Heavenly Citizens: Sacrificing, Not Hoarding

August 2, 2022

Book: Philippians

Bible Passage: Philippians 4:10-23

This morning we are going to finish Philippians. We started this series a few months ago all around the idea of being called out as Heavenly Citizens in Christ. What a timely reminder for us as a church family in Austin, TX to remember who we are in Christ and wrestle with what it means to live out our faith in Christ in 2022.

Who doesn’t need to be reminded of our purpose in Christ, right now? Right now, there are waves pushing us toward fear and panic about the economy. We have waves pushing us toward fear and panic about the next pandemic. We have waves of fear pushing us toward what’s going to happen at the political level in the House, Senate, and in 2024.

But it doesn’t stop there. What’s going to happen with our careers? What’s going on in Austin, TX? What’s going to happen with the housing market? What’s going to happen in the Ukraine? What’s going to happen with Abortion? It’s a lot!

Some of us are thinking, “Michael, I am trying not to think about those things? Let’s not talk about that on Sunday morning but that’s the reality of our day, so that now more than ever we need to be reminded of our purpose in Christ, our purpose as Heavenly Citizens in Christ.

  1. The Lord Provides. (Vs. 10-13)

Philippians 4:10, “10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.”

While we were gone, we had some friends of ours come in to teach on Sunday morning, which was great. We even had our very own Roberto Moctezuma step into the teaching role, which was awesome. I know it’s possible that everyone hasn’t heard every message in Philippians so let me give a quick recap to set up the context of the passage.

First, do we remember who wrote Philippians? Answer out loud. The Apostle Paul, that’s right.

Do we remember who Philippians was written to as the original audience? The people in Philippi, that’s right! You guys are sharp!

Third question, do we know the title of our series in Philippians? Heavenly Citizens, good. Ok, ok.

Fourth question, do you remember the verse in Philippians that points us to the title of our series? This was covered while I was gone but it’s Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven.” We’re not Austin in Christ. We’re Heavenly Citizens in Christ.

Last question, which chapter in Philippians covered the most majestic description of Jesus? 1 out of 4 chances to make a guess. Chapter 2, that’s right. Jesus did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied Himself taking on the form of a bond servant.

Therefore, in verse 10 the Apostle Paul is writing about the provision he has received through the church in Philippi. Do you see that in verse 10? Look at verses 11-12:

Philippians 4:11-12, “11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”

In verses 11-12 we see a contrast of highs and lows repeated three times. Do you see it? Humble means and prosperity (poverty and wealth), hungry and full in appetite, and last having lots of provision and having little provision.

Remember, we’re talking about our purpose in Christ. We’re talking about navigating the waves of life pushing us all over the place through the headlines, friendships, economy, life and God’s Word is teaching us about His provision. Do you see in verse 11?

The word “learned” in verse 11 is a learning that comes from experience over time. Does that make sense? I am 47 years old. I have been walking with Jesus for 30 years and over time I have seen the Lord provide for me over and over and over and over so that I too, like the Apostle Paul, can say, “I have learned to be content and trust in the Lord’s provision.”

I have not mastered being content in the Lord. And I definitely can’t say I am content in “whatever circumstances” but over time I have found my contentment in life is absolutely tied to my trust in the Lord. Does that make sense?

Over the last 30 years of walking with Jesus I have seen the Lord call me to faith in Him. I was 18 years old, I didn’t grow up around church or followers of Jesus, and yet the Lord called me to Himself, so as to say, “You can trust Me!” I will take care of you.

When I met my wife I thought I would never get married. My parents were divorced. My mom went through 7 marriages. I wasn’t a fan of marriage, but the Lord put His Word in my life, put people in my life through the local church to model marriage, called me to marry my wife so as to say, “Michael, follow Me, you can trust Me!”

When we started having children I wasn’t sure if that was a good idea. My father wasn’t really in the picture. I wasn’t great with kids. I didn’t know how to raise children. And yet the Lord put His Word in my life, put other men in my life to shore up those gaps, invited me into fatherhood and said, “Follow Me, you can trust Me.”

Even in the present as I walk through the loss of my dad, my mom and my brother I find myself with my feet firmly planted in the air, it’s been incredibly difficult, there have been tons of emotions and questions, and yet the Lord is leading me through this season, teaching me to trust Him through this season, so that like the Apostle Paul I can say, “I am learning to be content in whatever circumstance.” Does that make sense? Our contentment in the Lord is tied to our trust in the Lord. Look at verse 13:

Philippians 4:13, “13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

Verse 13 is one of those verses we see on stickers, tattoos, and probably in a lot of athletic locker rooms around the world but this verse doesn’t mean you can do “ALL” things through Christ.

I am not going to be able to play in the NFL through Christ. I am not going to fly through the air through Christ in Austin. Your sports team isn’t guaranteed to win the championship through Christ. It is important to remember the context of our passage. The context of our passage isn’t for overcoming obstacles in life. The context of our passage is contentment in the Lord.

The context of verse 13 is that when we are in Christ, we can trust Him in ALL things. The context of the verse is in the ever-changing circumstances of the day contrasted with the never changing provision of Christ to those who are His. Did you catch that? You should write that down. That’s the context of verse 13. That’s the secret! Let’s look at our second sub-point; 2. We Are Blessed To Give.

  1. We Are Blessed To Give. (Vs. 14-18)

Philippians 4:14-15, “14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone.”

Not only are we called to trust in the Lord but in verses 14 and 15 we see God’s Word modeling an example of actively looking to bless other people. Do you see that in verses 14 and 15?

