Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection, participate in his sufferings, and become like him in his death.
In today's church space, some want to know Christ but don't tell them anything about sharing in his sufferings. Others want the power of his resurrection but don't bother knowing Christ. Why? The power they are seeking is for their agendas. Paul, the Apostle, wanted all three: the knowledge of Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings.
We will continue our noise-making, coined as impact until we embrace the totality of Philippians 3:10.
Christ's profound depths can only be reached through the fellowship of his sufferings. The weakness of today's Christianity lies in our reluctance to embrace the cross of Christ, a challenge that calls us to deeper spiritual growth and maturity.
We may talk about it, celebrate Easter, and acknowledge the salvation the cross brought for us. Still, if we deny the cross in our daily lives and ministries, we risk losing its transformative power and the depth of our relationship with Christ.
We could have reached the entire world by now and conquered nations for Christ, but that hasn't been possible because we haven't embraced the cross of Christ to conquer the self-seeking in us, the pride of life, the lust of the flesh, and the vanities of this world that reign supreme as God over our hearts. We can't carry the kind of aura of grace the early church had while living to satisfy our fleshly lust and acquire the vanities of this world.
May the Lord restore us to the teachings of the Apostles.
Dr Benard Etta
Visionary
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