Citizens of Heaven (on Earth)

Citizens – Study through Philippians
Tim Perkins
January 16, 2022
Citizens of Heaven (on Earth)

(Philippians 1:4b NIV) I always pray with joy.

(Philippians 1:18b NIV) …and because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice

(Philippians 4:4 NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

(Philippians 1:27–30 NLT) Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

1. The of a Citizen of Heaven.

(Philippians 1:27 NLT) Above all you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.

(Philippians 3:20a ESV) But our citizenship is in heaven.

(Philippians 1:27 NLT) Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.

(Hebrews 1:3 NLT) The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

(Revelation 5:11-13 NLT) Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—
to receive power and riches
and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
belong to the one sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 

2. The of a Citizen of Heaven.

(Philippians 1:27-28a ESV) 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, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

(2 Timothy 3:2 NLT) For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

(1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV) Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.

(1 Thessalonians 3:8 NLT) It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

(Philippians 1:27b-28a ESV) 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, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

3. The of a Citizen of Heaven.

(Philippians 1:28b-30 ESV) This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.  

(Psalm 37:23 NLT) The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.

(Philippians 1:28b-30 ESV) This is a clear to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT) “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

John 16:33b (NIV) “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”