In the context of verses 14 and 15 the Philippian church is financially, emotionally, spiritually and relationally investing in the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Do you see that in verse 15? Even highlighting “no other church helped but you alone.” Isn’t that powerful?

Look at verses 16-17:

Philippians 4:16-17, “16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”

Listen to me, because this is going to be so helpful for you this morning. God’s Word isn’t inviting us to give financially because God needs our money in some way. It’s just the opposite. Do you see that in verse 17?

The Apostle Paul writes, “Not that I seek the gift itself.” It isn’t about the money but it’s about the “profit which increases to your account.” Do you see that phrase in verse 17? What does that mean?

It means when we give of ourselves to others for the kingdom (think broadly – financially, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, time) it isn’t about the gift we give but God’s Word is teaching us in those moments we are actually making an investment into our eternal accounts in heaven.

One pastor says it this way, “Just as we have personal IRA’s, as followers of Jesus we should be building up IEA’s.” An IRA means Individual Retirement Account and people deposit money into that account for retirement, therefore, as followers of Jesus, as Heavenly Citizens, we should have IEA’s (Individual Eternal Accounts) and this is a vital part of our purpose as citizens of heaven!

In the context of the passage the Philippian church could have purchased a new shirt, a new camel, saved for retirement, taken a nap, watched a Gladiator event, taken a vacation but instead the Philippian church made a deposit into their personal IEA of (finances, emotions, relationship, prayers, time) in the Kingdom of God as new churches were being started all over the Roman Empire and, and wait for it, those churches are still echoing into history today for His Kingdom. That’s amazing!

That’s got to be the greatest Return On Investment ever! That shirt would have been worn and forgotten, that vacation forgotten, naps would have come and gone but now thousands of years later their investment is still paying dividends.

Therefore, in the same way, we who are in Christ, we who are citizen of heaven are being invited by the God of Scripture to give our time, energy, relationships to His Kingdom. Every time we serve in children’s ministry in Austin we are making an investment. Every time we pray for someone in Austin we are making an investment. Every time we walk the streets of 78757 and pray for God’s grace in the life of the people, we are making an investment. Every penny we give toward His Kingdom is an investment. Every meal we share with one another is an investment. Every time we take 20 seconds to talk to the  checkout person at the HEB is an investment for His Kingdom.

Therefore, we need to ask ourselves this morning, “How is that taking place in my life?” It isn’t an invitation just for some who are in Christ. It isn’t just for the wealthy. It isn’t just for people who have extra time. It isn’t just when things calm down. It isn’t just when we get to a “healthy place.” We as a church family in north Austin are called to give to others!

Let’s look at our last sub-point; 3. We Go Together.

  1. We Go Together. (Vs. 19-23)

Philippians 4:19-23, “19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ

Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

In the final words of Philippians, the Apostle Paul tells the church at Philippi to remember the “saints.” We started Philippians a few months back but in the first chapter we talked about the people of Philippi.

In the first sermon we talked about Acts 16 and how the church in Philippi started with a minority group of people, Greek people being ruled by Roman power, and it was just a  businesswoman (Lydia), a slave girl, and a Roman centurion and yet now the Apostle Paul lifts their eyes to the “saints around the world.”

I want you to see the “we” of “We Go Together” is global. In verse 21 there are people with Paul in Rome. Remember, Paul is in prison in Rome and yet the Apostle Paul is reminding the church in Philippi, “We’re not alone.”

We don’t know what the reference “To Caesar’s household” means specifically but on some level the name of Jesus is crossing political barriers, ethnic barriers, economic barriers, so that in the closing words of the letter we see the God’s Word lifting their eyes to the truth, “we’re not alone.”

Listen to me, we need to remember this as heavenly citizens. Especially as heavenly citizens living in north central Austin, TX. I get it. As a follower of Jesus in Austin, TX you can feel like the minority.

There are times the follower of Jesus can feel like we are getting beat up. We can feel like as a follower of Jesus we need to shrink back. We can feel like we need to start whispering about the things of Jesus. Do you ever feel like this? Maybe there is a part of us that wants to flee our city to the parts of Texas where people look like us, think like us, raise children like us but that’s not the pattern we see in Scripture.

The pattern we see in Scripture is the name of Jesus being sent out to the darkest parts of our world. Do you understand? Our faith is not a faith of ease and comfort. The man on a cross is a big give-away. Our faith is a story of salt and light. Our faith is a story to the least of these. Our faith is a story of breaking chains. Our faith is not a story of hunker down and wait. It’s a faith story of beaten and bruised. That’s our purpose in Christ as heavenly citizens, as a church family in north central Austin.

Listen to me church family, in times of volatility, change, and hardship it is easy to drift toward fear, panic, isolation, critique, and become hard hearted. It is easy to tell ourselves nobody understands, everybody is against us, but in the closing words of our study God’s Word is reminding us that we walk through this season together.

If you should find yourself doubting that purpose or discouraged by that purpose, then turn to Jesus and repent. Ask Jesus to forgive you for trusting yourself and in your strength and ask for Him to help you trust Him. He will provide! He will speak to you. He will make your feet like hinds’ feet to walk on high places, but we must turn to Jesus.

Jesus is the One who conquered the greatest threats of this world. Jesus is the One who saw the tsunami of a wave coming at Him at a cross and He took it to the point of death and  conquered it in the resurrection so that we might have life in Him. Turn to Jesus. Trust in Him.

We will have people to pray for you this morning. Take advantage of those people. We can’t go alone. We go together. We need the prayers of one another. Will you pray with me?