was reckoned as the greatest Christian leader! Half of the New Testament that we read were written by him! The 'gentile' nations of the world owe their knowledge of the Lord to the tireless work of Paul in preaching the gospel. In Acts 19:9-11 we were told the whole of Asia heard the word of God in the space of 2 years all thanks to Paul!

‘And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them’

Profile this great Apostle and you will see a man of great spiritual stature and depth, and yet here in Philippians 3:10 Paul longed to know Christ more and the power of his resurrection! Here Paul minces no word about how desperate he was in his desire: he said he would give up everything for that knowledge! It was not here that he first expresses these views on 'the mightiness of the resurrection power and the desire to know it'. In Ephesians 1:17-20. He spoke of the same desire for that power!

‘That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power’

No one attains spiritual depths without a burning desire!

Why does Paul want to experience this resurrection power:

the resurrection power was the greatest display of God's power in the new testament - Ephesians 1:17-20 said it was the 'exceeding greatness of his power...Which he wrought when he raised Christ from the dead'
the more you know God the more of him you discover that you don't know! This discovery only pushes you to want to know more about Him!
What separated Paul from the rest of us was his insatiable desire for the knowledge of God and his power! It is the same level we must all come today in our spiritual adventure! The depth of our spiritual desire is what defines the depth of our spiritual experience. We will know God only as much as we desire to know him!

"My soul longeth for thee, my heart thirsteth for thee, in a dry land...Where no water is, to see thy power and thy glory'. (Psalm 63:1-2)

How many long for the resurrection power?

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Peter Adeshina Babalola
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