“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformed to His death.”
Phil. 3:10

The pursuit of the believer is Jesus Christ. Not just to be like Christ, but to know Christ.

This knowledge does not consist chiefly in facts about Jesus, but rather it consists in an intimate sharing of His person through the work of the Spirit.

It was the Spirit of Holiness that raised Jesus from the dead and demonstrated through the resurrection the power of God. The resurrection demonstrated to the world that the power of death is broken and the way to God has been opened. The death of Jesus was a once for all sufficient atonement for our sin, the resurrection demonstrated that Jesus was who He claimed to be.

The road to knowing Him is a road of suffering and is trod by those of faith. We believe in One whom we’ve never seen, only read about and felt the stirrings of His presence deep within our hearts. We look for a new home- a better one, where lion and lamb repose together in the shade of the trees and the child plays with the cobra. A land free of death and curse.

May your pursuit in life be the One alone who is worthy of all our praise.

Because of grace,
Tim

The post That I May Know Him appeared first on EBCSV.

The Apostle John had been banished to the Isle of Patmos- a tiny, barren island off the coast of modern Turkey.
A penal colony for political prisoners, Domitian had sentenced him to hard labor in the mines for his testimony that Jesus was Lord.
At the same time, the most vicious persecution to date was falling on the Church. It was a time of dark turmoil and tribulation.

On the Lord’s Day, as John was worshipping his Savior, the Lord suddenly appeared to him. Not since the transformation on the Mount of transfiguration had John seen Jesus in such glory.
John, who at the last supper had leaned back upon Jesus to ask him which disciple would betray Him, is overcome and falls before Him as a dead man.

17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last,
18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. ~ Revelation 1:17-18

“Don’t be afraid” is Jesus bold proclamation. This is a message of hope to a persecuted, perplexed people. Uncertain of their fate, facing an ignominious end in a Roman Coliseum; this is a game changer! “Don’t be afraid”- I am with you to the end of the age!!

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, man has been gripped by fear before a holy God.
When angels announced His birth to shepherds outside of Bethlehem, they too proclaimed: “Don’t be afraid.” And so to us today He says: “Don’t be afraid!”

Why? Because he is the Living One who has defeated death, banished Satan and is ushering in the Kingdom. He holds the key’s to eternal life- a door that now stands open; and death- a door that He controls.
He holds the key to the lock that binds Satan and will one day confine him to the bottomless pit. Moreover, He holds the key that unlocks the mysteries of life and the answer to your deepest questions.

So death now holds no fear for us. We are overcomers’ because of Him who lives forevermore!
Trust Him- Are you all in?

Because of grace,
Tim

Listen to the related message below.

The post Fear Not appeared first on EBCSV.