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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, May 19, 2023 at 5:58 AM

Subject: 5-19-23 THOUGHTS

5-19-23   THOUGHTS

Knowing the struggles of Paul’s life, I can but wonder if maybe this was a favorite psalm of his?  We can see a larger application in that our world is increasingly aggressive in its intolerance for the people of God.  

Ps 56:1-13    Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me.  2  My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me.  3  When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.  4  In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?  5  All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil.  6  They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life.  7  Because of wickedness, cast them forth, In anger put down the peoples, O God!  8  You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?  9  Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me.  10  In God, whose word I praise, In the LORD, whose word I praise, 11  In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?  12  Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.  13  For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.

Spiritual vengeance and victory are proclaimed in the following prophecy of The Christ.  Three defining passages follow.  
Isa 61:1-3    The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim   liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;  2  To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3  To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
John 12:31   "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
John 16:11   Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Heb 2:14   Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

My Prayer:
Father, we live in an evil and threatening world.  Proper reverence and fear for You is lacking.   May it change, we pray.  May Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Help us to be lights to a blinded world.  May Satan’s devices be destroyed by the power of Your word.  Help us to trust in You and not be afraid of what man can do to us.  Deliver us, O God.   In Jesus’ name,   Amen!