Introduction:
Recently in Grenada, we went through a general election and a carnival. These two experiences have forever changed our country, our community, our family, our churches. Most importantly it has changed our relationship to and with God.
I say this mean that: for the first time in my short live I noted the following:
That Ministers of Parliament decided to be preachers and interestingly, Minister of the Gospel became politicians.
That spirit filled Christians chose to campaign for men, while they previously were afraid to campaign for God.
That Christians set up the priorities in such a way that they made time for parties but not time for the people and things of God
That families and friends became bitter enemies including folks who suppose to be called Brothers and Sisters in the Lord.
In the midst of all these God who is omnipotent and omniscience was looking for some persons to be Ambassadors for Christ, but when he looked He only founded a few.
Friends, this morning I want to let you know that God is still searching. God is looking for some one to represent Him on the earth: Someone who is willing to stand up for God, someone who is holy, someone who is willing to bear much fruits and most of all someone who love Him so much as to be willing to turn their life into a ministry, and carry on the Ministry of reconciliation. God is searching for some Ambassadors-people whom He can sit back and boast to His angel about and say to the effect “Look at them, they are Ambassadors for Christ.” Are you that person?!
Ambassador: Definition:
-A good will representation of an organization.
-In everyday usage it applies to the ranking government representative stationed in a foreign capital.
-Usually highly respected individuals as Ambassador at Large who are assigned specific responsibilities and they work to advise and assist their governments in a given area.
-An ambassador is the Second highest ranking Diplomat who represents their country. {First being the Highest Ranking Official in the Country}...
Those who indulge in sin are not led of God [for God will not indulge us in sin]
Steps to Ambassadorship
Accept Christ:
One must first accept Him into his or her life. Friends if you are here this morning and you do not know Jesus Christ, I beg you, I plead with you do not let this opportunity pass you this morning. God is saying “today is the day of Salvation.” The truth about it our life is a wreck without Christ as our Lord. That the reason God had to send Jesus Christ into the world that through Him the world may be saved. John 3:16 –For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting (eternal life) life…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."—Romans 5:8.
You may say to your self “I know mechanics usually salvage old wreck vehicles, and divers usually salvage old boats, but I didn’t know that Jesus use to salvage lives. The truth is that is His business .Today He has passed that down to us who believe. Thus we are in the ministry of reconciliation. That is what the ministry is about.
We must live For Christ:
The famous speaker -Dr.Tony Evans, Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship. President, The Urban Alternative Oaklyn Bible Church USA said: Sinners are suppose to sin! But when people of God practice sin… Lord have mercy. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:13/14
2 Corinthians 5:17-Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold*, all things have become new.
Friends Paul wasn’t just making a statement in this passage, but he was giving us a challenge. He said behold (look at my life, watch my life, see my life) His life wasn’t hidden like some whom claimed to Christians, His life was an open book! Consequently it was easy for anyone to judge .You see many of us claim to be born again, but our lives paint different pictures.
We must be crucified with Christ...Galatians 2:20
God is asking you today to kill that flesh! Dearly beloved, I beseech (I beg, I Plead) you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Live decent lives among unbelievers 1 Peter 2:11 Hey friend: He that said abideth in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked-1 John 2:6
Church in short, living for Christ is to live a holy life without which the Bible say no man shall see God-Hebrews 12:14 What does the Bible says about *Carnival? It is the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:21 Calls it revelings;
ILLUSTARATION:
“Traveling companion”: In some countries it is fashionable for ministers of the Gospel, when traveling especially overseas ‘to minister’, to be accompanied by someone who they deem as their “traveling companion”. That person is usually a young female damsel. Friends ,this morning however good they may intended of it is evil-It is sin or will always leads to sin. For 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil”
1Peter 2:9-Friends, God is telling someone here this morning, come out of darkness, He is asking you to reconcile with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. He is saying be the chosen generation! Be the royal priesthood! Be the holy nation! Be the peculiar people; be an Ambassador for Christ this morning! Amen.
