2. Suffering in Christ (27-30) V.27 a) Status - Fruit of the Gospel. I. Political (Gr. politeuesthe) means to live as a citizen. II. Philippi was a colony of Rome in Macedonia, the church in Philippi was a colony of heaven. The Philippians took pride of being citizens of Rome but they ought to live as citizens of heaven and worthy of the Gospel and calling of Christ. Phil.3:20; Eph.4:1 III. It was in Philippi Paul used his citizenship of Rome. Acts 16:35-40 “ You are writing a Gospel, a chapter each day, by the deeds that you do and the words that you say. Men read what you write, whether faithless or true, say, what is the Gospel according to you?” b) Standing - Fastness of unity. I. Militarism (Gr. steko) means to be stationary and persevere. II. The only way to stand fast as a congregation is through one spirit, if we give demons ground through disunity, then they have a right to attack. Phil.4:1, 3; 1.Peter 5:8-9; 1.Cor.16:13; Galatians 5:1; 2.Thes. 2:15 III. We also need to stand against demons with the whole armour of God. Eph.6:10-17 c) Striving - Fight of Faith. I. Athletic (Gr. sunathleo) means to wrestle in a company. II. We should wrestle as a company for the faith, its not a one-man battle but a team-work. V.28 d) Salvation - Flight out of sight or straight-out Faith. I. God will save us and continue to save us until he has completed the good work in us. 2.Cor.1:10 II. The word terrified (Gr. ptyresthai) means in Classical Greek: The timid horses that shy upon being startled at some unexpected object. III. If the Church of Philippi were not terrified of their enemies then it would declare how God led them through with victory. V.29 e) Suffering - Fierceness against Faith. All believers are called to suffer for Christ. Why? I. The testing of our faith. 1.Peter 1:6-7 II. The rejecting of those who follow Jesus. Mat.10:16-26; 2.Tim.3:12 III. The continual suffering of Jesus through us. Col.1:24; Acts 9:4 IV. The holy life suffering produces. 1.Peter 4:1 V.30 f) Struggle - Familiar conflict. The Christian life is a continual struggle. 1.Cor. 4:9-13; 2.Cor.6:4-10