Intro:
Abraham was known as the father of the faith to the Israelites. He was called a wandering Aramean. As he stuck out from Ur of the Chaldeans he became a person without a home a foreigner wherever he stayed. Even when he arrived in the land that was promised by God he was called a ger. In Hebrew that means a sojourner a stranger in a foreign land.
Hebrews 13 tells us that Abraham and those following him died without receiving the promise, the foretold messiah. However, looking forward he saw the promise of Jesus and welcomed the promise from a distance. Not only welcomed the promise but confessed that he and the ones that went before him were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Abraham had a heavenly citizenship, yet even though he had a heavenly citizen ship he was a citizen also of this planet.
Abraham had a dual citizenship. He was first and foremost a heavenly citizen and secondly a citizen of the planet earth.
There are only a handful of ways to become a dual citizen. Usually your citizenship is based no descent, (Jew), place of birth, (US), marriage, and or naturilization.
· You can become a citizen of a country by something called in latin Ius soli, right of the soil, being born in a specific country.
· Or one or both of your parents can were citizens of the country ius sanguinis, “right of blood.”
· You married a citizen of the country.
· You go through the process to become a citizen (naturalization).
Why would it be important for us to know whether or not we have dual citizenship? As it is coming time to elect our officials to this county, state, and national office we must know how to apply our citizenship.
Let’s look at Philippians 3.20
Into to Phil
Paul is finishing up his argument to the Christians in Philippi about the Jews. He has called them false teachers and tells us in verse 19 that their minds are set no earthly things.
I. Dual citizenship means Look Up
A) Our Focus should be on Heavenly things
1) Paul uses the word we translate “citizenship”, in KJV says heavenly conversation, footnote or margin notes say literally “citizenship”
i) “Our citizenship is in heaven”
1) What does it mean to have citizenship.
i)The word reference dictionary defines it as “the status of a citizen with rights and duties.”
ii) The hyper dictionary takes it even further
The role of a citizen ’entails a status, a sense of loyalty, the discharge of duties and the enjoyment of rights not primarily in relation to another human being, but in relation to an abstract concept, the state’.
ii) We as citizens of heaven then have not only rights but duties.
2) What rights do we have.
i) The right to Life – Jesus came that we might have life
ii) The right to Liberty – James 1.25 Jesus is the law of liberty.
a) James 2.12 – speak and act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
b) Judgement seat of Jesus.
iii) The right to Pursuit of happiness
a) Joy
b) Psalm 16.11 – true happiness, fullness of joy comes from the presence of God.
Pleasures forever, (heavenly)
c) Psalm 30.5 Weeping may last through the night
but a shout of joy comes in the morning.
Heavenly citizenship can often mean earthly pain.
But Joy comes in the morning. Life abundant doesn’t come easy.
3) With the rights also come duties.
i) When the Romans Conquered a city they sent other citizens to spread the customs, culture, and manner of life and laws into that city, or country.
ii) Paul is in Phil 3.20 saying the same thing.
Jesus has overcome or conquered the world (16.33)
iii) In other words we have the duty or responsibility to make sure that our customs, culture, manner of life and law (Jesus and the Bible) are spread abroad (Matt 28.19-20)
Another way of saying Reach, Teach, and Encourage, Central Arkansas, The Nation, and the World for Jesus.
iv) Telling others about Life in Jesus Liberty in Jesus, and Joy in Jesus.
Transition:
Heavenly focus on rights and duties will show us that we also have a duty to effect change in our earthly republic.
Jesus told us in Matthew 53.13-20
Be salt and light. Speak up and act on your faith.
II. Dual citizenship means Speak Up
A) Right to speak up, the first amendment gives us
1) Freedom of speech
2) Freedom of religion
3) Freedom of press
4) Freedom to assemble
5) Freedom to take our problems to government.
B) Benjamin Franklin, “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.”
C) What then do we need to speak up about.
1) Hear some wisdom from the bible with me.
2) Romans 13.1-7 (read)
a) all authority, government etc. is established by God
b) We should put ourselves under the governments authority
Jesus render unto Ceaser.
c) Pay taxes 13.6
d) Government for protection of Good and punishment of evil
3) 1 Peter 2.13-14
a) submit to human institutions.
4) 1 Timothy 2.1-4
a) Pray for all men
b) kings, all in authority
c) God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (Speak up)
5) Matt 6.33 – But no matter what
a) Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added.
