Living as Citizens of Heaven in an Anti-God World

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound reality of the Christian journey in a world that is often at odds with the values of the Kingdom of God. The world, as depicted in the media and societal norms, is largely focused on the temporal, material, and physical aspects of life, often neglecting the spiritual and eternal dimensions. This world, under the influence of what the Bible calls "the world," is inherently anti-God, and as Christians, we must recognize that it is against us. This recognition is crucial for our spiritual survival and growth.

Jesus warned us that if the world hated Him, it would hate us too. This is not a cause for despair but a call to vigilance and awareness. We are reminded that our true citizenship is in heaven, and our primary focus should be on our relationship with God and our eternal destination. The world is under judgment and cannot be reformed by human efforts alone. Our task is not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, setting our affections on things above.

The concept of putting on the "breastplate of righteousness" is central to this journey. It involves a conscious and active realization of our identity as travelers and pilgrims in this world. We are to live with the awareness that we are moving towards a holy city, a place where only those who do God's commandments will enter. This requires preparation and a commitment to living a life that reflects our heavenly citizenship.

The practical application of this truth is found in the "therefore" of the New Testament epistles. It is not enough to know the doctrine; we must live it out. This involves both negative and positive actions: abstaining from the works of darkness and actively pursuing righteousness. We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, and to set our affections on things above.

Key Takeaways:

- The world is inherently anti-God, and as Christians, we must recognize that it is against us. This awareness is crucial for our spiritual survival and growth. We are called to be vigilant and to walk circumspectly, understanding that the times are evil. [21:56]

- Our true citizenship is in heaven, and our primary focus should be on our relationship with God and our eternal destination. The world is under judgment and cannot be reformed by human efforts alone. [23:48]

- Putting on the "breastplate of righteousness" involves a conscious and active realization of our identity as travelers and pilgrims in this world. We are to live with the awareness that we are moving towards a holy city. [24:37]

- The practical application of this truth is found in the "therefore" of the New Testament epistles. It is not enough to know the doctrine; we must live it out by abstaining from the works of darkness and actively pursuing righteousness. [36:01]

- We are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, and to set our affections on things above. This requires a deliberate and daily commitment to live out our faith in a world that is often at odds with our values. [45:20]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[19:02] - The World's Influence
[19:53] - Recognizing Opposition
[20:28] - The World's Hatred
[21:40] - Vigilance and Awareness
[22:14] - Worldliness Defined
[23:04] - Citizenship in Heaven
[24:19] - Travelers and Pilgrims
[25:22] - Preparing for the Journey
[26:39] - The Destination
[28:30] - The Holy City
[31:29] - Prioritizing Eternity
[33:16] - Practical Application
[36:01] - The "Therefore" of Faith
[38:02] - Negative and Positive Actions
[45:20] - Setting Affections Above

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 15:18-19 - "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
2. Romans 12:1-2 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
3. Ephesians 6:14 - "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how does the world express its opposition to Christian values? [19:36]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the primary focus for Christians in contrast to the world's focus? [23:04]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of the "breastplate of righteousness" in a Christian's life? [24:37]
4. What are the "negative and positive actions" mentioned in the sermon that Christians are encouraged to take? [36:01]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "travelers and pilgrims" influence a Christian's perspective on worldly matters? [24:37]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christians should prepare for their "eternal destination"? [25:22]
3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of "presenting our bodies as living sacrifices"? What does this mean in practical terms? [45:20]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between knowing doctrine and living it out? [36:01]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt the world's values clashed with your Christian beliefs. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [19:36]
2. The sermon emphasizes setting our affections on things above. Identify one area of your life where you can shift your focus from worldly concerns to spiritual growth. [45:20]
3. Consider the idea of being a "traveler" in this world. How can this perspective change the way you handle daily challenges and decisions? [24:37]
4. What practical steps can you take this week to "put on the breastplate of righteousness" in your interactions with others? [24:37]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of vigilance and awareness. How can you cultivate a habit of spiritual vigilance in your daily routine? [21:56]
6. Think about a time when you conformed to the world's standards rather than God's. What changes can you make to avoid this in the future? [23:48]
7. How can you actively pursue righteousness in your community or workplace this week? Identify one specific action you can take. [36:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing the World's Opposition
The world, as it stands, is inherently opposed to the values of the Kingdom of God. This opposition is not just passive but active, as the world often promotes values that are contrary to the teachings of Christ. As Christians, it is crucial to be aware of this reality for our spiritual survival and growth. Jesus Himself warned that if the world hated Him, it would hate His followers too. This awareness is not meant to lead to despair but to vigilance and a deeper understanding of our place in the world. We are called to walk circumspectly, understanding that the times are evil and that our true citizenship is in heaven. [21:56]

"For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'" (1 Corinthians 3:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you noticed the world's values conflicting with your faith? How can you remain vigilant and grounded in your heavenly citizenship today?


Day 2: Heavenly Citizenship
Our true citizenship is in heaven, and this should be the primary focus of our lives. The world is under judgment and cannot be reformed by human efforts alone. As Christians, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing our relationship with God and our eternal destination over the temporary and material aspects of life. This means setting our affections on things above and living in a way that reflects our heavenly citizenship. It is a call to live differently, to be in the world but not of it, and to remember that our ultimate home is with God. [23:48]

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from earthly concerns to your heavenly citizenship today? What practical steps can you take to prioritize your relationship with God?


