SUNDAY PM, SEPT 22
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Our Citizenship is in heaven
Our Citizenship is in heaven
Because we wait for the Savior, Jesus Christ to return and establish His Kingdom forever, removing the results of sin forever, we must stand fast.
phil 3 20-41
20 but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
21 He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.
1 So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
Our citizenship is in heaven…yet to be established.
We are exiles on the earth, belonging according to the flesh, but not belonging according to faith. As exiles:
We don’t fit in with our culture.
We don’t completely agree with our government.
We hold all things loosely. Our possessions, our life, our careers...
We are able to go when our Lord says go. We are able to say “Here am I” when our Lord says “Whom shall I send.”
We wait for our Savior…who will save us from among those who will be punished.
When Jesus Redeems us, He will transform our lowly bodies into the likeness of His glorious body by His power.
What does it mean to wait? The picture of the bride and the bride groom. We are the bride and we are preparing for our wedding day.
Because of this, Paul says “Stand firm.” Don’t waiver. Don’t lose your focus. Don’t fail to make yourself ready.
The writer of Hebrews describes all who died in faith before Christ like this:
heb 11 13-
13 These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return.
16 But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
7 instructions concerning conflict.
7 instructions concerning conflict.
phil 4 2-
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Euodia and Syntyche have had a falling out. It is an unresolved conflict. It was a big enough conflict that Epaphroditus has mentioned it to Paul.
This portion of the letter directly respond to this conflict in the church. We can learn a lot about how to deal with conflict when we ourselves are involved and when others we know are involved.
Conflict is going to occur, but should never remain unresolved.
Conflict is going to occur, but should never remain unresolved.
phil
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
The important thing is not who is right, but that the conflict ends.
The important thing is not who is right, but that the conflict ends.
When people do not know how to pursue peace themselves, we must pursue peace for them.
When people do not know how to pursue peace themselves, we must pursue peace for them.
3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
phil 4
We are citizens of heaven. Rejoice. Don’t fight!
We are citizens of heaven. Rejoice. Don’t fight!
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
The Lord is returning soon. There is work to do. We don’t have time to fight.
The Lord is returning soon. There is work to do. We don’t have time to fight.
5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Resisting reconciliation consumes a person. Instead of focusing on how someone has wronged you, pray to the Lord with thanksgiving. God desires peace.
Resisting reconciliation consumes a person. Instead of focusing on how someone has wronged you, pray to the Lord with thanksgiving. God desires peace.
phil 4 6
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Rather than dwelling on each other’s faults, dwell on what the Lord is doing in the other person’s life.
Rather than dwelling on each other’s faults, dwell on what the Lord is doing in the other person’s life.
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.