Tag: Beacon

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

 

Can People Tell You Are A Believer By How You Live Your Life? It Matters!

Posted on by jakirkgasser10439

Can People Tell You Are A Believer By How You Live Your Life? It Matters! 

Are you a believer? Do you act like you believe? Can people tell you are a believer by how you live your life? It matters.

If you truly believe….

  • You will Know Him – Fully appreciating the sacrifice He made for you
  • He will Know You – Committed to Living a life worthy of the price He paid
  • You will be Yielded – No longer You that lives but Him through You
  • You will be IN Christ – Accepting His finished work; Born Again, Forgiven, Focused Forward  
  • You will be Transformed – Heart cleansed of unhealthy desires, Mind completely renewed by His word
  • You will as different – IN the world, not OF the world
  • You will imitate God – Walking in love as He did.
  • You will be an ambassador – Compelling others with your example
  • People will see Jesus when they see you in action – Him in you.
  • You will do all the works He did – Active, Not passive.
  • You will be leading by example – A bright light in the darkness
  • You will be a beacon for the kingdom – Bringing glory to Him.

Do you really believe? Do you live like you really believe? 

Once you actually dig in a bit… His expectations are very clear: If He does not know you, you will not get into heaven. You better make sure He knows you before it is too late. Talk to Him, Listen for His word, Do what He says, Go where He leads you, Transform into His image, Become a beacon for Him. Learning ABOUT Him is nice, but getting to KNOW Him personally is transformational.

Something to ponder.

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Supporting scriptures.

Know Him and what He did for you

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,” Philippians 3:8

Act Accordingly – Walk worthy – Be Committed

“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” 1 John 2:3

“So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” Colossians 1:10

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” Philippians 1:27

“We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”1 Thessalonians 2:12

Be In Christ – Accepting His Fininshed work – Born Again, A New Creation, Forgiven and Focused Forward

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10

Be Transformed by convicting desires in your heart and renewing your mind

“To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2

Be Different – Not loving things of the world or Being loved by the world

“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.” 1 John 2:15

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” John 15:19

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” John 17:14-16

Imitate God – Walk in love as He did

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Be an Ambassador – Compelling others with your example

“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

People shoud see Jesus in you

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Do the works He did…and more

“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

Be an Example for others – a Shining Light

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Share your story and Give Glory – Be A Beacon for the kingdom

“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

He must know you – or you will not get in

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Matthew 7:21-23

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