In the book of Acts we read about many miracles. Today Christians experience similar miracles, but we tend to overlook them. Much like the Israelites, we become forgetful and ungrateful.
The biggest miracle in our life is to be saved from sin by Jesus. Yet, we take it for granted that we have salvation.
God used Paul to do great things and perform miracles. Jesus knew Paul personally and Paul was using the power for Jesus.
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
Acts 19:11 ESV
The name of Jesus invoked great power. However, people did not know Jesus.
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.”
Acts 19:13 ESV
It does not go well for them because the power they were using not commissioned for them to use. They were mimicking Paul and did not know Jesus. Their power was fake and the results were humiliating.
Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Acts 19:14-16 ESV
This can be the same with us. If we do not know Jesus, we can pretend to be a Christian and go through the motions, but what will be the result. We will eventually be found to be fake Christians and suffer.
Understanding that God is the creator of all things and is to be worshipped and obeyed will bring honour and successes. This is what happened with those who used Jesus’ name in the right way.
And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.
Acts 19:17 ESV
We need to know God, then know ourselves and finally experience God. Job went through this.
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:5-6 ESV
We first need to know God. Then we can confess our sins. Finally we can Experience God. This will then spill over to others.
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.
Acts 19:18 ESV
August 13, 2023
Aug 13, 2023 “Experiencing the True Power of Knowing Jesus” (Acts 19:11-20)
August 6, 2023
Aug 6, 2023 “A Deeper Knowledge of Christ”(Philippians 3:10)
ESV - Phil. 3:10
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
NIV - Phil. 3:10
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
NLT - Phil. 3:10
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,
NASB - Phil. 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
NKJV - Phil. 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
THE MESSAGE - Phil. 3:10
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 Amplified Bible
10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];
Sermon Outline
I. Knowing the Person of Christ.
II. Knowing the Power of Christ
III. Knowing the Partnership of the Suffering of Christ.
Background
of the city of Philippi Acts 16
1.
First convert in
Philippi is Lydia
2.
Servant girl's evil
spirit of prophesy exercised
3.
Paul is arrested in
put in prison.
4.
Paul wrote the book
of Philippians while he was prison
5.
Rejoicing is
mentioned 16 time in Philippians
Philippians Chapter 1 Joy
of living in Christ
Philippians Chapter 2 Joy
of serving Christ in unity
Philippians Chapter 3 Joy
in knowing in Christ
Philippians Chapter 4 Joy
in resting in Christ
What does Paul want to know?
1.
Knowing the person of
Christ.
that I may know him and the power of his
resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10-11 ESV
In Greek the word used to know has the
meaning that you can never know completely. Paul knew that knowing God is
something progressive. Paul wants to know who Jesus is. Even though Paul was
serving Christ. He wanted to know Jesus more. This knowledge is more than
information from books. This is a knowledge of relationship. By prayer,
communication, you can have a relationship. Beyond information, there must be
revelation and that can only come from communication This knowledge can only
come from a deep relationship. You need to pray to get revelation.
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never
knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:23 ESV
Even those who do miracles and preach Jesus
might not have a relationship with Jesus.
For I decided to know nothing among you
except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV
The real test to show if we know Christ or
not is simply whether or not we keep his commands.
And by this we know that we have come to know
him if we keep his commandments.
1 John 2:3 ESV
2.
Knowing the power of
Christ.
Every Christian who knows Christ will want to
know the power of Christ which is the power of Resurrection. The foundation is
to know Christ personally and then know Christ's power. Some just want to know
has power.
and
what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he
raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly
places,
Ephesians 1:19-20 ESV
You cannot ignore the fact that there is
spiritual warfare. You need to have the power of Christ or else you will become
prey of the Devil.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the
strength of his might.
Ephesians 6:10 ESV
The more you have relationship with Jesus and
know who He is, the more you will know his power.
3.
Knowing the
partnership of the suffering of Christ.
Not many Christians want to know the
partnership of the suffering of Christ. Only the deepest and most mature
Christians will seek the partnership of the suffering
of Christ.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s
sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:13 ESV
if we endure, we will also reign with him; if
we deny him, he also will deny us;
2 Timothy 2:12 ESV
The
ultimate goal of knowing Christ is to be becoming like Christ.