CITIZENS AND SOLDIERS
[1] WELCOME: Well good morning everyone! So glad you’re here today with us on campus or joining us online. If you’re new with us, my name is Nic Cook and I’m one of the pastors here at Cornerstone Church. [2]If you haven’t already done so, we’d like to encourage you to grab your smart phone and go to the google or apple app store and download our app. You can search for it with Auburn Cstone Church. Once you have the app, we’d love for you to let us know that you’re worshipping with us and how we can pray for you by clicking the connection card icon. Or if you’re joining us online, I would encourage you to comment in the chat and tell us good morning and what state you’re joining us from. Today we’re jumping back into our…
SERIES: called Choosing Joy. If you have your bibles, I would encourage you to open them up to [Philippians chapter 1]. It’s in the second half of your bibles that we call the New Testament. We’re going to be covering [verses 27-30]. Or you can open our app and follow along with the sermons notes there. [3]We’ve been talking about how it’s possible to still have joy even in the hardest of circumstances. How joy in our hearts starts in our heads, that changing what we focus our thoughts on will change our the feelings in our hearts. We talked about how joy is connected to Christ’s community. That we need each other for encouragement, prayer, and strength. Then we talked about focusing on the opportunities instead of the obstacles that God has placed in front of us regardless of how hard things may be. In today’s section of the story of God, Paul tells us that if we want to experience joy, we have to look at ourselves and this world differently. We need to see ourselves as citizens, soldiers. We’ll unpack those two images more and see how they can help us experience joy in the middle of hardship. Let’s pay and we’ll dig into God’s word. [4]
[PRAYER][Phil. 1:27-30]
(TEACH/APP) CITIZENS & SOLDIERS (God)
[5]CITIZENS: This letter was written by an early church leader and follower of Jesus named Paul while he was in prison in the city of Rome. Depending on what version of the bible you are reading from, v 27 may sound different. For example, in the English Standard Version it says “Only, let your manner of life be worthy” or the New International Version says “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy”. The original word that these translations are trying to help us understand is (politeuomai). The first part of that word poli means to do with city. Like metropolis. It’s also where we get part of our word politics, the governing of cities. It’s a political term. I think that Paul used it that way. Here he is a prisoner of the state being held for trial for the purpose of deciding whether or not as a Christian he was a threat to Rome. Paul is also writing to Christians who are living in the city of Philippi. Philippi was known as a little Rome. If you had visited the city of Rome in what we call Italy, you would have seen a certain style of dress, architecture, and culture. Well, the city of Philippi prided itself in being just like that big metropolitan center of life. They dressed the same way, built their buildings the same way, ran their government the same way. They prided themselves on being citizens of that place. The best example I have is that I lived in Texas. Texans believe that it is the center of the universe. Being a Texan is a way of life. Independent, strong, no one can push us around, bigger is always better. It’s Walker Texas Ranger. Don’t mess with Texas! People from Philippi defined themselves as citizens of one of the best cities in the empire. It was a way of life. A little later in his letter Paul says you are…
· [6]DUAL CITIZENS, HEAVEN OVER ROME: [Phil 3:20] The word manner of life in 1:27 is translated as citizenship in 3:20. Paul is saying where you feel you belong will impact how you behave. If you feel like you belong to this world, you will behave like this world. If you feel like you belong to another world, you will behave differently than others. Yes, you’re from Philippi and you’re Philippians. Yes, you’re a part of the Roman empire and you’re Romans. But you’re also citizens of heaven. You’re followers of Christ so you’re Christians. That’s why I love the way the NLT says it “live as citizens of heaven.” [7]You belong to a heavenly country, behave like it!” I’m about to say something that will probably make people uncomfortable, maybe even mad. Far too many Christians have…[8]
