To explore what it means to live on earth as "citizens of heaven".
SCRIPTURE
Philippians 3:17-4:1
You may listen to or download an Audio File of the sermon at
http://www.mediafire.com/?9mwxxkngyih
Canadian citizenship
Before you can become a Canadian citizen by choice you have to pass a test on Canadian history and geography that many Canadians by birth don't have a clue how to answer...so here are some more practical questions that I would recommend to Citizenship and Immigration.
1. What are Timbits? Name at least 3 varieties.
2. Or the judge could simply say: "Could you please pass me a serviette, I just spilled poutine on my toque in the foyer?" and watch the applicant's face for either an understanding nod or a puzzled look that says: "Would you repeat that in English, please?"
3. True or false: Francophones & anglophones are devices that do not communicate well with one another.
4. Do the hand actions to Sharon, Lois and Bram's ``Skin-a-marinki-dinki-do.''
5. And, finally, see if they can sing the first four lines of "O Canada" without making a mistake!
WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN
"OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN" (Philippians 3:20)
"IN THE WORLD, BUT NOT OF THE WORLD" (John 17:14-16)
"SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST" (Ephesians 2:6)
"YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST" (Colossians 3:1)
Ambassadors
"YOU ARE AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST"...An ambassador, by definition, represents his/her native country in another country.
Present Tense
Not we WILL be citizens of heaven, we ARE.
PHILIPPI
A Roman colony in Greece...they lived as Romans in the Greek world. They knew what it meant to live in one country as citizens of another country. Now Paul tells them to live on earth as citizens of heaven.
Early Christians
A letter written at the end of the fourth century about the early church...
"Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life....With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.
And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labor under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country....They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven".
Are you a citizen of heaven?
You become one when you make the commitment to "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead." (Romans 10:9-10)
EXERCISING OUR HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP ON EARTH
We look at everything from a heavenly perspective
Healing...we do not beg, we're seated next to Jesus, we just ask him to heal.
Finances..."My God shall meet all your needs according to his glorious riches" (Philippians 4:13) ...HIS riches, not our bank account, our investments.
Going back to my home country, India...the difference between going back with an Indian passport and a Canadian passport...amazing!
What changed? My citizenship.
We look like everyone else...but we do not act like everyone else in every way.
Story of the British military officer in Africa...every Saturday, he served a meal in a canvas tent that was decidedly English in every way--finest linen, perfect place settings, English food and drink. To remind himself and his family that though they were living in another country, they were still citizens of Great Britain.
We set aside one day a week at least to do something we would not do every other day...get together with other Christians to remind ourselves that WE ARE CITIZENS OF HEAVEN.
CONCLUSION
“I am a citizen of heaven”
"I have been raised with Christ"
“I am seated in heavenly places with Christ”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS
1. Have you ever found yourself someplace where you were in the minority...your citizenship was not the same as everyone else's? How did it feel? What did you find most difficult to cope with?
2. What does being a citizen of heaven mean to you?
3. What are some practical ways in which you have exercised your heavenly citizenship on earth? (Times when you went against the prevailing wisdom, culture, etc. as a result of your Christian faith)
4. What are some ways in which you can strengthen your heavenly citizenship or gain more of a heavenly perspective?
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