Citizens of Heaven, Part 3
Free of worry and filled with peace and joy.
Through faith in Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and become citizens of heaven. The core of our identity is to know as truth that we are loved, accepted, and added to God’s family. We are not striving to earn God’s love and acceptance!
In Christ, we have the authority of His name, His Word, and authority as children of God and citizens of heaven.
As citizens of heaven on earth, we are invited to live from God’s domain—His love and power—which is free of worry and filled with peace and joy.
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Phil. 3:20-21 NLT
We eagerly await Christ’s return and are anchored in hope of our resurrection. This confidence keeps us in His peace and joy in a turbulent world. It also empowers us to reach others and expand the borders of the Kingdom of heaven on earth.
The Church at Philippi was a city under Roman rule in Macedonia. They understood the concept of a colony in a foreign land and dual citizenship.
Paul reminds them that although they may be citizens of Rome, they have a higher citizenship and are only foreigners on earth. They comprise the colony of heaven on earth, and within this colony or embassy, a different culture exists.
As citizens of another world, Paul was urging them in three areas.
1st, to walk worthy of this citizenship. Don’t live in the world or be influenced by the world in how to think and act. Change your perspective
Paul persecuted the church, and his past was less than ideal—this is true for you and me. However, Paul doesn’t focus on this; he focuses on his new life in Christ, keeping an eternal perspective.
2nd, as citizens of heaven, they had the privilege of representing heaven in this world, to manifest God’s Kingdom to this world. We share His love, grace, and power in this world!
And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. Col. 1:27 NLT
3rd, they were exhorted not to worry; but pray and trust God (Phil. 4:4-9).
Living free of worry and full of His peace and joy.
Context: Paul wrote the Philippian letter while in a Roman prison. This epistle is Paul’s Joy letter. Rejoicing or joy is used fifteen times in the letter.
Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. Phil. 3:1 NLT
Paul knew that one’s ability to rejoice during trial and persecution was an important principle to safeguarding one’s faith and overcoming in this life.
This was not the first time Paul was imprisoned. Before his incarceration in Rome, Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi (Acts 16:23-26). They deliver a young woman from an evil spirit, then find themselves persecuted, beaten, and thrown into jail. Understand they were in the will of God, sent to Macedonia by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel.
What was their response to an unjust situation? They chose to praise, worship, and pray! All the other prisoners heard their worship. God sent an earthquake, and they were suddenly freed. They led the Philippian jailor and his household to Christ!
Rejoicing in Paul’s cultural context would have also meant public celebration. They organized great festivals, games, and shows to celebrate their gods and their cities.
Paul tells Christians familiar with this cultural practice, “Rejoice in the Lord!”
Has it ever occurred to you that your ability to rejoice in the Lord protects your faith in Christ? Your ability to tap into the joy of the Lord helps you overcome in life.
“Rejoice in the Lord Always. Again, I will say rejoice!” Phil. 4:4 NKJV
Paul learned that whatever the circumstances, he could be content (Phil. 4:11-12) and find real joy by focusing all his attention and energy on knowing Christ (3:8) and by obeying Him (3:12-13).
Paul forgot the things of the past (vs. 13) and concentrated on the future, running straight ahead toward the heavenly goal and gaining the ultimate prize: Jesus, His presence, and His anointing (vs. 14).
Paul learned the truth of Psalm 16:11: “In Your presence is fullness of joy…” Neh. 8:10: “…the joy of the Lord is our strength…” Joy is found in our union with God through Christ, abiding in His presence.
Events happen in life, and you have no control over most of them. But you do have control over how you react to them. When worry and fear control us, we rob ourselves of the authority that God has given us as His children and as citizens of heaven.
Remember, God works everything for your good. Never lose your praise, never lose hope—it may be midnight, but God!
How can you be free of worry, full of God’s joy, and confident in a chaotic world?
Paul gives us instructions in Phil. 4:
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! … 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:4, 6-7 NLT
You are a beloved child of God and citizen of heaven, with the Father’s love, blessing, and authority upon you. Allow God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to renew your thinking and live from your new identity.