Practice God’s Ministry of Reconciliation
As an Ambassador for Christ, our greatest responsibility would be to commission the Ministry of Reconciliation.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was a court-like body assembled in South Africa after the abolishment of apartheid. Anyone who felt that he or she was a victim of its violence was invited to come forward and be heard. Perpetrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from prosecution. The TRC was set up in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995, and was based in Cape Town. The mandate of the commission was to bear witness to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes relating to human rights violations, reparation and rehabilitation.
In other countries such commission exists still including Grenada. January 1, 2008, we saw from Nadia M. Bishop the daughter of Maurice Bishop, an open invitation to Forgiveness and Reconciliation.
Church these things are good. But they can no way compare to God’s Ministry of Reconciliation.
God’s Ministry of Reconciliation, cause His Son Jesus Christ to died for our sins that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2Corinthian 5:20
You see brethren when God forgive, He forgives!
He said: As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us- Psalms 103:12
The Great Commission
An now that He has removed and we became Ambassadors for Chist,He is asking us as Ambassadors for Christ to tell other about this reconciliation ministry. He saying tell others the good news of salvation, make it our duty, make it our responsibility, make it our hobby, but take it seriously! For lives are at stake!
Jesus spoke to His disciples through a Command:
In Matthew 28:19-20Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 15:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Friends are you willing to obey Jesus?
I am not asking you how regular you come to prayer meet, are how much work you do in church, etc etc etc. The simply question is, “Are you obedient to Jesus command to be an Ambassador for Christ to bring the ministry of reconciliation, the gospel to a dying world?”
ILLUSTRATION: Some weeks ago about the 27th July 2008, good friend of mines were knock down by a vehicle. She entered into a coma for a few days and never recovered. Never recovered. She was only 23.
Luke 12:13-21: The Parable of the Rich fool: Show that death can knock on our doors any time. So friends as Ambassadors for Christ it is urgently that we demonstrate our ministry of reconciliation. Amen
“Sin will keep you from Prayer and Prayer will keep you from sin”-Bro-Jerry
CONCLUSION:
TESTIMONY: As I closed permit me to say this: I was a wretched man. No direction, no purpose sinking deep in sin. The only thing I did good was sin. Satan was happy. But God was calling me and one day 21st of October 2001 Satan lost the battle over my life. Now I am an Ambassador for Christ, God is pleading through others and myself: I beg you, I implore you on Christ behalf, be reconciled to God. 2Corinthian 5:20
Today God wants you to be an Ambassador for Christ. It doesn’t matter what you would have done before in your life, His ministry of reconciliation is perfect enough to fix you. His Son’s dying on the cross of Calvary is complete. Jesus paid it all.
If you are a Christian living in sin, practicing sin, the Bible tells us “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." Proverbs 28:13 A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Resist the devil and he will flee from you)
1 John 1:9-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Will reconsider to day? Will you be reconciled to God?
What about if you are living a good life and think you have not committed sins?
Romans 3:23-For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; In other words friends you are a sinner an unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3, 5
But if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. Romans 10:9
-But friends I have good news for you this morning-, The Lord has been patient toward you, not WISHING that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:19
Today, the Lord is talking to someone; He is saying Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’” Matthew 3:1
Will you trust Him to day? Will you be His Ambassador?
An Ambassador for Christ?
Let us pray.
Quote: “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
ILLUSTRATION: Carnival-Carnival Roots
The origins of carnival date back to the ancient Greek spring festival in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine. The Romans adopted the celebration with Bacchanalia (feasts in honor of Bacchus, the Roman equivalent to Dionysus), and Saturnalia, where slaves and their masters would exchange clothes in a day of drunken revelry. Saturnalia was later modified by the Roman Catholic Church into a festival leading up Ash Wednesday. It quickly evolved into a massive celebration of indulgences - one last gasp of music, food, alcohol, and sex before Lent - before the 40 days of personal reflection, abstinence, and fasting until Easter (not exactly what the Church probably had in mind). 40 days of purging sins, preceded by a week filled with virtually every known sin. The word itself comes from Latin, "Carne Vale" or "Farewell to the Flesh". www.afropop.org
