"Living as Citizens of Heaven"
Philippians 4:1-7
Pastor Luke Tanis
Paul has been trying to help the believers in Philippi adjust to the reality of Jesus as Lord over all and then to live their whole life in light of this reality....to not forget it and go back to the old way of living.
Everything they do should impacted by this reality of Jesus as Lord.
Paul already wrote how one day, every person will recognize and confess this reality.
But Paul calls believers to live their lives moment by moment in light of this.
The truths that flow, the promises and the power that comes from this reality.
As we turn to chapter 4, Paul summaries his teaching, reminding them once more what impact Christ as Lord has on them.
in our text today,Paul uses the phrase “in the Lord” 3 times and 2 other phrases of God and Christ Jesus.
Everything believers do is to be done under the reality of Christ as Lord.
What does that look like? How are citizens of heaven to live?
Last week Michael looked at Chapter 3,
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Our text today begins with the phrase “Therefore, my brothers…”
In light of this truth, how should we live?
Today we will look at 5 characteristics of Citizens of Heaven.
People who live with Christ as Lord of all
1st of all Citizens of heaven are called to…
1. Live with Confidence (vs. 1)
Living out the gospel was not easy in Philipp, surrounded by threats and attacks on the gospel. Paul warned about these.
But the gospel produces a confidence and boldness to stand firm.
….to not fall away
A. Gospel Encouragement:
Paul reminds them of the bond they share. This is who they are.
They are Family: They are Loved. They are his JOY and CROWN.
They are the sum of so much of his earthly calling, God’s work in them.
In light of these realities, Paul calls them to stand firm.
There will be temptations and challenges, if they are not careful they may stumble and fall, false teaching or wrong thinking can cause them to slip up
like some had. A few verses before Paul wrote
Philippians 3:18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
so Paul urges them to stand firm in the gospel.
B. Gospel Boldness
Christ already guaranteed their victory.
The Spirit is at work in them so strive to press on each day firmly standing on the Gospel.
The same phrase Paul used in Chapter 1 is now used again
Philippians 1:27 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,
Paul desires this whether he is with them or away. It is up to them whether they will live this out and stand firm. To Actually let the gospel completely reshape their lives. But He had made it clear that the gospel is worthy standing on, it is worthy devoting your life to because it will never fail you.
Paul knows the Gospel is the only thing capable of keeping them firm so He calls them to be rooted in the truths of the gospel and as a result to stand firm.
The next characteristic is that Citizens of heaven are called to
2. Live in Harmony (vs. 2-3)
One of the greatest threats to standing firm and having a gospel witness is disunity and that’s what Paul address next.
The letter has been addressing the sin behind some of the key issues in Philippi, the heart behind the matter but now Paul address the issue directly.
the dispute itself is uncertain, as Paul doesn’t lay out exactly what happened but one thing is clear, they do not have a unity of mind, they are not living in harmony and they are not living out Chapter 2, the mind of Christ. There is conflict in the community. Conflict threatens harmony.
So Paul addresses these issues.
Paul highlights 3 aspects of conflict...
A. Conflict threatens Community
“agree in the Lord” “think the same thing”.
What is at stake is the harmony of the whole church. Community itself is being ripped apart. So Paul calls them to “agree” or to think the same thing
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Paul call believers to think the same thing.
Paul called them to have the same mind, or the same thinking in 2:2
and now here Pauls uses almost identical wording to point out what is missing.
As the gospel works in our lives it produces a unity with other believers.
This strengthens the community.
Notice the Contrast of Paul’s view towards the believers and the disunity between these women. Whatever happened it was serious enough to address in his letter to the believers
Paul sets the bar high for how christians should view each other
“beloved, long for, joy and crown”
Even in vs 3 he reminds them of their heavenly ciztizenship
“whose names are in the book of life”. This is who they are.
and now here are 2 women who have a dispute. They are not living in harmony.
This is tragic because this fails to apply the Gospel, the work of Christ to their lives.
After all Christ did in chapter 2, what remains is to apply what has been learned, to live it out.
Tragic: celebrate unity in heaven but practice disunity on earth.
When we pray “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” we have to recognize how much conflict undermines the unity of a community
B. Conflict arises in Community
"labored side by side WITH ME in the gospel”
Context: Believers living in community, The gospel is personal and communal. As believers are transformed they will put themselves around other believers, strive side by side for the gospel.
But it is not always easy. There will be challenges. There will be pride and egos that get in the way.
and that’s what seems to be happening in Philippi.
2 key women who did not agree.
Both very influential women, who have labored with Paul “side by side”.
