Don’t you shilly-shally.

Steve Brown:
Don’t you shilly-shally. Let’s talk about it, on Key Life.

Matthew Porter:
Welcome to Key Life. I’m Matthew, executive producer of the program. Our host is Steve Brown. He’s an author and seminary professor who teaches that God’s amazing grace is the key to a life of radical freedom, infectious joy, and surprising faithfulness to Christ.

Steve Brown:
Thank you Matthew. And if you’re just joining us, we’re studying the book of Philippians. And we’re up to the second chapter of Philippians. Incidentally, if you go to our website, keylife.org I recorded the entire book of Philippians and you can use that for your devotions if you would like. And then come back and I’ll be a tour director going through what I read on the website, the entire Book of Philippians, and I’ll be pointing out the sites as we go along. We’re looking at the subject of citizenship, citizenship of the kingdom. When Rome fell, Augustine cried because he loved his city, but after he stopped that, he got a pen and a piece of paper and he wrote one of the great works of Christendom, The City of God, in which he said.

It will fall, but this one won’t, for it has a King that nobody elected and nobody can possibly depose.

And in this text, in the Book of Philippians, we’re looking at what it means to be a citizen of the kingdom. Let’s pray, and then we’ll study. By the way, I hope you had a great week-end, and I hope your pastor’s sermon was as good as mine. Okay, let’s pray. Father, we come into your presence and we realize that you’re sovereign and you’re good and you’re in charge. Father, it is a trying time and there’s so many who don’t like us. Father, it’s so easy sometimes to run, to be quiet, to let our witness be a silent one. Don’t let us do that. Help us to remember that we are citizens of your kingdom and that you are sovereign and that eventually you will be victorious. Remind us of the side on which we serve. Father, you know everybody who’s listening to this broadcast. You know the hard places and soft places. You know the good and the bad and the tears and the laughter, and you’re sovereign there too. And we praise you and worship you, sufficient for every need. And as always, we pray for the one who teaches on Key Life, that you would forgive him his sins, because they are many. We would see Jesus and him only. And we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen. If you’re a Christian, and you live in Canada, and you live in the U.S., and we have listeners all over the world on our website. But if you’re particularly in those two countries, something that is happening is kind of scary. And that is, for the first time in many years, being a Christian is not being a part of the cool kids. In fact, we are hated in some circles. When you start looking at the issues of our time, where morality has gone down the tube, where right is called wrong and wrong is called right. When we’re dealing with some of the transgender stuff, Some of the issues that we face, the one bulwark that stands, that should stand, are the Christians. And because of that, we are hated in some circles. And so, it’s a good thing to review what it means to be a citizen of the kingdom, to stand for Christ in a hard place. And the text we’re using, and we looked at it last week is Philippians 1:27 through 30, where Paul says.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves as 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 one spirit, contending as one man 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. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for him, since you’re going through the same struggle you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

If you were listening last week when we talked about citizenship, we saw that the word that Paul uses here is a word that is used often for being a citizen. And we noted the security of being a citizen, and you have to start there, Philippians 1:29.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ to believe in him.

John 1:12 says

To all who received him, to them who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God.

One of the interesting things about Scripture is how often it refers to the world’s creation on behalf of God’s people. Paul wrote to the Corinthians that everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. If you’re a believer, you are, and the word is overused, but it is applicable in this case. You are special. You are his. You are a king’s kid, and he will never let you go. If you’ve got that, you can look at the other stuff. And we saw that you can be steadfast as we looked at the steadfastness of citizenship, Philippians 1:27b.

Then whether I come and see you or only hear about you In my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.

Standing firm, not shilly shallying. You know how you can tell whether someone is a real citizen of the kingdom or an imposter? Let me tell you, real citizens will be a real citizen tomorrow and the next day and the day after, just as security is a gift of God, perseverance is a gift of God, too. In theological terms, justification is a gift of a sovereign God, and sanctification is a gift of a sovereign God. I remember the song that Paul Stuckey used to sing.

When friends by shame are undefiled, How can I keep from singing?

And then we saw, thirdly, that solidarity is a part of citizenship, Philippians 1:27.

I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.

And we can’t afford to spend a lot of time on secondary issues that divide us. The truth is that everybody who belongs to Jesus belongs to everybody who belongs to Jesus. And we’re in this thing together. Now, let me give you another point, and we’ll talk a lot more about it tomorrow. This is the fourth, I would have you note not only the security, the steadfastness, and the solidarity of citizenship, I want you to note also the strength of citizenship, Philippians 1:28a.

Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.

Do you know how to beat the fear that you feel in your heart when you want to be silent about Jesus? Let me tell you, remember what the English say.

Fear knocked at the door, faith answered, and nobody was there.

Have you ever heard those invitations to receive Christ in worship services, when the evangelist or the pastor or the preacher says turn to the person next to you as we sing, Just As I Am, all 140 verses and say to that person, if you’ll go forward, I’ll go with you. Well, I don’t know if I’m big on that kind of invitation, but I do know that’s what Jesus says to his people. Listen, if you stand, I’ll stand with you. If you go, I’ll go with you. If you’ll speak up, I’ll be at your side. Hey, think about that. Amen.

Matthew Porter:
Citizens of the kingdom, that is what we are. Thank you Steve for that reminder. That was Steve Brown, resuming our tour through the Book of Philippians, powerful stuff. And there’s more tomorrow. So, do join us. Do you know who struggles to have a calm and quiet soul? Steve, seriously. Now, that’s not me talking outside of school. He claims it himself in an article featured in the current print issue of Key Life Magazine. If you haven’t checked it out yet, I think you’ll like it. Claim your free copy right now by calling us at 1-800-KEY-LIFE that’s 1-800-539-5433. You can also e-mail [email protected] to ask for that magazine. To mail your request, go to keylife.org/contact to find our mailing addresses. Just ask for your free copy of Key Life magazine. And hey, before you go, if you’re blessed by the work of Key Life, would you help share that blessing with others through your financial support? Giving is easy. You can charge a gift on your credit card or include a gift in your envelope. Or you can now give safely and securely through text. Just pick up your phone and text Key Life to 28950 that’s Key Life, one word or two. It doesn’t matter. Just text that to 28950 then follow the instructions. And as we always remind you, if you can’t give right now, or maybe you’re not called to, all good, but please do pray for us would you? Key Life is a member of ECFA in the States and CCCC in Canada. And we are a listener supported production of Key Life Network.