The Christian Identity

TURN to PHIL. CH. 1...

PICKING UP in VS 27,, FINISHING OUT in V30...

--BEGIN by READING PASSAGE--

(T) THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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PASSAGE READING:

Philippians 1:27–30 (ESV)

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

---Open in Prayer ---

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INTRO: WHAT IS YOUR IDENTITY?

(Q) WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR IDENTITY…HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?

o WHAT COMES TO MIND FIRST?

OUT of MANY ASPECTS,,… WHAT is CHIEF?

I’M A CHRISTIAN,

A HUSBAND,

A FATHER,

A FRIEND,

A PASTOR,

A RUNNER,

A MUSICIAN,

A FISHERMAN,

AN AMATEUR BUNCH OF THINGS, ETC.

BUT WHEN I THINK ON MY LIFE,

WHICH OF THESE IS NUMBER ONE?

WHICH ONE IS THE TOP OF THE LIST?

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PEOPLE IDENTIFY THEMSELVES in COUNTLESS WAYS:

I. PROFESSION:

§ I’M A DOCTOR

§ I WORK in I.T.

§ I’M A CARPENTER

§ I’M A TEACHER

§ I’M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

§ I’M A …

II. HOBBIES

§ A GUITARIST OR DRUMMER

§ A COFFEE-LOVER

§ A GAMER

§ A HUNTER

§ A FOODIE

§ A FAN (SPORTS TEAM)

§ A GOLFER

III. IN RELATION to FAMILY:

§ FATHER/MOTHER

§ HUSBAND/WIFE

IV. POLITICAL VIEWS

§ I’M A DEMOCRAT

§ I’M A REPUBLICAN

§ I’M INDEPENDENT

V. POSSIBLY CULTURE/ETHNICITY

§ I’M A AMERICAN

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IF SOMEONE WANTS to KNOW: “WHO ARE YOU?”

WHAT DOES the LIST CONTAIN?

WHAT COMES FIRST?

TO UNDERSTAND YOU—WHAT is MOST CRUCIAL?

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NEED:

o FOR IT WILL CHALLENGE US ON WHERE WE PLACE OUR IDENTITY

AND THEN BY IMPLICATION WHERE WE PLACE OUR PRIORITIES…

PASSAGE MIGHT JUST REVOLUTIONIZE the WAY YOU WALK...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANT TO OFFER A SHORT RECAP FOR THOSE WHO WEREN’T HERE LAST WEEK:

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RECAP: FOR CHRIST OR WITH CHRIST

Last Week: PAUL’S CONTINUED REJOICING...

I. TWO WEEKS AGO: REJOICING in GOSPEL’S PROGRESS

II. LAST WEEK: REJOICING in FUTURE DELIVERANCE

FROM JAIL?

FROM ETERNAL JUDGMENT?

REGARDLESS—REASON to CELEBRATE

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LIVING or DYING?

TO LIVE = CHRIST

TO DIE = GAIN

CONCLUSION— GET ME OUTTA HERE!

**LOVE/CONCERN for OTHERS TIPPED the SCALES—PAUL DESIRED to REMAIN.**

BEING WITH CHRIST = FAR BETTER...

BUT REMAINING HERE = BETTER for OTHERS...

(T) AND SO, NOW THAT WE KNOW THAT PAUL DESIRES TO REMAIN,

AND THAT HE IS HOPING TO VISIT THE PHILIPPIANS AGAIN,

WE’LL SEE THE REQUEST, OR ALMOST THE CONDITION HE PUTS FORTH TO THEM.

IF PAUL IS GOING TO STAY THIS IS HIS REQUEST,

LET’S LOOK NOW AT PHILIPPIANS CH. 1 ,

BEGINNING IN VS. 27.

