Tag: Christian Ambassadors

This is the final part to our sermon, “Christian Ambassadors.” We have presented Jesus as our heavenly Ambassador and Christians as the ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Today we want to address a very important problem which is our enemy – Satan.

Both our heavenly Ambassador and Christian ambassadors have a common enemy, Satan, whose undying drive is destroy God’s chosen. We all are aware of Satan’s failed attempts to destroy Jesus Christ. He had King Herod kill all male children two years old and under in an attempt to kill the Christ child. See Matthew 2:16 In Matthew Chapter 4 the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted directly by Satan.

Then we have Satan’s last diabolical try at killing Jesus when He entered Judas Iscariot compelling him to betray Jesus. See Luke 22:3 That did result in thedeath of Jesus but Satan still failed because, as we know, Jesus conquered death with His resurrection. Satan’s murderous plot made him a loser and Jesus the victor. We now await Jesus’ return when He will cast Satan into the Lake of Fire. See Revelation 20:10

The only way Satan can get at Jesus Christ now is through the ambassadors of Christ, Christians. The Apostle Peter characterized Satan as a “roaring lion” stalking Christians to devour them – to destroy their testimony. See I Peter 5:8 The word “devour” means to drink up; to gulp. Satan can gulp (consume) an unwary or weak Christian. That is why Peter admonishes us to be sober and vigilant.

The Apostle Peter was himself of particular interest to Satan. Luke tells of Satan’s desire to lure Peter away from Jesus who knew it and said to Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat…” Satan sought to separate Peter from Jesus by injuring his faith. The world is desperately trying to discredit and destroy the Christian faith.

The Apostle Paul experienced Satan’s interference many times in his missionary work. Besides often being attacked and threatened by Satan’s crowds Paul was prevented in his travels by Satan. He had often set his mind on going to Rome but was hindered by Satan. See Romans 1:13 15:22 Paul was also hindered by Satan from going to Thessalonica many times. I Thessalonians 2:18

There is no doubt in my mind that many Christians have allowed Satan to keep them from doing what they felt they should do. Beside direct interference with Christians Satan uses another high level tactic to thwart Christians. He accuses Christians before God continually. See Revelation 12:10 That same verse reveals that one day Satan will be forever cast out of heaven. That will clear heaven for habitation by Christians. Again, Christians win and Satan loses.

That brings to a close this sermon on “Christian Ambassadors.” I hope you have enjoyed it. Thank you for reading and may GOD BLESS YOU.

Yesterday we spent time presenting the ambassadors of our heavenly Ambassador, Jesus Christ. Though Christians seldom think of themselves as ambassadors that is really what we are – ambassadors of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We make that conclusion because that is how the Apostle Paul described himself and the disciples to the church at Corinth. See II Corinthians 5:20

We then discussed the fact that just as Jesus was sent from heaven with a message Christians are sent by Christ with a message to publish. That message is the gospel of Christ. No other gospel or message will do. Christians become Christians by the power of the gospel message and we are obliged to sow it to the world.

We learned that Jesus Christ had a special mission – the mission of the cross and crucifixion. He who completed that mission gave the church a special mission or work. Jesus gave it to the disciples at their last meeting before He ascended up into heaven.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:19-20

In that great commission there are three distinct works. First, we are to teach (preach the gospel) to all people. Second, as people believe on Christ as a result of hearing the gospel they are to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Thirdly, we are to instruct new converts to observe (obey) the Lord’s commandments which He gave us. We are to teach and edify them with the Word of God.

IMPORTANT: As ambassadors for Christ it is not our mission to be seeking to persuade believers into some political party or cause. Our mission is not to seek to enroll believers in social clubs or organizations that bring shame to the cause of Christ. Neither should we lead them into yielding to political correctness or humanistic philosophy.

As ambassadors for Christ, Christians are to bring people to Christ with the gospel of Christ. Afterwards we should help new believers to find a Bible based church. Then if we have the opportunity to do so we should make ourselves available to new believers to help them grow in the faith. As you no doubt know it is a joyous feeling when we can help a new believer to learn and grow.

Can you not remember a certain Christian who helped you when you had questions or perhaps needed help in understanding the Bible? We should be more than ready and willing to help new Christians when given the chance.

Summary: Jesus was God’s Ambassador from heaven. Christians are to be ambassadors for Christ. We now know our message and our mission. Tomorrow we will meet our adversary. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU

We have to this point talked about our heavenly Ambassador, Jesus Christ and His message and mission. Today we want to meet the ambassadors of the heavenly Ambassador.

Need I tell you who these ambassadors are? The Apostle Paul in speaking of himself and his fellow disciples said this: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…” II Corinthians 5:20 I deduce from Paul’s statement that all Christians are to be ambassadors for Christ. Ambassadors are special messengers carrying a message from their sender.

Jesus explained to His disciples that as He had been sent into the world by His Father He was sending them into the world. Jesus was His Father’s messenger and His disciples were to be His messengers – ambassadors if you please. See John 20:21

As Christians move about in this world they should be proclaiming the message of their sender. What is that message? It is the gospel of Christ. John Mark saw Christians as ambassadors for Christ in his proclamation of the great commission. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

In Colossians 1:23 Paul attributes the gospel message as being one of hope. This world cries loudly for hope and the only hope there is lies in the gospel of Christ. It is for that reason that God the Father and Jesus Christ intend for Christians to act as their ambassadors to deliver their message of hope to the world.

I fear that too many Christian ambassadors are giving a back seat to the gospel of Christ. How are they doing that? Churches and Christians are too involved in social problems and politics. I know Christians, and perhaps you do also, who are far more passionate about government and politics than they are with the gospel of Christ.

