Citizenship is in Heaven

INTRO:

Reminder - UNLEASHED - SIGN UP!!!

invite friends, use this as an evangelistic opportunity!!

Invite fellow youth students!

Get signed up!

Does it matter where you are from?

yes - impacts

your language

your interests

your holidays

your foods

your freedoms

It says a lot about you

Where Your Citizenship is Matters

Acts 22:24-

Acts 22:24–29 ESV

24 the tribune ordered him to be brought into the barracks, saying that he should be examined by flogging, to find out why they were shouting against him like this. 25 But when they had stretched him out for the whips, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard this, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.” 27 So the tribune came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “I bought this citizenship for a large sum.” Paul said, “But I am a citizen by birth.” 29 So those who were about to examine him withdrew from him immediately, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.

Did Paul’s citizenship matter?

Yes or he would have been flogged

The right citizenship mattered in Paul’s case and it matters to God

Matthew 25:31-

Matthew 25:31–34 ESV

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 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 foundation of the world.

Matthew 25:

Matthew 25:41 ESV

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:

Matthew 25:46 ESV

46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

What is Your Citizenship?

Philippians 3:17-

Philippians 3:17–21 ESV

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 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. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

A few things Paul tells us:

Have godly examples in your life

Find someone older to mentor you

in age and faith

surround yourself with peers that will push you to a deeper walk with Christ

Know that someone is looking at you

many people walk as enemies of the Cross

not transformed by it

distort the truth in it

lead others astray

There end is destruction

They get Hell

They experience the wrath of God

Our Hope is in Christ and our citizenship lies there

we will be transformed - a body of no corruption

not tainted

don’t struggle

doesn’t struggle with sin

free from all hardship

Why Jesus says come to me all that are heavy laden and I will give you rest!

Why Citizenship Matters

Partake in the benefits of belonging to a kingdom

your allegiance is to the ruler

you have the freedoms of the kingdom (like Paul did with his Roman citizenship)

You are under its protection

Who can gain citizenship to God’s kingdom and how?

Anyone that hears the voice of the Lord, repents, and believes

Revelation 3:20 ESV

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

The Gospel brings you into citizenship with the Lord

STOP

What are the benefits to a citizenship? What do we gain being citizens of the kingdom of God? How does one become a citizen of God’s kingdom? Is it just a prayer?

Why would someone reject the gift of being a citizen of God’s kingdom? If someone looked at your life what citizenship would they say you belong to? Why?

What does it look like to have citizenship to the kingdom of God? How Does the Gospel help us see clearly God’s layout for our citizenship?