Living The Jesus Life

This series is the next in an annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.

As we continue in our teaching series, the Apostle Paul will challenge us to see that the citizenship that matters most in our lives has nothing to do with speed traps, spring taxes, or voting

The most important thing for us to live our lives by, is not determined by our physical location, but rather our citizenship in heaven.

That’s the call of living the Jesus life. To live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Paul has already mentioned some of the challenges he is facing, now he turns to address some of the matters that the church is dealing with.

Nothing in the letter itself explains the details of the opposition they were facing, but it seems like it was coming from the Roman empire- from those outside the church.

The word for “Conduct yourselves” is unique in the original language. It certainly has implications of how we live and act. But, in the original language it also includes how people conducted themselves as citizens of a particular state.

So, Paul makes a play on that idea here- He implies that they should live like a colony of heaven. What should shape how they live is their relationship to heaven through Christ.

“Conduct yourselves like heaven, right here on earth!”

With that focus, Paul anticipates that several things will be true of their lives together-
That they will stand firm in The Spirit
That they will strive together
That they will not be afraid

Paul doesn’t want his friends to think that they have done something wrong because opposition has arisen, or because they are facing challenging times.

In fact, as he writes from a Roman prison, Paul wants them to know that suffering for Christ, is a sign, a gift of living the Jesus life.

Have the same mind, focused on the kingdom of God- strive together

Don’t allow selfish desires to veer you off course- Unity can breakdown strongholds and dispel fear, but selfishness destroys the work of God.

Friends the vision of Living the Jesus Life that Paul had from a roman jail nearly two thousand years ago, is still the call to live the Jesus life today.

To live by the heavenly code- by the values and ethics of the Kingdom of God.

As you think about your life today- What citizenship does your life reflect?