But somewhere along the way, their pride took over, and little by little their unity was pulled apart.
This is one of the greatest challenges to living and serving in a community. Rubbing shoulders with other sinners means people can get feelings hurt, egos hurt, misunderstandings happen.
but this shouldn’t keep us from committing ourselves to a group of believers because in community is found one of the greatest blessings of the christian life.
Being encouraged by other sinners who have been transformed by the gospel,
sharing life with other believers,
hearing how God is working in other believers.
These are some of the Beautiful elements of God’s plan for community but there will be times when conflict arises between sinners so Paul confronts them and pleads with them to make things right. The gospel is greater than any conflict that arises between two believers. The gospel enables them to think the same thing.
As Paul address the conflict threatening the community he also calls on the Community to get involved.
C. Conflict is defused with the help of community “help these women”
Paul had been so encouraged by the community of believers, what God was doing. He knew that this conflict did not mean the end of the community.
God places believers around other people, both to help and be helped
Philippians 4:3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, …
Together, believers who will all see each other in heaven and be perfectly unified should strive to share in the unity on earth.
“the church should be marked by mutual helpfulness” J. A. Motyer,
Paul reveals that conflict that started in community is able to be resolved within the community. this is the power of the Gospel, so he encourages the community to step in, to have the mind of Christ as they live out the gospel.
The third characteristic of citizens of heaven is to
3. Live with Joy (vs. 4)
It might surprise you that Paul brings up rejoicing so soon after addressing conflict but they both are connected. The gospel enables us to resolve conflict and the same gospel gives us reasons to rejoice always.
Because our greatest problem of sin has been dealt with, we can choose, actively choose to rejoice in all circumstances.
In the good and the bad. sometimes grief and tears are all that flow but even there, when you remember Christ is Lord over all, you can rejoice that God is in control over all.
So Paul tells us to rejoice IN THE LORD, always. and to make sure we catch the importance of this command he says it again “and again I say rejoice”
Maybe he knows some of the pushback people will have, some of the excuses for why they can’t rejoice and he counters them, “again I say rejoice”
This is not about personality, we all come from different backgrounds, different cultures where people have different values, different customs,
This is not “Smile always”. This is rejoice always.
Because Jesus is Lord, Because the Spirit is at work in you, in every moment of your life you can choose JOY.
Paul’s command to rejoice serves as a great summary of what Paul has lived first hand. As we come to the end of the Letter, this should not come as a surprise that Paul commands his audience to rejoice. as we look back at the letter every chapter has revealed how rejoicing is possible in any circumstance.
Rejoicing is possible with
Paul, writing from prison, had…. (the right perspective)
A. The Right Perspective (Chapter 1)
His call to rejoice in everything came from his own practice. He was qualified to write this to future sufferers because he was in the midst of worldly challenges.
Paul has shown in this letter why he could rejoice in any situation. For Paul, Christ was everything. His whole life revolved around Christ. This perspective gave him greet freedom and joy no matter what happened to him or around him. We saw this in Chapter 1.
Philippians 1:18-21
Look at this freedom! Nothing can take away his Joy.
No circumstance even though there were plenty to challenge him
No person, no matter how powerful they were.
What this means is when everything around you is going wrong, you can still make the choice to rejoice.
When you get the devastating phone call or email you can choose to rejoice.
When you have a challenging day or painful memory how do you rejoice then?
You rejoice by fixing your mind on what is true. By having the right perspective
Truth is your friend. “What do I know to be true”
Paul was facing potential death and he reminded himself of what was true.
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
2 Chronicles 20:12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
This perspective fueled the right practice.
B. The Right Practice (Chapter 2)
Rejoicing is active.
A deliberate choice to rejoice in the midst of your circumstances.
It is the opposite of what our flesh does so naturally.
The wrong perspective leads to unhealthy practices.
Paul cautioned against these practices in Phil 2:14
Put Off: When you’re tempted to grumble, to be anxious recognize what is happening and make the deliberate choice to rejoice.
Put On: Take time during your week to make a habit of rejoicing. Setting aside time to identify the joyful truths of the gospel and find your joy in them. One of the best places to do this is a daily time spent in God’s word.
C. The Right Pursuit. (Chapter 3)
Not aiming at his own righteousness. pursuing what is gain. Christ.
Phil 3:13-14
“Rejoice in the Lord always.”
APPLICATION: This week, remember, no matter what comes your way, no matter what you encounter, every citizen of heaven has endless reasons to rejoice. Make sure you take time to think about this and active rejoice despite the situations you find yourself in.
