Title: THAT I MAY KNOW HIM

Text: Philippians 3:4–11

INTRODUCTION:  

During our school reunion, I heard this phrase from all my classmates and batchmates discussing success. They believe the world measures a successful life using four standard metrics:

1. Assets: Properties, vehicles, CPF balances, stock portfolios, and financial safety nets.
2. Accomplishments: Degrees, promotions, corporate titles, business expansions, and awards.
3. Applause: Social media followers, public recognition, a prominent name, and societal respect.
4. Affiliations: Prestigious clubs, elite networks, political connections, and influential social circles.

One well-known example of a successful man is the famous boxer Manny Pacquiao. Based on the four standard metrics, he meets the criteria. I am not criticizing him, but I want to highlight that he reflects the common worldly view of success. Like the apostle Paul, he possessed all these world-class qualifications (Philippians 3:4–6). He was an elite Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, highly educated, zealous, and blameless by the standards of his time.

Yet, after encountering the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul evaluated his ultimate spiritual audit and called his entire resume “dung” (v. 8—literally rubbish or refuse).

Why? Because Paul discovered the ultimate truth: Real success is not WHAT you attain; real success is WHO you attain, and because of that, all of his achievements are nothing if he counted as lost for Christ.

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

I. THE PERSON I MUST KNOW (“that I may know him”)

Paul does not pray to know more doctrine, perform more miracles, or expand his ministry network. His primary passion is a Person.

A. PERSONAL, Not Just Doctrinal

The original Greek word used here for “know” is ginosko—which denotes an experiential, intimate, and relational knowing, rather than mere intellectual head-knowledge (oida).

It’s entirely possible to be familiar with Jesus—knowing His teachings, memorizing scriptures, and quoting His cross—yet still be unknown to Him (Matthew 7:22–23). Many professing Christians have experienced this firsthand. Despite their knowledge of God’s Word, without experiencing His saving grace, they remain spiritually lost regardless of how many Bible verses they can quote.

A classic example is what the Bible states: ‘The devils also believe, and tremble‘ (James 2:19); the Pharisees dedicated their lives to studying the Scriptures (John 5:39); yet both overlooked the living Person standing right before them.

Many people grow up attending church but never grow spiritually. Some wear religious symbols out of cultural tradition, yet they have never had a personal, transformative encounter with Jesus Christ. I’ve observed this in individuals who have been part of the church for years.

Most believers treat church life as just administrative work—being part of ministries, maybe handling audiovisual equipment, and participating in committees—until Jesus is seen as a church project rather than a personal passion.

Remember, as a believer, as stated in Joshua 1:8, true success in the Kingdom is measured by relationship rather than by activity. Your relationship with God matters more than your knowledge of Him.

B. PREEMINENT Above All Else v.8

 “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”

Interestingly, when I spoke with some friends here in Singapore, especially those who profess Christianity, I was shocked by their responses, even though they didn’t represent all Singaporeans. When I asked why they attend church, they said it’s mainly for social identification. In contrast, Paul didn’t just fit Jesus into his busy life; he relinquished everything to pursue Christ.

In the Philippines, we’re taught to work diligently and give our all. We often justify this endless effort with the notion of “para sa kinabukasan” (for the future) or the relentless pursuit of financial stability and social status.

If God asked you today to choose between pursuing your next corporate promotion or dedicating 30 minutes to uninterrupted prayer in His presence—what would your heart select? Your honest response reflects your true understanding of success.

II. THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION (“and the power of his resurrection”)

To know Christ personally means experiencing the supernatural, dynamic life force that defeated the grave.

A. Power to LIVE Victoriously

The same Holy Spirit who bodily resurrected Jesus Christ now lives within believers (Romans 8:11). This resurrection power (dunamis) isn’t provided for acquiring worldly riches or creating personal empires; instead, it’s meant to help us preach to closed countries, to make us holy, to give us victory over persistent sin, to enable us to forgive the unforgivable, and to empower us to lead transformed lives.

Without the power of resurrection, living as a Christian can feel like an overwhelming moral burden, leading to dry legalism and self-reliance. Though we might achieve brief success, it won’t endure. Conversely, with resurrection power, Christianity involves Christ expressing His divine life through us in a corrupt and twisted world. It gives us reason to live because we now have a great purpose in life, which is to give honour and glory to His Holy Name.

Are you battling generational cycles of anger, addiction, pornography, gambling, or deep-seated anxiety? Human willpower, self-help books, and personal resolutions will ultimately fail. You need resurrection power to break spiritual strongholds.

You need this strength to uphold full business integrity, avoiding shortcuts or bribes even when everyone around insists, “ganyan talaga dito” (that’s just how things are done here).