HE WRITES,

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PREACHING PASSAGE: PHIL. 1:27-30

THOUGHT 1: PHIL. 1:27A

Philippians 1:27–30 (ESV)

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,

PAUL’S ONE REQUEST:

HE BEGINS WITH “ONLY” (GK: MONON),

ABOVE ALL ELSE, WITH ONE THING IN MIND…

ONLY WORTHY—of the GOSPEL— LEAD YOUR LIFE

OTHER PLACES:

WALK WORTHY of LORD (COL. 1:10)

WALK WORTHY of GOD (1 THESS. 2:12)

WALK WORTHY of YOUR CALLING (EPH. 4:1)

WORTHY????

NONE GET it RIGHT 100% — WHY WE NEED GRACE!

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BELIEVER’S MINDSET:

IF GOD HAS SO LAVISHED HIS GRACE UPON ME IN CHRIST,

I HAD BETTER DO THE BEST I CAN TO LIVE UP TO WHAT I’VE BEEN GIVEN.

“WALK” WORTHY —OTHER PASSAGES DIFFERENT GK WORD...

HERE: “LET YOUR MANNER of LIFE”

NUANCE: LEADING LIFE as a CITIZEN

**ONLY BROUGHT OUT in a FEW TRANSLATIONS…**

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IS PAUL TALKING ABOUT ROMAN CITIZENSHIP???

“LIVE YOUR LIFE as a ROMAN CITIZEN WORTHY of the GOSPEL”?

PAUL BELIEVES in GOOD CITIZENS...

BUT...

Philippians 3:20 (ESV)

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

IT SEEMS PAUL’S ARGUMENT =

WE OUGHT TO CONDUCT OURSELVES,

TO LEAD OUR LIVES,

WORTHILY OF THE GOSPEL,

BECAUSE WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN.

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PHILIPPIAN CHRISTIANS = ROMAN CITIZENSHIP—BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY HEAVENLY...

WE’RE AMERICAN CITIZENS....MORE IMPORTANTLY—CITIZENS of HEAVEN...

>>> SO WE OUGHT to WALK in a MANNER THAT REFLECTS THAT IDENTITY <<<

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1ST CENTURY—BEING ROMAN CITIZEN = HUGE DEAL & PRIVILEGE

SPECIAL PERKS

PAUL = ROMAN CITIZEN—BROUGHT SPECIAL PERKS...

APPEALED to CAESAR

“AS CITIZENS of PHILIPPI & ROME… DON’T FORGET,, YOU’RE FIRST a CITIZEN of HEAVEN....”

THE ZONDERVAN BIBLE BACKGROUNDS COMMENTARY HELPS DESCRIBE THIS,

“WITH THIS ADMONITION TO LIVE AS CITIZENS WHO ARE WORTHY OF THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL, PAUL IS TELLING THE PHILIPPIANS THAT THEY ARE CITIZENS OF ANOTHER, HEAVENLY COUNTRY (CF. 3:20) AND SHOULD TAKE THEIR SENSE OF SHAME AND HONOR FROM IT RATHER THAN FROM PHILIPPI.”[1]

Paul’s First Time in Philippi:

Charge against him: “THESE MEN ARE JEWS, AND THEY ARE DISTURBING OUR CITY. THEY ADVOCATE CUSTOMS THAT ARE NOT LAWFUL FOR US AS ROMANS TO ACCEPT OR PRACTICE” (ACTS 16:21).

“THESE GUYS = DIFFERENT… A PROBLEM...”

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FOR THEM,, CHALLENGE : ARE YOU ROMAN FIRST? or CHRISTIAN FIRST

CHALLENGE:

ARE WE CHRISTIAN FIRST, or AMERICAN FIRST?

WHAT INFORMS YOUR OPINIONS & WORLDVIEW MOST?

I’M PROUD to be AN AMERICAN. I LOVE AMERICA...

I’M MUCH MORE PROUD to be A CITIZEN of HEAVEN.

AS NOVEMBER APPROACHES…WHERE is YOUR EMPHASIS & HOPE??

DOES YOUR CHRISTIAN FAITH COME B4 YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS & HOPES??