Negative thinking, emotions, and words create ungodly beliefs in our minds, which can empower demonic forces against us (2 Cor. 10:4-5). Jesus has stripped the devil of his authority and commissioned us with His authority; however, the enemy regains power over us through unbelief and agreement with his falsehoods.
When we agree with the enemy’s lies, we relinquish the authority Jesus has entrusted to us, and by default, we empower the enemy.
Also, there are physiological effects that occur with uncontrolled worry and fear.
When you experience fear or worry, your body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol:
Adrenaline: Increases heart rate, blood pressure, and energy.
Cortisol: Increases blood sugar, enhances the brain’s use of glucose, and repairs tissues.
The adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, release these hormones in response to a perceived threat. The hypothalamus, a small part of the brain, triggers the release of these hormones through nerve and hormonal signals.
The body’s stress response system is usually self-limiting, and hormone levels return to normal after the threat passes. However, chronic stress can lead to health problems, including:
Skin and hair issues: Cortisol and other stress hormones can interfere with the production of collagen and keratin, which can lead to dry skin and brittle hair.
Psychiatric conditions: High cortisol levels over time have been linked to anxiety and depression.
Proverbs reveals, long before modern medical science, that unresolved worry can lead to forms of depression:
Anxiety (or worry) in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. Prov. 12:25 NKJV
Anxiety is defined as a state of uneasiness, worry, or abnormal fear that lacks a specific cause.
Remember, you have a choice: trust God or worry about circumstances.
Paul provides 3 spiritual principles in Phil. 4:6-7 to remain in God’s peace and joy:
- Rejoice always from your new life in Christ.
- Refuse to worry—Pray instead.
- In every circumstance—Be thankful.
THEN, as you abide in Jesus, rejoicing, praying, and being thankful, God’s peace will guard and protect your heart and mind! You have an active role!
Your ability to rejoice during trials is a prerequisite to abiding in the peace of Christ.
Why? Your focus is upon Jesus because He is with you; you trust Him—period!
When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you remain at peace because you know you can trust Him always. You realize that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning! (Ps 30:5)
To become stronger spiritually, you must learn to rejoice through all of life’s challenges.
Joy is not just a characteristic of kingdom life; it is a powerful spiritual force of the Kingdom. Joy was the ability that Jesus had to endure the cross (Heb 12:2). Joy is an enduring Kingdom quality that sustains a person through tough times.
Joy is a characteristic entirely different from happiness. Happiness depends on happenings, but real joy depends upon abiding in Jesus in the happenings of life.
Happiness can be fleeting as circumstances change. But when one truly abides in Christ, joy remains constant, regardless of the circumstances.
Sixteenth-century reformer Martin Luther said,
“You will have as much joy and laughter in life as you have faith in God.”
Confident faith is the platform for great joy!
Prayer promises to bring you into a place of rest and His peace. You are to give thanks IN everything, not when the difficult circumstances are over!
Your circumstances are not the problem; it’s your perception of them that is the problem. How you deal with a problem will determine how long before you get a breakthrough.
You can’t control the outcome of prayer, but you can control your response to the situation and how you love others. We should be revealing God’s love to the world; we are His representation of love, peace, and joy.
I am sure the devil thought he had Paul and Silas “sidelined.” He probably was whispering in their ears, “Give it up; God has left you!”
Perhaps you are imprisoned and suffering much pain due to life’s circumstances.
Perhaps the devil has been whispering in your ear, “Give it up; there’s no hope; you’re in pain, and the situation won’t change.” Remember, nothing and no one can separate you from your Father’s love.
Believe today that God is for you, not against you. No one can take your birthright from you. You are a covenant child, and your Father loves you with everlasting love.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8-9 NLT
You may not “feel” blessed today, but facts and feelings change. The truth is you are blessed. Focus on Jesus and the truth of God’s word. The Father delights in you because of your faith in Jesus. On this truth, you can give thanks to God always—no matter what the circumstances may seem like.
