Alive in Christ: Embracing Knowledge and Experience

Devotional

Day 1: The True Value of Knowing Christ

Knowing Christ surpasses all earthly achievements and accolades. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, emphasizes that his past accomplishments are insignificant compared to the immense value of knowing Christ. This perspective challenges us to reassess our priorities and recognize that our true identity and worth are found in Christ alone. In a world that often measures success by material gains and social status, this call to find our value in Christ is both countercultural and liberating. It invites us to let go of the pressures to conform to worldly standards and instead embrace the transformative relationship with Jesus. [37:43]

Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV): "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."

Reflection: What are some achievements or possessions in your life that you might be holding onto too tightly? How can you begin to see them as secondary to your relationship with Christ today?

Day 2: Experiencing Christ Beyond Knowledge

Knowing Christ is not limited to intellectual understanding but involves a deep, experiential relationship. The Word of God provides the foundation for this knowledge, revealing God's heart and precepts. However, it is through personal encounters with Jesus that our faith becomes alive and transformative. These experiences mark significant spiritual milestones, propelling us forward in our journey with Christ. As we balance the knowledge of Scripture with these encounters, we grow in intimacy with Him, allowing His presence to shape and guide our lives. [42:38]

Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV): "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent experience where you felt the presence of Christ in your life. How did it impact your understanding of Him, and how can you seek more of these encounters?

Day 3: Growth Through Suffering

Participating in Christ's sufferings is a challenging yet essential aspect of our faith journey. Suffering is not something we naturally seek, but it is often through trials that we experience profound growth and refinement. Just as Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tested, our sufferings can produce perseverance, character, and hope. Embracing this perspective allows us to see our struggles as opportunities for spiritual development, drawing us closer to God and shaping us into the likeness of Christ. [58:30]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Think of a recent challenge or trial you have faced. How can you view it as an opportunity for growth and draw closer to God through it?

Day 4: Living in Resurrection Power

The power of Christ's resurrection is not merely a historical event but a present reality that empowers us to overcome sin and live as new creations. This resurrection power is at work within us, continually transforming us into the likeness of Christ. As we walk in this power, we are called to live out our faith boldly, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us for the sake of the world around us. Embracing this power means living with the confidence that we are being renewed and sanctified daily. [59:53]

Ephesians 1:19-20 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on the resurrection power of Christ? How can you actively invite the Holy Spirit to transform you in these areas today?

Day 5: Alive in Christ

Being alive in Christ means experiencing an ever-increasing conformity to His likeness through the balance of knowing His Word and encountering Him in our daily lives. This process of sanctification involves a continual transformation by His resurrection power, shaping us into new creations. As we journey through life, we are called to be open to the work of the Holy Spirit, allowing His power to be exhibited in our lives for the sake of the world around us. This dynamic relationship with Christ is both a privilege and a responsibility, inviting us to live out our faith authentically and passionately. [01:02:07]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek to be more alive in Christ today? What practical steps can you take to balance knowing His Word with experiencing His presence in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound themes found in Philippians 3, particularly focusing on verse 10, which speaks to the desire to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. This passage challenges us to consider what it truly means to be "Alive in Christ," a theme we are embracing this month. Paul, in his letter, reflects on his past achievements and considers them as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This is a call for us to evaluate our own lives and recognize that our true value and identity are found in Christ alone.

Knowing Christ involves both knowledge and experience. The Word of God is foundational, providing us with the truth and understanding of God's heart and His precepts. However, our relationship with Christ is not limited to intellectual knowledge. It is also about experiencing Him in our daily lives. These encounters with Jesus are transformative, marking significant spiritual milestones that propel us forward in our faith journey.

Paul's desire to know Christ includes participating in His sufferings. This is a challenging concept, yet it is through suffering that we often grow and are refined. Jesus Himself was led into the wilderness to be tested, and He chose to endure suffering for the sake of fulfilling His Father's will. Our sufferings, too, can be a tool for growth, producing perseverance, character, and hope.

The power of Christ's resurrection is not just a historical event but a present reality in our lives. This power is at work in us, enabling us to overcome sin and live as new creations. We are called to walk in this resurrection power, continually being transformed into the likeness of Christ.

As we journey through this month, let us seek to be alive in Christ, balancing the knowledge of His Word with the experiential encounters that deepen our relationship with Him. May we be open to the work of the Holy Spirit, allowing His power to be exhibited in our lives for the sake of the world around us.

Key Takeaways

1. The Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ: Paul considers all his past achievements as loss compared to the value of knowing Christ. This challenges us to evaluate our own lives and recognize that our true identity and worth are found in Christ alone. [37:43]
2. Balancing Knowledge and Experience: Knowing Christ involves both understanding His Word and experiencing His presence in our lives. These encounters with Jesus are transformative, marking significant spiritual milestones that propel us forward in our faith journey. [42:38]
3. The Role of Suffering in Spiritual Growth: Participating in Christ's sufferings is a challenging yet essential part of our faith. Suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope, refining us and drawing us closer to God. [58:30]
4. The Power of Christ's Resurrection: The resurrection power of Christ is a present reality in our lives, enabling us to overcome sin and live as new creations. We are called to walk in this power, continually being transformed into the likeness of Christ. [59:53]
5. Alive in Christ: Being alive in Christ means experiencing ever-increasing conformity to His likeness through the balance of knowing His Word and encountering Him in our daily lives. This is a process of sanctification, where we are continually transformed by His resurrection power. [01:02:07]
** [62:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:08] - Kathy's Testimony
[31:24] - Announcements and Events
[33:04] - Prayer Focus
[37:43] - Introduction to Philippians 3
[40:26] - Knowing Christ and His Resurrection
[41:33] - Importance of Scripture
[42:38] - Balancing Knowledge and Experience
[46:44] - Encounters with Jesus
[52:27] - Participation in Sufferings
[53:55] - Coaching Analogy
[55:09] - Relational God
[56:14] - Hope in Suffering
[58:30] - Jesus' Wilderness Experience
[59:53] - Resurrection Power in Us
[62:07] - Alive in Christ
[64:28] - Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Philippians 3:7-11 — - Romans 6:5-11
- Ephesians 1:18-20

