In one place Paul said he wanted to go be with the Lord but it was necessary for him to stay because he was the one that we would follow into a new understanding, a new revelation, and a new grace. You know it pays to know who you are running with when suffering hits you. Some do not understand suffering, others can claim it's a lack of faith, and those that know the fellowship of his sufferings. Have you ever been around those that have never been sick, I'm talking about sick unto death. There is no fellowship there, Paul brings to us a deep understanding of suffering and the fellowship of it. Paul knew his suffering was not in vain, he understood to fellowship with Christ your suffering has to be seen as Christ would suffer when he graced this earth.
It may be that you were not the one suffering the beating and flogging Jesus suffered but to know him in the power of his ressurection you will suffer. Being made conformable to his death, you are not afraid of death, you may look forward to escaping this world but understanding it is not up to you. And while you are here your time is spent wisely to conform to his death. If you read on in these verses in Philippians you can see Paul exorting the believer, everything they need is in Christ already, but they must apprehend it. It is all theirs but it must be accessed. You have all the grace you will ever need but you must access it, Romans 5:2,
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
It's all there and in this powerful book Paul gives it to the believer. Where did Paul get all his information, from Christ. Think about this; Jesus told Paul "Paul they are nolonger to know me after the flesh," (the Christ that came into this world). They will know the ressurected lord from here on out. Where did Paul get that from, from Christ himself.
Paul I am going to give you this mind and they shall know it when they read, where did that come from, the ressurected Christ, Ephesians 3:3-4
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
If the believer is to grow in understanding they will have to give their religion a look at and make quality decisions to understand Paul.
It may be that you were not the one suffering the beating and flogging Jesus suffered but to know him in the power of his ressurection you will suffer. Being made conformable to his death, you are not afraid of death, you may look forward to escaping this world but understanding it is not up to you. And while you are here your time is spent wisely to conform to his death. If you read on in these verses in Philippians you can see Paul exorting the believer, everything they need is in Christ already, but they must apprehend it. It is all theirs but it must be accessed. You have all the grace you will ever need but you must access it, Romans 5:2,
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
It's all there and in this powerful book Paul gives it to the believer. Where did Paul get all his information, from Christ. Think about this; Jesus told Paul "Paul they are nolonger to know me after the flesh," (the Christ that came into this world). They will know the ressurected lord from here on out. Where did Paul get that from, from Christ himself.
Paul I am going to give you this mind and they shall know it when they read, where did that come from, the ressurected Christ, Ephesians 3:3-4
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
If the believer is to grow in understanding they will have to give their religion a look at and make quality decisions to understand Paul.
