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Gale Force

Gale Force

Words of Faith 8-28-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Philippians 3

[10] I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [11] and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

        Have you ever felt the wind in your face with such power that your eyes watered and you wanted to turn away but just could not?  Sometimes on a high mountain top, or a boat, or in a small aircraft we experience the wind with such power.  I think Paul had experienced something like that power in his spirit. 

        Paul cries out in the middle of all the religious talk, theological arguments, and careful debate with the past, and suddenly we hear from his heart.  What is the heart cry of Paul?  Above all, I just want to know Christ!  Nothing else matters. 

       Once you have tasted the real thing, all this religious stuff is nothing more than just talk. And I want it all!  I want all of Jesus that I can get: the power of resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering.  I am not afraid.  Because, even if there is pain mixed with the joy, at least I know that I am alive! 

         Eugene Peterson's The Message translates this verse, "I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself.  If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it." 

        There is a certain sense of abandon in this verse. We hear a turning loose from all the stuff that is in the past.  The truth is that there are probably not enough days that we live like that. Not enough days when we passionately pursue a relationship with Jesus no matter what it costs.  Not enough days when we passionately experience resurrection power, not someday, but right now.  Not enough days when we boldly partner with Him in suffering if that is the call or even to die to self in a way that sets me free.  Those are the windy days. 

       Do you feel that breeze?  It is the wind of the Holy Spirit blowing in your face. The wind comes up, and you have a choice.  You can seek shelter from the wind and live today like every other day, do the routine things, the safe things.  Or, you can live today like no other day and purpose to know Christ, tap into the power, and face the wind.  Gale force. Blow wind.  Blow.

 

        Lord, I want to know you today as never before.  I want to experience Your resurrection power and the fellowship of sharing in Your sufferings even to become like You in death and so attain Your life. Hit me today with the gale force of Your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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