REMEMBER: WE AREN’T of THIS WORLD… WE SHOULDN’T FEEL HOME HERE.

CHRIST ALONE = OUR LORD…WE’RE CITIZENS of ANOTHER KINGDOM.

OUR AIM in LIFE…SHOULD BE WALKING WORTHY of the GOSPEL—SHOWCASING WE’RE CITIZENS of ANOTHER KINGDOM...

(T) SO, PAUL IN ONE SHORT STATEMENT OUTLINES WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HIM…

THAT THEIR LIVES WOULD BE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,

THAT THEIR LIFESTYLE WOULD POINT TO THEIR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP…

FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES HE EXPECT THIS?

WELL AMONGST OTHER THINGS HE SHARES IN THE NEXT PART OF VERSE 27,

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THOUGHT 2 (V27B-28)

so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

WALK WORTHY…LIVE as CITIZENS—MANNER WORTHY....

SO THAT…FOR THE PURPOSE THAT…PAUL WOULD HEAR THAT THEY ARE STANDING FIRM.

WALK WORTHY = STANDING STRONG & FIRM in GOSPEL...

**AND HOW DO YOU STAND FIRM?

(27C) STAND FIRM in ONE SPIRIT (HOLY SPIRIT)

HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

CHRISTIAN STANDING = IN HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER

TWO WAYS/MEANS ..

I. (27D) W/ ONE MIND… STRIVING SIDE BY SIDE FOR FAITH of GOSPEL...

IT’S the GOSPEL THAT UNITES:

THE TDNT DESCRIBES IT SO HELPFULLY IN THESE TERMS, THAT THE GOSPEL IS, “THE SOURCE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF OPPOSITION TO IT.”[1]

· IT’S THE GOSPEL THAT IS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS US TOGETHER.

· IT’S THE GOSPEL THAT HAS US LINKING ARMS.

· IT’S THE GOSPEL THAT GIVES US COMMUNITY.

IT’S THE GOSPEL THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER.

· IT’S THE GOSPEL THAT HAS MADE US PARTAKERS OF GRACE AND HAS MADE US CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, TOGETHER.

o AND IT’S ALSO THE GOSPEL THAT INVITES SUFFERING/PERSECUTION… AS THERE ARE CERTAINLY THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE THE CAUSE OF STRIFE.

GOSPEL = PRIMARY UNIFIER of CHURCH… & PRIMARY SOURCE of SEPARATION from WORLD...

SHOULD BRING US TOGETHER

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(ILL) I REMEMBER...FIRST ROAD RACE....

BACK in 2014—STARTED RUNNING W/ FRIEND

MOVED AWAY = NO EXERCISE

IN 2019: DR. SAYS,, “BELOW EXPECTED FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY for AGE”

2020—REGISTERED for HALF MARATHON

NO RUNNING PARTNER,, NO ACCOUNTABILITY

NO COMPANY

ARRIVING @ RACE:

SENSE of COMMUNITY. “WE’RE ALL a BIT NUTS”

WE’VE ALL TRAINED FOR THIS

I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE PEOPLE…BUT I KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING in COMMON.

PERHAPS for YOU:

SPORTING EVENTS—FAN of SAME TEAM

CONCERT—FAN of SAME STYLE of MUSIC

DIFFERENT CONVENTIONS —BOARD GAME CONVENTION

**PERHAPS NO ONE ELSE in YOUR FAMILY GETS IT,, BUT THESE PEOPLE DO**

SENSE of COMMONALITY...

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CHURCH, CAN I TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE CHURCH, BUT THAT IT IS FAR GREATER.

WE’RE PART of THE CHURCH

CITIZENS of HEAVEN

FELLOW PARTAKERS of GRACE

MIGHT NOT KNOW:

YOUR FAVORITE COLOR

DOG PERSON/CAT PERSON

MEXICAN FOOD/ITALIAN

HOBBIES

PROFESSION

BUT I KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING GREAT in COMMON!!!

