From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Mon, Apr 24, 2023 at 6:09 AM
Subject: 4-24-23 THOUGHTS
4-24-23 THOUGHTS
Frequently in the New Testament writings, we find appeals to God in the form of prayers for the Body of Christ. We consider one of those from Philippians chapter one this morning. Paul mentions most positively, their “participation” in the gospel. The Greek word is koinonia. Its uses include: fellowship, communion, distribution, contribution, and to communicate. What a powerful word! God began the work in these people, and it is HE who would complete it!
From prison, Paul affirms their “participation” in the grace of God with him. He states his love for them, and then begs God for more of that love in these saints, for an “abounding” in what he terms “real knowledge and all discernment.”
Php 1:3-9 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Col 1:9 For this reason also, since the day we heard [of it,] we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Eph 4:15-16 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
My Prayer:
Father, we, your children in Rescue, California, beg your help as we seek to mature in Your love. May Your love in us abound more and more. Lead us to real knowledge and all discernment. Perfect our participation in the Gospel of Christ. Father, complete the work You have started in us, individually and together. Give us a clear view of eternity and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. May we proclaim that good news to all that we meet, with all of our being. Help us to see the seriousness of this call. In the name of Jesus, Amen.