Day 3: The Breastplate of Righteousness
Putting on the "breastplate of righteousness" involves a conscious and active realization of our identity as travelers and pilgrims in this world. This metaphorical armor is essential for our spiritual journey, as it protects our hearts and minds from the influences of the world. Living with the awareness that we are moving towards a holy city requires preparation and a commitment to living a life that reflects our heavenly citizenship. It is about embracing our identity in Christ and allowing that identity to shape our actions and decisions. [24:37]

"Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace." (Ephesians 6:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What does it mean for you to wear the "breastplate of righteousness" in your daily life? How can you actively embrace your identity as a pilgrim in this world?


Day 4: Living Out the "Therefore" of Faith
The practical application of our faith is found in the "therefore" of the New Testament epistles. It is not enough to know the doctrine; we must live it out by abstaining from the works of darkness and actively pursuing righteousness. This involves both negative and positive actions, as we are called to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. It is a call to action, to live out our faith in tangible ways that reflect our commitment to Christ and His teachings. [36:01]

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific way you can live out your faith today, both in abstaining from darkness and pursuing righteousness? How can you be a living sacrifice in your daily life?


Day 5: Setting Affections Above
We are called to set our affections on things above, which requires a deliberate and daily commitment to live out our faith in a world that is often at odds with our values. This means prioritizing our relationship with God and our eternal destination over the temporary and material aspects of life. It is about making conscious choices that reflect our heavenly citizenship and living in a way that honors God. This daily commitment is essential for spiritual growth and for maintaining our focus on what truly matters. [45:20]

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can set your affections on things above today? How can you ensure that your daily choices reflect your commitment to Christ and His kingdom?

Quotes

"True the newspapers are a very perfect representation of the mind of the world. Look at them, look at what they say, what they teach, what they insinuate. Look at their representation of life, look at what they're advocating and all these other instruments, television, Wireless, and so on. They all belong to the world. The power controlling them is what the Bible calls the world. They never urge us to think about the soul and our relationship to God and Eternity. No, no, it's all Earthbound, it's all within the temporal, the material, the physical, and there it is, and it hates this, it's anti-God." [00:18:47]

"The Christian has to realize that all this is against him. It's the devil using the visible, the scene, to get down God's people, to bring them into confusion, to entangle them, to ensnare them, and thus to stand between them and the blessings that God is ready to give them. Now, our Lord puts it quite plainly. How slow we are to realize this. He says, if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. Don't be surprised, he says. We've got to realize that the world is against us." [00:20:00]

"Obviously, a very essential part of putting on the breastplate of righteousness is just to realize that you can afford to take nothing for granted, that you've got to be on the watch always. You've got to be vigilant, you've got to walk circumspectly, for the times are evil. We are surrounded by that which is utterly opposed to us and trying to get us down. That is the world, the mind, the Outlook, the organization of man and all his thinking and all his activities." [00:21:40]

"Your biggest ambition this morning is not World reform; it is your citizenship in heaven if you're a true Christian. You know this world will never be reformed; it can't be reformed. It's under the devil. This world is under the Doom of God; it's under judgment; it's going to be destroyed. Therefore, a man whose whole idea this morning is to make the world better and who spends his time thinking he's a Christian in doing things to this world, he's denying the very teaching of the scripture." [00:23:11]

"We must have a more active realization of the character of the place to which we are going. You see, here's the idea: we're Travelers, strangers, and pilgrims. The world, as a poet put it, is but an inn in which you spend the night, pay your bill in the morning, and go on. That's all. We are but traveling through this. Where are we going? Well, to realize that again is a very vital part of putting on the breastplate of righteousness." [00:24:37]

"Preparation now, this again is something the Bible puts everywhere. You see, if you take this idea of the Christian as a journeyman, as a stranger, as a pilgrim, well, obviously such a man keeps in the center of his mind, in the Forefront of his thinking, the place to which he's going. He can do certain things on rote, but if you set out upon a journey, surely your object and your objective is to arrive at your destination." [00:25:22]

"Listen to Paul putting this in writing to the Romans in Chapter 13, beginning at verse 11: and that knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed. What he means is this: you started the journey there, you're going there. Well, now you've moved, you're nearer to the goal than when you started. You've traveled a given number of miles. Our Salvation is nearer than when we believed." [00:26:39]

"Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lust thereof. You see the argument. This is putting on the breastplate of righteousness." [00:27:30]

"Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs and Sorcerers and mongers and murderers and idolators and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Here's the picture, my friend: you're approaching the gates of the city, and remember that it is called the holy city. There are certain people who are not admitted into that City." [00:29:19]

"The chief ambition of a Christian is to enter through those Gates and to begin to partake of that tree of life forever and forever. Very well, if he really means it and believes it, this will be the first thing in his life he'll be preparing for. That he knows it's coming. Our Salvation is nearer than when we believe. The night is far spent, the day is at end. We are drawing nearer." [00:31:07]

"Therefore, now, if you like, if you ask to put in a word what it means to put on the breastplate of righteousness, I would say it means that you understand the meaning of the word therefore in the New Testament Epistles. It's all there, it's all there. But of course, it isn't enough to leave it like that, is it? The apostles themselves don't leave it like that because having started with the therefore, they proceed to work it out for us." [00:36:01]

"Set your affections on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. Set them, that's putting on the breastplate of righteousness. You've got to set them as if you're setting a compass, setting a clock. You've got to do this day by day deliberately. Set your affections. The world won't help you. The world will do everything else. You start with your newspaper in the wireless, you'll be setting your affections Elsewhere." [00:45:20]

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Transcript
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