Philippians 3:10-15
10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
There are many messages in this text but I want to focus on one thought, Paul was one of the greatest apostles. He wrote over 70 percent of the New Testament, but still he knew and was convinced that FOR AS YET he had not obtained everything God had for him. Paul wanted to know God and was willing go after God by any means necessary according to this text. Paul had supernatural encounters with the Lord Jesus on the road of Damascus, he had more revelation of the Word than any other person in the whole world but still he pressed on, still he went after God by any means necessary. Never did the Apostle Paul reach a place where he said OK now I can sit back and relax because I've done everything God desires for me to do. No because FOR AS YET he had not apprehended he went even further and said in verse 15 that if any think that they had apprehended or did not have the same mindset that he had. That God would reveal to them there error. That is my prayer that God would reveal any area in our life that we could draw closer to Him.
John 20:1-9
1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9FOR AS YET they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Here we see the disciples not just any disciples but Peter the one who had confessed Jesus as Lord and Christ. (Matthew 16:16) John the one whom the Bible says Jesus loved, these men were both with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, they had seen Jesus feed the five thousand, heal blinded eyes, heal the lame, heal the deaf and dumb, cast out devils, walk on water, turn water into wine, heard him preach the sermon on the mount, you get the point they had been in the presence of the Holy One, but FOR AS YET they knew not the scriptures, that he must rise again from the dead. Jesus had tried to explain to them several times that he had to suffer and die on a cross but still they had For as yet understood what His purpose was here on earth.
Maybe your reading this post and you've heard of Jesus maybe you have confessed him as Lord and Christ but have never really understood or knew the scripture that he must die and rise again from the dead for your sins. Jesus had to die for your sins he came so you might live, he came to break the curse of sin that had been on man since the garden of Eden. Just as Jesus opened the disciples understanding(see Luke 24:45-49) he wants to open your understanding today of why He came. He loved you enough to come and die the shameful death on the cross for you. Don't stop in your journey with God without a full revelation or understanding of what Jesus Christ came to do. He came to rescue you from your sins so you can live for eternity with Him.
Acts 8:12-17
12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(FOR AS YET he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Here we find followers of Jesus who had heard Philip preach the Kingdom of God, the name of the Jesus, were baptized and believed. They had even saw signs and wonders but FOR AS YET they had not received the Holy Ghost. This guys had been having some good church but still For as yet they were missing something in there walk with the Lord.
You may be reading and you've been around the church heard good preaching, believed and been baptized, but have never been filled with the Holy Ghost. I'm writing this post to tell you just as God filled these disciples He will fill you. All you have to do is open up your life and He will come and fill you with overflowing power, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. Don't stop in your journey with God. Don't be satisfied with only being around the church, become the church allow God to come take up residence in you. God desires for you to be filled with His Spirit.
Luke 11:10-13
10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
My goodness God will fill you all you have to do is ask him in prayer and believe in your heart. Ask God to come baptize you with the Holy Ghost right now He will I promise. Many think of the infilling of the Holy Ghost as a one time event I believe the Bible teaches us to daily ask and seek the infilling of the Holy Ghost. I'm convinced just as the apostle Paul that For as yet I have not received everything I can from God I don't ever want to stop asking, seeking. going after and pressing into the deep things of God.
In closing I want to look at something that hinders us from asking, seeking, going after, and pressing into the deep things of God.
2 Chronicles 12:14
14And he did evil, because (FOR AS YET) he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
2 Chronicles 20:32-33
32And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. 33Howbeit the high places (or idols) were not taken away: FOR AS YET the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
Many times we don't pursue God because we are holding unto other things, idols, no you may not have a golden statue in your house but you have habits, addictions and/or secret sins that hinder you from entering into a deeper walk with God. I want to say to you that God is greater and more powerful then any thing that is holding you down. Repent right now and ask God to forgive and deliver you from the sin that is holding you back from seeking Him and putting Him first in your life.
Father, I humbly come to you and ask that You would encourage every person that reads this post to continue to draw closer to You on there journey, because FOR AS YET none of us have apprehended, or obtained everything you have for us. James 4:8 says Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Lord I thank You that You may be found by those that set there hearts on seeking You, in Jesus name AMEN !!
