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Church of the Nazarene – East Rock
Living The Jesus Life Part 3
Philippians 1:27-2:4
Living The Jesus Life
This series is the next in an annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.
As we continue in our teaching series, the Apostle Paul will challenge us to see that the citizenship that matters most in our lives has nothing to do with speed traps, spring taxes, or voting
The most important thing for us to live our lives by, is not determined by our physical location, but rather our citizenship in heaven.
That’s the call of living the Jesus life. To live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Philippians 1:27-28
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
Paul has already mentioned some of the challenges he is facing, now he turns to address some of the matters that the church is dealing with.
Nothing in the letter itself explains the details of the opposition they were facing, but it seems like it was coming from the Roman empire- from those outside the church.
The word for “Conduct yourselves” is unique in the original language. It certainly has implications of how we live and act. But, in the original language it also includes how people conducted themselves as citizens of a particular state.
So, Paul makes a play on that idea here- He implies that they should live like a colony of heaven. What should shape how they live is their relationship to heaven through Christ.“Conduct yourselves like heaven, right here on earth!”
With that focus, Paul anticipates that several things will be true of their lives together-That they will stand firm in The Spirit
That they will strive together
That they will not be afraid
Philippians 1:29-30
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Paul doesn’t want his friends to think that they have done something wrong because opposition has arisen, or because they are facing challenging times.
In fact, as he writes from a Roman prison, Paul wants them to know that suffering for Christ, is a sign, a gift of living the Jesus life.
Philippians 2:1-4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Have the same mind, focused on the kingdom of God- strive together
Don’t allow selfish desires to veer you off course- Unity can breakdown strongholds and dispel fear, but selfishness destroys the work of God.
Friends the vision of Living the Jesus Life that Paul had from a roman jail nearly two thousand years ago, is still the call to live the Jesus life today.
To live by the heavenly code- by the values and ethics of the Kingdom of God.
As you think about your life today- What citizenship does your life reflect?
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