
Philippians 3:18-21ESV
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
We need to learn to make the invisible God visible and the visible gods of this earth disappear.
Romans 12:1-2
12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d]
The Message:
12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
- Jeremiah 29:4-7
- 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
How do we live as Citizens of Heaven in the world around us?
*1- We Build His Kingdom. *
*2- We Plant Kingdom seeds. *
To reap Kingdom, we need to sow some of the Kingdom in those areas where we want to see Kingdom fruit.
We plant in seed form what we want to reap in our world around us.
Galatians 5:19-25
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[a] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[b] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
3- We Multiply His Kingdom until He returns.
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4- We seek the welfare in the city we live. **
Discussion Questions:
1- Read Philippians 3:18-21. What does it mean to be “Citizens of Heaven?” With Jesus as our Savior and Lord how are we to view earthly authorities?
2- What are some ways that we can make the invisible God visible to our world around us?
3- Read Galatians 5:19-25. Discuss the fruits of the spirit and which ones you are going to sow seeds of in your family, community and sphere of influence.
4- What can you do to “seek the welfare of the city?” Have you ever had a desire to serve the city in any capacity either politically, or civically? Encourage one another and discuss ways that you can serve the city in different ways.
5- Take some time to pray for our city, it’s leaders and its people.