The Christians in Philippi lived in a city which had
a great heritage of citizenship. Philippi was a Roman colony whose
citizens were very proud of their citizenship. These Christians
were members of the first European church Paul had founded. In the
letter that Paul writes to them, he directs them to live a life
worthy of the gospel of Christ because they were citizens of the
Kingdom of Christ.
Text:
Philippians 1:27-28 “Only let your conduct be worthy of the
gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I
may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with
one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in
any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of
perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.” NKJV
Body:
I.
Let Your Manner of Life Be Worthy
·
The Greek word translated “manner of life”
means to behave as a citizen. This is something with which the
Philippians were well acquainted. Paul wants them to understand the
significance of being citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
(Philippians 3:20) “For our citizenship is in heaven, from
which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
NKJV This is a command of Paul. It will take determination
and willpower. They need to be passionate about their citizenship.
·
The Christian, as a citizen, as a citizen of the
Kingdom of God is to live worthy of the gospel. Being worthy means
being loyal, a person of integrity and conviction. Christians must
possess a passionate patriotism for the gospel.
II.
Stand Firm
·
Be immovable. Christians are not to be moved from
their kingdom citizenship by anyone or anything. They are not to be
moved by circumstances, social pressures, feelings or emotions,
comfort, persecution or ridicule. They must take an unflinching
stand for the truth of the gospel and a stand against evil and
falsehood.
·
Our society wants us to go along with it, give into
its worldly desires and pleasures. It is far easier to follow the
world than to take a stand against it.
“It is said that when Napoleon’s army was
invading Russia his soldiers came to a village from which all the
inhabitants had fled except one man. He was a Russian peasant, a
woodsman, and still carried his ax in his leather belt. When the
French captain saw him he ordered that he be shot immediately. The
French soldiers leveled their guns at his head but he did not
flinch. The captain was frustrated by this old man’s courage.
Telling his soldiers to lower their guns, he
said, ‘We will spare his life, but we will put a mark on him – we
will brand him.’ So his soldiers brought a branding iron, got it red
hot, and placed it on his hand. The man saw and felt his own flesh
burn, but still he did not flinch. When the branding iron was
removed the peasant saw the letter ‘N’ branded on his palm. ‘What
is that?’ he asked. ‘This is the letter ‘N’ and it stands for
Napoleon; you belong to Napoleon now,’ replied the captain.
For a moment the old man did not know what to
do or say. His pain was intense, but his loyalty and patriotism was
even more passionate, so he placed his burned hand on something
solid, and as the soldiers were laughing and jeering at him, he took
his ax from his belt with his other hand and brought it swiftly and
forcefully down and severed his branded hand at the wrist.
‘There,’ he said to the soldiers, ‘the hand
may belong to Napoleon, but I am a Russian. If I must die, I will
die a Russian.’ ”
Example given by Paul Butler
We may think that is rather severe, but listen to
Matthew 5:29-30. “If your right eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you
that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast
into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and
cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your
members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”
NKJV Jesus is serious about His followers taking a stand and
remaining firm. Also
Colossians 1:22-23. “in the body of
His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and
above reproach in His sight – if indeed you continue in the faith,
grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the
gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under
heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” NKJV
III.
Striving Side By Side
·
We get the English word “athletics” from the Greek
word. These athletic contests required self-discipline, training,
practice, work, sweat, concentration, and the will to win. Paul
wanted the Philippian Christians to strive for their spiritual prize
with the same intensity as the Olympic athletes strove for their
physical prize.
·
How much is the eternal prize worth to us? Is it
worth all the energy and work that it requires? The Christian life
is not a walk in the park. We must constantly be striving and going
forward. (Philippians 3:7-8, 12-14) “But what things
were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I
also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 12 Not
that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press
on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid
hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended;
but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
NKJV
·
Is the prize worth striving against family and
friends? Is it worth working hard to attain? Is it worth giving up
the pleasures and sins of this world? Remember the words of Paul in
II Timothy 4:6-8. “For I am already being poured out as a
drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
NKJV
IV.
Not Frightened By Your Opponents
·
The Kingdom of God can never be destroyed – it is
unshakable. Christians are citizens of this eternal kingdom.
·
No one can rob us of our heavenly inheritance.
Thieves can’t break through and steal it. It is imperishable.
(I Peter 1:4) “to an inheritance incorruptible and
undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
NKJV
·
The enemy, Satan, cannot destroy us or our
inheritance. (Ephesians 6:11-13) “Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly
places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
NKJV Remember the words of
II Kings 6:16-17. “So he
answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than
those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I
pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes
of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of
horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” NKJV
Conclusion:
As citizens of the heavenly kingdom, Christians are
called to live lives worthy of the gospel. We must stand firm,
strive valiantly, and not be frightened by our opponent.
Bobby Stafford
March 27, 2016 [Evening]
