The Open Secret – Knowledge of Christ is The Key

CHAPTER FIVE
The Open Secret – Knowledge of Christ is The Key

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”

Philippians. 3:10-11

…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Daniel. 11:32-33 NKJV

The only thing that could have made David express so much confidence in the Lord, for which he was able to say that he would never lack anything would be that he knew the Shepherd personally and the Shepherd, also knew him in the same way. Read Psalm 23 again gently and thoughtfully, verse by verse. You will notice a level of confidence that can be born out, only from one who has a deep-rooted personal (intimate) relationship with his Shepherd. David declared his confidence out of a loving assurance and a good level of trust in a person he truly knew, and who knew him also. The Lord testified that He also knew David, “After God took Saul away, God made David their king. This is what God said about David: ‘David, the son of Jesse, is the kind of person who does what pleases me. He will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22. Jesus in John 10:27 said, My Sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.

We lack grace and peace because we really do not know the Master, the Shepherd. We are often impoverished of all spiritual prosperity and freedom from fears. We suffer agitating passions and moral conflicts in our beings (our souls) because we do not know the Lord Jesus. And many times several believers have shown their lack of interest in knowing him.

Peter revealed that when we commit our lives to learning of Christ, to knowing him, and understanding his ways, we would eventually realize that the Almighty has already provided for us everything we need, to become truly religious people who fear and honour Him in every way possible. This honour which we will give God includes having all our needs met. If you get to know the Shepherd better and better your spiritual life will become richer and richer, and physically, you are bound to enjoy increase of God’s favour upon your life; His peace which he gave us when he came will be multiplied in your heart as you journey through the earth. What brings troubles and heartache to non-followers of Christ cannot do so to you, why? You have the knowledge of the holy one. You will be saved from serving God according to the wrong pattern; you will be delivered from always writing and crying out for helps here and there over what should be left for God as His own business.

You will be saved from worrying about needs that should be accounted as Christ ’s in which he is committed to meet. Knowing Christ more and more is the only key that keeps a man’s heart firm, and free from all possible agitations when it comes. Do not forget that Jesus was in the same boat which was being hit by the storm on the river, while he was sound asleep his disciples were crying and troubled that they might perish in the raging storms, but they woke Jesus up, not because they had faith, but because they feared they were going to perish. But when Jesus rebuked the storm and bringing great calm, they also became calm and wondered what manner of man he was. By this, another deeper knowledge of Christ’s personality was just revealed unto them, their fears ceased immediately.

Let us read it briefly:

Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly all was calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

“Jesus can never fear any storm. He created all storms and when one comes against you as you follow him, just stay calm and peaceful because of your faith in him. Call upon him out of faith but not out of fear. Then rebuke the wind like it is him rebuking the storm in you. You will be amazed at the great calm that will come by in response to your faith.”

ThankGod Akeji

Peter, through his intimate knowledge of Christ wrote to those who have received equal privilege in this precious faith with them (the early disciples). This privilege exists in and through the righteousness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

He revealed that God has already provided the way to increase in grace and peace for all believers. And he also revealed that God already made provision for the church, to enable Christians live the godly lives that please him. He said all things they need for life and godliness (both physically, morally, socially, spiritually, economically etc.) has been provided for. This is true. Tapping it now depends on how much of Christ one gets to know; how much of Christ’s presence abides in the life of any believer continually.

So if you care to commit your heart to [continually]learning of Christ and knowing him daily, you will as well be experiencing the increasing grace and peace that follows people who know they are being constantly provided for (2 Pet. 1:2-3).