Page 24 - Vol21Iss1

SEEC Magazine 24 February/March 2017
Knowing Christ

Sam will be speaking at Kingdom Congress 2017.
The apostle Paul states it very precisely when he says:

Yes, furthermore, I count everything a loss compared to the pos-
session of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming precious-
ness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more
deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and
recognizing and understa nding Him more fully and clearly].
For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be
mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain)
Christ (the Anointed One). Philippians 3:8

This is what I am speaking of as truly knowing Christ. But to do so,
we must also follow Paul's prayer for this to occur that he recorded in
Ephesians 1:17-19. That we be granted "a spirit of wisdom and revelation,
[insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge
of Him."
This to me is the gold standard of our life's ambition: progressively
becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him. This can only
happen by the spirit of wisdom and revelation which is prophetic in na-
ture. Yes, I said it! We should be prophetic in nature, seeing this is the
very nature of God! God is a God who desires to reveal His plans, will,
and desires to His people.

Do we realize that the New Testament books written by the apostle Paul
were based upon this statement about his knowledge of Christ, that were formed
into doctrines (teachings) about Christ? Galatians 1:12 says, "For indeed I did
not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct]
revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."

Paul was speaking about the gospel he preached, which was not a human
invention or according to human standards. He also stated that if anyone, includ-
ing angels, preaches another gospel than the one he preached, let him be ac-
cursed. That means doomed to eternal destruction and punishment! Yes, this is
the same gospel that we must preach and teach today, or should be.