Choose Joy Part Six

City Harbor Church – Hampden, Baltimore, MD

Kingdom Citizenship

Philippians 3:20 but we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.

Heavenly Citizenship brings joy.

How do we get Kingdom Citizenship?

John 3:3 “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot (see) experience, encounter or participate in the Kingdom of God.”

You must accept that Jesus is your Lord and Savior. You receive an automatic Citizenship change

Ephesians 2:19, “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people.”

John 17:16, “They do not belong to this world any more than I do.”

Philippians 3:20 “but we are citizens of Heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.”

We have Kingdom citizenship, not worldly citizenship

Living as a Kingdom Citizen

Romans 6:17-18 “Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.”

Philippians 1:27 “Above all, you must live (or behave) as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.”

Like citizens of any country, we must obey in Kingdom Laws

Citizen Handbook (and more)

Matthew 22:37

Matthew 6:31-33

John 15:12

Galatians 6:2

Ephesians 4:29-32

Philippians 2:14-15

Colossians 3:1-16

Kingdom Citizenship Benefits

Eternal life (Romans 6:23)

Protection (Isaiah 54:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Psalm 34:7)

Access to God (John 14:6, Hebrews 4:16,

Transformation, New Creation (2 Corinthians 3:18, 5:17)

New Identity (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:9)

Inheritance (1 Peter 1:4)

Redeemed from Sin (Titus 2:14, Galatians 3:13-20)

Authority (Luke 10:19, 1 John 4:4)

Ambassadors on the earth. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Share in the glory of Jesus (Colossians 3:4)

Why don’t I feel like a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven?

(Matthew 6:24) (referring to worrying about money,)No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.”

Mark 3, Kingdom divided will collapse, a family feuding will fall apart

No dual citizenship

Aren’t behaving as a citizen (you get discipline)
Aren’t accessing the benefits
How do we access the benefits? Abide with Jesus

Philipians 3:8-11 “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Who are you? 1 Peter 2:9 “for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.”