Believers are Not Exempt from Pain

Hebrews 12:12-17

How can a loving heavenly Father permit such pain to befall His much-cherished children?  

The natural disasters—earthquakes, hurricanes, mudslides, wildfires, and tsunamis of recent weeks and months often raise these questions because many of God’s children were involved in these terrible events and gravely impacted like all others. You may be aware that some of the most difficult challenges with family, health, employment, and our nation have occurred in the lives of some of God’s choicest servants. Perplexing? It should not be, Joseph, Daniel, Paul, Moses, and Job were fascinating servants of the “Most High,” yet they endured some of the most challenging situations in biblical history! Beloved, God’s children are not exempt from lost, pain, suffering, diseases, and family struggles….

So, why does God permit us, His children, to suffer?

LESSON:

I.                God Allows Suffering for the Purpose of Sanctification: Make the Adjustments to Pursue a Holy Lifestyle (Heb. 12:12-17). In terms of persevering in the spiritual race of Faith (Heb. 12:1-4), what is the meaning of God’s commands in Hebrews 12:12, 13, and 14? What must we do when hardness strikes?

A.    Adjust Your Attitude to Renew Your Strength (Heb. 12:12). God understands our tendency to spiritual weakness, discouragement, and quitting as believers (12:12), and in the light of the truths God has expounded He encourages us to renew our strength. Beloved, we are not to cave in under the adverse circumstances of life; our lapse of faith might have an unfavorable influence on others.

                                                  i.      Shake the discouragement. Drooping hands should be reinvigorated to serve the living Christ.

                                                ii.      Strengthen your resolve. Feeble knees should be strengthened for persevering prayer (12:12).

B.     Adjust Your Course to Continue in Godly Disciplines (Heb. 12:13). If we respect this and pursue the level and “straight paths” which entails real righteousness, transparent prayer, trusting the Word, and spiritual power that the weakest among us (the lame) would not be further disabled, but rather healed. Our lives strengthened in the Lord would benefit weaker Christians.

                                                  i.      Faltering feet should be guided in straight paths of Christian discipleship.

                                                ii.      Williams writes:

All who follow the Lord fully smooth the path of faith for feeble brethren; but those who do not follow fully, roughen the path for others’ feet and create spiritual cripples.

                                              iii.      G. H. Lang gives a fine illustration:

A weary traveler, tired of the road and the buffeting of the tempest, stands dispirited and limp. With shoulders bowed, hands hanging slack, knees bent and shaking, he is ready to give up and sink to the ground. Such can God’s pilgrim become, as pictured by our writer.

But one comes to him confident of mien [demeanor], with kindly smile and firm voice, and says, “Cheer up, stand erect, brace your limbs, take heart of grace. You have already come far; throw not away your former toils. A noble home is at the end of the journey. See, yonder is the direct road to it; keep straight on; seek from the great Physician healing for your lameness. ... Your Forerunner went this same hard road to the palace of God; others before you have won through; others are on the way; you are not alone; only press on! And you too shall reach the goal and win the prize.”

                                              iv.      Happy is he who knows how to sustain with words him that is weary (Isaiah 50:4). Happy is he who accepts exhortation (Hebrews 13:22). And thrice happy is he whose faith is simple and strong so that he finds no occasion of stumbling in the Lord when His discipline is severe. –MacDonald: Believer's Bible Commentary

C.    Adjust Your Relationships to Pursue Peace with Others (Heb. 12:14).

                                                  i.      As we run the Christian race, what is our goal? The writer explained the goal in Hebrews 12:14: Peace with all men, and holiness before the Lord. (Remember “the peaceable fruit of righteousness,” Heb. 12:11.) These two goals remind us of our Lord’s high priestly ministry—King of peace and King of righteousness (Heb. 7:1–2). –Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

                                                ii.      Pursue Peace with all people (14).

1.      Peace with all men as well as personal holiness must be vigorously sought since without holiness no one will see the Lord. Christians should strive for peaceable relations with all people and at all times (Ps. 34:14; Matt 5:9; Mk 9:50; Rom. 12:18; 14:19; Js. 3:17-18).

2.      But this exhortation is especially needful when persecution is prevalent, when some are defecting from the faith, and when nerves are frayed. At such times it is all too easy to vent one’s frustration and fears on those who are nearest and dearest. This is the first danger.

