As Christians we are identified by the name of Christ and are citizens of His heavenly kingdom. As our inward spirits pursue Christ, we long for the day when we will see our King face to face, our only desire will be His presence—free from distraction, temptation, and sin. Until that day God calls us to live as exiles.
Living in Exile
1. God’s Word Explicitly declares that his people are NOT citizens of this world:
A. Our Citizenship is in Heaven (phil 3:20)
B. We are to invest in Heaven (matt 6:20)
C. We are not to love this world (1john 2:15)
D. We have even been called to a separation from this world (2 Cor 6:17)
E. Our life in this world is temporary (James 4:14)
2. Those who have fallen in love with Christ will passionately pursue Him and will never choose a mediocre life as a homesick orphan.
A. You are not an orphan
B. You have not been left alone to get homesick
C. Christ came to give us an abundant life not mediocrity
--abundant life does not mean prosperity
--abundant life does not mean pain and sickness free
--abundant life does not mean “name it and claim it”
--abundant life means God will provide all your needs through Christ
--abundant life means that God is actively at work in your life and there is not one thing that can happen to you unless he allows it
--abundant life means you and I can walk into the very throne room of God knowing that prayer changes things
--abundant life means that the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is living in you!!!
3. If we live our daily life as God instructed the exiles to live, our daily focus is on pursuing Christ and serving Him as opposed to our next destination. (Jeremiah 29)
A. Enjoy the ride—Why so concerned about getting to next destination NOW?
B. Build Houses & Settle Down (You’re here to Stay)
C. Plant Gardens & Eat What They Produce (Make A Living)
D. Marry & Have Kids (increase in number; do not decrease)
E. Seek the Peace & Prosperity of the City
--pray for it
--if it prospers you too will prosper
F. What are God’s plans—prosper you; not to harm you; hope & a future
G. You will call to me; pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek & find when you seek with all your heart. (Learn to hear God’s voice like a child hears the music of an ice cream truck)