MIGHT BE:

FROM DIFFERENT AGE BRACKET

DIFFERENT INTERESTS

DIFFERENT GENDER

DIFFERENT PEOPLE...

WE HAVE CHRIST in COMMON!

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OUR GATHERING = FOR the GOSPEL

WE STAND FIRM in the GOSPEL

WE STRIVE SIDE by SIDE—FOR GOSPEL

LOCKED ARMS

FELLOW BELIEVERS = FELLOW CITIZENS of HEAVEN

ALL PART of SAME TEAM!

REF: PAULA’S “GO TEAM”

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II. ((WAY of STANDING FIRM, V28) NOT FRIGHTENED in ANYTHING BY OPPONENTS...

SO, TWO THINGS:

YOU STAND STRONG BY STRIVING SIDE BY SIDE.

YOU STAND STRONG BY NOT SUCCUMBING TO FEAR WHEN FACED WITH OPPOSITION, PERSECUTION, OR ANY WHO TRY AND BELITTLE US.

STRENGTH,, BUT STRENGTH in NUMBERS

**IT MIGHT BE UGLY OUT THERE,, BUT WE HAVE STRENGTH in NUMBERS HERE**

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THEIR STANDING FIRM in FACE of PERSECUTION = SIGN

TO UNBELIEVERS of DESTRUCTION

TO BELIEVERS of SALVATION

GOSPEL = SEPARATOR

THERE’S ONLY 2 TEAMS

FOR GOSPEL

OR AGAINST GOSPEL

NO ONE ELSE...

(T) AND WHAT IS THE BASIS OF PAUL’S CLAIM THAT THIS IS A SIGN OF SALVATION FOR THE BELIEVER?

LOOK WITH ME AT VERSES 29 AND 30.

PAUL CONCLUDES,

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FINAL THOUGHT (V29-30)

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,

30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

STANDING FIRM in FACE of PERSECUTION = SIGN...

WHY?? HOW??

FOR OR BECAUSE:

IT HAS BEEN GRACIOUSLY GRANTED TO THE CHRISTIAN.

HAS BEEN GRACED....

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GOD HAS GRACE BELIEVERS W/ TWO THINGS:

TO BELIEVE IN HIM, THAT IS CHRIST.

AND TO SUFFER ON HIS BEHALF.

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I. TO BELIEVE. = GRACIOUSLY GRANTED

CHURCH, HOW OFTEN DO WE THINK OF THE PRIVILEGE OF FAITH?

?CONTRAST GENERAL & SPECIAL REVELATION?

WHAT a PRIVILEGE GOD BROUGHT the GOSPEL to US!!

HE OPENED OUR EYES

WE TURNED FROM SUPPRESSING the TRUTH to PROFESSING IT!!!

WE PROBABLY THANK GOD FOR SALVATION OFTEN…BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE THANK HIM HE BROUGHT US the MESSAGE??

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II. GRACED to SUFFER (PERSECUTION) FOR HIS SAKE!

PAUL’S THOUGHTS on SUFFERING = WILD,, THIS = NEXT LEVEL

(V30) SAME CONFLICT as PAUL—SUFFERING on BEHALF of FAITH

**SOMETHING LARGELY ALIEN to US in AMERICA**

APOSTLES in ACTS CH. 5— CELEBRATING THEY WERE CONSIDERED WORTHY to SUFFER SHAME for HIS NAME!!

HOW OFTEN DO CHRISTIANS FALL PREY to VICTIM MENTALITY TODAY??

AMERICA = LESS CHRISTIAN THAN WE REALIZE...

GROWING HOSTILITY to CHRIST

DO WE WHINE WHEN CHRISTIANS ARE MISTREATED?

UNDERSTANDABLE FRUSTRATION WHEN THERE’S a CLAIM: FREE COUNTRY...

