Ambassadorship

AMBASSADORSHIP

• AN AMBASSADOR IS A HIGH RANKING OFFICIAL OF STATE WHO IS SENT TO ANOTHER NATION TO REPRESENT HIS SOVEREIGN. ALL CHURCH AGE BELIEVERS ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST.

• PROFILE OF AN AMBASSADOR:
• HE DOESN'T APPOINT HIMSELF, BUT IS APPOINTED BY ANOTHER.
• HE DOESN'T SUPPORT HIMSELF (WE HAVE THE SCRIPTURES TO SUPPORT US).
• HIS INSTRUCTIONS ARE OFTEN IN WRITTEN FORM.
• HE DOES NOT BELONG TO THE COUNTRY WHERE HE IS SENT (OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN).
• HE DOESN'T LIVE IN THAT COUNTRY FOR HIS OWN INTERESTS (WE ARE HERE FOR CHRIST).
• HE DOESN'T TREAT ANY INSULT TO HIMSELF AS PERSONAL (OUR OPPOSITION IS FROM SATAN, AND WE REPRESENT GOD).
• HIS RECALL IS TANTAMOUNT TO A DECLARATION OF WAR (WHEN WE'RE RECLAIMED BY CHRIST, THE TRIBULATION WILL BEGIN).

• AS AMBASSADORS WE'RE TO WITNESS FOR CHRIST:

Ephesians 6:20  "For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

2 Corinthians 5:20  "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."

• NOT ALL AMBASSADORS ARE EFFECTIVE:

Proverbs 13:16-17 "Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health."

• WE ARE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF CHRIST HERE ON EARTH:

Philemon 9  "Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ."

• AN AMBASSADOR PROMOTES PEACE, BUT CANNOT BRING IT:

Isaiah 33:6-7 " And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure. Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly."

• THE BELIEVER WHO GROWS TO MATURITY IS THE SUCCESSFUL AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST.
• EVANGELISM IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE AMBASSADOR