Choosing to rejoice always reveals that Joy is an attitude. when someone has a conviction that God is in control and they all have they need in Christ then they will choose to rejoice in any situation regardless of the earthly outcome.
The next characteristic is that Citizens of heaven are called to
4. Live with Gentleness (vs. 5)
A natural outflow of Joy is a humble and gentle attitude with others.
A. Our behavior should reflect the Mind of Christ
This is an attitude that was critical for the believers in Philippi and is critical for any community of believers.
The process of being changed, transformed is not theoretical. It actually produces change in you.
Philippians 2:12-13
As this process occurs, others should notice. Those closest to us should see the difference this makes.
If they are believers they can rejoice to see the fruit of the gospel at work in your life.
If they are unbelievers, they may not be aware of what is happening but they will notice that your actions are different than the world.
This is one of the ways you shine your light. People see Christ in you. Your gentleness, your graciousness. It’s different than the culture around you, your patience, your attitude.
Here in Malta there are plenty of examples where people do not display this attitude, If you drive on the roads you come to experience this very quickly.
Hopefully, though, as believers, we are different than the world, we are gentle and considerate of others.
The same goes at work and in our homes. The normal experience of humans tends towards selfishness, but for the believer, there should be a difference in our actions. When people mess up around us or don’t do what we expect, A spirit of Christ-likeness comes out of us that provides a breath of fresh air to those around us.
B. Our behavior should be motivated the Presence of the Lord “the Lord is at hand”
“Lord is hand” Time or presence? Maybe both, many say time
There certainly is the overarching principle of God’s presence that should provide accountability and encouragement at all times but as Paul has pointed multiple times to the return of Christ, it seems Paul wants to encourage the believers of the coming King who will set all things straight. So they can both remember that they will give account for their own actions when Christ returns. Hopefully they are defined by a gentleness knowing what awaits them at Christ’s coming.
5. Live with Peace (vs. 6-8)
A. The Threat to Peace “Do not be anxious about anything”
One of the most common things in our lives is something Paul tells us to cut out. It might be easier to tell us to cut out sugar or caffeine. But He does so because this is such a key distinction in the lives of Citizens of Heaven.
Who do you trust?
Twice in Matthew 6, Jesus says the same thing “Do not be anxious”
6:25. about your life. what you eat, drink, wear
6:31; he says it again.
Matthew 6:32..your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Paul now calls his readers to the same thing. “Do not be anxious” or don’t worry.
The problem is Worry acts like God is not on the throne. Worry acts like Jesus is not Lord over all. So the we respond is to take the problems, to take our sources of worry and give them to God.
This process starts with our thinking. What is Truth?
I’ve heard it said, “Remain open to the work”
Did God stop being God? If you’re still breathing then you know God is alive. This is truth.
B. The Source of Peace
Paul knew there would be plenty of problems to worry about, so he provides his answer to the problem of anxiety. Where can we find peace? How can we have any chance at not being anxious?
“in everything… let your requests be made known to God”
The way to not worry is to remember that God is on the throne and He wants to help you.
God knows your thoughts but He wants to hear your requests.
He wants to help you IF YOU WILL LET HIM
One of the reasons Paul tells us tell our requests to God is that every act of telling God your request is an act of dependence.
If you’re in a store and they say do you need help, your response says whether you will be dependent or independent.
I was shopping for school supplies this week, and found most of them but struggled to find a few of them. One of the workers eventually came by and asked if I needed help, I thought about it, would I be independent or dependent. I told him what I needed and he helped get it right away.
But there have been other times where I did not ask for help, One of the worst cases was my failed attempt to find a rest room, A few years ago in We were on a road trip in America and made a stop at a large clothing store, I went in first and thought I could figure out, well section after section I was unsuccessful. The problem I was unwilling to make my request known. I kept searching but never asked.
so I finally I gave up and and came back to the van assuming they didn’t have one. Anna went in and within 30 seconds found one because of one key difference:
She made here request known. That’s it.
So many of the events of our lives are designed to reveal our lack of independence, we can trick ourselves for a while that we don’t need God but sooner rather than later, an event, situation brings us to the end of ourselves.
We are faced with a choice.
Will we bring the request to God or try to handle it on our own?
the same is true of dozens of other daily opportunities.
Will we try to handle them on our own and bring our burdens, our worries, our problems and give them to God?
You see, God delights to hear his children ask.
so go ahead, “let your request be made known to God.
Paul tells us how, with prayer, general requests and supplication.
So we cry out. “Supplication” specific requests.
sometimes all you can say is “Father Help”
We pour out our hearts before God!