10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
There are many messages in this text but I want to focus on one thought, Paul was one of the greatest apostles. He wrote over 70 percent of the New Testament, but still he knew and was convinced that FOR AS YET he had not obtained everything God had for him. Paul wanted to know God and was willing go after God by any means necessary according to this text. Paul had supernatural encounters with the Lord Jesus on the road of Damascus, he had more revelation of the Word than any other person in the whole world but still he pressed on, still he went after God by any means necessary. Never did the Apostle Paul reach a place where he said OK now I can sit back and relax because I've done everything God desires for me to do. No because FOR AS YET he had not apprehended he went even further and said in verse 15 that if any think that they had apprehended or did not have the same mindset that he had. That God would reveal to them there error. That is my prayer that God would reveal any area in our life that we could draw closer to Him.
John 20:1-9
1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9FOR AS YET they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Here we see the disciples not just any disciples but Peter the one who had confessed Jesus as Lord and Christ. (Matthew 16:16) John the one whom the Bible says Jesus loved, these men were both with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, they had seen Jesus feed the five thousand, heal blinded eyes, heal the lame, heal the deaf and dumb, cast out devils, walk on water, turn water into wine, heard him preach the sermon on the mount, you get the point they had been in the presence of the Holy One, but FOR AS YET they knew not the scriptures, that he must rise again from the dead. Jesus had tried to explain to them several times that he had to suffer and die on a cross but still they had For as yet understood what His purpose was here on earth.
Maybe your reading this post and you've heard of Jesus maybe you have confessed him as Lord and Christ but have never really understood or knew the scripture that he must die and rise again from the dead for your sins. Jesus had to die for your sins he came so you might live, he came to break the curse of sin that had been on man since the garden of Eden. Just as Jesus opened the disciples understanding(see Luke 24:45-49) he wants to open your understanding today of why He came. He loved you enough to come and die the shameful death on the cross for you. Don't stop in your journey with God without a full revelation or understanding of what Jesus Christ came to do. He came to rescue you from your sins so you can live for eternity with Him.
Acts 8:12-17
12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(FOR AS YET he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Here we find followers of Jesus who had heard Philip preach the Kingdom of God, the name of the Jesus, were baptized and believed. They had even saw signs and wonders but FOR AS YET they had not received the Holy Ghost. This guys had been having some good church but still For as yet they were missing something in there walk with the Lord.
You may be reading and you've been around the church heard good preaching, believed and been baptized, but have never been filled with the Holy Ghost. I'm writing this post to tell you just as God filled these disciples He will fill you. All you have to do is open up your life and He will come and fill you with overflowing power, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. Don't stop in your journey with God. Don't be satisfied with only being around the church, become the church allow God to come take up residence in you. God desires for you to be filled with His Spirit.
Luke 11:10-13
10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
My goodness God will fill you all you have to do is ask him in prayer and believe in your heart. Ask God to come baptize you with the Holy Ghost right now He will I promise. Many think of the infilling of the Holy Ghost as a one time event I believe the Bible teaches us to daily ask and seek the infilling of the Holy Ghost. I'm convinced just as the apostle Paul that For as yet I have not received everything I can from God I don't ever want to stop asking, seeking. going after and pressing into the deep things of God.
In closing I want to look at something that hinders us from asking, seeking, going after, and pressing into the deep things of God.
2 Chronicles 12:14
14And he did evil, because (FOR AS YET) he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
2 Chronicles 20:32-33
32And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD. 33Howbeit the high places (or idols) were not taken away: FOR AS YET the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.
Many times we don't pursue God because we are holding unto other things, idols, no you may not have a golden statue in your house but you have habits, addictions and/or secret sins that hinder you from entering into a deeper walk with God. I want to say to you that God is greater and more powerful then any thing that is holding you down. Repent right now and ask God to forgive and deliver you from the sin that is holding you back from seeking Him and putting Him first in your life.
Father, I humbly come to you and ask that You would encourage every person that reads this post to continue to draw closer to You on there journey, because FOR AS YET none of us have apprehended, or obtained everything you have for us. James 4:8 says Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Lord I thank You that You may be found by those that set there hearts on seeking You, in Jesus name AMEN !!
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