Christian Life Church
August 23, 2023 - 7pm
PHILIPPIANS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN LIVING ON EARTH (VERSES 18-21) PHILIPPIANS SCRIPTS OR SHIPS (VERSES 20-21)
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Wednesday 6:30 PM
PHILIPPIANS AUGUST 23, 2023
CITIZENS OF HEAVEN LIVING ON EARTH (VERSES 18-21)
SCRIPTURE
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:18-21, NLT
PAUL’S CITIZENSHIP
1/ Paul was a Jew.
2/ Paul was a Greek.
3/ Paul was a Roman.
But the Lord said to (Ananias), “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15
ROMAN CITIZENSHIP
Roman citizens enjoyed certain perks and privileges that others did not.
While traveling throughout the Empire, he would often appeal to his citizenship.
The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. SO they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. Acts 16:35-39
Paul reminds the Philippians: “Our citizenship is in heaven.”
OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
1/ Our heavenly citizenship is greater than our earthly citizenship.
And even when (Abraham) reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. Hebrews 11:9-10
Paul didn’t want the fragrance of Rome to become more than the fragrance of Heaven.
They lived as Romans, but their greater call was to live as Christians.
…refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27
2/ Our heavenly citizenship should influence our earthly citizenship.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God. 1 Peter 2:11-12
God has always been after a distinct people!
Let all that you do be influenced by the Kingdom of God, not of this world!
This means I will treat my nation different.
“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
This means I will treat my family and friends different.
This means I will treat my enemies different.
This means I will treat the marginalized different.
“’For I was hungry and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’” Matthew 25:35
3/ Our heavenly citizenship will not be understood by everyone.
PHILIPPIANS
SCRIPTS OR SHIPS (VERSES 20-21)
SCRIPTURE
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. Philippians 3:20-21, NIV
ALL POWER
1/ God has all power over all things for all time.
The Lord is king! Earth, be glad! Rejoice, you islands of the seas! Clouds and darkness surround Him; He rules with righteousness and justice. Fire goes in front of Him and burns up His enemies around Him. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees it and trembles. The hills melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the nations see His glory. Everyone who worships idols is put to shame; all the gods bow down before the Lord. The people of Zion are glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments, O Lord. Lord Almighty, You are ruler of all the earth; You are much greater than all the gods. The Lord loves those who hate evil; He protects the lives of His people; He rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light shines on the righteous, and gladness on the good. All you that are righteous be glad because of what the Lord has done! Remember what the holy God has done, and give thanks to Him. Psalm 97
2/ Demonic forces have some power.
“…Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” John 12:31
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. 2 Corinthians 4:4
We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19
3/ We have some power.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air. Ephesians 2:1-2
DIFFERENT BELIEFS ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD
1/ The will of God is like a script.
God has written the script and we’re just acting it out.
2/ The will of God is like a ship.
God has charted the course and we’ll arrive at the ultimate destination.
3/ The will of God is like a slope.
God is rolling downhill with us and even He doesn’t know where it will all land.
DIFFERENT LEVELS TO THE WILL OF GOD
1/ There is the predestined will of God.
There are some things that God will make happen, regardless of human choice.
2/ There is the prescribed will of God.
There are some things that God desires to happen but depend on human choices.
3/ There is the permissive will of God.
There are some things that God will allow to happen, whether good or evil.
CITIZENS OF HEAVEN LIVING ON EARTH (VERSES 18-21)
SCRIPTURE
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:18-21, NLT
PAUL’S CITIZENSHIP
1/ Paul was a Jew.
2/ Paul was a Greek.
3/ Paul was a Roman.
But the Lord said to (Ananias), “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15
ROMAN CITIZENSHIP
Roman citizens enjoyed certain perks and privileges that others did not.
While traveling throughout the Empire, he would often appeal to his citizenship.
The next morning the city officials sent the police to tell the jailer, “Let those men go!” So the jailer told Paul, “The city officials have said you and Silas are free to leave. Go in peace.” But Paul replied, “They have publicly beaten us without a trial and put us in prison—and we are Roman citizens. So now they want us to leave secretly? Certainly not! Let them come themselves to release us!” When the police reported this, the city officials were alarmed to learn that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. SO they came to the jail and apologized to them. Then they brought them out and begged them to leave the city. Acts 16:35-39
Paul reminds the Philippians: “Our citizenship is in heaven.”
OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
1/ Our heavenly citizenship is greater than our earthly citizenship.
And even when (Abraham) reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. Hebrews 11:9-10
Paul didn’t want the fragrance of Rome to become more than the fragrance of Heaven.
They lived as Romans, but their greater call was to live as Christians.
…refusing to let the world corrupt you. James 1:27
2/ Our heavenly citizenship should influence our earthly citizenship.
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God. 1 Peter 2:11-12
God has always been after a distinct people!
Let all that you do be influenced by the Kingdom of God, not of this world!
This means I will treat my nation different.
“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
This means I will treat my family and friends different.
This means I will treat my enemies different.
This means I will treat the marginalized different.
“’For I was hungry and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’” Matthew 25:35
3/ Our heavenly citizenship will not be understood by everyone.
PHILIPPIANS
SCRIPTS OR SHIPS (VERSES 20-21)
SCRIPTURE
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. Philippians 3:20-21, NIV
ALL POWER
1/ God has all power over all things for all time.
The Lord is king! Earth, be glad! Rejoice, you islands of the seas! Clouds and darkness surround Him; He rules with righteousness and justice. Fire goes in front of Him and burns up His enemies around Him. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees it and trembles. The hills melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim His righteousness, and all the nations see His glory. Everyone who worships idols is put to shame; all the gods bow down before the Lord. The people of Zion are glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice because of Your judgments, O Lord. Lord Almighty, You are ruler of all the earth; You are much greater than all the gods. The Lord loves those who hate evil; He protects the lives of His people; He rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light shines on the righteous, and gladness on the good. All you that are righteous be glad because of what the Lord has done! Remember what the holy God has done, and give thanks to Him. Psalm 97
2/ Demonic forces have some power.
“…Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out.” John 12:31
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. 2 Corinthians 4:4
We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 1 John 5:19
3/ We have some power.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air. Ephesians 2:1-2
DIFFERENT BELIEFS ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD
1/ The will of God is like a script.
God has written the script and we’re just acting it out.
2/ The will of God is like a ship.
God has charted the course and we’ll arrive at the ultimate destination.
3/ The will of God is like a slope.
God is rolling downhill with us and even He doesn’t know where it will all land.
DIFFERENT LEVELS TO THE WILL OF GOD
1/ There is the predestined will of God.
There are some things that God will make happen, regardless of human choice.
2/ There is the prescribed will of God.
There are some things that God desires to happen but depend on human choices.
3/ There is the permissive will of God.
There are some things that God will allow to happen, whether good or evil.