Pastor (Capt) A. M. Samuel

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ... that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death; " (Phil. 3: 7-10)

These are the statements of Paul the great apostle of the first century.

His Privileges Paul writes "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the Tribe of Benjamin (V. 4). Paul here sets out his credentials, not to boast, but to show that he had enjoyed every privilege which a Jew could enjoy and had risen to every attainment to which a Jew could rise. Every phrase used by Paul in this list of privileges has its special meaning.

Firstly, he had been "circumcised when he was eight days old. " This is to say that he is not an Ishmaelite, who is circumcised on their 13th year; neither is he a proselyte who had come late to the Jewish faith. He lays stress on the fact that he had been born into the Jewish faith and had observed its ceremonies since his birth.

Secondly, he was of "the race of Israel. " By calling himself an Israelite, he stressed the absolute purity of his descent. A special relationship with God, of which every Jew is proud of, and not an Ishmaelite or an Edomite, who were the descendents of Ishmael and Esau, both sons of Abraham.

Thirdly, he was "of the tribe of Benjamin, " This is to stress that he is not only an Israelite; he belonged to the elite of Israel. The tribe of Benjamin had a special place in the aristocracy of Israel. Though a Jew, his father was a Roman citizen. At all events, his son was a free born. It was a valuable privilege and one that was to prove of great use to him. All the above-mentioned privileges mentioned by Paul came to him by birth. But now he goes on to state his achievements.

His Achievements "An Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee, " (v. 5) Firstly, he was a "Hebrew of Hebrews, " This is not the same as to say that he was a true Israelite. The history of the Jews had dispersed them all over the world. But they stubbornly refused to be assimilated to the nations amongst whom they lived; they retained faithfully their own religion and their own laws. But it frequently happened that they forgot their own language. A Hebrew was a Jew who was not only of pure racial descent but who had deliberately, and often laboriously retained the Hebrew tongue.

Such a Jew would speak the language of the country in which he lived, but also the Hebrew, which was his ancestral language. Paul claimed not only to be a pure blooded Jew but one who still spoke Hebrew. Though he was born in a gentile city of Tarsus, but he had come to Jerusalem to be educated.

Secondly, concerning the law, he was a well-trained Pharisee. The very name means "The Separated Ones" They had separated themselves off from all common life and tasks in order to make it the one aim of their lives to keep the smallest detail of the law. He was educated at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22: 3) one of the outstanding rabbis in Jewish history

Thirdly, concerning his zeal, he had been a persecutor of the Church. He was a zealot. That he had tried to wipe out the opponents of Judaism. He was a member of the great Sanhedrin, and along with that he was a rich man having a successful shipping business.

His Desire All these above mentioned things were his qualities, about which he once boasted, but now in verse 7 he writes "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ."

When Paul met Christ, all his glories were useless. He considered them as dung. All his privileges and attainments were just good enough to be thrown to the dogs. In like manner, when one sees the true nature of Christ, his glory, then we will also like Paul count all the things of the world as garbage. We will have nothing to boast of. Today many are proud of themselves, their family, status, and their achievements. That itself is a sign that they have not seen who Christ really is. Till our pride last, we are just good enough to be compared with the flower of the grass. Today we are seen, tomorrow, we will not leave a sign behind that we ever existed.

Today we have many cock-eyed Christians. They see Christ with one eye, and with the other, they see the world. They are people who are trying to travel in two boats at the same time. Lucifer - Satan laughs, he is having fun, seeing them juggling. He thinks he has at least some cock-eyed Christians to accompany him to hell fire.

While following Jesus there is no place for compromise. To follow him we have to leave all. Nothing should distract us. Our gaze should be fixed on to him. Paul was a disciple of Christ looking on to Him only.

The Power of His resurrection In verse 10, Paul writes his heartfelt desire. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death. " Paul is not seeking an intellectual knowledge, the knowledge of certain facts or even principles. It is the personal experience of another person. This former Pharisee is not anxious to know about Christ, but to personally know Him.

