Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

2. when the local church is involved in internal conflict, it is a terrible environment to sow the seedamong visiting unbelievers and children, but it is also an impediment to the progress of those who arealready members3. such conflicts then are not the exclusive purview of the male members of the church; ladies whoare properly involved in the work of the church can fall prey to the same motivations, pride and error thatcreate stress in every facet of life4. Paul reminds Euodia and Syntyche, an unidentified true companion and the entire church atPhilippi to assist these dear sisters in rediscovering unity in Christa. so long as brothers and sisters are standing fast in the revealed doctrine of Christ and keepingtheir personal convictions under control, they will have unityb. when soul-damning errors creeps into our thinking or when we proudly press our opinions tothe point of contention, division will threatenc. the church at Philippi was upset enough that news reached Paul and now it is time for Euodiaand Syntyche to renew their love for one another and ChristE. Book of Life1. the Book of Life is the eternal directory of the redeemed, Heaven’s precise census, including thenames of the innocent and redeemed from every age (cf. Revelation 21:8)2. it is not that these sisters’ names have been blotted out of that Book at this point, but thatpossibility does exist and it must have sent shivers down their spines (cf. cf. Exodus 32:32)3. nothing is worth having your name removed from that list, and while God gives us time to repent,we must seize the opportunity and make our election to that record secureII. Some ApplicationsA. Citizenship1. the prophet Daniel foresaw the kingdom of God arising from the midst of a great empire, so thatGod’s kingdom would become a worldwide body, numbering citizens around the globea. it is not that every political administration would disappear so that Christ could reign from aliteral throne in Jerusalem, but that certain spirits would be broken within every realm to serve Christ whosits upon David’s throne in New Jerusalem beyond the cloudsb. as such, our conversion to Christ is a naturalization ceremony in which we put our nationalloyalties second to our new citizenship in Heaven (Colossians 1:13-14)2. “Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints andmembers of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19)3. for the sinner, being added to the church of Christ is migrating to citizenship in Heaven (Hebrews12:22-23)a. and as much as migrating from America to China or vice versa would force you to alter yourway of life, so exchanging your primary citizenship on Earth with one in Heaven will also (First Peter2:9-11, 1:13-19)b. suddenly, the lust of the eyes and flesh and the pride of life are in a different perspective and allthe trappings that accompany them are less meaningful, all because our citizenship has been transferred toHeavenB. Eagerly Waiting1. I wonder how many of us truly hope that Jesus returns today and how many of us would like himto wait a while as we take care of this or that or enjoy sin a little longer before Heaven beginsa. if our citizenship is in Heaven, we must be anxious to get home (Hebrews 9:27-28)b. it is not that we hasten our own deaths, but that we have life in such perspective that death is nothreat (cf. Hebrews 2:15) and our appointment at Christ’s judgment seat is joyfully anticipated(Philippians 1:19-23)2. you are as powerless to hold Christ back when God sends him into the clouds as Herod was tomurder him as a two-year-olda. the breath you just took is evidence of God’s patience as he waits for you to repent (Romans2:4-11)b. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your waysacknowledge him and he shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6)8! Jeff S. Smith