o MADE BEING A ROMAN THEIR IDENTITY AND MADE POLITICS THEIR RELIGION. I have watched as followers of Jesus lament the loss of freedoms more than they have lamented the lost. I have listened as Christians have focused more on who to vote for than who places them in the white house or how to pray for them. I have watched people quote scripture to validate their political ideology and know they haven’t read the rest of the passages they’re quoting to actually know what it means. I’m not saying don’t pay attention to politics. I’m not saying don’t be proud to live in America. I’m saying that those things always come second to loving Jesus and longing for his Kingdom! Do we love our politics more than we love people! Do we cling most tightly to our rights or do we trust Jesus! Is the Constitution our foundation for life, or is the Word of God our Foundation? Are we longing for America to bring us happiness, or are we looking forward to the new Jerusalem? Paul says, yes, be good Philippians and good Romans, but remember live first as Christians and Citizens of Heaven. Jesus is our true King and Heaven is our true Country! We belong there, so must behave like it. Paul uses the language of citizenship but then he switches to the language of being…[9]
SOLDIERS: [Phil. 1:27] Some translations will say contending some say fighting. This word was a military word. [10]There’s a famous story of a Greek King named Leonidas who went out to stop the Persian Empire from conquering the island. They were incredibly and overwhelmingly outnumbered. So, they found a pass through the mountains that could be defended and stood shoulder to shoulder to stop the invasion. On the low side it was about 7,000 men against 100,000. They knew that if they budged, or lost ground, their island was going to be enslaved. They had to contend with each other against a ruthless enemy. They couldn’t back down. They had to be unyielding no matter what the odds. Each person standing next to them was critical to the success of the entire battle. They needed each other. They had to be united in the purpose of winning and protecting each other. So[11]
· WHAT WERE THEY FIGHTING AGAINST: The letter doesn’t give us a specific threat. However, we can make some educated guesses. Religion and Politics in the Roman Empire were deeply intertwined. They had something that we call Emperor worship. They believed that if someone became their ruler, it was because their Gods believed that they were worthy to rule. If they did a great job ruling, that the God’s allowed those leaders to become Gods in the afterlife. Philippi had it’s own temple of worship dedicated to emperors. So, if you wanted your country to do well, to be strong and prosperous, you would offer your money to the temple where their statue was. You would buy food sacrifices from the temple merchants. Money from the temples went to the leaders of that city. Nice, neat little circle. Emperors get worshipped, products are sold, and leaders get paid. Along come Christians and say, no, Jesus is Lord, not Caesar. We’re not giving money to the temple. we’re not buying products to offer as sacrifices. We submit to Jesus and acknowledge Caesar as long as it doesn’t cause us to sin. Temples lose money. Businesses sell less sacrifices. Politicians pockets get empty and they have less people looking to them for leadership. So how do you deal with these troublemakers?
o CANCEL CULTURE: You can’t be part of our business association unless you say Caesar is Lord. If you’re not buying our sacrifices, then we’re going to make sure people don’t buy from you. Sorry, we can’t hire you. Your views are too controversial, and we don’t want to associate with you. You’re hurting our business, if you don’t stop talking about Jesus, we’re going to talk to the local government about you. You’re dangerous to the empire, radicals like you need to be watched. Fall in line, say the right things, or we’ll hit your pocketbook or we’ll intimidate you. Paul is saying don’t yield. Don’t give up ground. Don’t compromise. Get shoulder to shoulder with other Christians. He says stand your ground, but also contend, fight together. So…
o HOW SHOULD CHRISTIANS FIGHT? [12]The answer to that is trusting in the Good News and suffering well! Well, that’s not gonna be trending on social media anytime soon. #sufferingwell But Paul says this is how Christian Citizens and Soldiers make an impact in the middle of a culture that is hostile towards them.
