Wanted: Christ's Ambassadors by: Bro. Kevin de Guzman

2 Corinthians 5:12 – 6:18

I was watching the television when I saw Angelina Jolie, the actress helping unprivileged children from Thailand. As a matter of fact she herself has an adopted child of Thai descent. I do not know if it has something to do with the other fact, that she is UNESCO’s ambassador of goodwill to Thailand. Is fame and beauty the new basis for choosing an ambassador?

Nowadays, the term ambassador is underrated. It has lost its potency. The word ambassador literally means a representative. According to Wikipedia, an ambassador is a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one sovereign or state to another as its representative. An ambassador is a person with an honorable and good reputation. The ambassador represents the organization or country that sent him. He reflects his senders’ image. Would anyone want someone to represent them who is notorious and evil?

2 Cor 5:20

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.

The word ambassador came from the Greek word presbeuō, meaning a senior, to act as a representative, figuratively, a preacher. In this context, Paul was telling the believers in Corinth who had become lax and stagnant, what their role is as Christians. He clearly tells the church that they are Christ’s ambassadors. That when they tell the people “come back to God!!!”, it is like they are quoting the exact words from God himself.

Paul wanted to remind the church in Corinth of their purpose and warn them against false ministers. Some believers in Corinth had lost track of the heart of their ministry. They were bragging about how spectacular their ministry was. They have lost their sincerity and heart on the ministry. (2 Cor 5:12). Paul said that, their actions should be motivated by the love they received from God. This love would constrain them to some causes of their actions and will direct them on what ought to be done (verses 13-14).

It is like Paul is telling them “Who else do you think are the ambassadors of Christ?! You are!!! Because he died for us, we are also dead to our old life; he took humanity’s sin all at once. That makes us brand new people. We have a fresh start!!!” (Verses 15 – 17). But it does not stop on reconciliation with God thru Jesus. We need to share what we have received. If we answered to His call, then let us also call others towards Him. As ambassadors, we speak for God. We become echoes of His call for reconciliation.

What do we need to keep in mind and instill in our hearts as Christ’s Ambassadors?

1) As workers, which are partners of Christ, we need to work together in unity. Work together (2 Cor 6:1) came from the Greek word sunergeō which means, to be a fellow worker, to cooperate, to work with. As ambassadors, we were sent by the same God for the same purpose. The ministry that we have is not a competition for greatness of ourselves. Everything we do is for the Glory of the same God we serve.

2) Do not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor 6:1). We should not take God’s gift lightly. It should show in our way of living how grateful we are for the gift God had given us. The reconciliation with God through Jesus. One of which is sharing the good news to others. Present time is the only proper season to accept God’s offer, while today is called today. God is imposing His ministers to share his word to unbelievers. “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.”

3) Live in a way that no one will stumble because of you or your actions. (2 Cor 6:3). We should not do anything that would stain our reputation with any spot of disgrace. Paul is a good example of Christ’s ambassador. He testified and mentioned his own experiences when he was persecuted. ( verses 4-10)

A. Patience. Patience is the regulation of the mind in times of adversity. Paul has evidently shown patience in times of afflictions. Having been imprisoned he didn’t lost his status as an ambassador of Christ. Fruits of the Holy Spirit were manifested during his suffering. He even saw it as an opportunity to share the gospel. To us Christians, patience is not just a virtue, it is a gift from God that we should treasure and live by.

B. Circumstances that is required for all servants of Christ

Although not all of us will experience being jailed of being physically wounded because of our devotion to Christ, there are things that an ambassador of Christ should posses. These things are works or labors, sincerity, knowledge, gentleness, love, the word of truth, the Spirit, the power of God and the armor of righteousness. The righteousness that we have comes from God alone, not from our own understanding. An ambassador of Christ should be well equipped and always ready to face a battle. He is vital part of God’s kingdom and so he is subject to enemy attacks.

4) Forbids intimate association with unbelievers (Verses 14 - 18).