6) Prov 14.34
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” What makes a nation Great Trust in the Lord
7) Psalm 101 King David’s pledge, psalm, song to reign over his, and God’s people righteously.
How many know the President is sworn in with his hand on the Bible.
How many know the ten commandments rest above the Justice’s of the supreme court
How many know there is prayer every time congress convenes.
It has become ok to speak up in this nation as long as you don’t speak up in the Name of Jesus.
According to Charles Stanley in His book The Glorious Journey,
He told that a well known minister Rev Tony Evans was invited Him to say a prayer of Invocation at the city fair. But they asked him to “not pray in the name of Jesus” because it might offend someone. Rev Evans Responded by saying, “If you don’t want me to pray in the name of Jesus, don’t ask me to pray. Get someone else.” (Speak up)
Samuel Adams. From the writings of Samuel Adams by way of Wallbuilders on the internet.
Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual--or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.
Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust be men of unexceptionable characters. The public cannot be too curious concerning the character of public men..
D) Not only the character but where they stand on issues.
Listen closely to what James Garfield the twentieth President had to say
Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.
Alexander Hamilton
A share in the sovereignty of the state, which is exercised by the citizens at large, in voting at elections is one of the most important rights of the subject, and in a republic ought to stand foremost in the estimation of the law.
John Jay John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Henry P. Johnston, ed. (New York: G.P. Putnams Sons, 1890), Vol. IV, p. 365.
Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.
Who was John Jay
John Jay was born in New York City on 12 December 1745 and died on 17 May 1829. After graduating from King’s College in 1764 he was admitted to the bar in 1768. The American Revolution gave rise to the public life of John Jay. He was sent as a delegate of his colony to the first, and later to the second, Continental Congress. As a member of the provincial congress, he helped to ratify the Declaration of Independence. He served until 1779 as chief justice of New York and was also a colonel in the state militia. In 1782 Franklin asked Jay to assume his post as joint commissioner for negotiating a peace with Great Britain. After the war, Jay returned to New York to serve as secretary of foreign affairs. After the adoption of the Constitution of 1787 he joined with Hamilton and Madison in the writing of the "Federalist" papers. He was then appointed the first chief justice of the Supreme Court. In 1795 he was elected governor of New York State. In 1800 Jay retired from public life, declining to become a candidate for reelection, and refused to be considered for renomination as chief justice of the United States. Jay felt that the Supreme Court lacked "the energy, weight, and dignity which are essential to its affording due support to the national Government".
One last quote
When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Supreme Court Justice William Paterson reminding his fellow justices of Proverbs 29:2. United States Oracle (Portsmouth, NH), May 24, 1800
How can we speak up
Against abortion
Against Gay marriage
Against Activist Judges
Against Religious persecution
Against Pornography, Drugs, Violence, Crime, Poor Education.
First you must Look up. For no presidential, gubernatorial, county, or otherwise candidate has a shadow of a hope of making a difference in this present evil age.
The Bible tells us to pray for our leaders. (Then we should do it.)
Then you must Speak Up
It tells us to support our government (with taxes, with prayers, with our thoughts, oppions etc,)
The Bible in Jesus own words tells us to be salt and light then come November 2, 2004 We as children of God ought to be salt and light and Vote.!
As Ronnie Floyd said Vote God. Vote God.
Vote, if the candidate is not keeping their promises don’t vote for them again.
If they are doing things against God’s law don’t reelect them
Once someone gets in office don’t wait until the next year to see what they have done. Keep their track record all year!
If faith is an action word then we better get to acting School.
We had better be informed and act on the information.
But as I said we must not vote opinions, pocket books, or parties.
We must Vote God, His Kingdom, His Law, His Way, His Will, and His Work,
It is time the Salt started being salty, and the light started pushing back the darkness.
For if we don’t our right to tell others about Jesus may someday be gone.
Conclusion:
Only one way to enter into Heavenly Citizenship Ius sanguinis – “Right of Blood”
The only way to heavenly citizenship is through the Blood of Jesus (Explain)
When citizens are naturalized (accept Jesus) they say the pledge of allegiance in English.
Christians are baptized. If you have heavenly citizenship have you given your pledge of allegiance. Have you been baptized. Public show
Lastly as a citizen they joined a commonwealth, a state.
Maybe you need to join our commonwealth our family of faith.
Now is your time respond in whatever way God is leading you.
