The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-Nine

"Citizens of Heaven"


Acts 22:22-30 (NLT) The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!” They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.
   The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious. When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”
   When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”
   So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”
   “Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.
   “I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!”
    Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”
   The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.
   The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

Not knowing what to do with Paul, the Roman commander ordered Paul flogged and then interrogated. I guess he thought that a beating would get the truth out of him. When they had Paul stretched out and bound, ready to be beaten, Paul asked if it was legal to beat a man who was a Roman citizen. That got a huge reaction. The commander couldn't believe a Jew like Paul would be a citizen of Rome. He himself had to buy his citizenship. This news frightened them so much, they withdrew immediately.

We too are important citizens, those of us who serve the One and Only true King Jesus. This world tries to beat us down because of this. If we only realized that we are royalty and by the nod of His mighty head our enemies could be destroyed. The dark ones who serve Satan know about the power of our inheritance and they tremble at the Name of Jesus. Do you realize where your true citizenship is? Do you know the power that stands guard over you?

Philippians 3:17-21 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

The Roman commander was astonished by Paul's Roman citizenship. He had had to pay a big price for his. Maybe he had to pay large sums of money or as a military man he had to perform certain duties. Whatever the cost it was big.

Our citizenship in heaven was purchased for us by one man who happened to be God. His name is Jesus. The cost of our citizenship in Heaven cost God His One and Only Son. Jesus came to earth just to make a way for us to have fellowship with God. The purchase price was death. You see our sins require the death penalty because we cannot approach God with the guilt of our sins. A sacrifice had to be made and Jesus willingly and lovingly paid the price for all. However, its up to the individual to accept this citizenship.

The supernatural world recognizes the citizens of Heaven. They know we belong to Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Look at a few examples of how the dark spirits view Jesus and those who belong to Him:

James 2:19 (NLT) You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

Believing in God isn't enough for citizenship in heaven. We see how the demons believe and tremble in terror.

Matthew 8:30-32 (NLT) There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
   “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

The demons know and understand the power of the Righteous One. They will and do beg for mercy and will never receive it. In fact, they will ultimately be destroyed by His hand. He has already won the battle for us on the cross. Praise His Name!

James 4:6-8 (NLT) But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
   So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

It takes true humility to enter into citizenship of Heaven. We lay down our rights to the outside world and take up the rights of eternity. Once we accept this awesome life-giving gift from Jesus, we are His and under His authority. No one can separate us from Him. We may face hardships on this earth while we are in are physical bodies but eternity is our with King Jesus.

Romans 8:31-39 (NLT) What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
   Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
   And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let's take up our true position in Him and begin to live as subjects of the Awesome King. Exert your right against the dark forces who want your demise. Claim your right as a royal citizen of heaven. Satan and his minions have no control over us because we stand behind the Shield of Jesus.

Where is your citizenship? Do you depend on just believing there is a God and have not accepted His Son Jesus? All you have to do is say 'yes' to His invitation and be subject to Him. He's a merciful and gracious King who loves us beyond human reason. What are you waiting for? If you do believe that you are a citizen of Heaven, start living like it. We are not defeated for the victory is already ours in Jesus.

1 John 3:3-5 (NLT) Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.