From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Wed, Nov 24, 2021 at 1:44 PM

Subject: 11-23-21 THOUGHTS

11-23-21   THOUGHTS  

Attaining the resurrection from the dead is our goal!  A reading of 1Corinthians 15 gives us powerful information on this subject.  1Cor 15:19 tells us...  “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”    Christ’s resurrection that produced our resurrection potential, is the essence of God’s promise to man.  It is the basis for our HOPE.  

Php 3:7-21  But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9  and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10  that I may know Him and the power of His  resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; [see Gal 2:20] 11  in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12  Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13  Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14  I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15   Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16  however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.  17  Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18  For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19  whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21  who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
2Cor 4:18-5:2     while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 1  For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2  For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,

My Prayer:
O Father, help us to guard and live our heavenly citizenship!  As we discard the past, help us reach forward to what is ahead.  Thank you for great and precious promises O God.  May we ever live knowing that we were bought with a price.  May our faith be our victory that overcomes this world.  We would gain Christ, O God of all.  Teach us to wait eagerly for the coming of our Lord.    In the name of our Savior...               Amen