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

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Thu, Aug 12, 2021 at 6:18 AM

Subject: 8-12-21 THOUGHTS

8-12-21 THOUGHTS

I have always been intrigued by what Paul said in the following verse.
Gal 4:19   My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you — 
Heb 5:11-14    Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13  For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Isa 28:13    So the word of the LORD to them will be, "Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there," That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.

The above passage describes a  people who are not FORMED!  They know a few regulations and laws, they have bits and pieces of God’s word,  but NO ROOT UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIG PICTURE, THE WHOLE!  These have some information but no REAL RELATIONSHIP with God!  The result is not expected to be good!

1Cor 3:1-3    And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.  2  I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,  3  for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?
1Pet 2:2    like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
Ezra 7:9-10    For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.  10  For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Heb 6:1a   Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity...
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:
Grow us O Lord  to a mature understanding of you and your word. Help us to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled with all of your fullness.  May we come to maturity, so that we can help your Church to mature.  May we be able to provide resources, rather than use them up.    In the name of our Lord         Amen