Dual Citizenship? Stand firm! (CC)
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SERMON IS BASED ON PHILIPPIANS
CHAPTER 3 BEGINNING
WITH VERSE 17: JOIN TOGETHER
IN FOLLOWING MY EXAMPLE,
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND
JUST AS YOU HAVE
US AS A MODEL, KEEP YOUR EYES
ON THOSE
WHO LIVE AS WE DO.
FOR AS I HAVE OFTEN
TOLD YOU BEFORE AND NOW TELL
YOU AGAIN
EVEN WITH TEARS,
MANY LIVE
AS ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF
CHRIST.
THEIR DESTINY IS DESTRUCTION,
THEIR GOD
IS THEIR STOMACH, AND THEIR
GLORY IS IN THEIR SHAME.
THEIR MIND IS SET ON EARTHLY
THINGS.
BUT OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN
HEAVEN.
AND WE EAGERLY AWAIT A SAVIOR
FROM THERE, THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST, WHO, BY THE
POWER THAT ENABLES HIM
TO BRING EVERYTHING UNDER HIS
CONTROL,
WILL TRANSFORM OUR LOWLY
BODIES SO THAT
THEY WILL BE LIKE HIS
GLORIOUS BODY.
THEREFORE, MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS, YOU WHOM I LOVE AND
LONG FOR, MY JOY AND CROWN,
STAND FIRM IN THE LORD, IN
THIS WAY, DEAR FRIENDS!
THIS IS THE WORD OF OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY:
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD,
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND
THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR
HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR
SIGHT,
OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND
COMFORT.
AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM
THE HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST:
WHEN WE THINK OF THE APOSTLE
PAUL, WE THINK OF
ALL OF THE PLACES THAT HE
TRAVELED WITH THE GOSPEL.
SHARING THE WORD OF GOD
TO THE GENTILES THAT WAS HIS
CALLING.
BUT HE REACHED OUT TO MANY
OF THE PLACES IN THE KNOWN
WORLD OF HIS TIME.
AND YET IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
WE HAVE ONE OF THE LETTERS
THAT HE WROTE
TO A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS THAT
HE SERVED.
THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS
WHERE OUR TEXT COMES FROM
THIS MORNING. AND THE LETTER
TO THE PHILIPPIANS
HAS SOME DIFFERENT ELEMENTS IN
IT
IN STYLE, THAN THE OTHER
LETTERS
THAT PAUL WROTE. IT SEEMED
THAT PAUL HAD
A STRONG AFFINITY
FOR THESE PEOPLE. HE HAD
A TRUE LOVE
FOR THOSE PEOPLE IN PHILIPPI
AND HAD DEVELOPED A
RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
A RELATIONSHIP THAT WE SEE
EVEN IN THIS TEXT
FOR THIS MORNING THAT BROUGHT
HIM TO TEARS.
HE SPEAKS ABOUT HOW HE LOVES
THESE PEOPLE. THEY ARE HIS JOY
AND HIS CROWN.
HE LONGS TO SEE THEM AGAIN.
HE LONGS TO BE WITH THEM
AGAIN.
BUT YET HE ALSO WEEPS
FOR THEM.
HE WEEPS
BECAUSE HE REALIZES HOW
DIFFICULT
THEIR CALLING IS
AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN A WORLD
WHERE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE
WHO ARE
ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF
CHRIST.
HE REALIZED THAT THEIR
STRUGGLE AS THE CHILDREN OF
GOD
WAS A DAILY STRUGGLE.
A DAILY STRUGGLE
TO FIGHT AGAINST SATAN AND
THE WORLD
THAT WANTS TO SILENCE THE
MESSAGE OF CHRIST.
THAT WANTS TO DO ANYTHING IT
CAN TO DESTROY
A PERSON'S SOUL. AND TAKE
GREAT DELIGHT
IN THAT FACT. PAUL DESCRIBES
THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AS
ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
OF CHRIST AS BEING FOCUSED ON
THE THINGS
OF THIS WORLD.
THEY'RE HEADED FOR
DESTRUCTION.
THEIR GOD IS THEIR STOMACH.
THEY GLORY IN THEIR SHAME.
THEY GLORY IN THEIR SHAME.
PRETTY WELL SUMS UP THE
WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE,
DOESN'T IT?
IT'S NOT HARD FOR US TO LOOK
AT PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD
WHO ARE ONLY FOCUSED ON THE
BLESSINGS
AND JOYS IN THE THINGS THAT
THEY
GET OUT OF THIS LIFE.
THE SELFISHNESS. THE EGOS
THAT PEOPLE HAVE TODAY IN
THEIR PURSUIT
OF WHAT THEY DESERVE BECAUSE
THEY TAKE UP SPACE
IN THIS WORLD AND THEY HAVE
BREATH.
THEIR GOD IS
DESTRUCTION.
ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS
SATISFY
THEIR PHYSICAL AND BODILY
NEEDS
WITH MORE AND MORE AND MORE
AND MORE. AND MORE IS
NEVER ENOUGH.
WHEN WE HEAR OF PEOPLE
53 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT
ASKING OTHER PEOPLE
FOR MONEY, WITH NO SHAME
AND NO QUALMS.
SPEAKS TO THE WORLD OF OUR
DAY, DOESN'T IT?
WHAT PEOPLE POST
ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
THE IMAGES
AND PICTURES THAT PEOPLE
HAVE
ON THEIR PHONE!
JO AND I WERE JUST REMARKING
THE OTHER DAY:
IT'S REALLY A DIFFERENT WORLD
WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT PEOPLE
USE THAT PHONE
FOR JUST IN RELATIONSHIPS.
BECAUSE WE NEVER HAD TO DEAL
WITH
'REVENGE PORN' WHEN WE BROKE
UP WITH
SOMEONE.
THE HATRED
THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOR OTHERS.
THE DISRESPECT
THAT PEOPLE HAVE FOR EACH
OTHER.
THAT'S THE WORLD
IN WHICH WE LIVE.
AND WHAT DO WE DO?
WHAT DO WE,
AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD,
DO?
GO OUT OF OUR HOMES, INTO
THAT MESS EACH AND EVERY
DAY AND TRY TO FIT IN?
TRY TO BLEND IN?
TRY TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE
WHEN THINGS HAPPEN?
SO WE DON'T GET ATTACKED? SO
WE DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER?
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT
THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE?
OR THE DISGUST THAT GOD SAYS
CONCERNING THE BEHAVIOR THAT
IS ABHORRENT
TO HIM.
WE BELIEVE IN GOD. WE BELIEVE
IN HIS WORD.
AND JUST LIKE JEREMIAH,
AND
JUST LIKE CHRIST, WE PROCLAIM
THAT WORD.
WE SHOW THAT WORD IN THE
THINGS THAT
WE DO, IN THE THINGS THAT WE
SAY AND
HOW WE LIVE OUR LIFE.
AND JUST AS PAUL WAS CONCERNED
WITH THE PHILIPPIANS,
WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED
OURSELVES SO THAT WE CAN
STAND FIRM IN THE MIDST OF
THIS WORLD.
STAND FIRM IN THE ASSAULTS
THAT COME ON US.
STAND FIRM WITHOUT FEAR
BECAUSE
WE STAND WITH JESUS CHRIST.
BECAUSE WE STAND FIRM
IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HEAVEN
IS OURS.
AND THAT'S A STRUGGLE
EACH AND EVERY DAY.
TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON CHRIST.
BUT I THINK SOMETIMES IN OUR
LIVES, WE HAVE REDUCED
THE IMAGE OF JESUS TO SOMEONE
WHO WENT THROUGH THIS LIFE
AND JUST HAD A
REALLY GOOD TIME.
I MEAN, YES,
WE ALL KNOW OF THE SUFFERING
THAT HE WENT THROUGH.
BUT MAYBE WE FORGET THE
ENCOUNTERS
LIKE THE PHARISEES WHO CAME
UP TO HIM IN OUR GOSPEL
LESSON FOR TODAY AND SAID:
TAKE YOUR STUFF OUT OF HERE.
WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE.
UNDER THE GUISE OF HEROD WHO
IS GOING TO KILL YOU.
AND JESUS RESPONDS: YOU CAN
GO BACK AND
TELL THAT FOX I'M NOT LEAVING.
I'M GOING TO BE HERE.
I'M GOING TO PROCLAIM
TO YOU THE MESSAGE OF GOD.
AND HOW OFTEN HASN'T GOD
WANTED TO
GATHER YOU UNDER HIS WINGS
WITH THAT PROTECTING AND
PARENTAL CARE
OF A HEN GATHERING HER CHICKS
UNDER HERSELF.
TO KEEP THEM SAFE. TO PROTECT
THEM
FROM THE FOX AND OTHER THINGS
THAT ARE COMING TO DESTROY
THEM. BUT JERUSALEM WOULDN'T
HAVE IT.
THOSE WORDS,
OF HOW JERUSALEM IS DESCRIBED.
THE CITY OF GOD:
YOU, WHO KILL
THE PROPHETS.
IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE SAW
WITH JEREMIAH.
HE TOLD THEM
TO REPENT AND RETURN TO THE
LORD.
AND THEY WANTED
TO KILL HIM.
IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
THEY GRAB THE PROPHET OF GOD
AND WANTED HIM DEAD.
AND WHAT DID JEREMIAH SAY
TO THEM?
GO AHEAD.
I HAVE TO PROCLAIM TO YOU
THE MESSAGE THAT GOD SENT.
GO AHEAD AND KILL ME.
