Ambassadors for Christ

Over the last week or so my mind has been in constant thought of the scripture that says, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ...2 Corinthians 5:20 KJV. In order to truly understand what this scripture is saying we have to understand what the word ambassador actually means. According to Webster's dictionary an Ambassador is a diplomatic official of the highest rank, sent by one sovereign or state to another as its resident representative. Our whole identity and purpose is found in this one word, ambassador.

When Paul says, we are ambassadors, he is speaking directly to our identity in Christ. Ambassador is what we are when Christ views us. If I am truly an ambassador then that means that I am viewed by Christ as an official representative of highest rank. It is so difficult for us to comprehend the value that Christ places in us. The battle that I face on a daily basis is the thought of what I truly am in Christ. So many times we feel unworthy of our salvation, let alone the calling of being an ambassador of highest rank. When we view ourselves as unworthy of being Christ's ambassador then we minimize the work that Christ did on the cross.

I noticed something very impacting in this scripture as well because it says that we are ambassadors FOR Christ. This coincides with the word ambassador in the fact that we have been sent by Him as his mouthpiece and resident representative. We are in this world, but we are not of this world. We reside in this world yet we are not citizens of this world. We have all of the authority to operate on behalf of Christ in this alien land. As a church we must understand that it is not only our right, but it is our obligation to work on behalf of Christ in this earth, for this is the purpose of our existence on this earth. Christ would have immediately translated us into heaven at the moment of our New Birth if He did not have a mission for us to do as His ambassadors on this earth. If we do not operate as his ambassadors then Christ will not have a representative on this earth! Although God could easily do the work by himself, He has chosen men and women to propagate His work on this earth. So, go be an ambassador for Christ! Be His Representative today and know that God is not only with you, but he has empowered you to operate on His behalf. You are Sent as a High Ranking Official by Him who is Sovereign.

The Intercessory Prayer of the World

In the story of Jonah we find a very insightful picture of where I believe the church could be living in this moment. As we set the stage we find that God has called a missionary to go into the city of Ninevah, Jonah 1:2 Arise,go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it.... We notice several things from the outset, first of all, it was God that called Jonah, it wasn't his desire to go. Secondly, we find that God called Ninevah a great city, I believe it is the will of God for us to not shirk away from our responsibility to evangelize our metropolitan areas, but God wants us to move with his calling into the underchurched areas of our world and forge an opportunity for everyone to have a chance to hear the gospel.

As we continue the story we find that Jonah flees from his calling, which is a pretty common thing that we find in the scriptures. Jonah didn't try to talk God out of the calling like Moses did though, instead he just ran away with all of his might. The scripture says in Jonah 1:4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Notice that the scripture says that God was the one that sent the tempest into the sea. The sea represents the culture around us. The Culture that we constantly are dealing with is the sea that we have to navigate through as a christian. I believe God allowed this tempestuous storm to arise because of what happened in verse number 5. Jonah 1:5 says Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god.... but Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. You will not find anyone more hardened by the cares of this world than a mariner. They represent the toughest of the tough. I believe that in this story the mariners represent the world and Jonah represents the church.

If my assumptions are correct then we find the story completely reversed! Jonah should be in the bottom of the ship crying and interceding before the Lord for the mariners life as they head through the boisterous sea, but we find the opposite is happening. The mariners began to cry unto their gods... politics, education, money..... because the culture around them was about to destroy them, and we find Jonah, or the church, fast asleep in the most critical hour that the church could be involved in.

You see, I believe that this unprecedented time that we are living in is a chance that God is giving the church to stand up and make a difference in this world! If their was ever a moment to live passionately for God, then today is that day! The stage has been set! God has called the church, God has allowed culture to place people in a place of hunger, the world is crying out for an answer! The scriptures promise that, Whosoever hungers and thirsts after righteousness shall be filled! My friend, there is nothing that can stop the church, but the church themselves. We can allow the culture around us to rock us into a deep apathetic sleep, or we can allow the moment to invigorate us and stir us at the place of our calling as we forge ahead and realize that if God be for us, who can be against us! The World is Crying, Will The Church Awake?

From Spectator to Participator

The United States has now completed an election that has seemed to have lasted for two years. During the campaigns of John McCain and Barack Obama there was constant fundraising going on for one purpose, to clearly articulate the vision of their campaign. In America we have the freedom to vote, yet the fact of the matter is, when election day rolls around, there are always a large number of Americans that do not vote. The strategy of the politician is to articulate a message clearly enough that will move people from becoming spectators to becoming participators in the process. I read yesterday that Obama literally spent billions of dollars just on his campaign to ensure that people would be moved enough about the vision to move from viewing something happen to become a part of the agent of change.

One thing that concerns me is that many people never have a vision compelling enough that will move people from spectators into participators. It is the desire of every individual to make their life count in a significant way, but the truth of the matter is, we must engage our culture if we are going to make a difference. If not careful, we become spiritual spectators, expecting God to perform all of the work. Although this sounds noble, it is not biblical. When the children of Israel needed delivered from Egypt, God called a man, Moses to lead the children of Israel. When Goliath was sparking fear in the nation of the Israelites,God called a young man, David to take on the giant facing his generation. When God felt the need to deliver Ninevah, he called a man named Jonah to go and preach the message of repentance to the city. Simply put, God uses men and women that will answer the call of God to get a vision that is big enough to merit the attention of God! The answer to engage this generation and move them from spectators into participating in shaping culture is to dream dreams that spark passion in the hearts of people!

We do not live in a church that does not have a mandate, but unfortunately I feel that many churches are living unengaged because they have lost their ability to dream God sized dreams! many live satisfied on the sidelines as opposed to stepping on to the stage of what God is doing. Is there a cause that God has pricked your heart about that develops instant passion in your spirit? That spark of passion could be what it takes to move you from viewing what God is doing on the sidelines to stepping into the calling that God has for your life. Nothing of significance has ever been accomplished by people standing on the sidelines, but today is the day for a generation to participate in what God is doing!

An Open Hand

An open hand speaks many things. I believe that God has called us as disciples to live lives with an open hand. Living with an open hand may seem simple, yet it is learning to live at a much deeper level than we could ever imagine. There is something that I have discovered about living life with an open hand, and that is that when we have an open hand it is a symbol that we are relinquishing control.

Control seems to be one of the paramount issues that I deal with as well as you. We spend most of our lives trying to control everything around us. As simplistic as it may seem, the fact of the matter is, as long as I am in control it means that God is not. It is so easy to trust in God when it appears that His plan fits your own plan, but when God vears off of the plan that we have for ourselves that is when we begin to tighten our grip on things around us. Learning to release even in the midst of tumultous time takes discipline, yet it is learning to live with an open hand that ensures the flow of blessing will continue.

Blessing flows to those that have an open hand. The only way that you can give is also the only way that you can receive. This equation is typically not one that we like, yet it is impossible to get around. If we want to receive,we must be willing to give. The scriptures teach in Luke 8:38 ... for with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. There is a correlation between our giving and our receiving. We have all heard of the Dead Sea that stagnates because it receives water, but it does not flow and give and therefore the water is not fit for drinking. Our lives should very much be like a conduit of the good things that are given to us.

The scripture says, it is more blessed to give than to receive. This concept seems so difficult for us to understand. It is not difficult to find someone that is excited about receiving, but it is a rare treasure to find someone that is thrilled about giving. Those that have learned the beauty of giving have learned the value of living life with an open hand!

What are you trying to control today by tightening your grip? How can you choose to release your grip to trust in God in your current situation? Do you have a PHD in receiving, but an elementary education in giving? What can you do today to open your hand to become an intentional giver?