Living out our lives as Ambassadors for Christ

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This sermon is from a series called “Living out our Identity in Christ”.

In today’s sermon, we will look into another aspect of our Identity which is equally important as others and the verses we will be looking at is 2 Corinthians 5:18-21.

But before we look into the final aspect of our Identity, let us take some time out and review what we’ve learned so far in this series.

I believe there is nothing more important than the subject of who we are because of who He is.

Understanding our identity in Christ will allow us to see our lives in the right perspective just as God intended it to be, making much of each moment.

In general, most people living in this world are absolutely unaware of their identity – where they came from, who made them, what is the purpose of their lives, etc.

And because people are unaware of their identity, they live as men who blindly following the traditions and cultures of this world passed on to them from one generation to another generation.

Our lives have become just like the 5 monkeys shown in the illustration below.

We are living our lives but not as God intended it to be, not according to the purpose for which God created us.

We do what we’re asked to do, we act as we are taught to act, we believe the things we’re asked to believe.

Because of which we’ve created limitations in life based on what we’ve learned from our ancestors and fail to seek the truth.

In the same way, when we become Christians we don’t stop there but go on to discover who we really are because of who God is. And as we discover these truths, we learn to live the way God originally designed us.

Therefore, if some of you have not been able to soak yourselves in the truth about your identity that has been shared so far, I urge to reflect on it again and allow these truths to change the way you think and live.

In Ephesians 1:18 Paul writes “..having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”

Here are the sermon notes from the same series:

• Living out our Chosen and Adopted Identity in Christ
• Accepted, Loved & Forgiven Children of God
• Living out our lives as Citizens of God’s Kingdom
• Living out our lives as New Creation in Christ

In today’s sermon, we will look into another important aspect of our Identity which is the outward manifestation of the inward change that happens in our heart.

We will learn how to experience true joy, fulfilment and freedom as we live our lives based on our identity.

Lets read 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

The final aspect of our Identity is that we are “Ambassadors for Christ”.

1. Chosen by the King

So during the time of the Roman rule, an ambassador was a respected official acting as a representative of a nation. Posted in a foreign land, the ambassador’s role was to reflect the official position of the sovereign body that gave him authority. Therefore, an ambassador was directly appointed by the King, not voted into position.

This is perfect in the sense that we too are chosen by God through Christ before the foundations of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight,  and now accepted, loved and forgiven.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, chosen and saved so that we become representatives of God in this earth – Entrusted with the message of reconciliation.

What a great privilege it is – to be called ambassadors of God!  To know that God reached out to unworthy people like us, unimaginably below the standards of God’s Holiness is simply extraordinary.

2. Committed only to the State’s interests

Once an ambassador, that person’s commitment, desire, goals, dreams and loyalty was only to the King.

We need to understand that to be an ambassador for God is a high calling. The day we decide to turn away from our sins and believe in the gospel, our hearts desires change, our dreams change, our goals change.

We fall in love with the King who chose and adopted us and who loved us in our worthlessness. As we seek him daily, listen to his voice through his word, allow his words to convicts us of our sins, continue to put our faith in the Gospel – we experience unspeakable joy in our hearts.

I’ve experienced it myself – When I abide in Him daily I see the fruit of it manifested through my conduct, speech and attitude while I’m at work. I don’t have to put an extra effort to represent Christ in my workplace.

But when I fail to abide in him, I don’t see much fruit in my life at work.

Therefore, as an Ambassador, seek him daily, allow him to change your dreams, your desires and make you passionate for something greater, greater than all your earthly pursuits – enabling you to experience things that eyes have not see, ears have not heard nor has anyone ever imagined

3. Full Support from the King

The Ambassador gets full support from his King for the task assigned to him – whether the provision, resources, encouragement,  military support etc, the same way that our God has provided for us – The HOLY SPIRIT, our helper.

In John 14:15-17 Jesus said

 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Through the Holy Spirit, he has equipped us to do even greater things than Jesus did.

 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. – John 14:12-14

The Holy Spirit is given to us to convict our hearts of sin (John 16:7-11), as a counsellor (John 14:16), a guide (John 16:13) and to bring Glory to Christ in and through our lives (John 16:14).

What a wonderful God we serve.

Therefore, our dependence should be on God and the Holy Spirit whom he has given us to represent Him as His Ambassadors.

As I conclude, I believe that through these series you have gained a better understanding of your true Identity and pray that will change the way you live, talk, behave, love, accept, forgive and to know that at the end of your life, you have run the race well.

 

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