B. Power to LOOK with Hope

Since the tomb in Jerusalem is empty, death no longer holds its final power (1 Corinthians 15:55). Resurrection power anchors our soul, confirming that trials, illness, and physical death are not the end of our story.

When faced with a sudden medical diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, retrenchment during an economic downturn, or a business failure, people often panic and think, “Wala na, tapos na” (It’s over, all hope is gone). However, the resurrection proclaims: “He is alive, and thus my hope remains unbreakable.”

III. THE PARTNERSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS (“and the fellowship of his sufferings”)

Modern culture pursues pain-free comfort, but authentic discipleship embraces fellowship with a suffering Savior.

A. PARTICIPATING In His Reproach

The term translated as “fellowship” is koinonia, which signifies deep partnership, shared participation, and communion. Truly knowing Christ involves willingly sharing in His rejection, misunderstanding, and worldly reproach. Fellowship isn’t limited to joyful moments and enjoyable activities; it is also defined by perseverance when difficulties arise.

Jesus was mocked by intellectuals, betrayed by friends, hated by religious elites, and abandoned by the world. If we live in close proximity to Him, the world will treat us precisely as it treated Him (John 15:20).

I remember when I was younger and attending church. Some friends began teasing me for holding a Bible and going to church. I was called “OA” (over-acting) or mockingly labeled “holy-holy” or “born again” because I refused to participate in crude office humor or slanderous gossip.

Being bypassed for a corporate promotion because you refused to compromise your ethical standards or lie for a client. That is not a career failure—that is your privilege of entering into the fellowship of His sufferings.

B. PURPOSING through the Pain

God never wastes a drop of a believer’s pain. Suffering is the main means by which the Heavenly Father burns away self-righteousness and shapes us into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29). We do not despair during trials; instead, we join with Christ in them.

The silent tears of a foreign missionary, an OFW separated from family by thousands of miles; the exhaustion from caregiver burnout; the mental strain of National Service (NS) or academic exams; and the profound grief caused by family separation.

God encounters you at your lowest moments in the dark valleys. During these times, your prayer might be: “Lord, I have never experienced Your comfort, strength, and presence as I do now, having walked through this fire.”

IV. THE PLIABILITY UNTO HIS DEATH (“being made conformable unto his death”)

A. PLIABLE To His Will Daily

The Greek term summorphizomenos signifies a continuous process of being reshaped, molded, and transformed to match a specific pattern—namely, the pattern of Christ’s death.

This means taking up a daily cross (Luke 9:23) and adopting the posture of Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Thine be done.” The psalmist says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4). This means we need to be moldable in the LORD.

That is what pliable means. It means being pliable in God’s hands—dying daily to personal pride, to cultural pride (hiya), to the fear of missing out (sayang), and to personal comfort.

• Dying to the fear of human opinion—often, people care so much about what others will say, as in the Filipino saying, “Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng ibang tao?” so you can fully obey God’s call.
• Let go of the need to always win every argument with your spouse or family member, and instead choose humility and peace. We’ve often heard the saying, ‘So what if you win the argument and lose the person?’ What’s the point of winning if it costs you your relationship?
• Fading from the constant pursuit of material wealth to focus your time, talents, and resources on eternal kingdom ministry.

In Fiji, there is an interesting phrase they always say: be fluid, meaning we need to be flexible or pliable. In any circumstances, let us think whether all our actions please or honor our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. PREPARING For His Return v.11

“If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
Paul lived with an unshakeable eternal perspective. He refused to “lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt”; his eyes were fixed on the Judgment Seat of Christ.

• Are you dedicating all your energy to living the next 70 years on Earth, or are you also preparing for the next million years in eternity?
• A pliable heart yields daily to the Potter’s touch, praying: “Lord, break my stubborn self-will, melt my hard heart, and mold me until I look just like Jesus.”

CONCLUSION:

The World’s Yardstick	Heaven’s Standard
Success is WHAT you attain (Assets, Accomplishments, Applause, Affiliations)	Success is WHO you attain (Philippians 3:8 — “…that I may win Christ”)

Let me ask you this:

A. Do I know Jesus personally through daily, intimate communion, or merely know facts about Him?

B. Am I stepping out in His resurrection power, or am I striving, exhausted, in my own human strength?

C. Am I willing to remain pliable in His hands, even if it leads me through the valley of suffering and self-denial?

THE ULTIMATE QUESTION

If Jesus were to take away your job, titles, savings, and comforts today but grant you a deeper, richer, and more profound understanding of Himself…

Would that still be enough for you?

If your heart can answer “Yes,” then you have understood Philippians 3:10. That is true, eternal success.

Prayer:

“Dear God and Heavenly Father, strip away our worldly definitions of achievement. Above our titles, above our money, above our career advancement, and above our personal comfort, grant us this supreme passion: THAT I MAY KNOW HIM. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”

AMEN.