Citizens Unite

John 1:11–12 “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

God is not investing in membership.. He invest in citizenship.

CITIZENS UNITE BY MIGHT IN THE LORD

The term son of indicated what clan you were from, Sons of Israel, Son of Jesse, Son of David.

Πολίτησ -ου, ὁ; (politēs), n. Citizen; fellow citizen. Hebrew equivalent: רֵעַ 2 (5), עַם (1), עָמִית.

To live as a citizen means to live by the civic duties of one's state or body of politics.

An Ethnic identity with ties to a nation-state or city could be imparted to an outsider of the community in certain circumstances.

We are called African Americans, or Latin Americans, this is citizenship language.

The rights of citizenship was imparted to us gradually through the blood sweat and tears of our ancestors.

The New Testament writers used citizenship language about the people of God. Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”

We became Citizens of Heaven through the blood sweat and tears of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”God calls those who were not HIS SONS TO BE HIS SONS

Imaging you were raised in a world where everyone you know worshiped a galaxy of God’s.

And you alone received Revelation from the one true GOD.

”In the beginning God" would be a startling statement to a citizen of Ur of the Chaldees, where Abraham came from,

You would need STRONG CONVICTION and FAITH to declare that The GREAT I AM of Genesis, is the only true GOD, and besides HIM there is no other!

Hebrews 11:8–10 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Matthew 12:22, a blind and dumb demoniac, was brought to him, and he healed him so that the dumb man spoke and saw. 23, and all the people were amazed and said, "Can this be the son of David?" 24, but when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "It is only by be-elzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." 25 knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand; 26 and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand

What good is the United States with divided citizens?

What good is a church with divided citizens?

Citizens unite

Thats where many people miss the privileges of Heavenly citizenship

There in the flesh, and not in the Spirit.

c) Heaven is for Citizens only.

4 things about our citizenship I want to highlight

Citizenship is personal

a) Unless you are born again you cannot see the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

i) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

ii) God knows us personally.

(1) Even when traveling with a group, you must pass through customs individually.

(2) Do you have the proper documents to enter the country

(3) Does the face on the Passport match your face?

(4) Our "names are written in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3).

(a) Christ is coming back for a Church. The word Church means gathering together of people.

(b) Yet each person has a unique reservation in HEAVEN.

Our citizenship is precious

a) our citizenship in heaven came at a HIGH price far beyond our ability to pay. It was purchased with "the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13).

b) We do not have a piece of paper to prove our citizenship.

c) We come through the BLOOD OF JESUS!

d) When Jesus puts the sheep at his right hand and says, "Come you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34), there will be no argument. If he sets you on his right hand, that is your certification.

e) If you had a piece of paper that certified you as a citizen of heaven for eternity, and you could not get into heaven without it, how carefully would you look after it? How much would you insure it for? Would you consider selling it at any price? We have no paper, but we have the king's recognition. How much is it worth to be known personally by him? Our friendship with the king is the most precious thing we have.

WE are permanent citizens

a) God speaks with a tongue that never lies. He writes with a pen that cannot be erased. Never erases.

b) There is no expiration date on our citizenship in heaven. It is eternal. When god "seated us with Christ in the heavenly" (Ephesians 2:6), he did so for all "the ages to come" (Ephesians 2:7).

Our citizenship is predestined.

We prepare for our retirement

We prepare for our children's education

We prepare for our death, with insurance.

a) We were "chosen in him before the foundation of the world" to be citizens of heaven (Ephesians 1:4).

You cannot enter Heaven on a earthly vehicle, with human authority.

You cannot enter heaven on a visa.

There will be NO tourist in Heaven, NO temporary residents, or NO asylum seekers.

Understanding our heavenly citizenship brings us confidence and security. We can live boldly, committed to carrying out our citizens' duty of obedience to heaven's laws.

I am convinced that most "Church" folk are ignorant of their position in Christ

CITIZENS UNITE, NOT CITIZENS OF THE NIGHT

If you are born free, why do you live like a slave? One can be a slave to other people's opinions Slave to the flesh Slave to the world.

The FIRST MIGHTY MAN OF THE BIBLE.

Genesis 10:8–9 “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.”

People Power is not the same as the Power of God.

CITIZENS UNITE, NOT CITIZENS THAT FIGHT EACH OTHER

1 Cor 3:1: "but I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as babes in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it; and even yet you are not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving like ordinary men?"

Sounds like citizen Cain to me.

We are on the same train, on the same plain, going to the same place for eternity, yet we can't get along

Php 3:18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Php 3:19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Php 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a savior, the lord Jesus Christ,Php 3:21, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

CITIZENS UNITE BY WALKING IN THE LIGHT

The true sign of Heavenly Citizenship is the seal of the HOLY GHOST

2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” duties of kingdom citizens

As is true of every nation, citizenship in the United States brings specific duties.

Obligations of US citizenship include

supporting and defending the constitution against enemies, foreign and domestic,

paying taxes honestly and on time,

serving on a jury,

and bearing arms on behalf of the United States when required by law.

It should come as no surprise, therefore, that citizenship in the future kingdom also brings obligations.

Renounce and abjure or firmly reject all allegiance to the god of this world.

Talking about Abraham: isn’t it peculiar that Abraham knew more about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah than they did? And he intervened

We, heaven's citizens, know more about the world's fate, but what are we doing?

Are we conforming or transforming.

Ephesians 4:11–13 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”