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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Oct 26, 2023 at 6:14 AM

Subject: 10-26-23

10-26-23   THOUGHTS

The Ephesian letter speaks powerfully of the Church.  We need to see the Church as God sees it.  God designed the Church and put “the saved” in it for good reasons that concern our eternal salvation.  The expression “I’ll take Christ, but not the Church” is against all that God has said about the two.  I believe I can say “I’m not into organized religion” as it is used in our present world!  But I am 100 percent into the Church that Jesus purchased with His own blood!  Many don’t think much of the Church because they’ve never immersed themselves deep enough in to see its awesome blessings!  Please, work diligently to get God’s view of  “The Church”  from His word!  

Eph 1:22-23   And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,  23  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Eph 2:14-22     For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15  by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16  and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17  AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;  18  for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,  20  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21  in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,  22  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
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:
O God, teach us that we are Your fullness on this earth.  May we know the peace of Christ and where we are to practice Your love and peace. May the saints love the saints in truth and practice.   Help us to learn the joy of joint participation and the knowledge that we are being built together into Your dwelling in the Spirit.  Father, teach us perfect love and fellowship.  Grow us and build us up. May each part learn to take its place.    Raise us up, O God, to a higher plane and a closer walk with You.   In the name of our Savior,        Amen.