Resurrect in Me

Philippians 3:11 (AMP) so that I may attain the resurrection (that will raise me) from the dead.

It’s hot here in Alabama. Sticky hot! The kind of hot that makes you not want to walk down to the mail box. I know some guys that have to work outside every day. My husband works ten, sometimes twelve, hours a day. He works in a plant over seeing the production of cars, but there are times he has to go out and check the cars, and sort them, before they can leave the plant to the dealerships. What happens when you are just exhausted?

Why is Paul having to attain something that was promised to us? Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, relies on) Me [as Savior] will live even if he dies; and everyone who lives and believes in Me [as Savior] will never die. Do you believe this?” ( John 11:25-26 AMP). Paul is not referring to the same resurrection that Jesus is here.

Paul was bi-vocational. He ministered where ever he went and then to feed himself he was a tent maker. Some places took care of him and he was grateful and allowed them to. He was not going to starve and be mad at God about it though. Do you think he may have gotten physically, emotionally and sometimes spiritually exhausted? I think he did too.

Philippians 3:10 (AMP) And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did].

Paul knew how to fight exhaustion. The resurrection he needed was not because of literal death. It was a death to not be able to continue on with his mission. I believe that Paul was authentic with his struggles.

I was reading 1 Samuel chapters 13 and 14 and saw something very interesting. Saul had become king at the age of thirty. He ruled for forty two years. We find out right away that he had sons. One became King David’s best friend, Jonathan. Jonathan was skilled in fighting and had many victories. There was one incident that Jonathan took just his armor bearer with him and they fought off twenty men to win a victory. Reading further into this story we see that Saul’s army is exhausted. They have started deserting the cause. Reading a little further, we see that Saul had called for a fast for his army (Jonathan did not hear that part). Jonathan had found some honey and dipped his weapon in it and tasted it. It described his eyes and brightening.

What does our body do when our eyes become dull? We become exhausted. We start to not do well mentally. We no longer have the drive to keep going. This is what Jonathan told his father when he admitted to eating the honey. Saul had vowed to kill anyone who disobeyed, but the people talked him out of it.

I do believe I m fasting. Fasting without seeking after the heart of God is just dead works. That is what Saul was doing. Saul fasted thinking God would bless his efforts. When that did not work, he went and sat. Our motivation in a fast is to seek the heart of our Father, not to manipulate Him to do what we want.

What does this have to do with Philippians 3:11, “so that I may attain the resurrection (that will raise me) from the dead” ? Matthew 4:4 (AMP) But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

Have your eyes become dull? Have you cried out in restless despair? Do you need a resurrection?It is right here. Do not forget about the intimate relationship you have with the Father. Get in His Word. Do not forsake it. It is life giving. It is time to attain that resurrection again!!