BUT SCRIPTURE SAYS IT’S a GRACE!

SUFFERING MISTREATMENT on CHRIST’S BEHALF = GREAT PRIVILEGE

HE DIED for US…IT’S the LEAST WE CAN DO

ALIEN in PAST,, BUT COMING in PRESENT...

PAUL SAYS it’s a GRACE!

(T) AND SO, WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE, THE IDEA THAT,

HOMILETICAL IDEA:

AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN THE CHRISTIAN’S AIM IN LIFE SHOULD BE TO LIVE WORTHY OF CHRIST’S GOSPEL.

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GOSPEL: TWO PARTIES, NO THIRD-PARTY

(T) WE WALK WORTHY BECAUSE WE’RE CITIZENS of HEAVEN...

IN LIGHT of this CITIZENSHIP WE LIVE....

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NOT EVERYONE on PLANET EARTH = PART of the SAME TEAM

CHURCH ISN’T a CELEBRITY CLUB...

CHURCH = COMPOSED of FORGIVEN SINNERS TURNED SAINTS

CITIZENSHIP in HEAVEN

NAMES WRITTEN DOWN in GLORY

THE GOSPEL & FORGIVENESS = BASIS for OUR COMMUNITY....

THERE ARE ONLY 2 CAMPS

THE FORGIVEN

& UNFORGIVEN

THOSE in KINGDOM of GOD’S BELOVED SON…

& THOSE in DOMAIN of DARKNESS

**THERE’S NO THIRD PARTY**

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THE ONLY DIFFERENCE is CHRIST & HIS MERCY on US.

I’M NO BETTER THAN ANY ROTTEN SINNER in the WORLD…I’M JUST FORGIVEN

THE DIFFERENCE = THE RESPONSE to the GOSPEL...

THE GOOD NEWS of SALVATION in JESUS CHRIST...

CHRIST CAME DOWN BEARING GOOD NEWS.

THE DISCIPLES WENT ABOUT PREACHING GOOD NEWS.

PAUL DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO THE GOOD NEWS.

PAUL ADMONISHES WE WALK WORTHY of the GOOD NEWS....

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THE GOOD NEWS: WE CAN BE FORGIVEN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

NOT BY WORKS…BUT BY GRACE

NOT BY OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS…BUT BY CHRIST’S

NOT BY OBEDIENCE…BUT BY CHRIST’S

HE CAME DOWN & LIVED the LIFE WE SHOULD’VE LIVED...

& DIED the DEATH WE SHOULD’VE DIED.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

HE TOOK MY PLACE

SO I CAN BE FORGIVEN BY GRACE.

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THAT = HOPE of the GOSPEL

THAT = WHAT the CHURCH STANDS FIRM IN

THAT = WHAT WE STRIVE FOR

THAT = WHAT WE SUFFER FOR

YOU CAN BE a PARTAKER of GRACE TODAY

BELIEVE in CHRIST...PLACE YOUR TRUST in the SON of GOD & FIND FORGIVENESS for YOUR SIN...

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ANY WHO HAVEN’T BEEN FORGIVEN

HAVE QUESTIONS

DON’T HAVE ASSURANCE

TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE

(T) BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONFIDENT THAT YOU’VE BEEN REDEEMED THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD,

I WANT TO BRING A CHALLENGE TO US IN CLOSING:

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APP: WALKING WORTHY = WALKING TOGETHER

PAUL, IN THIS PASSAGE AND OTHERS, SHOWS US OUR CITIZENSHIP IS HEAVENLY.

OPENED W/ THOUGHTS on IDENTITY...

MOST IMPORTANT PART of OUR IDENTITY SHOULD BE OUR FAITH

WE’RE FORGIVEN

WE’RE CHRISTIANS

WE’RE CITIZENS of HEAVEN

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PAUL ADMONISHES the CHURCH @ PHILIPPI.. & US TODAY.....