D.    Adjust Your Surveillance to Pursue Righteous Values and Principles (Heb. 12:14-17).

What dangers must a strong Christian avoid, and why must we avoid them? (Heb. 12:14-17). The dangers Christians must avoid are all related to some degree of apostasy. These include: lack of spiritual diligence—failing to watch over their lives, bitterness against the Lord or others (see Deut. 29:18), sexual immorality, and decision making that reflect worldly and fleshly priorities.  How can we avoid these dangers?

                                                  i.      By Habitually Pursuing Practical Holiness (12:14).

1.      Pursue a holy lifestyle before God constantly (14).

a.       We should also strive for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (12:14).  Since no sin can stand in God’s presence, Christians must—and will be—sinless when we see the Lord (1 John 3:2). That realization offers motivation for pursuing holiness here and now (Ps. 15:2; 94:15; Rom 6:22; 2Cor 6:17; 7:1; Phil. 3:12; 1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Pet 1:15-16).

b.      It is not that we earn the right to see God by living holy lives; Jesus Christ is our only claim to heaven. But there must be a pursuit of practical holiness as this evidences new life within. A pursuit of holiness and growing in righteous living, is proof the Spirit is leading the believer and the Spirit’s life is within (Rom. 8:11-14). When the Holy Spirit indwells a person, He manifests His presence by a separated life. It is a matter of cause and effect; if Christ has been received, the rivers of living water will flow.

2.      Pursue holiness to see God more clearly. I believe something else is intimated here…. The thought that our perception of God even now is conditioned by our real measure of personal holiness (see Matt. 5:8; 1Jn. 3:2-3). 

3.      Pursue holiness continually. Practical or progressive holiness is something that involves our obedience and cooperation; we must cultivate such devotion continually. The fact that we must follow it is proof that we do not fully attain it in this life. The second danger is a failure to progress in holiness. 

                                                ii.      By Diligently Walking in Grace to Avoid the Dangers (12:15-17).

It requires diligence to run the race successfully lest we “fail of the grace of God” (Heb. 12:15).  To fail means to fall behind in the race and/or fail to reach the goal. Grace is once more emphasized at the end of the chapter (Heb. 12:28). If we fail to take advantage of God’s grace, we will face the following conditions.

1.      Lest we fail of the grace of God (15).

a.       God’s grace does not fail, but we can fail to take advantage of His grace and therefore not finish our course or reach our spiritual potential. We are encouraged to depend on the grace of God by considering the failure of Esau.

b.      Esau certainly failed to act on God’s grace. The account is given in Genesis 25:27–34; 27:30–45.  God’s grace will never let you down or prove inadequate for any obstacle or challenge we face, but we can choose to get angry instead of trust God or blame God for all our problems and not depend on God’s grace (Gal. 5:4). Esau is a warning to us not to live for lesser things.

2.      Lest we are troubled by bitterness (15).

a.       As a grim reminder of what can happen among believers, we are warned that if we fail to use the grace of God we may become like a bitter root whose infidelity to God affects others. Deuteronomy 29:18 comes to mind where an OT apostate was called a “root that beareth gall and wormwood;” the “root” produces a bitter poison that negatively influences others. It is clear from Moses that the “root’ is a person who is inclined towards apostasy and departing from the True and Living God. Perhaps they are inclined to revert back to Judaism or the pursuit of some form of sensuality. They perhaps view apostasy as a safe and easier way to handle the persecutions and troubles instead of continuing in faithfulness to Christ. This is another warning against the single sin of apostasy and these sins are all related to it.

b.      Full apostasy is a root of bitterness; such individuals may have failed to obtain the grace of God. They may look like a Christian, talks like a Christian, professes to be a Christian, but they have never been born again. Such a person turns sour against the Lord because of suffering and repudiates the Christian faith (Matt 13:20-22). His defection can become contagious. Others are defiled by his complaints, doubts, and denials.

