citizenship

Growing up I never was a huge 007-James Bond fan. I mean, I did like the way he said his name. “Bond, James Bond” especially Sean Connery– that guy was smooth, but I just couldn’t get into them. Then one day I stumble upon this guy name Jason Bourne. HELLO this guy is amazing! This guy is flying, is riding motorcycles on the Great Wall of China, jumping out of airplanes, stitching himself up, shooting people, dodging, weaving, ducking machine gun fire, and rounding up the bad guys in several countries. Whew! It’s exhausting, and that’s the first 30 minutes of the movie.

What is interesting to see is how he and the other agents cross borders into other countries as they pull from their assortment of passports, which helps to disguise or change their identity as they move to and from enemy lines. The passports are telling the personnel at the borders that they are a citizen of a particular country and as the Jason Bourne’s of the world cross over into the various lands, they try to simulate the native look, they try to blend in to the environment in order to move about without any attention drawn to them.

It’s kinda of interesting to see some of the similarities and contrast of how we move about either to be recognized or not. Remember last week in our discussion we saw where Peter and John were pulled into the assembly of the religious leaders of the day. The reason is that the leaders of the day wanted, demanded that Peter, John and others STOP talking about Jesus and the leaders even stated that they recognized they had been with Jesus. These guys were walking around not hiding but declaring that they were citizens of heaven. Here is one sighting, take a peek:

Philippians 1:27 NLT above all, you must live as citizens (other translations have one spirit) 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 (gospel).

But let’s look at the next verse…..

Philippians 1:28 Don’t be intimidated (alarmed, frightened) in any way by your enemies (those that oppose). 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.

Yes yes, remember last week when we read in Colossians 2:15 that the enemies have been disarmed (stripped off) of their authority?  This means that when we are feeling intimidated, we give it the big ‘ole elbow in the jaw in the name of Jesus and let “it” (could be a person, place  or thing that is intimidating) know that we are moving forward by the Spirit of the resurrected Christ inside us.

Who are the people that we allow to intimidate us?

Who are we intimidating?

Where are the places where we are the most bold?

Stop for a moment and pray over how you will move about the borders as a citizen of heaven through the intimidation.

You see, it’s a bit opposite of how Jason Bourne would travel in a particular country PRETENDING to be a citizen. Since our REAL passport is stamped by Jesus, we are citizens of heaven, and since we are citizens of heaven how will we be recognized? How can we teach folks that they, too, are citizens of heaven when they said yes to Jesus and can join in beLIeVING HIM out in our community?  Let’s help our brothers and sisters come out of hiding as they are traveling on a passport that is not their true or their real ‘IDENTITY’ (sorry couldn’t resist).

Go ahead and start showing your passport to the individual/s you prayed for a moment ago. That person first on the list may be the one looking at us in the mirror…show your stamped passport of Jesus with cheerful courage, with assurance, with confidence (boldness) showing a world around us that we have FULL authority as citizens of heaven to navigate through the intimidation with a force that is unmatched. Love….it never fails!

love ’em up!