So how can we do our best to not make these same mistakes?  How can we do our best to hear God's words, God's voice, when we study and teach and preach the Word of God?

Our first principle:  In our hearts we have to determine to understand what God is actually saying in the text.

To hear what God is saying we cannot have our minds made up as we approach the text.

What does it say?  Way before getting to "What does it mean?" or "What does it mean to me?" or "What does this mean to you?" we must desire to know what is God saying.  What are God's words telling us in this text?  What is his point?

We must be passionate in our pursuit of truth.

Sounds simple but much of the preaching we hear would be dramatically transformed if this principle were followed. 

So let's look.  "What does it say?"
Phil 3:10   that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
 
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Seeking God's Power -- A look at God's words in Philippians 3.1-11
 
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Our temptation is to jump right to the power, and that is a mistake.  Was a mistake the preacher made the last time I heard this message preached.

"I want to know. . .power of his resurrection. . ." (Philippians 3:10 NIV)

Is it wrong to be directed to know the power of Christ's resurrection?"  Obviously not, this was Paul's teaching, but it is only part of the package. When we pull this one thought away from the passage we damage the package, we distort God's message.

One problem was that missed the connection with the previous verses because in the New International Version this "that" does not begin the verse. 

Hint:  This is why it is a valuable habit to study Scripture with more than one translation at a time.  The NIV is a good translation but the more literal NAS or NKJV would have helped here.

This
"that" is key to the passage, and we need to examine its reason for being there.  As we investigate, we will see why.

There is a prerequisite to knowing the power.

Please turn to
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