(JC) TRUSTING THE GOOD NEWS & SUFFERING WELL (JC)
WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS? There are two ways to answer that question. The first is by looking at what the whole bible has to say when it uses the phrase Good News. The NT alone uses the word about 90 x’s. When you look at a passage like [13][Isaiah 52:7] we see that the good news has to do with God reigning, being in control. Then when you look at [14]Mark and the first recorded sermon of Jesus is Good News! God’s Kingdom is coming. The Good news from an overview of the bible is that God is King and he rules. This world and its people have not submitted to his authority and are rebels and traitors. They’ve ignored him and set up their own kingdoms. Instead of God coming and destroying us and our kingdoms and building his kingdom on the rubble, he has sent his son Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life showing us what it looked like to let God be King. Jesus loved us and took our punishment as rebels on the cross. His resurrection proved he was really God. Because of what Jesus has done, he has made it possible to be invited back into God’s kingdom as family. He asks us to let him have control of our lives by letting Jesus be our King. Good News, Jesus is King. You can let him build his kingdom in you, and around you, and through you now. He’ll help you live a truly good and abundant life that will not end when you die. And one day he’s coming back to finish what he started. So we can look at the definition of the good news from the whole bible. We can also look at the good news as Paul gives it in the letter to the Philippians. [15]I came across this definition by a pastor named John Piper. He says “The gospel of Christ is the good news that Christ, who is equal with God (2:6) became a human being (2:7), obeyed God perfectly (2:8), died, and rose again (2:9) so that by union with him (3:9) all who believe (3:9) will be counted as righteous with Christ’s righteousness/obedience (3:9;2:8) and so be saved (1:23; 3:20) from sin (3:6-8) and destruction (1:28; 3:19), and belong to Christ (3:12) forever in the resurrection from the dead (3:11, 21)
· Paul says look at Jesus, look at what he is like, look at what he has done for you. Live as if Jesus is more valuable than anything else in this world. Live like a citizen of heaven, like he’s your king. Live like a soldier who won’t back down from intimidation and oppression because you have seen how your king conquered the grave. Nothing and no one can truly stand against him. And when you do, you will be able to…[16]
SUFFER WELL: It is possible to suffer as a Christian not because of our faith, but because of our lack of love and wisdom. They have turned being a soldier in a spiritual battle into a justification to be judgemental, and to use the bible like a club to win arguments. So when the world hates them and begins to lash out at them they cry “look, I’m suffering for Christ.” And I would say no, you’re suffering because you’re being stupid and unloving.
That’s not what Paul means here to fight. He gives us a better picture of how to fight in chapter 2 that we’ll look at this closer next week. but Paul says look at Jesus. He gave up his rights and his privileges. He could have come as King, but he came as a servant. He served and loved others and they killed him. Jesus suffered for the sake of bringing others back to God. He willingly endured being hated to show the world the love and patience, and the goodness of God. He taught us to [17-18][Matt 5:43-47] Jesus did just that. He prayed for those who were mocking him as he’s dying. Father forgive them for they know not what they’re doing. Jesus fought by serving. He fought by loving. He fought by praying for others. Christianity conquered Rome not by sword but through Christlike character and love for others. When we choose to fight differently than the world around us, there are three things that will happen. Some will see Jesus in us and be drawn to want to know more. Why would these people endure such suffering and still be so loving? That makes no sense unless they know something that I don’t. Some will hate us even more and eventually realize that when they hurt God’s people, they hurt God and God will bring justice. God says that vengeance is mine. And lastly, it will bring us a greater sense that we are truly saved. [Phil 1:28] It has been said that suffering has a way of showing who really stands for God and who does not. There will be those who say they love and follow Jesus, but when things get hard they abandon him. For those who have been nominal in their faith, it often forces them to make a full decision. The people who stand firm till the end are the ones that are able to see that their commitment is true, that their God has truly been working in them to endure.
[19]Here’s how I’d like to end this morning. When Paul talks about Joy, it is not a fluffy, wishy washy emotion. It is not an easy, integrate these 3 simple steps to get joy. Paul says if you’re going to have joy in this life, you’re going to have to completely change the way you think. You’re going to have to make a deep commitment to Christian community. Joy will come from looking for opportunities in the middle of obstacles. Joy is reminding yourself that you’re a citizen of another country, a heavenly place of eternal and everlasting joy and satisfaction. And Joy is found when you keep reminding yourself of the good news that Jesus died for you, that he is alive in you, that he is with you, that he is coming back for you. Joy can also be found in knowing that when you suffer for being a Christian, it is a chance to make him known, and to know that your faith is solid and pure. This is not Christianity 101 stuff. But it’s possible! And if our King Jesus sees fit for us to enter into a time where the church suffers here in America, then we need to be prepared. Let’s pray!
