Citizens of Heaven (Pt. 4) - Priests in a Power Suit
Over the past weeks, we’ve been learning what it means to be citizens of heaven. We’ve seen that citizenship comes with access to God, transformation through Christ, and responsibilities that shape how we live. Today, the focus is clear: citizenship must not only be visible in our Sunday worship but also in our Monday work.
Paul tells us in Philippians 1:27: “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the good news about Christ.” To live as citizens of heaven is to let every part of our lives reflect the worth of Jesus. If the gospel is truly good news, then our lives should make others want what we have.
Light in Every Sphere
Jesus calls us the light of the world (Matthew 5:16). Light is meant to shine in darkness—not just in places already lit. Too often we confine our faith to the sacred while labeling everything else as secular: work, culture, politics, business. But God never designed us to live divided lives. In Christ, there is no separation. Our work, our creativity, our influence can all be acts of worship if surrendered to Him.
That’s why Scripture says God has made us “kings and priests” (Revelation 1:6, 5:10). The priest ministers before God; the king governs in the world. In Jesus, we are both. We carry priestly intimacy with God and kingly authority on earth. We are heaven’s mobile embassy, sent into every sphere to make Him known.
Priests in a Power Suit
Being a priest in a power suit means our faith must be visible not only in church but in boardrooms, classrooms, offices, and studios. We don’t separate the sacred from the secular—we bring heaven into both.
To live this way, three qualities must mark us as citizens of heaven:
1. Excellence
Daniel “so distinguished himself” in Babylon that kings took notice (Daniel 6:3). Excellence means doing our best with what God has entrusted to us. It’s not about perfection but about diligence, faithfulness, and quality that sets us apart. When we work with excellence, people see something supernatural in the way we carry out ordinary tasks.
2. Integrity
Integrity is living consistently with God’s standards, even when it costs us. Daniel resolved not to defile himself, even under pressure (Daniel 1:8). Likewise, we cannot let “Babylon rename us”—we must resist compromise in business, culture, or relationships. Our words, actions, and values must align. As citizens of heaven, our faith must be inseparable from our conduct.
3. Innovation
The Spirit of God equips us to think beyond the ordinary, to create solutions that others cannot. When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded both the content and interpretation of his dream, Daniel sought God and received wisdom that no one else could offer (Daniel 2:19–23). In the same way, God gives us insight to solve problems in business, science, art, and governance. Innovation displays the wisdom of God at work in us.
Living Worthy of the Gospel
Excellence, integrity, and innovation are not just workplace strategies—they are spiritual testimonies. When we embody them, people begin to see heaven through us. And when recognition comes—whether in an office, on a stage, or in a headline—we get to say boldly: “It is because of Jesus.”
This is what it means to live “in a manner worthy of the Good News.” We don’t need to announce our faith everywhere we go. Our lives should announce it for us. When we excel, when we walk in integrity, when we innovate with divine wisdom, the world will ask what makes us different. And we will point them to Christ.
As citizens of heaven, let us step into our priest-king assignment. Let every classroom, boardroom, office, and studio know that heaven is here—because we are here.