The separation that Paul speaks of in these verses was not literally separating us from ungodly people as to avoid sin. How in the first place are we going to spread if we are going to live are lives in monasteries on mountains? Being not unequally yoked with unbelievers means we are not allowing ourselves to go with the same flow with them. We should not let ourselves be tainted with ungodly things if they do such. A Christian and an unbeliever can never have the same priorities in life. They may have some similarities in their objectives but never in their priorities.

Being separated from the world means being distinguished. As sons and daughters of the Lord, we should be identified as one. Sometimes we are even surprised that a fellow Christian is a co-worker, vice-versa. Separation from actions and virtue is what Paul meant. There’s a saying “Only dead fish go with the flow.” Believers are distinguished because we do not go with the flow of this world. The fishes cannot live the river and separate themselves from the dead fishes because the river is their habitat. The analogy is the same for us Christians living in this world.

Conclusion:

When we accepted Christ as our lord and savior, it qualifies as to be his ambassadors. Being ambassadors came with a responsibility to spread His offer of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:12-20)

Responsibilities and requirement for an ambassador of Christ: (2 Cor 6:1-18)

1. A blameless minister accounts for a blameless ministry.

2. Endurance on trial

3. Unselfish self-denial

4. A servant of Christ that has an appeal for greater love

5. Forbids intimate association with unbelievers and saints the temple of God.

An Ambassador of Christ is literally a representative of God’s Church. What a person sees in him should manifest what he represents. That’s why as Christians, as ministers, as ambassadors of Christ, we always be sure that everything we do gives glory to His name.

“Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible; the other 99 will read the Christian.”- D.L. Moody

God's Amazing Grace (Jonah 4: 1-11) by Sis. Janice de Guzman

The Book Of Jonah

Author- Jonah ( "dove") son of Amittai was a prophet in Israel. Jonah we call the reluctant missionary. He was disobedient, selfish, sinful, had a lousy disposition. He was totally prejudiced; and yet God saw fit to use him - http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/1221

Recipient- Israel and God’s people everywhere

Purposes- To show why destruction of Nineveh and Assyrian empire was delayed by God for almost a century; To illustrate the fact that God’s mercy and salvation are for both Jews and Gentiles who will repent and turn to Him . http://www.tlindman.us/Files_Reference/Jonah_notes.pdf

Setting- Jonah preceded Amos and ministered under Jeroboam II. Both Syria and Assyria are weak, allowing Jeroboam II to enlarge the northern border of Israel. Religion was so ritualistic and increasing idolatrous, justice had become perverted. Spiritually, morally and ethically bankrupt. As a result God punished them by bringing destruction and captivity from the Assyrians 772 B.C

NINEVEH: Near in the Tigris and Khoser river. In Gen 10:11 it mentioned that Nimrod was the founder of the city. Approx. 1,850 acres

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me." It is probably the most famous hymn in history. Though some today wonder if the word wretch is hyperbole or a bit of dramatic license, John Newton, the song's author, clearly did not.

John Newton was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. He was nurtured by a Christian mother who taught him the Bible at an early age, but he was raised in his father's image after she died of tuberculosis when Newton was 7. At age 11, Newton went on his first of six sea-voyages with the merchant navy captain. Newton lost his first job, in a merchant's office, because of "unsettled behavior and impatience of restraint"—a pattern that would persist for years.

He spent his later teen years at sea before he was press-ganged aboard the H.M.S. Harwich in 1744. Newton rebelled against the discipline of the Royal Navy and deserted. He was caught, put in irons, and flogged. He eventually convinced his superiors to discharge him to a slaver ship. Espousing freethinking principles, he remained arrogant and insubordinate and he lived with moral abandon

"I sinned with a high hand," he later wrote, "and I made it my study to tempt and seduce others." He took up employment with a slave-trader named Clow, who owned a plantation of lemon trees on an island off of west Africa. But he was treated cruelly by Clow and the slaver's African mistress; soon Newton 's clothes turned to rags, and Newton was forced to beg for food to allay his hunger.

