Assimilate Into The Kingdom of Heaven
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
Philippians 1:27-30
Step one to Living a Brighter Life is to assimilate into the Kingdom of Heaven
Now what does it mean to assimilate?
The definition of assimilate is
To take in and understand fully (information, ideas, lifestyle, culture). And then resemble it.
When I think of the word assimilate my mind goes to Ellis Island
Ellis Island was an immigration hub in New York City between 1892-1954
For many immigrants they had to figure it all out on their own. They didn't know anybody. They brought themselves here to a foreign land and culture. And over years and decades of being here they would slowly begin to understand American information, ideas, lifestyle, culture and adopt it for themselves. Resembling and becoming American citizens.
Other immigrants might have been more fortunate. Maybe they had friends or family that had already immigrated so when they came they had someone to guide them and model for them what it was to be an American citizen easing the culture shock and accelerating the assimilation process.
Thats what its like being a Christian
We have a friend in the kingdom
His name is Jesus and he has modeled for us how to live as a citizen of heaven
We’ve been provided a manual, the NT
And we have to continue to take it in and take it in and understand fully the information, ideas and lifestyle modeled for us and presented in this book.
And then we have to apply it, and further resemble the life Christ lived
That is how you assimilate into the Kingdom of Heaven
Change Your Attitude
“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:1-11
The next step to Living a Brighter Life is to change your attitude!
We have to have the same attitude that Jesus had
This passage gives many examples of how we must examine and change our attitudes
But one word comes up three times in this passage
And two of those times it is used when talking directly about Jesus
Humility isn't just thinking of others as better than yourself, its placing yourself in complete subservience to God
Recognizing God, as the end all be all source of authority in the universe
Not yourself
If you are a prideful person God will make it a point to place himself in opposition to you
He will actively work against you. The Bible tells us God opposes the proud. But he gives grace to the humble.
We cannot afford to be prideful.
We do not get to decide what is right and what is wrong on our own authority
Submit to God’s authority
Change your attitude
Be humble because Jesus was humble
Verses 6-8 tell us “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”
Jesus was in paradise, He always had been
He never experienced the hurts of this life
Never wanted for anything, quite literally every single thing in existence belonged to him
And he didn't find that as something to cling to
He came down here, to live a live of poverty and die
Just to show how much he loves us
Do you love people like that?
If not that needs to change, because we need to have the same attitude as Christ had
So change your attitude and you will live a brighter life
Work Hard to Display God’s Work
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
Philippians 2:12-15
The last step to Living a Brighter Life is to Work Hard to Display God’s Work
Work hard to show the results of your salvation
Works in Christianity can be a confusing subject
Afterall were saved by faith not our works, right?
Isn’t this what separates Christianity from other religions?
The thing that separates christianity from every other religion in the world is meritocracy
Meritocracy is a system in which people are chosen based on their demonstrated abilities or worth
Every single major religion on Earth is based off meritocracy
You are accepted and gain the favor of God by being obedient and demonstrating your worth
Except for Christianity
Christianity isn't a meritocracy
God does not give you the gift of faith to believe in him because you did A,B, and C, because you have some sort of useful ability or have demonstrated your worth
Christianity is a religion of Grace
Grace is unmerited favor
Meaning there is nothing in your own power or ability that you can do to earn God’s Grace
Grace is only given and God has chosen to give it
And when we receive the gift of faith and accept Jesus into our life
The Bible says we receive a new heart and a new spirit
The Holy Spirit which is what is being talked about in verse 13
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
We are saved by grace through faith, given a new spirit that does a changing work inside of us
And because of God’s work inside of us we now have the desire to please him which results in good works
So work hard to display God’s work and bring glory to God
And you will live a brighter life
Jesus is the light of the world and he has placed his light inside of each of us. Our lives are now lanterns of bright light that shine into a dark and perverse world
And as we assimilate into the kingdom of heaven, change our attitudes and work hard to display God’s work we become more and more a reflection of Jesus
Our lights become brighter and brighter, reaching out to more and more people trapped in darkness. Bringing the good news, bringing hope, and changing the lives of those around us
This is what it means to Live a Brighter Life
This year make it your goal to live a life that shines brighter. A life that is increasingly more a reflection of Jesus.