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Observation Questions

In Philippians 3:7-11, what does Paul consider as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ? [37:43]
How does the sermon describe the balance between knowledge and experience in knowing Christ? [42:38]
What role does suffering play in spiritual growth according to the sermon? [58:30]
How is the power of Christ's resurrection described as a present reality in our lives? [59:53]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to consider all things as loss for the sake of knowing Christ, and how might this perspective affect a believer's priorities? [37:43]
How can the balance between scriptural knowledge and experiential encounters with Christ lead to a deeper relationship with Him? [42:38]
Why might participating in Christ's sufferings be considered an essential part of the Christian faith, and how does it contribute to spiritual growth? [58:30]
In what ways does the power of Christ's resurrection enable believers to overcome sin and live as new creations? [59:53]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life: Are there achievements or possessions you hold dear that might be considered "loss" compared to knowing Christ? How can you shift your focus to prioritize your relationship with Him? [37:43]
How can you incorporate both the study of Scripture and personal encounters with Christ into your daily routine to foster a balanced spiritual life? [42:38]
Think of a recent challenge or suffering you have faced. How can you view this experience as an opportunity for spiritual growth and refinement? [58:30]
Identify an area in your life where you need to experience the power of Christ's resurrection. What steps can you take to invite His transformative power into that situation? [59:53]
How can you remain open to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, allowing His power to be exhibited for the sake of those around you? [01:02:57]
Consider a time when you felt "alive in Christ." What contributed to that feeling, and how can you seek to experience it more regularly? [01:02:07]
What practical steps can you take this week to align your life more closely with the likeness of Christ, as described in the sermon? [01:02:07]

Sermon Clips

"But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything loss. Because of the, why? Because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them good. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, not, not through my own works, not through doing things, trying to gain it myself." [00:37:56]

"How do we know Christ? Well, first of all, there's knowledge, knowledge of the word. And, and there is, and has been, and continues to be, and should be a strong emphasis, about being in the Word. The Word is what gives us our foundation. The Word is, it says in John, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." [00:41:44]

"And I think it's important for us to understand that there's actually another part of the Christian life than just God's Word. God's Word is important. It's foundational. We have to have God's Word for life. That's, it's critical. But there's also another side of our walk with the Lord, to knowing Christ. And that's experiential. See, our encounters with Jesus are what change us and what propel us forward." [00:43:39]

"See, in the midst of that testing, Satan comes to Jesus and he offered Jesus three different times in three different ways. He offered Jesus, I'm giving you, I'm offering you a shortcut. You can bypass all of this suffering. I'm giving it to you right now. All you have to do is this. I am offering you a chance of a lifetime to bypass all of your suffering." [00:58:40]

"That we should no longer be slaves of sin because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. And then verse 8. Now, if we died with Christ, we believe that we also will live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again. Death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all. But the life he lives, he lives to God." [01:00:48]

"Philippians 2, just the chapter before that we're in here, Philippians 2, Paul says, in your relationships, it's such a powerful one. My favorite passage is just an eloquent passage talking about Jesus. It says, in your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage." [00:56:58]

"See, when Jesus was led into the wilderness, he was led, by the way, in Matthew 4, it tells us this, that Jesus, Jesus was led into the wilderness by who? The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. Why is this important? See, in the midst of that testing, Satan comes to Jesus and he offered Jesus three different times in three different ways." [00:58:30]

"There's, sometimes you might hear this phrase, it's a Latin phrase, sola scriptura, which means only, only Scripture. Only Scripture. That's good. But sometimes, that can also be taken to an extreme to mean, especially in some circles, some Christian circles, to mean that that's all there is in the Christian life." [00:43:39]

"Another example of how we might have an encounter is through prophetic words and it the importance of reminding ourselves of those prophetic words spoken over our lives is is is is important it's critical because those are the words that that God is speaking to you and it might come through another person it might come through a sense that God is speaking to you in your heart." [00:46:51]

"That one who use, you know, who has been in their shoes and, and they have the re, the relationship built there, but, but there's also, you know, a tone that is set to say, you know, this, this is our plan. This is where we're going. This is what we need to do. And that's, that's kind of an example of, of who God is for us. He's relational. He knows us. He can identify with us and we can identify with him." [00:55:28]

"See, Christ's sufferings are not just the sufferings of the world. They are the sufferings of the world. They are the matter. Who wants to worship a God who can't identify with us? Because at some point, worshiping a God who doesn't and can't identify with us kind of turns into a relationship based in fear." [00:52:21]

"That comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. And now we get to verse 10. I want to know Christ. I want to know Christ. Yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead." [00:40:08]

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