the book of Philippians has many secrets for peace and joy in the believer's life
every book in the Bible has lessons on this subject, but the book of Philippians abounds in spiritual teachings which produce joy and peace
we must remember that Paul wrote to his Philippian friends from the Roman prison
he was in prison for the preaching of the gospel
from his lips and pen came no word of complaint
instead we read praises to God and exhortations for others to rejoice
the people in Philippi must have thought when reading this cheerful letter that Paul never changes
when he first came to Philippi, he was cast into our prison for preaching and carrying on his work
in prison he and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God
all is just the same, he is still praising God, he did not whine, nor murmur
he conducted himself as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
this is a serious need of our day
good soldiers, courageous, brave, and willing
soldiers who are conscious of God's presence, and who are full of joy and peace in the Lord
Paul counted himself as a citizen of Heaven
this brought to his heart peace and confidence
it caused him to live in a manner worthy of his high calling
let us consider how our heavenly citizenship will bring peace and joy into our hearts
as citizens of heaven, we have cause to rejoice
the new birth has made us citizens of heaven
our main cause for rejoicing is that our names are written down in Heaven - Luke 10:17-20
God's children are to be constantly rejoicing because their names are written in heaven
the disciples were rejoicing in the great things which they had accomplished in the name of the Jesus
though we have the power to put down demons, tread on serpents and scorpions, and conquer all our enemies, we are not to rejoice in this
we are to rejoice that our names are written in Heaven, this comes as a command from our Savior
we have causes to rejoice because God is our Father, Jesus is our Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is our indwelling guest
with the Trinity on our side, it is hard to see how anyone could be despondent and gloomy
we are encompassed about by the powers of heaven
as citizens of Heaven, let us rejoice, let us not fret and complain and worry
let us be thankful that our names are written down in the register in glory
as citizens of heaven, we are strangers and pilgrims in this world
this world is not our permanent home
we are on our way to our Father's house of many mansions – John 14:1-2
that place is made ready for everyone who believes on Jesus
we are not alone in this pilgrimage
we have one with us, even our Savior, and we have another Comforter, the Holy Spirit
the child of God does not travel alone
we are passing through unfriendly territory, but we need not fear
those who break beneath the loads of life are those who are trying to carry the burden by themselves
as pilgrims, this earth has no attraction for us
we are not to love the world, neither the things which are in the world
as we are passing through, we are to hold lightly the material things which pass through our hands
why should we be attracted to the cheap affairs of men when we are citizens of Heaven
the golden streets belong to us, the Heavenly mansions are ours
joy eternal is our portion
why should we seek after the flimsy pleasures and frivolous entertainments of this existence
as pilgrims we are to live in harmony with our high destiny
if we are the citizens of Heaven, we are to stand tall, live tall, think tall, and be tall
our conduct is to be that of a citizen of Heaven
we are to be courageous, separated from the world, and devoted to our God
we should live, work, and carry on in life as the children of the King
as citizens of heaven, we are looking for Christ [from whence also we look for the Saviour]
we are citizens of Heaven and we look toward Heaven for the appearance of Christ
we have many promises in the Bible that tell us that Jesus is coming back (Act 1:10-11, Titus 2:13)
we are looking for Him, and we are working for Him
ours is not the existence of idle men who sit down and look Heavenward
ours is the life of those who are actively engaged in work, but at the same time anticipating the appearance of the "great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"
we are to wait for His coming, but we are to work as we wait
we are to watch for His coming, but we are to work as we watch
this blessed hope in our hearts will purify our lives – I John 3:2-3
as citizens of Heaven, and the blessed hope in our hearts, we will look upward
we will be troubled less and less about earthly matters, for at any time the King may come to receive His own
as citizens of heaven, we are looking for a new body [Who shall change our vile body]
Christ is coming and when he does, He shall change this old body
He is going to give us a new body, like unto His glorious body [fashioned like unto his glorious body]
this old body connects us with the soil out of which we were formed, and into which it falls again
this body limits intellectual power and development
it grows tired even in blessed spiritual activities
in this body are the seeds of disease and pain
it is a body prone to weakness, and requires constant care
this body is reserved to a high destiny, it shall be like the body of our Lord
what a wonderful encouragement this is to all who suffer pain, and to all whose bodies are broken and twisted
here is something to give us peace and joy in the midst of every trial
we are Heavenly citizens and we look for a new body
we shall have a body suitable for Heaven
our new bodies will enable us to serve Him forever
there will be no night in Heaven, and without need for rest, we can enter into an eternal service
nothing lightens the burden of the day like the anticipation of great things to come
Paul mentions the coming of our Lord and the acquiring of a new body so that weary Christians might be lifted up and sent forward
both peace and joy can be ours if we keep in mind that we are pilgrims passing through, and that the Saviour may come today
let us lift up our eyes, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh
