You Are An Ambassador for Christ

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Are You An Effective Ambassador For Christ?

You are called to be an ambassador for Christ, to help others find Jesus and become reconciled back to God through His blood. He needs you to show others the ways of the kingdom as a living role model, and He needs you to share your story with others so they can see it is possible and appropriate to turn and follow Jesus. 

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

Ambassadors are representative of a higher authority, sent as an envoy into a foreign land with authority to deliver a message and negotiate on behalf of ruler. Typical roles for a diplomatic ambassador include: 

Negotiate Agreements: Use delegated authority to make things happen
Maintain Diplomatic Relations: Engage, Maintain open dialog
Promote Cooperation: Identify Opportunities, Advocate Solutions
Promote Investment: Identify Needs/Opportunities, Make Connections
Safeguard Interests: Identify conflicts, risks, issues; No surprises
Help Travelers: Help friendlies navigate unfamiliar/unfriendly areas
Explain Policy: Explain how/why of established policies/rules
Evacuate Refugees: Help folks escape danger

As believing Christian we are each commissioned as an agent for the Kingdom of God, sent out into the fallen world to help pave the way for the kingdom. 

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19

Jesus tells John in Revelation how we will play a key part of His three part strategy to defeat the devil and make him His foot stool. Jesus removes the devils power by shedding His innocent blood on the cross, we need to follow Jesus model and deny our earthyl lives to the point of death so we can live the life He paid such a high price for, and as we do it, we need to share our story with others so they see it is possible and appropriate to do the same thing.  

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.’”Revelation 12:10-11

How are you doing in the role of ambassador:  Being a good Christian role model?  Engaging others and sharing your story?

Are you a good role model? Are you helping His cause or hurting it as you walk out your life?

Have you fully embraced your identity as a Born Again, Spirit Filled, Child of God?

Have You fully embraced your purpose to bring glory to God in everything you think, say, and do, and to become a beacon for the kingdom? 

Have you renewed your mind? Become focused on things above? Seeing things from His perspective?

Are you setting a good example with your life? with your relationships? with your choice of words? with how you spend your time?

Have you put off the old man and his sinful ways, and put on new life with Jesus? 

Are you still loving yourself, your earthly life, and the things of this world, or have you denied yourself and become separate from the world?

Have you shifted from living by the flesh to living by faith in the spirit? Have you put all your trust in Him?

Are you acting like Jesus would?  Become transformed into His likeness? Can people see hints of Jesus in you when they see you in action?

Are you doing the works He did and more? Are you actively engaged defeating the works of the devil, or are you sitting on the sidelines watching things happen?

Are you doing all things in His name so the Father gets the glory?

Do you give God credit for everything He does?  Can anyone else tell you Love God with all your heart?

Are you a light in this dark world, a beacon for the kingdom? Are you attracting people to be interested in participating in the kingdom or are you giving them more excuses to ignonre God?

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”Matthew 5:13-16

Your life matters, live it well.

Are you actively engaged as an advocate for the kingdom, or are you holding back?

We are each called to be a witness to Jesus and share our story with others:

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1 Peter 3:15

“And he did not permit him but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’” Mark 5:19

“’Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul.” Psalm 66:16

“Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!” Psalm 105:1-2

We each have a story to tell, the story of our unique and personal journey with Jesus.

    • How do you know God / Jesus is real?
      • What evidence have you seen?
    • How did He first get your attention?
      • A Knock? A Situation? Distress/Despiration?
    • How have you seen His hand in your life?
      • Significant “Non-random” events? People? Places? Circumstances?
    • How do you interact with God?
      • How do you engage Him? How often? Where?
    • How have you heard God’s voice?
      • In Scripture? Thoughts arriving during prayer? Journalling? Knowing in your gut? Audible Voice?
    • Who are You? Why are you here? What is your calling?
      • What unique Gifts/Talents did He give you so you can be useful? What comes easy? What do you do well?
      • What passions did he plant in your heart to guide your journey? What do you enjoy? What drives you?
      • What experiences did God give you to shape you and set you up on your current path?
      • What is your purpose / calling / ministry?
    • How has Faith/The Word/Jesus changed your life/thinking/behavior?
      • What have you learned though a trial or tribulation?
      • How has Faith helped you get through a storm in your life?
      • How has Holy Spirit led you into interesting situations?
      • How has Holy Spirit worked through you to impact someone else?
      • Do you see any hints of a positive ripple of God’s love through you to others, and then on form them?

You can ponder these questions in your mind. I encourage you to write them down so you are fully formed and more conscice and ready to share when asked.

My Offer: I woud be happy to do an interview with your and help you capture your story. We can do it via zoom and we can get a written transcript of your story. You can keep it private for your personal use, or we can share it publicly to help others see how the kingdom could work in thier life.

When engaging others in a spiritual discussion, there are some clear lessons learned

    • Be Led: Ask the Lord for guidance on Who / When / How
    • Fear Not: Trust in The Holy Spirit To Help You and Give You Words

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

    • Your job is not to win souls in each conversation. You are part of a team: Some Sow, Some Water, Some Reap, God Brings The Increase.

“For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:37-38

“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

    • Engage others with respect and kindness – they have free will to choose. Our opportunity to be clear on what we have learned and what is working for us. 
    • Lead with Love and Goodness, What God the Father and Jesus have done for us. Goodness creates interest and willingness to discuss what we need to do to respond and align ourselves to benefit from the goodness.

Supporting resources for engaging others in spiritual disucssions

Ray Comfort

Greg Koukl

Frank Turek

Cliffe Knechtle

Supporting Scriptures:

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16

“…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John 14:13

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

 

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