Look what Psalms 62 says about the God who hears us:
Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
You can pour out your heart to God, you can trust Him because God is all powerful. He is in control of all things.
Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?
So you can trust Him. but Paul doesn’t stop there. The attitude of your prayer is to be done “With Thanksgiving”
Philippians 4:6 …with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
“with Thanksgiving”: simple but so important.
We are good at identifying our problems but how often do we take time to identify our blessings? The good gifts God has given us?
Sometimes the blessings we once prayed for have become assumed blessings,
we forget to be thankful for the good gifts God has placed in our lives, so Paul calls us to stop and take time to thank God.
This won’t make the problems go away but it will change the heart of the person who is praying, and Paul says there is fruit that comes from bringing our requests to God.
“A thankful spirit crowds out selfish pride, checks fear, defuses anger, and directs one’s thoughts outwardly toward others.” David E. Garland
C. The Fruit of Peace
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
No matter what comes our way, we can stand firm with joy because we know God hears us and will care for. God promises the Peace of God will be there protecting us, against worry, anxiety, the problems
Here as Paul is bring his letter to a close, he desires that a group of believers would each experience the Peace of God so that it would flow into a peace with others.
if they are experiencing conflict with others, something has gone wrong with their peace with God.
So Paul encourages everyone to make sure they are actively knowing and experiencing the peace that God gives.
If you don’t have peace with God it will be impossible to have peace with others.
Inward peace leads to outward peace.
How can you have peace with God? the only way is to have your sin’s forgiven by Jesus Christ. the Bible makes it clear that our sin separates us form, The penalty for our sin is death, we are enemies of God,
Nothing we do can remove that sin and create peace with God. Paul knew this well because in Chapter 3 he revealed how his whole life before christ was consumed with trying, working to gain righteousness.
Only when He encountered Christ did he see that his own works were empty, offering no value at all to gain righteousness and enter a relationship with God.
Only by seeing Christ for Who He is, Lord over all, and asking Him to forgive you for your sin can you have peace with God. When you let go of trying to make peace with God, and you put your faith in Christ alone, you will come to know the peace of God.
If you have never done this, today can the be first day of your life you experience “the Peace of God”/
If you have experienced this, you’ve asked Christ to forgive you of your sins, are you letting the peace of God define your life? or is anxiety slowly creeping in?
HOW?
Reflect on this last month. Do you struggle with anxiety?
Our culture is really good at talking about anxiety and all it’s problems. but the solutions to anxiety seem to rarely make any long lasting impact. Why?
Why does every generation seem to become more and more anxious.
one of the main reasons is Our response to situations of life:
if we scroll and numb away our pain, the only thing that changed was the time on the clock, our problems didn’t go away
We are experts at calculating all that could go wrong. Filling our minds with worry abut the future. All the while God has promises to Give us peace if we will come to Him.
For many, your Screen Time is so much greater than your Prayer Time.
even just 20 minutes a day of screen time adds up. over 2 hours a week.
You could ask, how is your screen time helping with anxiety?
This is why Paul’s word’s are so needed in today’s culture.
There actually is a path forward to not being anxious.
The path is to build the habit of continually identifying the situations of life and taking them to God.
casting your cares on Him
1 Peter 5:7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
actively identifying all that God has given you, the good gifts, the very things you asked God for. and thanking God for them
identifying what makes you anxious and telling God about them. Giving them back to God.
“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.” Søren Kierkegaard
Imagine how different things would be, how much more peace there would be if you applied what Paul is teaching here. Taking your requests to God and letting the Peace of God guard you.
When you do this you are Living like a citizen of Heaven.
As you look at your life, does it look a Citizen of heaven?
Are you standing firm? Confident in the finished work of Christ? Living in harmony with other believers?
is your life defined by gentleness, joy and peace?
These 5 characteristics should be found in every believer. When the Spirit is working there will be love and patience, there will be joy in the midst of any circumstance, there will be peace, gentleness in your interactions with others.
When you make Christ Lord of your life He does not leave you to live on your own. He gives you the Holy Spirit.
The standard of living for citizens of heaven is much higher but the ability is much greater!
You’ve been given a new heart and you’ve been given the Holy Spirit.
So now when read these verses again, look at what the Holy Spirit will work in you
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
How? with the fruit that the Spirit produces. When we recognize the Spirit enables us to live like citizens of heaven, we realize what Paul calls believers to do is possible because we have the Spirit at work in us, working to produce fruit so that we look more and more like citizens of heaven.!
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As Paul uses the phrase, Beloved, it applies to you as well.
Beloved, Let the Spirit work in you as live like Citizens of heaven this week
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