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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Jun 17, 2021 at 6:22 AM

Subject: 6-17-21 THOUGHTS

6-17-21   THOUGHTS

Michael read this last Sunday evening as we thought of our VICTORY IN JESUS!  What a marvelous CONFIDENCE passage!  It sounds to me like our END TIMES are not to be dreaded?  God has made PROMISES!  WE HOPE!  I want us to focus this morning on the last verse of the reading below.  It starts with the word THEREFORE!  The idea is that “based on something said before, something is now incumbent on us!”  It’s an OUGHT we dare not avoid!

1Cor 15:51-58      Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53  For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54  But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55  "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

We find a parallel passage below:
2Pet 3:9-15    The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  10  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 11   Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12  looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14  Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15  and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;

Key Applications:       be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless

My Prayer:
Lord help us to see things with your perspective. Thank you for great and precious promises.  Thank you for showing us enough of the future that we can know the rightness of our current behaviors.  Help us to live diligently and steadfastly and to always be found laboring in the works of your word.  We want heaven with you O God, may we ever please you.
In the name of our Savior Jesus          Amen