IN LIGHT of THIS CITIZENSHIP— WE STRIVE to WALK WORTHY of the GOSPEL...

**THIS BECOMES a SUMMARY of ALL PAUL’S ETHICAL TEACHING in PHILIPPIANS**

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MANY YEARS PEOPLE WOULD SAY: WWJD—WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

HELPFUL THOUGHT… FROM PASSAGE TODAY…

“AS a CITIZEN of HEAVEN,, HOW I OUGHT I TO LIVE?”

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A LOT of TEACHING REGARDING HABITS = FOCUSED on CHANGING PEOPLE’S IDENTITY...

YOU HAVE to VIEW YOURSELF DIFFERENTLY,, AND IDENTITY CHANGE RESULTS in CHANGED ACTION

**MOTIVATION COMES THROUGH IDENTITY**

(T) HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS to OUR FAITH?

BECAUSE I AM a CITIZEN of HEAVEN,, I OUGHT to WALK WORTHY,,

WE’LL SEE THIS UNFOLD MORE in COMING WEEKS....

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FOR NOW: PAUL SAYS WALK WORTHY of GOSPEL

= STANDING FIRM,,

BY MEANS of:

W/ ONE MIND STRIVING SIDE-BY-SIDE

BY NOT BEING INTIMIDATED BY OPPONENTS

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IN a WORLD THAT HATES CHRIST—WE NEED to BE a UNITED FRONT…WE NEED to REMAIN STEADFAST

THE WORLD WILL TRY & PUSH YOU INTO IT’S MOLD

TO FORM YOU

FACING PRESSURE

OSTRACISM

MOCKERY

WE NEED to HAVE LINKED ARMS & BE STEADFAST...

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Problems Out There:

PEOPLE @ WORK BELITTLE YOU for BEING a CHRISTIAN

BE in SCHOOL & BE MADE FUN OF…

STANDARDS: YOU DON’T WANT to BE SLEEPING AROUND & PARTYING

BE in COLLEGE & BE MOCKED...

FAITH: YOU BELIEVE in CREATOR & NOT NATURALISM...

FAMILY FUNCTIONS & BE RIDICULED

for YOUR CHRISTIAN VALUES...

MIGHT HAVE FRIENDS WHO SAY

YOUR MARRIAGE PROBLEMS ARE BEST SOLVED BY DIVORCE

YOU MIGHT STICK OUT LIKE a SORE THUMB ELSEWHERE...

BUT in the CHURCH:

WE’RE ALL CITIZENS of HEAVEN

WE STRIVE SIDE BY SIDE for the GOSPEL

WE ENDURE TOGETHER.

YOU MIGHT BE MOCKED OUT THERE,, BUT YOU’RE a PART of the FAMILY HERE....

WHAT a BLESSING to HAVE FELLOWSHIP W/ COMPANY of the SAINTS...

TO GATHER & KNOW WE ALL BELIEVE in JESUS CHRIST

WE MIGHT BE RIDICULED OUT THERE…BUT HERE WE’RE PART of the SAME TEAM...

WE WALK WORTHY.....

BY HOLDING FAST to OUR BELIEFS TOGETHER...

STRIVING TOGETHER ON BEHALF OF THE GOSPEL.

LOOK @ WHAT WE DO TODAY!

NOT FEARING OPPOSITION TOGETHER

WE ARE ALL GOSPELIZED PEOPLE.

THIS BOND WE HAVE THROUGH THE GOSPEL SHOULD BE GREATER THAN ANYTHING THAT SEPARATES US.

WE’RE ALL PART of the SAME HEAVENLY KINGDOM...

**LINKING ARMS??**

WE’RE TO BE LINKED UP WITH FELLOW-BELIEVERS,

AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN,

AND WE’RE to LIVE IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS THE GOSPEL AND STRENGTHENS THE UNITY OF THE KINGDOM IN THE FACE OF A WORLD THAT DESPERATELY HATES CHRIST. AMEN?

---Close in Prayer---