3.      Lest we become profane (godless and worldly) fornicators (16-17).

a.       Esau was “a profane person,” which means “a common person, one who lives for the world and not God.” (Our English word literally means “outside the temple,” or not belonging to God.) A profane person is a godless, unholy, secular, desecrated person with zero respect for spiritual things—a reprobate. Esau despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob, and he missed the blessing because it was given to Jacob. (It was supposed to go to Jacob anyway, but it was wrong for Jacob to use trickery to get it. See Gen. 25:19–26.) Afterward, Esau tried to get Isaac to change his mind, but it was too late. Even Esau’s tears availed nothing.

b.      What sins will rob us of the enabling of God’s grace? These verses tell us: lack of spiritual diligence, bitterness against others (see Deut. 29:18), sexual immorality, and living for the world and the flesh. Some people have the idea that a “profane person” is blasphemous and filthy; but Esau was a congenial fellow, a good hunter, and a man who loved his father. He would have made a fine neighbor—but he was not interested in the things of God. –Wiersbe: The Bible Exposition Commentary

Conclusion:

We are clearly warned not to yield to temporary pressures and forfeit our spiritual blessings and inheritances. If some do, they will ultimately regret the foolish step and might find their inheritance privileges irrevocably lost as were Esau’s. This would of course be true of any believer who ended his Christian experience in some backslidden state. The book of Hebrews has continually warned against this possibility. –Adapted from MacDonald,

So, why does God allow His children to suffer? Well, he permits suffering to correct and change us. Holiness, righteousness, faith, and continuing with holy power are His grand designs for us. He is wise and patient in this task and there is much we need to learn…. Trust Him still, Beloved. Trust Him still.

Jowett explains:

The purpose of God’s chastening is not punitive but creative. He chastens “that we may share His holiness.” The phrase “that we may share” has direction in it, and the direction points toward a purified and beautified life. The fire which is kindled is not a bonfire, blazing heedlessly and unguardedly, and consuming precious things; it is a refiner’s fire, and the Refiner sits by it, and He is firmly and patiently and gently bringing holiness out of carelessness and stability out of weakness. God is always creating even when He is using the darker means of grace. He is producing the fruits and flowers of the Spirit. His love is always in quest of lovely things. –MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary

Why Does God Allow His Children to Suffer?

Hebrews 12:5-17

How can a loving heavenly Father permit such pain to befall His much-cherished children? Can you think of any parallel reasons why a good parent would let his or her child suffer? Consider for a moment separation anxiety: leaving a child in the nursery when he or she is crying or allowing a child to suffer when being treated for illness. Children usually do not understand why they must endure the pain of yet another syringe.  You may attempt to explain it to them, but they usually have no appreciation for the answer…. The fact remains, that some battles are the child’s to fight.

At about the age of ten, I can recall stepping on a rusty nail…. Because I was outside without my shoes, I tried to conceal my injury from my parents. When my mother saw me limping, she inquired to discover what had happen. Fearing tetanus infection, she immediately started forcing the very soar wound to bleed. She presses, squeezes, pokes, and strikes the wound with a paddle until it bleeds freely. She washes my wound over and over again ensuring it was entirely clean. She anoints it with an antibacterial cream and wraps it with a clean cloth. Of course, I cried bloody murder as if I were dying…her care for me felt like nothing I have ever experienced before. It was crazy painful! Why would a loving mother become the source of such incredible and seemingly unreasonable pain?

So, why does God permit us, His children, to suffer?

LESSON:

I.                God Allows Suffering for the Purpose of Correction: Accept Discipline/Chastening from Your Loving Father (Heb. 12:5-11). Why is it important to accept God's discipline?

A.    Because You are a Child of God (Heb. 12:5-8).

                                                  i.      Note the word “children,” “son,” “sons,” and “father” in this section—this is child training!

                                                ii.      Child training involves instruction, discipline, correction, and warning. God trains his own children through difficult and hard experiences.

                                              iii.      Chastening refers to educating, training, nurturing, punishing, and disciplining, but it is not a payment for our sin!

                                              iv.      Have you or your children ever broken any things very valuable in your home or something belonging to someone else? Did you discipline them either by talking to them, correcting wrong behavior or possibly even spanking them? Did the corrective measure you took actually pay for the broken piece? NO! It did not, but you corrected the child to prevent their personal injury in the future and to instill orderliness and discipline in the child. If you wanted to buy another “piece” to replace the broken one you may, but the piece that was broken was already paid for. Likewise, all our sins are already paid for in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ and God’s chastisements in our lives are not an effort to make us pay for our sins but to correct us for our good and future benefit.