I don’t know about you but I am not favorably impressed when I see Christians more involved with political and social activism than they are evangelism. The great commission is not about creating a society with equality and prosperity. It is not about the promotion of a political party or ideology. It is not about building the American dream. Frankly, none of these produce lasting happiness or hope.

Please! Christians are supposed to be messengers (ambassadors) for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why would a Christian want to devote his/her time to any other work than that of being an ambassador for Christ? Any such Christian will suffer a great loss of spiritual blessings and rewards. I hope you are a true ambassador for Christ.

Tomorrow we will cover the special mission of Christ’s ambassadors. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU

We continue our depiction of our heavenly ambassador, Jesus Christ. Yesterday we defined His message which He delivered for His father. Today we want to talk of the specific mission of our heavenly Ambassador.

Jesus Christ had a mission that only He could perform and only once. His mission was to benefit all mankind – every human being ever born. Christians have already benefited from His life-saving mission but the masses have not. His message was about life but His mission provided that life.

May I say this in rebuttal to all the liberal minds that do not accept the mission of our heavenly Ambassador. Jesus did not enter this world to lead a tree planting brigade to save our eco system. He did not come to head up the SPCA or to save endangered species. His mission was not to implement a “green energy” program. Neither did He come to draw up a “no child left behind” educational curriculum. These humanistic programs will not save mankind or their souls.

Well then, what was His mission? Jesus spoke often of His Ambassadorial mission but it was generally not heard – not understood. How much clearer could Jesus have been than this: “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again.” Matthew 17:22-23

Jesus’ mission was one of dying yet living. Our heavenly Ambassador would allow sinful men to humiliate Him and mutilate Him on the cross where He died. Let there be no misunderstanding over this. Those wicked men did not forcibly put Jesus on the cross against His will. Hear what Jesus had to say about this.

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself…” John 10:17-18 Those godless men could not have hung Jesus on the cross contrary to His will. He allowed it because it was God’s plan and He knew He would live again for evermore. Praise God!

Is there any more poignant irony than this? Sinful men blindly crucified Jesus Christ to save their honor and place in society. Yet it was the brutal death of Jesus Christ that provided a way for them to be saved – to be reconciled to God. This could not possibly be the contrivance of man. This was all of God and our heavenly Ambassador.

Are you saved by your faith in Jesus Christ? If so you can thank our heavenly Ambassador for His mission of the cross. Tomorrow we will introduce the ambassadors of the heavenly Ambassador. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU

We spoke of the importance of the position of “ambassador” yesterday. Earthly ambassadors are duly informed and trained to represent a national ruler in a foreign country. Guess what? Christians are ambassadors of Christ to represent Him in this lost and dying world. Before we address that truth we will focus on our heavenly ambassador.

Doubtless you know that our heavenly ambassador can be none other than Jesus Christ. He is never identified in the Bible as an ambassador but by the definition of the word He is one. Jus as an earthly ambassador is sent by his leader so was Jesus was sent from God. Jesus said this in speaking of His Father, “But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.” John 7:29

An earthly ambassador speaks for his leader or nation. Likewise Jesus our heavenly ambassador spoke for His Father. While praying to His Father Jesus said, “For I have given unto them (the disciples) the words which thou gavest me…” John 17:8 Jesus did not speak His own mind. He spoke the mind of His father. When we read His recorded words we are reading the words of God.

Earthly ambassadors convey to foreign rulers messages entrusted to them by their governments. Our God entrusted Jesus with a most urgent message for all mankind – for people of all countries and nationalities. This message was a message of salvation. Speaking of Himself Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 Jesus came to save lost people.

The message our heavenly ambassador brought to us from God was one of life. Everyone is in need of a life beyond this physical life which dies. There is an eternal life available to everyone. How do we get that eternal life? Jesus told us how. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47 Though we may die physically we will never die spiritually if we have Jesus Christ as our Savior.

In addition to salvation and eternal life, God’s message which He sent by His ambassador Jesus Christ is one of hope. The masses of the world are groping for some kind of hope yet they don’t find any. That is because there is no hope outside of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul named the only source of hope in the salutation of his first letter to Timothy. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.” I Timothy 1:1

Yes, Jesus Christ is our heavenly ambassador sent from God the Father. He brought to us a message of salvation, life and hope. No earthly ambassador can do this. Tomorrow we will inspect the mission of our heavenly ambassador. Until then may GOD BLESS YOU

I N T R O D U C T I O N

This is one of my favorite sermons because it speaks of a subject which Christians almost never hear in church. That is sad because the subject truly defines an aspect of Christianity which we seldom think about. I suppose the cause of its obscurity is due in part to its limited mention in the Bible but that does not diminish the importance of it.

Today our topic is the position of an ambassador. Yes, whether we know it or not Christians are ambassadors. It seems best if we define the position of ambassador at the start.

“ ‘ambassador’ refers to a diplomatic agent of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or government to another either as a resident representative or on extraordinary or special service.” It is hoped that this sermon will magnify the role of ambassador as it pertain to Christians.

This truth is overlooked but ambassadors were a common figure in the O.T. times. Many O.T. kings and generals utilized ambassadors in dealing with other nations and powers. Surely we know that ambassadors play a vital role in international relationships today. What we probably don’t know is that God’s church is to be filled with ambassadors.

The importance of ambassadors was heralded by the writer of the book of Proverbs. “A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.” Proverbs 13:17 An honest and loyal ambassador can ensure the welfare of his ruler and nation.

This sermon will introduce the greatest ambassador the world has ever known. Of course the world doesn’t recognize this ambassador but the church surely does. In addition to the supreme ambassador we will meet His embassage. I hope you get the thrill from this as I got in the preparation of it.

Tomorrow we will meet the greatest ambassador – the heavenly Ambassador. Until them may GOD BLESS YOU