Being a Good Citizen in 2023

We are in Philippians 1, and I want to talk to you this morning about being a good citizen in 2023.  However, if you think I am about to talk politics, you will be very disappointed. 

 

In Philippians 1, Paul is chained to a Roman Guard.  He is under house arrest for preaching the gospel.  However, in an effort to comfort and encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ in Philippi, he has written this letter of joy to them. 

 

As we spoken about adversity in the recent Sundays, please remember that no is immune from adversity.  Also, please recognize that everyone is either in an adversity, just coming out of an adversity, or about to enter an adversity.  There are not exceptions.

 

If you remember from last week and 1:19-26, Paul recognized that he would either die in chains or be released after being found not guilty.  He then gave us an internal POV as to his desire to stay on earth and or go to heaven. 

 

The end of chapter 1 addresses how the Philippians should respond if he stayed with them or went to heaven.  His encouragement to them is singular…be a good citizen!

 

 

Exposition

Look at verse 27.  Only begins the verse, and Paul has only one point or one course of action or one action point. 

 

Let your conduct be worthy.  The language of the NT says be a good citizen.  However, in finishing this thought, Paul was concerned about being a good citizen of Rome, although that is what they thought. 

 

This morning, we aren’t going to talk about being a good citizen of the gold ole USA or Republic of Texas or even Rains County.  We want to understand what it means to be a good citizen of heaven or in other words how we make sure our conduct is worthy of the gospel of Christ. 

 

Paul continued with his encouragement being the same whether he stayed on earth or went to heaven.  He wanted to hear about the Philippians being good citizens of heaven in all of their affairs.  What does that look like?

 

 

1. Being a good citizen of heaven means standing strong in the face of adversity, 1:27a.

 

That is what he said there in verse 27…that you stand fast or stand strong or endure.  You have certainly heard the secular cliché of, “Tough times don’t last but tough people do.”

 

For the follower of Christ, there is some truth there IF…you are faithful in being obedient to the word of God.  See Matthew 7:24-27.

 

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

 

Rick Warren shared this prayer last week on FB. 

 

“Father, there are many areas in my life where I know what you want me to do. I just haven’t done it. And I’m sorry. Please forgive me for my disobedience. I now realize that it was a lack of faith. I wasn’t trusting that you knew best. I ask you, Jesus Christ, to give me the strength to follow your directions immediately, completely, joyfully, and continually for the rest of my life from this day forward. I will trust you to fulfill all of these promises in my life. In Your name I pray, amen."

Stand strong in the face adversity by being obedient to God’s word.

 

 

2. Being a good citizen of heaven means striving together in the face of adversity, 1:27b.

 

Not only can individuals experience adversity like Paul, but groups can experience adversity as well.  If Paul had died in chains at the hands of the Romans, that would have been an adversity for all the brothers and sisters at Philippi.  That would have been an adversity for the entire church.

 

Paul told them to strive together or remain united for the faith of gospel.  We too, brothers and sisters, must strive together or remain united here at Emory Baptist Church for the faith of the gospel.

 

We don’t have to agree on all doctrine to fellowship and worship with one another.  However, we have to agree on what is the gospel.  We must strive together and be united on what is and what is not the gospel. 

 

Morality is not the gospel.  Baptism is not the gospel.  Church membership is not the gospel.  Republican conservatism is not the gospel.  Christian Nationalism is not the gospel.

 

The gospel is that there is one true God, the God of the Bible, and He is completely holy.  Unfortunately, we are not because of sin, and therefore, we are in need of Savior.  The good news is that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross in our place, and was raised to life to validate everything He ever said and did, and today invites you to call on Him to be saved.  That is the gospel, and we must strive together and be united in the gospel if we are going to be good citizens of heaven. 

 

 

3. Being a good citizen of heaven means signaling courage in the face of adversity, 1:28.

 

So in the face of adversity, if we are going to be good citizens of heaven, if we are going to make sure our conduct is worthy of the gospel of Christ, we will stand strong and strive together, and signal courage. 

 

In Verse 28, Paul said don’t be terrified in any way by your adversaries.  However, that is easier said than done.

 

I have also reminded you recently that the devil can do NOTHING to threaten the believer’s eternal security in heaven.  However, he will attempt to make our lives hell on earth, and he does that through lost people.

 

BTW…always keep in mind who are enemy is.  It isn’t lost people.  It is the devil.

 

How are we to signal courage to our adversaries?  We remember and remind the devil of his place.  See Matthew 16:18.

 

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

 

The rock is Jesus and Peter’s testimony of Jesus saving him, and the gates of hell will NOT prevail against the church of the living God.  Brothers and sisters, signal courage!

 

 

Conclusion

One more thing, and we’ll be done.  In verses 29-30, a very hard truth but a valid truth nonetheless is that sometimes our suffering or our adversity is exactly what God has planned, and verses 29-30 say it is a gift. 

 

It has been granted to us from Christ to believe in Him and to suffer for His sake or because of Him.  That is what Paul was doing.  He was under house arrest because he had preached the gospel. 

 

When you are being a good citizen of heaven, there is a good chance that you will upset the lost, pagan world.  Consequently, you might experience some adversity or suffering. 

 

Consider it a gift from Christ, and you are in good company with Paul, and you are being made more like Jesus.  See 1 Peter 1:6-7.

 

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.