THEN MY INNOCENT BLOOD WILL BE
ON YOU.
CUZ HE KNEW WHERE HE WAS
HEADED.
AND HE WAS NOT GOING TO LET
ANYTHING ROB HIM OF THAT
GLORY.
NOTHING OF THIS WORLD,
NOTHING OF THE TEMPORAL,
WERE GOING TO STOP EITHER
JESUS OR JEREMIAH
AS THEY STOOD FIRM IN THEIR
FAITH.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE GET OUR
FUEL AS WELL.
TO STAND FIRM IN CHRIST.
TO NOT RELY ON OUR OWN
KNOWLEDGE. TO NOT RELY ON OUR
OWN BRAINS, BUT TO RELY ON
JESUS
WHO SUFFERED ON OUR BEHALF.
WHO SECURED FOR US OUR
ETERNAL HOME. WE ARE
CITIZENS OF HEAVEN!
WE HAVE THAT PASSPORT IN OUR
HAND TODAY THAT WHEN WE DIE
WE ARE GOING TO LIVE WITH GOD.
THAT'S OUR CONFIDENCE. THAT'S
OUR ASSURANCE.
THAT'S OUR STRENGTH AND POWER
FOR DAILY LIVING
THAT WE ARE LEAVING ALL OF
THIS WORLD
BEHIND TO BE WITH GOD.
TO LIVE WITH HIM IN PURITY
AND HOLINESS ALL OUR DAYS.
TO SING HIS PRAISES.
BECAUSE HE HAS
GIVEN US THE VICTORY. AND IT
IS IN THAT VICTORY
THAT WE STAND AND FIGHT.
NOT AS COWERING PEOPLE,
NOT AS PEOPLE AFRAID OF WHAT
THE WORLD CAN DO
TO US.
NOT AFRAID OF WHAT SATAN
CAN DO TO US.
BECAUSE WE KNOW
WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US.
HE HAS SAVED US.
HE HAS OPENED TO US HIS
KINGDOM.
WHERE HE WILL BE OUR ROYAL
LEADER.
TAKING CARE OF US.
PROTECTING US
FOR ALL ETERNITY! BECAUSE WE
ARE
THE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN.
AND NO ONE CAN TAKE THAT FROM
US.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR DAYS
ARE
GOING TO BE EASY. IT MEANS THE
EXACT OPPOSITE.
THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY
IS A STRUGGLE FOR US.
IT IS A WAR, AND IT IS A
FIGHT.
BECAUSE THE WORLD LOVES IT
WHEN THEY SEE A CHRISTIAN
STUMBLE AND FALL,
ESPECIALLY IN ONE OF THOSE
SCENES THAT THEY CONSIDER
TO BE VILE.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND
FORGIVENESS.
THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE
LOVE OF GOD.
BUT WE DO!
KNOWING THAT GOD
FORGIVES OUR SINS; THAT HE
LOVES US!
WHEN WE COME TO HIM WITH
REPENTANT HEARTS,
HE REMINDS US THAT HE HAS
SHOWN
HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US IN THE
FACT THAT
OUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN.
THAT HEAVEN IS OURS.
HE ... IS ... OUR GOD!
WE DON'T HAVE DESTRUCTION
BEFORE US.
WE HAVE ETERNAL
BLESSING FOR ALL OF OUR DAYS.
THE GLORIES OF HEAVEN; THE
JOYS OF GOD.
AND WE STAND FIRM IN THAT
KNOWLEDGE
MINDFUL OF WHAT IS OURS.
AND NOT WANTING TO LOSE THAT
FOR ANYTHING.
AND JUST
AS PAUL ENCOURAGED THE
PHILIPPIANS, HE ENCOURAGES
EACH OF US AS WELL.
HE SAYS: JOIN TOGETHER.
ALL OF YOU.
ALL OF US.
JOIN TOGETHER
IN FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND
JUST AS
YOU HAVE US AS A MODEL, KEEP
YOUR EYES
ON THOSE WHO LIVE AS WE DO.
THERE'S THE GREATEST COMFORT
IN STANDING FIRM TO JOIN WITH
LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE.
TO BE WITH THEM. TO SEPARATE
OURSELVES FROM THOSE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T LOVE GOD.
WHO ARE THE ENEMIES OF THE
CROSS.
BUT TO LIVE WITH THOSE WHO
LOVE GOD, AND
WORSHIP AT THE CROSS,
WHO BELIEVE IN HIM,
WHO TRUST IN HIM. WHO WE
WANT TO SEE AT OUR SIDES
IN THE GLORY OF HEAVEN.
AND THAT HELPS US DAILY THEN
AS WE STAND FIRM IN CHRIST
OUR LORD.
AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH
GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR
UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS
AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY
YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE
ONE TRUE FAITH UNTO LIFE
EVERLASTING. AMEN.