“OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN” (Outline)
October 10, 2010 -
Pentecost 20 -
PHILIPPIANS 3:12-21
INTRO: The future holds a certain mystery because it is unknown. Today many people become con-cerned about the things that might or might not happen in the future. In the near future there is no real certainty or guarantee of anything. Not a single one of us really know what will happen next year, next week, tomorrow or even today. As believers we do now that the Lord God Almighty is in total and complete control of the future. Therefore we also know that our eternal future is safe in the hands of our loving Lord. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (COLOSSIANS 3:1,2).
“OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN”.
I. Put behind everything earthly.
II. Strive for everything heavenly.
I. PUT BEHIND EVERYTHING EARTHLY.
A. Philippians is a letter of joy. Paul writes to believers of their joy because of the Lord’s love for them.
1. Verse 12. Paul has not yet obtained heavenly perfection. He is still a sinner. God called him.
2. Verse 13a. Paul puts his past behind him. God had forgiven his sins. Earthly thinking behind.
a. Once a blasphemer. b. Once a persecutor. d. Once an unbeliever. d. God forgives.
B. Verse 16. What had Paul and these believers attained? Both were saved by grace through faith.
1. Paul and these believers were given a time of grace to grow in faith and Godly knowledge.
2. Verse 17. Follow the examples of believers who followed Christ. Theirs is a Godly pattern.
a. Peter. b. Barnabas. c. Timothy. d. Lois. e. Eunice (cf. Second Lesson: 2 Tim 1:3ff).
C. Verse 18. The enemies of the cross are also enemies of Christ and then enemies of God. Sadness.
1. Verse 19. Earthly passions (stomach) drives unbelievers into selfish destruction and shame.
2. The worldly think not of eternity but short-term fulfillment. “Their mind…on earthly things.”
D. All too often our minds are on earthly things. After all, we are earth-bound people. Each of us has lives filled with dealings and associations with other people of this world. The influence of the world around us can distract us from everything heavenly. We get caught up in the attitude of our society that is constantly concerned about what comes next. The world today paints the future with coming disasters (or perceived tragedies). The prices, the economy, the government, and the weather often occupy the bulk of our conversations. "The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful" (MATT. 13:22). “Our citizenship is in heaven”. We can put behind us everything earthly.
E. Make no mistake. The evil that lurks in the hearts of men reveals itself in very visible acts of wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Check out ROMANS, chapter 1. The Lord describes how mankind turns away from God. The Lord gives man over to his own desires. The wicked always choose evil. The wicked commit unspeakable acts of sin. "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles" (ROMANS 1:22,23). Athletes, the rich, Hollywood stars have become idols that too many worship.
F. “Our citizenship is in heaven”. At time the world around us can seem to be a very strange and diffi-cult place in which to live. Earthly thinking mankind has little in common with heavenly-minded believ-ers. The people of the world seldom agree with the children of God. In our lives of faith in an unbeliev-ing world we wage war against everything that opposes God. "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul" (1 PETER 2:11).
“OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN”. Things in this earth are not eternal. We put behind us every-thing earthly in our efforts to concentrate on the joyful that “OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN”.
II. STRIVE FOR EVERYTHING HEAVENLY.
A. Paul is in prison. He is separated from friends and his Christian family. Paul rejoiced in his faith.
1. Paul was a Roman citizen. This provided many benefits. As God’s child Paul had everything.
2. Verses 13b, 14. Note that God had taken hold of Paul. God called Paul to enjoy heaven.
B. Verse 15. It took faith to look forward to heaven. Believers would grow in understanding God.
C. Paul rejoiced that God had saved him by grace. Paul endured the present by heavenly thinking.
1. Verse 20. Paul was in prison unjustly. Paul knew that the best was yet to come – by grace.
2. Verse 21. Jesus would return. The body and souls of believers would be reunited in heaven.
3. Christ has everything under his control. What a comfort for Paul and these early believers.
D. “Our citizenship is in heaven”. Though we strive for everything heavenly the earthly still creeps into our thoughts and lives. As selfish and prideful human beings we find a certain sense of satisfaction in getting credit or even praise for things that we do. Jesus sent out his disciples with power to do great things. Of course, the came back boasting of the great things they had done. There was something far more important than what they had done. "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but re-joice that your names are written in heaven" (LUKE 10:20). Have you thought about the great joy that is yours because your name is written in heaven? There are millions who are lost. By grace we are saved.
E. By faith through grace God has forgiven all of our sins. Rather than being locked out of heaven the gates of heaven are open to each and every one of us. During our time of grace here on earth we daily strive for everything heavenly. It is our Christian race that far surpasses the dreary “rat race”. To have our name written in heaven moves us to focus on eternity. "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (1 CORINTHIANS 9:25). God’s crown for us is eternal. We strive for everything heavenly.
F. Granted, this life can be filled with heartache and sorrow, trials and temptations, disasters and diffi-culties. But again and again the Lord reminds us to keep focused on that which is heavenly. Focusing our thoughts on the sure certainty of eternity is a great and glorious comfort for us every day. Our present is much more pleasant knowing that heaven is our home. This takes work and diligent efforts to not let the attractions of this earth become distractions from heaven. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (HEBREWS 12:1). Sin can easily entangle. Scripture describes sin like a net that catches some unaware. Strive for everything heavenly.
CONC: ‘OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN”. These are words that need to constantly echo in our minds. Then they will become part of our joyful Christian lives. We live in a world that could cause us to stumble and fall. We battle against Satan who seeks our souls. Even our own sinful flesh causes doubts to enter our minds and lives. Rejoice Christian family that we are not alone. Our Savior, Christ Jesus, is with us. Even more, our Savior prays for us. Think of that! Christ, God’s Son, and as God himself prays for us. Who will stand against his prayers?!? "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (JOHN 15:15-17). God’s word is the truth. God’s word tells us: “OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN”. In faith we can put behind us everything earthly. With God’s strength we daily strive for everything heavenly. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENT. 20 rdgs:
HABAKKUK 1:1-3, 2:1-4;
2 TIMOTHY 1:3-14;
LUKE 17:1-10;
(PSALM 27)
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