Ambassadors!

1. Ambassadors!

2. Ambassadors! 2 Cor. 5: 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

3. Ambassadors! 2 Cor. 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

4. Ambassadors! 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

5. 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

6. Ambassadors! John 17:14 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. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

7. Ambassadors! 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 Asyou sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

8. Ambassadors! What is an ambassador? · An authorized messenger or representative.

9. What is an ambassador? · A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residenceby one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time.

10. Heb. 11: 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

11. Heb. 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

12. What is an ambassador? · A diplomatic official heading his or her country's permanent mission to certain international organizations, such as the United Nations.

13. Ambassadors! What was Jesus’ Mission? 1 John 3: 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

14. Ambassadors! What was Jesus’ Mission? Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

15. Ambassadors! Not only was man lost to sin, But his dominion over the earth was also lost; Jesus came to reclaim both!

16. Ambassadors! Ro. 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

17. Acts 2: 22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

18. Ambassadors! Jesus (the man) could not heal the sick any more than your ratchet set can fix your car!

19. Ambassadors! John 5:19 Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

20. Ambassadors! John 5: 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

21. Ambassadors! Jn 8: 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

22. Ambassadors! Jn 15: 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

23. Ambassadors! Jesus was 100% God but chose to live with the same limitations that man would face once he was redeemed!

24. Ambassadors! Jesus performed miracles, wonders, and signs, as a man in right relationship with God – not as God.

25. Ambassadors! We are poor ambassadors for Christ if we attempt to represent Him without the power of the Holy Ghost being manifested through our lives!

26. Ambassadors! Represent = Re – present To re-present Christ without power is to mis-re-present Him!

27. 1 Cor. 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

28. What were the distinctions of Jesus’ humanity? 1. He had no sin, thus walked in perfect relationship with the Father. Jesus received His function from the Father.

29. What were the distinctions of Jesus’ humanity? 2. He was completely dependent on the Holy Spirit to empower Him for works of the Kingdom. Jesus received His unction from the Holy Ghost.

30. What are the distinctions of our humanity? 1. We are sinners cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Now nothing separates us from walking in perfect relationship with the Father.

31. Ambassadors! That leaves us with one unsettled issue… How dependent on the Holy Spirit are we willing to live?

32. We must receive our FUNCTION from the Father and our UNCTION from Holy Spirit!

33. Ambassadors! 1. As ambassadors we live in one world while representing another.

34. Ambassadors! Phil. 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

35. Ambassadors! 2. As an ambassador, the military of the Kingdom I represent is at my disposal to help me carry out the King’s orders.

36. 3. As an ambassador, if my life is threatened, all of my government’s military might is prepared to do whatever necessary to protect and deliver me. So it is with the heaven’s angelic host.

37. Heb. 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

38. What qualities are needed? The American Foreign Service Association lists the following: 1. Absolute integrity and a clear public reputation for such integrity.

39. Ambassadors! 1 Ti. 4:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

40. Ambassadors! • Personal discretion and strong self-discipline.

41. 1 Cor. 9: 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

42. 3. Well-honed skills in cross-cultural communication, both for explaining U.S. values and views to foreign publics and authorities, and for explaining foreign events to the U.S. Government and public.

43. Ambassadors! Col. 4: 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

44. 4. The ability interpret and report accurately what is happening abroad and to recommend appropriate policies to pursue. (PRAYER)

45. Ezek. 22:30 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.

46. Ambassadors!