Sermon – A New Year Resolution: Live Right in a Wrong Living World
Philippians 1:27-30 “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.” NLT
Introduction: What is your new year’s resolution? Paul exhorts the Christians at Philippi and all of us to Live as Citizens of Heaven! Uncertain whether he (Paul) would see his Philippian converts again, Paul entreats them to fulfill his hopes, by mutual love and boldness in maintaining their Christian profession (27-30); exhorts them to unity, humility, and generous hospitality. Paul call them to follow after the example of their Lord and urges them to persevere in holy obedience which lives out the truth of the gospel. Although Paul was facing martyrdom, the prospect of hearing a good report from them would bring joy to his heart. He promises to send Timothy, and hopes to come himself shortly; but He sends Epaphroditus at once, because of their earnest love to one whose labors and sufferings deserve their highest esteem (25-30).
The phrase “let your conversation” refers to their conduct and lifestyle. The Christian life has a proper behavior, dress code, and manner of life, We are citizens of Heaven, and we behave as citizens, we walk worth of the gospel of Christ. Contrary to popular opinion, everybody is not doing it. There will always be those who will live right in a wrong living world. Knowing the strong influence of the culture, and the attraction of sin, Paul exhorts these called out believers to live Right in a wrong living world.
Throughout scripture we find people who lived right in a wrong living world. Today, we will look at the secret to living right and gaining heaven. If you and I are going to successful, we must make a conscious decision for God, his Laws and His ways. Every generation has faced its own pandemics, temptations, and difficulties. No one ever successfully follow God without decision. If believers are going to live Right in a wrong living world, they must make a necessary decision.
1. A Necessary Decision–Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Living right in a wrong living world is a decision. Life comes down to one of two choices, you either are going to serve Jesus or you are going to serve the world. It is a choice that everyone has to make, you cannot straddle the fence, you can’t be lukewarm, this is an all or nothing decision. Joshua saw life in black and white, and told the people, his family was going to live right in a wrong living world.
Mt 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” If believers are going to live Right in a wrong living world, they must a make a necessary decision. Then we must make a faith declaration.
2. A Faith Declaration–Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
This is a bold faith declaration, “O King, we are not careful to give you an answer on this, because it is simply like this: our God can deliver us out of the fiery furnace or He can choose to let us burn in the fire. But either way we want you to know one thing, we aren’t bowing to this world. If you are going to live right in a wrong living world, you have got to have a no matter what spirit. No matter what happens to me, I am not giving up on God, I am not serving this world. If things go good for me, fine, if they don’t, it is well with my soul. Paul knew that righteous living would attract undeserved attacks from the world. He knew the world would accuse them of being fanatically, too narrow, holier than thou but they were to stand strong. You see righteous living require a necessary decision, a faith declaration, and a consoling discovery.
3. A Consoling Discovery– 1Ki 19:13-14, 18 “And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away…18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.”
At a time when the Prophet Elijah has abandoned his call, depressed and hiding in caves, overcome with loneliness, God declares to Elijah you are not alone, there are 7000 prophets that will not bow down to Baal. Elijah learned that not everyone was doing it, not everyone was living for the devil or going the way of the world. How are you going to live right in a wrong living world, you need to realize, you are not the only one who will stand for God and stand for right. Maybe it seems that everyone has gone the way of Cain, but there are still some righteous Abel’s, there are still some who are going to serve the Lord. Commercials make it appear like everybody is drinking, sleeping around, that all over young people are messed up with drugs and gangs, and violence etc. But every week many are saying to the Devil and this world, “No thanks, we are going to offer our lives to God. For us to live is Christ to die is gain. A necessary decision, a faith declaration, a consoling discovery and a serious consideration.
4. A Serious Consideration - John 6:66-69 “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
When Jesus mentioned the true cost of discipleship, many of his followers went back and walked with him no more, he asked the twelve, will you leave me also? Peter said, to whom would we go, you have the words of life. We believe, we are sure, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. When you know who Jesus is and what he has to offer, Peter asked a serious question, To whom shall we go? Where else can we find the word of life? We have come to far to turn back now. Canaan is sweeter than Egypt. Freedom is better than slavery. We are looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. You can live right in a wrong world by heading in the right direction. Peter said, there is nowhere to go but to the Lord. The songwriter said. “We have come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in his Holy Word, He’s never failed us yet, no, no, no, won’t turn around, we’ve come this far by faith.” You see righteous living require a Joshua-life decision, a faith declaration, a consoling discovery, and a careful consideration, To whom shall we go? That’s a serious question that requires serious consieration.
Paul knew the Philippian Church had made a Joshua life Decision to follow Jesus. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. They made a faith declaration by their steadfast support of his ministry from the very beginning. Paul offers them a consoling discovery they had each other, only walk in unity and love. Finally, it would cheer the Philippian saints to remember that they suffered in good company and were comrades with the apostle himself. It is a great honor if we be ridiculed for Jesus' sake. We are partakers of suffering with the noble army of martyrs. The world will ridicule us, criticize us, falsely accuse us, but in the end, we win! The final way to live right in a wrong living world is to hold on to this blessed hope! In the end, Jesus reigns over all and wins every battle. In the end Satan will be defeated forever. The saints go up, the sinners go down. Those that live right, will end up right, those that live wrong will end up wrong.
I would rather be with those crying Holy, Holy, Holy, then with the ones weeping, wailing and gnashing their teeth. Make a New Year’s Resolution to live right in a wrong living world. For your resolution to hold, you must a Necessary Decision, then a Faith Declaration and understand that you are not alone, that’s a Consoling Discovery and final these things deserve a Serious Consideration. Where could I go but to the Lord? Songwriter, J.B. Coats, said:
“Living below, in this old sinful world, Hardly a comfort can afford; Striving alone to face temptation so Now won't you tell me, Where could I go but to the Lord. Where could I go (could I go) oh where could I go (could I go) Seeking the refuge for my soul (for my soul) Needing a friend (needing a friend) to save me in the end (in the end) Won't you tell me. Where could I go but to the Lord
Life here is grand with friends I love so dear, Comfort I get from God's own Word, Yet when I face that chilling hand of death, Won't you tell me, Where could I go but to the Lord. Where could I go (could I go) Oh where could I go (could I go) Seeking the refuge for my soul (for my soul) Needing a friend (needing a friend) To save me in the end (in the end) Won't you tell me Where could I go but to the Lord, Where could I go but to the Lord!” Amen, Amen!