                                                v.      Don’t “despise” or reject God’s training efforts, and don’t “faint”—lose heart—when God rebukes you, and don’t quit His training process of discipline (Heb. 12:5). Accept God’s discipline as necessary child training.

B.     Because You are Disciplined in Love (Heb. 12:6-8).

                                                  i.      “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth…”! (Heb. 12:6)

                                                ii.      “Love” is “agapao” and refers to having love for someone based on sincere appreciation and high regard—it is to regard with affection and loving concern.

                                              iii.      Revelation 3:19, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (See also Prov. 13:24)

                                              iv.      Beware of the false messages we tell ourselves when life is painful!

1.      God is not angry with you!

2.      God does not hate you!

3.      God has not rejected you! (Heb. 13:5)

4.      God has not given up on you! (Phil. 1:6)

5.      God has not forgotten you (Heb. 6:9-12)

In Hebrews 6:10, we are reminded that, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love”. God will not forget you or your service that is rooted in godly love (Heb. 6:9, 10).  He will not fail to recall your industrious exertions for His Name’s sake. In fact, He upholds this promise with His own impeccable character and perfect faithfulness. His unadulterated fairness, absolute reliability, and flawless memory forbid even a hint of forgetting or overlooking you or your efforts. Our obedience and persistence will bring Him glory and He deems this as something He can reward. Beloved, we could never receive greater assurance than this!

                                                v.      God loves you greatly and endeavors to mature you in the Faith!

C.    Because God has your Best Interest at Heart (Heb. 12:9-11).

                                                  i.      Just as we accepted discipline from our human fathers, we should accept it from our heavenly Father! (12:9)

                                                ii.      God does not discipline us to harm us, but to bless us—it is for our “profit.” (12:10)

1.      God wants to give us the “advantages” of a disciplined and trained lifestyle—fulfilling our purpose and reaching our potential in Christ!

2.      God seeks to make us “better off” through child training. (2Pet. 1:4)

                                              iii.      God disciplines us to share His “holiness” with us (Heb. 12:11-12)

1.      The discipline of earthly parents is not perfect. It lasts only for a time, that is, during childhood and youth. If it has not succeeded then, it can do no more. And it is as seemed best to them, according to what they think is right. Sometimes it may not be right. –MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary

2.      But God’s discipline is always perfect. His love is infinite and His wisdom is infallible. His chastenings are never the result of whim, but always for our profit. His objective is that we may be partakers of His holiness. And godliness can never be produced outside God’s school. –MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary

                                              iv.      God disciplines us to help us finish our race—discipline builds our faith and endurance (Heb. 12:1-6). Keep your eyes on the Author and Finisher!

The truth is God permits us to faces challenges and even periods of suffering because He is building discipline into our character. Yes, our heavenly Father will even use dark and hard experiences to develop our character as a well trained and disciplined army of soldiers. That is correct, we are soldiers of the Cross; to face the enemy of our souls and to endure the battles we must fight requires highly discipline soldiers and special forces for Christ. No, our battle is not with mere human being, but against extraordinary and powerful demonic beings. This is a spiritual warfare with fallen creatures who have been engaged in these spiritual battles for thousands of years. They are experienced, formidable and dangerous! Our Father understands the nature, dangers, and intensity of this fight; therefore, He trains us rigorously and diligently to prepare us for the inevitable encounters with the enemy! Arduous training is vital. Yes, even great soldiers need correction from time to time; submit yourself to the training of the Captain of our souls and prepare for battle!

Thinking In Spiritual Terms

Phil 3:17-21, Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18, (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19, Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Ephes. 2:6, And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Col. 3:1-3, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When we recognize Heaven as our spiritual country and home, it changes the way we view life here and what we emphasize while we live here on earth each day. This different emphasis is evident in our thinking and therefore our lifestyle. Our decisions are constantly screened through this grid of our perspectives.  What’s important to us as members of a heavenly community is different from those who are of the worldly perspective.

EMPHASIZING SPIRITUAL THINKING (Phil. 3:20)

   1.  What Does Spiritual Mean?

The word "spiritual" has suffered as much abuse as the word "fellowship."