However, on a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance. He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.”

Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him.

For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion, a day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power. “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/pastorsandpreachers/newton.html

http://www.anointedlinks.com/amazing_grace.html

http://www.learningforlife.org.uk/churchsecondary/lives/newton.aspx

HOW GOD’S AMAZING GRACE IS DISPLAYED…

I. GOD DEALS WITH OUR HEARTS PATIENTLY

A. Jonah Was Resentful

¹ But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry

After obeying God to preach repentance Jonah had been childishly upset for the repentance of the Ninevites and for the mercy and compassion God had bestowed upon them. He had been angry for his expectation for the destruction of Nineveh had not been done.

People tend to become like Jonah, when things won’t go in a way they expect, they became angry with God and tend to become jealous for the favour that other people receive especially when they don’t like the person.

B. Jonah Was Doubtful

² So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.

Jonah knows already that there is a big possibilities for the forgiveness of sin will abound that the Lord will not continue the destruction of Nineveh for the Lord is gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness, One who relents from doing harm “ which make him decided to run away from God . Jonah felt that the Ninevites don’t deserve forgiveness, instead they deserve punishment from God. Though Jonah knows these characteristics of God, He tends to forget that God is an all knowing God. He knows what He is doing and this is for the good of His people.

Most of us know how good is our God, how gracious and merciful He is. And we must not forget that He is always at work in our lives, His thought is higher than our thoughts wherein every plan He had made is good and perfect.

C. Jonah Was Bitter

³ Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!” ⁴ Then the LORD said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

When Judgment did not come, Jonah wishes to die rather than to see the Ninevites who had been spared by God from destruction.

In this part, Jonah forgot that he had been rescued by God from death because of God’s mercy, that he also deserved to receive punishment from God for he also disobeyed the Lord and now he prefers to die because of the same grace and mercy that the Lord had given to the Ninevites.

A lesson that we also must learn, that God’s forgiveness was not only for Jonah nor for Israel alone. It extends to all who repent and believe.

II. GOD LEADS US UNTO THE RIGHT PATH

⁵ So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. ⁶ And the LORD God prepared a plant^[a] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. ⁷ But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. ⁸ And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” ⁹ Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?" And he said, "It is right for me to be angry, even to death!"

Jonah was still hoping that God would change his mind, that he went out to the city and made a shelter for himself while waiting for the destruction of Nineveh.

God ministers to Jonah, Israel and to us patiently. He could had punished Jonah from the start but He just taught him a lesson. The Lord knows Jonah’s mind so God made a way in order for Jonah to understand God’s action.

God caused a plant to grow, providing shade for Jonah. Then God caused a worm to eat the plant and destroy it. When God sees that we are walking into the different path, he will make a way in order for us to see clearly the road that we are heading to.

III. GOD SHOWS US THE LOVE AND COMPASSION TO ALL HIS CHILDREN

¹⁰ But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not laboured, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.¹¹ And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

God gave Jonah a lesson through this plant. Jonah was unhappy for the death of the plant. Jonah had compassion to the plant that gave him shade but he didn’t have any compassion for a city of 120,000. Jonah’s compassion was selfish because it cost him something.

God provide us all the things that we need for our living here on earth but sometimes we become too focused on those things that we don’t even care for all the people around us, the people who are dying in their sins. We become more careful about in our comfortable little shaded spot.

And when we did not get what we expect like increment, promotion, approval for car loans, new phone, clothes, or when we lose our treasured possession we became unhappy, for we had place our energy and time and resources into something that is temporary. We didn’t lay up treasures in heaven where thieves can’t steal it.

He was being harsh and judgemental to the Ninevites, but God is merciful than we can ever imagine. God’s compassion does not extent only for those who provide benefits for Him, His compassion is unselfish, God feels compassion for the sinners we want to judge, and make a way to bring them back to Himself.

God wanted Jonah to understand that His love is not just for Him, it’s for all of us. Jesus Christ died not just for you alone but for everyone for us to be saved.