Live as Citizens of Heaven
Introduction
Philippians is a letter from Paul and Timothy to all God’s holy people living in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus. It is for that very reason that I bring you this message tonight for I know many of you, I’ve known many of your struggles, and I pray my words may give you grace and peace from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul begins with a prayer of thanksgiving for those that have partnered with him in the ministry. His encouragement is that God who has begun a good work in you will continue his work until the work is finished and Christ returns. I trust that all of you here tonight understand that you are in a partnership with Spreading God’s Gifts and that the work will continue until the return of Christ. Paul goes on to shares his joy that Christ is preached, he says everything that has happened to him has helped to spread the Good News. Really, are you forgetting the shipwreck? Are you forgetting the beatings? Are you forgetting the prison stays? Yes, Paul says everything has happened to him to help spread the Good News. Paul goes on to say he is bold for Christ and that he trusts that his life will bring honor to Christ. Finally Paul gives a charge to God’s people, this is not just for those at Philippi but this charge is for God’s people here also.
Paul’s Charge to God’s People
Philippians 1:27-30
King James Version
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
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