“Lives, Lived as Citizens of Heaven,”

“Lives, Lived as CITIZENS of HEAVEN”

 

Above all, you must live as Citizens of Heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the GOOD NEWS about Christ.  Philippians 1:27

 

The Apostle Paul was in Philippi, addressing the Believers of JESUS CHRIST. And it was very important to him that they conduct themselves as CITIZENS of HEAVEN.   They should do that by conducting themselves in a manner that is WORTHY of the GOOD NEWS about CHRIST.

If this was the way they conducted themselves, then Paul would know that whether he came and seen them again or ONLY HEARD about them, he would KNOW that they were conducting themselves PROPERLY as being WORTHY of the GOOD NEWS about CHRIST. 

Let us look at some of the GOOD QUALITIES that are characteristic of being a CITIZEN of HEAVEN.  FIRST, Paul encourages them to STAND TOGETHER for the FAITH, in ONE SPIRIT, ONE PURPOSE, and FIGHTING TOGETHER for the FAITH, which is the GOOD NEWS.

It was the DESIRE of Paul for them to BE UNIFIED, then they would be LIVING LIFE the way the GOSPEL of CHRIST REQUIRES.  They would be ONE in their FAITH and COMMON PURPOSE. 

They were to show NO FEAR, they were NOT to be INTIMIDATED by their enemies. Facing them, in this manner, would be a SIGN to the enemy that they were going to be DESTROYED, but that the CITIZENS of HEAVEN would be SAVED by GOD, HIMSELF.  

This manner of living with a STRONG, UNIFICATION in the FAITH and in the GOSPEL, and being COURAGEOUSLY LIVING for CHRIST would make them WORTHY of the GOSPEL of CHRIST.  Paul’s hope was to know that they were STANDING FIRM in ONE SPIRIT, in ONE ACCORD, CONTENDING TOGETHER for the FAITH of the GOSPEL.

If you are a BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER, who is NOT TOTALLY LIVING a LIFE that is WORTHY of the GOSPEL of CHRIST, you NEED to be ON your knees, CRYING OUT to GOD for FORGIVENESS and GUIDANCE, asking Him to HELP YOU  KNOW HOW to LIVE a LIFE that IS WORTHY of the GOSPEL of CHRIST.  You need to BE STRONG in YOUR FAITH, WORK in UNITY with OTHER CHRISTIANS.  And SHARE the GOSPEL with those who are NOT BELIEVERS! 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to JESUS, for the FORGIVENESS of your SINS. You MUST ADMIT to Him that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS SUFFERED, BLED, DIED, and WAS RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE. And is NOW at the RIGHT HAND of the FATHER, GOD, making intercession for YOU before GOD.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and become a GOOD CITIZEN of HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT “Lives, Lived as CITIZENS of HEAVEN”

 

Above all, you must live as Citizens of Heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the GOOD NEWS about Christ.  Philippians 1:27

 

The Apostle Paul was in Philippi, addressing the Believers of JESUS CHRIST. And it was very important to him that they conduct themselves as CITIZENS of HEAVEN.   They should do that by conducting themselves in a manner that is WORTHY of the GOOD NEWS about CHRIST.

If this was the way they conducted themselves, then Paul would know that whether he came and seen them again or ONLY HEARD about them, he would KNOW that they were conducting themselves PROPERLY as being WORTHY of the GOOD NEWS about CHRIST. 

Let us look at some of the GOOD QUALITIES that are characteristic of being a CITIZEN of HEAVEN.  FIRST, Paul encourages them to STAND TOGETHER for the FAITH, in ONE SPIRIT, ONE PURPOSE, and FIGHTING TOGETHER for the FAITH, which is the GOOD NEWS.

It was the DESIRE of Paul for them to BE UNIFIED, then they would be LIVING LIFE the way the GOSPEL of CHRIST REQUIRES.  They would be ONE in their FAITH and COMMON PURPOSE. 

They were to show NO FEAR, they were NOT to be INTIMIDATED by their enemies. Facing them, in this manner, would be a SIGN to the enemy that they were going to be DESTROYED, but that the CITIZENS of HEAVEN would be SAVED by GOD, HIMSELF.  

This manner of living with a STRONG, UNIFICATION in the FAITH and in the GOSPEL, and being COURAGEOUSLY LIVING for CHRIST would make them WORTHY of the GOSPEL of CHRIST.  Paul’s hope was to know that they were STANDING FIRM in ONE SPIRIT, in ONE ACCORD, CONTENDING TOGETHER for the FAITH of the GOSPEL.

If you are a BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER, who is NOT TOTALLY LIVING a LIFE that is WORTHY of the GOSPEL of CHRIST, you NEED to be ON your knees, CRYING OUT to GOD for FORGIVENESS and GUIDANCE, asking Him to HELP YOU  KNOW HOW to LIVE a LIFE that IS WORTHY of the GOSPEL of CHRIST.  You need to BE STRONG in YOUR FAITH, WORK in UNITY with OTHER CHRISTIANS.  And SHARE the GOSPEL with those who are NOT BELIEVERS! 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to JESUS, for the FORGIVENESS of your SINS. You MUST ADMIT to Him that you are a SINNER, in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS SUFFERED, BLED, DIED, and WAS RESURRECTED from DEATH and the GRAVE. And is NOW at the RIGHT HAND of the FATHER, GOD, making intercession for YOU before GOD.  You MUST CONFESS your sins to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFE-STYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and become a GOOD CITIZEN of HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!