“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 HCSB

For Paul, the benefits of Christ greatly outweighed the sufferings he endured on the earth. If anyone of us felt that what we were doing was not worth the outcome we would not do it. the rewards will always outweigh the negative effects. Paul considered his life before Christ as trash compared to Christ. For him to die was to be with God, but to hold on in life was worth living for one more person to find Jesus. 

“For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ — which is far better — but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.”

Philippians 1:21-24 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/php.1.21-24.hcsb

 “But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.”

Philippians 3:7-11 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/php.3.7-11.hcsb

What did Paul know about Jesus that the church and the world are forgetting today? Why have so many people left their First Love to follow after the world?

Power! Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and God have lost power in their lives. They have seen a church that is not living with the power of a risen Savior, power of the Holy Spirit living inside their Pastors, Sunday school teacher, and elders, power of a creator God who can make all things new.

They have bowed to Satan and given him the power in their lives. They have heard that he will give them the power to rule over nations. but they have forgotten that who so ever we bow down to will rule over us. And when we bow to Satan we lose.

They have forgotten that we don’t live by food only, but by the breath of God that lives in us. we are the only created being that has the breath of God in us. When God created all the world He breathed His breath into Adam and out of Adam He made Eve. 

“Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.”

Genesis 2:7 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/gen.2.7.hcsb

Everything else was created by the breath of God, but man was created by the hand of God and He breathed His life into man’s lungs.

They have forgotten that God is the supreme power in the universe and we play by His rules. His rules are not harsh to make sure we trip up but are in place to keep us on the narrow path that leads to life in Him. But all too often we forget what God said and then we test God’s laws and sometimes we fall on our face because gravity still works. What goes up must come down.

If these three: power, breath, and law sounds familiar there are. Jesus was faced with these three temptations during His 40 days of wilderness. 

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He was hungry. Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: He will give His angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.”

Matthew 4:1-3, 5-6, 8-9 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/mat.4.1-3,5-6,8-9.hcsb

We then forget how Jesus responded to these three temptations.

“But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”

Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.”

Matthew 4:4, 7, 10 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/mat.4.4,7,10.hcsb

How are you doing at living on the word of God, not testing God, worshiping and serving God only?

We turn people away from God when we do not show them the true power of God working inside us. 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/act.1.8.hcsb

“This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:8-9 HCSB

https://www.bible.com/72/jos.1.8-9.hcsb