CITIZENS OF HEAVEN

Philippians 3:20-21

  1. Intro.
    1. the book of Philippians has many secrets for peace and joy in the believer's life
      1. every book in the Bible has lessons on this subject, but the book of Philippians abounds in spiritual teachings which produce joy and peace
      2. we must remember that Paul wrote to his Philippian friends from the Roman prison
        1. he was in prison for the preaching of the gospel
        2. from his lips and pen came no word of complaint
        3. instead we read praises to God and exhortations for others to rejoice
      3. the people in Philippi must have thought when reading this cheerful letter that Paul never changes
        1. when he first came to Philippi, he was cast into our prison for preaching and carrying on his work
        2. in prison he and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God
        3. all is just the same, he is still praising God, he did not whine, nor murmur
        4. he conducted himself as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
        5. this is a serious need of our day
          1. good soldiers, courageous, brave, and willing
          2. soldiers who are conscious of God's presence, and who are full of joy and peace in the Lord
    2. Paul counted himself as a citizen of Heaven
      1. this brought to his heart peace and confidence
      2. it caused him to live in a manner worthy of his high calling
    3. let us consider how our heavenly citizenship will bring peace and joy into our hearts
  2. as citizens of heaven, we have cause to rejoice
    1. the new birth has made us citizens of heaven
    2. our main cause for rejoicing is that our names are written down in Heaven - Luke 10:17-20
      1. God's children are to be constantly rejoicing because their names are written in heaven
      2. the disciples were rejoicing in the great things which they had accomplished in the name of the Jesus
      3. though we have the power to put down demons, tread on serpents and scorpions, and conquer all our enemies, we are not to rejoice in this
      4. we are to rejoice that our names are written in Heaven, this comes as a command from our Savior
    3. we have causes to rejoice because God is our Father, Jesus is our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is our indwelling guest
      1. with the Trinity on our side, it is hard to see how anyone could be despondent and gloomy
      2. we are encompassed about by the powers of heaven
      3. as citizens of Heaven, let us rejoice, let us not fret and complain and worry
      4. let us be thankful that our names are written down in the register in glory
  3. as citizens of heaven, we are strangers and pilgrims in this world
    1. this world is not our permanent home
      1. we are on our way to our Father's house of many mansions – John 14:1-2
      2. that place is made ready for everyone who believes on Jesus
    2. we are not alone in this pilgrimage
      1. we have one with us, even our Savior, and we have another Comforter, the Holy Spirit
      2. the child of God does not travel alone
      3. we are passing through unfriendly territory, but we need not fear
      4. those who break beneath the loads of life are those who are trying to carry the burden by themselves
    3. as pilgrims, this earth has no attraction for us
      1. we are not to love the world, neither the things which are in the world
      2. as we are passing through, we are to hold lightly the material things which pass through our hands
      3. why should we be attracted to the cheap affairs of men when we are citizens of Heaven
        1. the golden streets belong to us, the Heavenly mansions are ours
        2. joy eternal is our portion
      4. why should we seek after the flimsy pleasures and frivolous entertainments of this existence
    4. as pilgrims we are to live in harmony with our high destiny
      1. if we are the citizens of Heaven, we are to stand tall, live tall, think tall, and be tall
      2. our conduct is to be that of a citizen of Heaven
      3. we are to be courageous, separated from the world, and devoted to our God
      4. we should live, work, and carry on in life as the children of the King
  4. as citizens of heaven, we are looking for Christ [from whence also we look for the Saviour]
    1. we are citizens of Heaven and we look toward Heaven for the appearance of Christ
    2. we have many promises in the Bible that tell us that Jesus is coming back (Act 1:10-11, Titus 2:13)
    3. we are looking for Him, and we are working for Him
      1. ours is not the existence of idle men who sit down and look Heavenward
      2. ours is the life of those who are actively engaged in work, but at the same time anticipating the appearance of the "great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"
      3. we are to wait for His coming, but we are to work as we wait
      4. we are to watch for His coming, but we are to work as we watch
    4. this blessed hope in our hearts will purify our lives – I John 3:2-3
      1. as citizens of Heaven, and the blessed hope in our hearts, we will look upward
      2. we will be troubled less and less about earthly matters, for at any time the King may come to receive His own
  5. as citizens of heaven, we are looking for a new body [Who shall change our vile body]
    1. Christ is coming and when he does, He shall change this old body
    2. He is going to give us a new body, like unto His glorious body [fashioned like unto his glorious body]
    3. this old body connects us with the soil out of which we were formed, and into which it falls again
      1. this body limits intellectual power and development
      2. it grows tired even in blessed spiritual activities
      3. in this body are the seeds of disease and pain
      4. it is a body prone to weakness, and requires constant care
    4. this body is reserved to a high destiny, it shall be like the body of our Lord
      1. what a wonderful encouragement this is to all who suffer pain, and to all whose bodies are broken and twisted
      2. here is something to give us peace and joy in the midst of every trial
      3. we are Heavenly citizens and we look for a new body
      4. we shall have a body suitable for Heaven
    5. our new bodies will enable us to serve Him forever
      1. there will be no night in Heaven, and without need for rest, we can enter into an eternal service
      2. nothing lightens the burden of the day like the anticipation of great things to come
    6. Paul mentions the coming of our Lord and the acquiring of a new body so that weary Christians might be lifted up and sent forward
    7. both peace and joy can be ours if we keep in mind that we are pilgrims passing through, and that the Saviour may come today
    8. let us lift up our eyes, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh