Christian Life Church
November 10, 2024 at 8:30am & 10:00am
“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
Locations & Times
Christian Life Church Columbia
2700 Bush River Rd, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
THE KING & HIS KINGDOM NOVEMBER 10, 2024
KINGDOM CITIZENS
SCRIPTURE
…we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:18-21
PAUL’S CITIZENSHIP
1/ Paul was a Jew.
2/ Paul was a Greek.
3/ Paul was a Roman.
But the Lord said to (Ananias), “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15
ROMAN CITIZENSHIP
The city of Philippi was a Roman colony. Each inhabitant received Roman citizenship.
Their citizenship came with privileges and responsibilities. But Paul would remind them:
“Our true citizenship in in Heaven.”
OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
1/ Our heavenly citizenship is greater than our earthly citizenship.
It was faith that kept him journeying like a foreigner through the land of promise…For Abraham’s eyes were looking forward to that city with solid foundations of which God Himself is both architect and builder. Hebrews 11:9-10
“Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant (stops along the way) but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” C.S. Lewis
2/ Our heavenly citizenship should influence our earthly citizenship.
God has always been after a distinct people! A people in the world, not like the world.
The Philippians knew they were citizens of Rome and Rome expected them to act like it!
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Philippians 1:27
It’s not only important we believe the right things but behave the right way.
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my life different.
Watch your life and doctrine closely. 1 Timothy 4:16
Where other people quiet quit, we finish strong. Where other people gossip, we pray. Where other people live wildly, we walk in restraint. Where other people disown their family, we bring in the orphan. Where other people are harsh, we are kind. Where other people ignore, we pursue. Where other people punch down, we lift up. Where other people curse, we bless.
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my family different.
As a husband, it means I will love, honor, protect, provide, and lead.
As a wife, it means I will love, honor, and come under my husband’s leadership.
As children, it means I will love, honor, and obey my parents.
As adult children, it means I will love and honor my parents.
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my church family different.
Accept one another… just as Christ accepted you… Romans 15:7
“A new command I give you: Love one another. John 13:34
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my enemies different.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-28
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat the marginalized different.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Matthew 25:34-36
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my country different.
“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
3/ Our heavenly citizenship isn’t passive.
4/ Our heavenly citizenship will not be understood by everyone.
“Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” C.S. Lewis
KINGDOM CITIZENS
SCRIPTURE
…we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control. Philippians 3:18-21
PAUL’S CITIZENSHIP
1/ Paul was a Jew.
2/ Paul was a Greek.
3/ Paul was a Roman.
But the Lord said to (Ananias), “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Acts 9:15
ROMAN CITIZENSHIP
The city of Philippi was a Roman colony. Each inhabitant received Roman citizenship.
Their citizenship came with privileges and responsibilities. But Paul would remind them:
“Our true citizenship in in Heaven.”
OUR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
1/ Our heavenly citizenship is greater than our earthly citizenship.
It was faith that kept him journeying like a foreigner through the land of promise…For Abraham’s eyes were looking forward to that city with solid foundations of which God Himself is both architect and builder. Hebrews 11:9-10
“Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant (stops along the way) but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.” C.S. Lewis
2/ Our heavenly citizenship should influence our earthly citizenship.
God has always been after a distinct people! A people in the world, not like the world.
The Philippians knew they were citizens of Rome and Rome expected them to act like it!
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Philippians 1:27
It’s not only important we believe the right things but behave the right way.
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my life different.
Watch your life and doctrine closely. 1 Timothy 4:16
Where other people quiet quit, we finish strong. Where other people gossip, we pray. Where other people live wildly, we walk in restraint. Where other people disown their family, we bring in the orphan. Where other people are harsh, we are kind. Where other people ignore, we pursue. Where other people punch down, we lift up. Where other people curse, we bless.
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my family different.
As a husband, it means I will love, honor, protect, provide, and lead.
As a wife, it means I will love, honor, and come under my husband’s leadership.
As children, it means I will love, honor, and obey my parents.
As adult children, it means I will love and honor my parents.
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my church family different.
Accept one another… just as Christ accepted you… Romans 15:7
“A new command I give you: Love one another. John 13:34
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my enemies different.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-28
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat the marginalized different.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Matthew 25:34-36
As a citizen of Heaven, I will treat my country different.
“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
3/ Our heavenly citizenship isn’t passive.
4/ Our heavenly citizenship will not be understood by everyone.
“Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.” C.S. Lewis