Firstly, to know, "the power of his resurrection." For him "Resurrection" was not just an incident in history. It was not simply something related to Jesus only, it was important for him also. It was the dynamic power required in the life of every Christian.

In 1 Cor. 15: 26, we read, "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. " Satan has power, so does "Death" also. On the Cross of Calvary, Satan has been defeated. But "Death" is still to be overcome. It has been kept like that for some time with a Divine purpose. God is busy working according to His own plans.

According to the future plan of God mentioned in Rev. 20: 10-14, as soon as the Church is caught up (rapture), Anti Christ will be revealed. He will reign for 7 years - known as the Great Tribulation. At the end of which, he and his prophet will be cast into the lake of fire and Satan - Lucifer will be cast into the Bottomless pit. Christ will then reign for 1000 years (The Millennial reign)

Today people blame Satan for all the evil, but during the millennial reign of Christ, people will be given an opportunity to lead a sinless life, but they will not be successful. At the end of the millennial reign, Lucifer will be released for a time, then after the Great White Throne Judgment, Lucifer and Death will be put into the fiery lake.

Paul was a person who knew how to face Satan, how to wrestle with Satan, how to chase Satan, and how to overcome Satan, but he is not content with that, now he desires to get power to break the power of "Death." When one is filled with this dynamic power. He will be able to say with Paul "O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?" (1 Cor. 15: 55)

Christ told his disciples "... but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. " (Luke 24: 49) Today in this world we can see many powers influencing the masses. Mahatma Gandhi used the power of the people and non-violence to get independence for India. Hitler used the power of the army to fulfill his crooked designs. China uses its power of the population to achieve its objectives. US is using the dollar power to maintain its supremacy on the world scene. All these are mere earthly powers. They have great limitations, and limited influence.

But the power which a believer gets is from heaven, "from on high". There is no power on earth that can disconnect the connection of a believer with His Lord. When sickness comes, many rush to see the doctor, the reason; they still have the fear of death in their lives. But when one is endued with power from on high, he will crush the medicines under his feet. Because this power is more powerful and effective than the strongest medicine or antidote ever devised.

God desires that this power be there in our lives. Paul writes, "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. " (2 Cor. 4: 7) Let cancer, diabetes, blood pressure or any other sickness come, and get the taste of the power residing in this earthen vessel. Let the persecutors of the Church come and get the taste of this "power from on high. " This is not our own power. Under the influence of this dynamic power we challenge death, then who can frighten us.

Many great people came on the face of the earth, but were silenced by "Death. " But we will not be, because, we have got immortality through Christ. Getting healing through Christ is not a big thing. People can get healing in many places, medicines heal, and Satan heals. In the heathen worship places one can get his desires fulfilled. But only with Christ can we get immortality. That is why we challenge "Death. " And are afraid of nothing in this world. Christian life is not for cowards. This is a life daring death. For us death is a promotion. It is a sleep. It is a call for us to enter our rest; after a tiresome journey through the wilderness.

This power from on high is strong enough to pull down all the strongholds of the enemy. 2 Cor. 10: 3, 4 the first century saints turned the world upside down under the influence of this dynamic power.

"Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain. " (Zech. 4: 7) Now we are living at the time of the last gathering of the fruits the last harvest. The tree is being shaken. All the ripe ones will fall. It is God's plan to do the harvesting through humble simple people, who have nothing to boast about themselves, but who know Christ, and experience the power of resurrection in their lives.

Dear friend! What is the sincere desire of your heart? Are you a cockeyed Christian? Set your eyes right. Forsake the world, gaze only onto Jesus, He knows where you are looking. We do not have much time before us. The power of resurrection is there for us to experience.

Will you get down on your knees right now? You know much about Christ, but do you know Him. Did you ever experience the power of resurrection? Are you ready to challenge "Death"? Why are you afraid of sickness, and other problems? You may be anywhere in the world, reading this message, hear the voice of God.

May God bless you. Amen.