A Guide to Correct Citizenship: Philippians 3:20-4:1

20 For our citizenship is in heaven (Break 1), from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Break 2) 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, (Break 3) according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Break 4) 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. (Break 5)

Students give one thing they are proud of as a US citizen.

Show video clip.

Oath of Citizenship in America - I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.^[1]

References:
Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Hebrews 11:8-10; 13-16 - 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God… 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Define Citizenship – the act of becoming a member of a nation by birth or naturalization.

Break 1

What is your response to your citizenship being in heaven?

How do you become a citizen of Heaven? John 1:12-13 – but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Listen to Hebrews 11:8-10; 13-16

How would you describe the United States?

How would you describe Heaven?

Revelation 3:3-6 – The throne room - 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Break 2

Paul speaks of where Savior comes from and that is heaven.

It is much like how when a president goes and visits the American embassy in another country. The Ambassadors are there awaiting the visit and accomplishing the tasks to which they were commissioned to do by the president and the country. Paul says in Ephesians 6:20 that he is an ambassador in chains. We are commissioned by God, you know, Matthew 28 the great commission, to accomplish the task in another country much like in 1 Peter 2:11-12 - 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Our citizenship is given by no other than Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 – there is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Break 3

With his coming everything will change.

Break 4

How will that change take place, by his workings. Do you know what those workings were, his life, death and resurrection? Are you living like citizens of Heaven? Are you a citizen of Heaven

A Guide to Correct Gain: Philippians 3:12-19

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Break 1)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Break 2)

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. (Break 3)

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things. (Break 4)

Break 1

Have a race outside. The runners are racing toward one person holding prizes. Along the race path are words that are sins everyone struggles with.

Q. Before the race did you: check out the path before you? Check out what was in your way while in the race? Check out what was in your way after the race?

Q. When do we truly want to see what is in our path? – After the race, especially if we lose. If we win, it doesn’t matter what was in the way because we have won and the prize has been attained and our eyes are focused on the end prize.

Listen to this quote: “You and I live in an age when only a rare minority of individuals desire to spend their lives in pursuit of objectives which are bigger than they are. In our age, for most people, when they die, it will be as though they never lived.” – Rusty Rustenbach

“Press on” carries both a hunting and athletic sense. Like, stalking prey with an unrelentlessness or to run as to gain a victory; out to win.

Break 2

Paul refers back to the elders, deacons and Saints at Philippi as brethren. This is a loving endearment.

Paul recognizes his shortcomings at this point.

Paul recognizes his past but refuses to live in it.

Paul recognizes his future and reaches for it.

Because of Paul’s recognition, he presses toward the goal…

The goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Break 3

Therefore is a conjunction. Because of what was just said, this is the outcome.

Therefore…let us have this mind…nevertheless…let us walk by the same rule and let us be of the same mind.

So, what’s in the middle?

As many as are mature…and if in anything think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

Andrew Harris: What does a mature runner look like?

Andrew Harris: What is the contrast of an immature and a mature runner?

When Paul wrote to the Brethren he wanted them to recognize the true runners and the walkers.

Paul said that God would reveal it to them about who were walkers among them.

Paul’s statement of “nevertheless” reveals a desire that even if you do know who may or may not be running a true race, you are to run yours by walking in the same rule and thinking by the same mind.

Break 4

Again, Paul refers to them as brethren but calls for people to join him.

Paul knew he was not perfect, that he had not attained yet called people to follow him; will you do the same? Do you have a group of fellow believers who you could tell people, “join in following us for a pattern” of how to run for Christ?

Paul refers to those who walk and in this sense means, “having no eye or vision for the future or God’s will.”

Earlier Paul referred to “walking by the same rule.” That did not mean a slow pace, it meant there a pattern or following.

Those who walk are labeled by Paul as enemies of the cross of Christ. Think on your life today, at school, with your parents; in the car or on the van ride here, is your “walk” giving “friendly fire” to Christ?

Paul says those that are enemies of the cross of Christ set their mind on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-17

Are you running the race for the prize of the upward call of Christ or are you walking the road to destruction keeping your eyes on earthly things?