Sermon Tone Analysis

As we step out of a decade, a year gone by, and as we step into 2020; I want you and I to clearly see how God desires, even mandates that you and I should live.

This Christmas season we looked at what was entailed in God sending us His Son Jesus Christ.

We closed up the various sermons of Acts seeing Paul in Roman custody under house arrest.

We have witnessed the ongoing message of the Gospel that accompanied the early church.

During this time of imprisonment, Paul writes to the Philippian Church… we looked at some things briefly last Sunday that Paul wrote.

In this letter Paul has expressed his love for the people

He has expressed how some preach the gospel just to make life hard for him

He has expressed his desire to be with Christ, yet the greater need of being present to declare God’s Truth

Now Paul directs his instruction and mandate to the people… Philippians 1:27(a) sets the thesis statement for Paul’s instruction.

(I will be in the New Living Translation today)

WHO YOU ARE

Comprehend the impact of that statement for just a moment… YOU are a citizen of Heaven!

You and I are adopted into the Family of God

We take on His residence!

We now represent His Name!

Even though Heaven is our home (& we desire to be there even as Paul did)

This world where is where God has us for His purpose, His Glory for the time being...

This means that you and I are on temporary assignment as Ambassadors! 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

I was speaking with my brother the other day and discovered something about ambassadors… when one takes on that role or position as ambassador it is a title you hold for life!

One is always aware that their actions, words, attitude is representing something far greater than themselves.

This speaks to ones conduct… :a mode or standard of personal behavior especially as based on moral principles (Merriam-Webster)

Are your words, actions, and attitudes WORTHY of the message you carry as an ambassador, as a citizen of Heaven?

Do you represent well to the world around you

This is a role and position you carry for LIFE! and truth be told this life is brief.

WHAT’S YOUR MESSAGE

You and I carry through this life a message spoken and demonstrated to those around us.

1: an official envoy especially: a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment

We are representatives of the Good News (Gospel) of Jesus Christ.

His Death Burial and Resurrection!

A message declaring what Christ did allows the OLD to be gone and what the NEW looks like

Is it appealing?

Is it an accurate message?

Does your life represent well this gospel message?

HOW IT LOOKS

Paul in the following verses lays out well how this should look… Philippians 1:27-2:4

Practical Practices for living this life as a citizen of Heaven… as His Ambassador: (These are mandates not suggestions)

Stand firm… don’t be wishy washy, or as James states it “tossed to and fro by the waves” take a stand!

Its hard, people won’t like it, it can bring suffering

Believe in Him, suffer for Him… take it on as part of your calling as His child!

Paul gives four rhetorical statements to encourage us of what we have in Christ as we live for Him

1… Encouragement through Christ

2… comfort in His love

3… fellowship union/unity with the Holy Spirit

4… affection and compassion or sympathy

Unity… because we don’t live this life alone

He didn’t leave a bunch of index fingers to point at others, He left the body to work together

Notice as we are challenged in how we live all the ways we are encouraged in unity with others

Then finally DON’T … BUT statement in verses 3-4

Don’t be selfish or have empty conceit, look only to your intrest

But have humility, consider others… and consider them as more important, look out for their interest

Preoccupation with self is SIN… yet we live in a world that is all about self help, self care, take care of number one, all about me… and it has even filtered into the church!

So the question has to be answered, in a world that places so much focus on self why live contrary to this...

WHY LIVE THIS

Because we represent something far greater than ourselves…

We represent Christ

Christ gave the ultimate example for you and I to live by Philippians 2:5-6

Paul goes on to explain the Incarnation of Jesus Christ!

If God being who He was and is… demonstrated humility he is our example… we are merely His Ambassadors with the honor and privileged to represent Him to a lost and sinful world.

As you begin 2020 let us make sure that the world around us sees clearly who we are and who we represent in a powerful way!