      A.  The Wrong Idea.

Too many people think that a “spiritual Christian” is mystical, dreamy, impractical, and distant. Basically out of touch with reality! (Wiersbe)

You see a person can supposedly be ‘spiritual’ without ever having been saved.  In reference to Eastern religions, many feel that they are spiritual because they chant, sit with their legs crossed in a trance, or recite a memorized prayer. Then there is the example that is most familiar to us all who have been in church for any given period of time, when he prays, he shifts his voice into a sepulchral tone in tremolo and goes to great lengths to inform God of the things He already knows. Unfortunately, this kind of unctuous piety is a poor example of true spirituality. Others are convinced that if their list of service endeavors is filled with ‘Christian’activities then it indicates they are truly spiritual.  Again these are powerfully wrong ideas.

      B.  The Correct Idea.

To be spiritually minded does not require one to be impractical and mystical. Quite the contrary, the spiritual mind makes the believer think more clearly and get things done more efficiently.

Romans 8:4-7, That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [5] For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

          1. Not Those Who Walk After the Flesh.    Rom. 8:4

These are not saved, and they obey the pulses and drives of their old sinful nature.  They live to gratify the flesh and cater to themselves primarily— they literally seek to satisfy their body.

          2.  Those Who Walk After the Spirit.  Vs. 4, 6     

These are true believers, and they rise above the power of the fleshly carnal nature and emphasize the importance of an eternal perspective.  They are rightfully occupied with the Word of God, prayer, worship, Christian service, and a daily yielding to the Holy Spirit.

          3.  We Walk and Live in a Spiritual Sphere.  Vs. 6

The Holy Spirit is our guarantee for a real life, characterized by peace with God, and tranquility of heart.  We live in a different sphere of reality.  Just as fish live in water and people in the air, so is the believer living in the Spirit.

    2.  What Does Spiritual Mind Mean?

       A.  Having Heaven’s Point of View.      

Col. 3:2, Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

           1.  To be “spiritually minded” (Rom. 8:6) simply means to look at earth from heaven's point of view.

           2.  It is to give your heart–“your affection”– to the heavenly things and spiritual considerations, we do not allow ourselves to become consumed with the passing things of earth.

           3.  Literally it is a practice of occupying your minds with the things of God–“set your affection,”–and not merely concentrating on and living for this life on earth alone.   There is more to life then this!  

We should therefore, purpose in our hearts to occupy our minds with all that goes into life under the direction and power of the Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit produces a certain pattern for living and a way of thinking, our goal is “to be spiritually minded”—to mind and be mindful of the Spirit. Practically this means, making the Spirit’s character the object of our mind, the goal and focus of our actions, we must faithfully cultivate the graces of the Spirit in our hearts, and submit ourselves completely to his direct influence in our soul. To be spiritually minded, we seek those feelings and views which the Holy Spirit produces, and follow his leadership in our daily decisions.

       B.  Having a Dual Citizenship.

            1.  It is Not Merely Concentrating on Heaven. D.L. Moody used to scold Christians for being "so heavenly minded they were no earthly good," and that exhortation still needs to be heeded.

           2.  Christians have a dual citizenship - on earth and in heaven - and our citizenship in heaven ought to make us better people here on earth.

      C.  Having Eternal Values and Not Temporal.

          1.  The spiritually minded believer is not attracted by the "things" of this world.

1 John 2:15-17,  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Lot selected the well watered plains of Jordan because his values were worldly, and ultimately he lost everything.

         2.  He makes his decisions on the basis of eternal values and not the passing fads of society.

Moses refused the pleasures and treasures of Egypt because he had something infinitely more wonderful to live for. Hebrews 11:24-26, By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; [25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; [26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Mark 8:36, For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Philip. 3:12,  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Our most important goal should be getting to know Christ better. Paul says that his goal is to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ has in mind for him. This goal absorbed all of Paul’s energy. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal—Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?

EMPHASIZING SPIRITUAL LIVING  (Phil. 3:20)

Certainly the way we think, influences greatly the pattern of our lifestyle. And of course our lives demonstrate our value system.

    1.  What Does Heaven Have to Do With My Life Right Now?

“For our conversation is in heaven” (Phil 3:20).

       A.  Conversation Has to do With Conduct.

Philip. 1:27, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

The old English word “conversation” usually refers to our conduct, behavior, and lifestyle, but here it has a much broader meaning to encompass ‘the behavior of a community or citizenship obligations.’

            1.  A Conduct Consistent With Being Citizens of the Heavenly Country.

Here we are citizens of the USA living wherever on earth; we have our leaders and presidents, our legislators and law-makers, our duties, and our privileges. It is a shadow of heavenly things.

            2.  A Conduct Consistent With Being a Member of the Heavenly City– New Jerusalem.

The heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God, is our true home, our continuing city.  (See Rev. 21:10-27)

       B.  Conversation Has to do With Citizenship.

The terms “conversation” in Phil. 3:20, would include, “community,” “governmental administration,” “political order,” “behavior of the citizens.”  It has to do with the way we actually live as a citizen of a nation, colony, or city.  

Much like the Pilgrims living in America–the new world–during the 1600 and 1700 in the 13 colonies were actually citizens of England, though they lived on a different continent.  Therefore, they were subjects of the king and responsible to the laws of England.  Likewise Christians in New Testament Churches are colonies of Heaven– subject to the authority and laws of our Sovereign. Why? Because our citizenship is up there!

                                                                                                           

             1.  Almighty God is King of Our Country!

                   *   The almighty God, King of kings and Lord of lords, is the center of that vast communion.

                   *   The blessed angels, our guardians, are his ministers, standing before him, to do his will.

                   *   The saints, living and departed, are our fellow-citizens, the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn who are written in heaven, and the spirits just men made perfect.

Hebrews 12:22-23,  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

             2.  All of Our Privileges Extend from Heaven to Us!

Ephes. 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

There we have our privileges,

                    *  The grace of God,

                    *  The help of the Holy Spirit of God,

                    *  The hope of everlasting blessedness.

                    *  The peace of God that passes all understanding.

                    *  The sweet communion of the Lord.

                    *  The Fellowship of the Family of God.

             3.  All of Our Responsibilities Extend to Us Here!

Matthew 22:37-38, Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment.

  

Therefore, we have our duties, all growing from the one highest law of love: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;... thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

Every believer is a citizen of Heaven and God has fully accepted each of us as His own children.  Ephes. 2:19, Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; We are not strangers to Heaven, we instead belong to the royal family in that city! We must recognize that we have a responsibility to obey the Laws of our country where our citizenship is.  We much daily live in complete submission to the authority of our King— the Lord Jesus Christ– first and foremost.  Our conduct ought to be becoming of a citizen of the heavenly country and the heavenly Father’s household.  As we seek to execute our responsibilities as a citizen, we must take full advantage of all our privileges in Christ to ensure we fulfill his will for us. Making full use of prayer, the Word, the leadership of the Holy Ghost, and the counsel of godly brethren should be our focus.  Acknowledge Christ’s authority in your life, employ your spiritual privileges as you fulfill your god-given responsibilities (Wiersbe).

                                                                       

    2.  How Does Spiritual Thinking Relate to Spiritual Living?  Rom. 12:1-2

Paul is encouraging us to have the spiritual mind, and he does this by pointing out the characteristics of the Christian whose citizenship is in Heaven. Just as Philippi was a colony of Rome on foreign soil, so the churches are “colonies of Heaven” here on earth.

Think about it . . . our real home is Heaven right now. We are citizens of the heavenly world first and of the earthly world second.  Col. 3:1-3, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  The highest loyalty and allegiance should be to that kingdom first and foremost. The promise of service should be to our great Master the Lord Jesus in all purity and holiness.  Our home is in Heaven, where Jesus is; it is so new. “Ye are come . . . unto the city of the living God;” “Ye are fellow-citizens with the saints.”  Therefore “seek those things which are above.”  There in Heaven must be the place of our treasures; there is where we must focus our hearts. We should try by God's grace to fill our minds with the blessed thought of Heaven, to make a point to meditate daily upon what it means to belong to that city, its never-ending worship, its unclouded view of the Divine beauty. For there we hope to spend the ages of the everlasting life.  Let us try to fill our thoughts and imaginations with it now, not with the poor prizes of earthly success, worldly popularity, fleshly appetites, and prideful pursuits.  Let us seek to realize those striking words, “Our conversation is in heaven.”

The Spiritually Minded Believer is able to focus on Spiritual Blessings and still maintain a very practical and meaningful life. We should live down to earth even though we are seated in heavenly places.  Keep your spiritual privileges in clear view because they will guide you to make decisions consistent with Heavenly Citizenship.