KINGDOM AMBASSADORS
By
Bishop Melvin L, Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING:- Religion is the quest of mankind searching for something that was lost. Every religion basically has the same concept the search for and the ultimate fulfillment of attaining what has been lost. Because religion tries to satisfy a longing that cannot be filled by rituals, systems, and customs we have all the different religions of the world today.
UNDERSTAND:-Religions will never satisfy the longing in us WATCH THIS that will only be filled by the purpose God created us for in the first place. Religions as I stated strive to fulfill the longing of something they cannot explain. The Christians, we call it Heaven, the Muslims call it paradise, the Hindus call it a higher state of reincarnation, Buddhist call it a peaceful state of mind, the Kabbalist call it enlightenment. Genesis 1:26-28 says “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”. The quest of religion is to be back in the Kingdom and have Dominion over the earth as God created us to have, to have the image and likeness of God that we once had, and to have a relationship with God as He desired for us to have. Sadly, because we don’t understand God’s Kingdom and our purpose, we get stuck in religion and become used to rituals, traditions, system, customs, and repetitious mundane unfulfilling church denominations. Where we spend lots of time and lots of money going to convocations, conventions, and conferences listening to preachers preach, get us railed up only to walk out of the service saying boy that was really - really nice I can’t wait until the next time, I wonder who is going to preach at that one and deep down in the inside your spirit is crying out there’s so much more.
WATCH THIS: Much of what we consider Church today has for a very long time lost the emphasis of building the Kingdom of God. The focus is more now that we build great mega-churches, beautiful buildings, and large denominations. We emphasize the building of grocery stores, hotels, orphanages, schools, and hospitals. We preach and teach on every subject under the sun from marriage do’s and don’ts, family relationships, religious obligations, prophecy, and prosperity. We train people how to dress and respect titles, and we have preachers that can speak like Paul filling the pulpits and so-called prophesying. Yes, all these things are good and a legitimate part of the ministry but, they are not to be the central focus. Fund raising and construction, ecclesiastical garb and titles is not our great commission. Unfortunately what has become as a result of these things is the building of personal kingdoms rather than the building of the Kingdom of God.
The Question becomes - How does all this stuff, rituals, traditions, systems and rhetoric communicate the principles of the Kingdom of God?
UNDERSTAND: The Kingdom of God will not be extended throughout the world by the building of great church buildings. It will not be advance through ecclesiastical robes, offering lines, or building fund projects. As long as we continue to do as Charles Spurgeon said over a hundred years ago that the church is a theater and the pulpit a stage we will never extend the Kingdom to all the world. The Kingdom will only be spread by Kingdom Ambassadors who are willing to get out of the rituals, traditions, and rudiments of men and be a witness of the Gospel of the Kingdom and make disciples.
The Church, the ecclesia, the called out ones, the people not the building were raised up by God as an instrument through which the Kingdom can be extended to the all the people/nations of the world. Unfortunately, competition between pastors, churches, members, and denominations has broken the unity of the Body of Christ. The plan of God was that we, the Church not only preach the Kingdom but that we should be a living example of the Kingdom.
We need to lose ourselves in the Kingdom mission seek first the Kingdom of God which transcends denominational barriers, cultural barriers, religious barriers, ritualistic barriers, and national boundaries. If we will seek first the Kingdom, then all these things will be added.
PRAYER:
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:7-8 says, “And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give”. Luke 22:29 says, “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me”.
What was the mission of Jesus? - Jesus came to this earth with the mission to establish the Kingdom of God: Mark 1:14-15 says, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel”. Matthew 4:17 says, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. Luke 4:43 says “And He said unto them, I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent”.
After His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus remained on earth for a period of 40 days and appeared to many people. His message had not changed, He wasn’t preaching a Religion or ritualistic practices, but He continued to focus on the Kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 says, “To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God”.
Between Matthew 4:17 when Jesus began His ministry and Acts 1:3 the end of His earthly ministry Jesus declared the message of the Kingdom of God.
Now if I were to ask the question what is the Great Commission? You would answer Matthew 28:16-20 “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go 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”. And that is right; however, I suggest to you that it is a lot more than just that. When Jesus commissioned the disciples, He commissioned them with the responsibility of extending the Gospel of the Kingdom to the nations of the world. Mark 16:15 says, “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” Let me say to you that this is the Gospel of the Kingdom for this is what Jesus preached. Luke 22:29 says, “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me” listen He appointed a Kingdom not a religion, not ritualistic rhetoric, not systematic traditionalism but Kingdom.
WATCH THIS: - The Kingdom God gave Jesus was passed on by Jesus to His disciples, which simply means followers – hello disciples - and we are privileged with the responsibility to carry that message to the utter parts of the world. We are to be ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 the Bible says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled (brought back into agreement, relationship) us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry (work or vocation) of reconciliation (bringing into agreement, oneness, and relationship); To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 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”.
WATCH THS: - I want to give 7 things of an Ambassaador remember the number 7 means perfection. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”.
1. Ambassadors are the embodiment of a government who represent the government they are from in foreign territory - That’s why you never hear of an ambassador being drunk or carousing around because if they are drunk or unseeming then the entire government is drunk or unseeming.
2. An ambassador is a respected, moral upholding, thoughtful representative sent by one kingdom or government to represent and transact business for that Kingdom or Government in another area.
3. Sent to a foreign land, the ambassador’s role is to reflect the official position of the sovereign body that gave him authority.
4. The ambassador is a messenger and authorized agent of the kingdom they represent.
5. An ambassador is different than a Senator or Congressman in that a Senator or Congressmen is elected by the people to represent the people, an Ambassador is not elected by the people but is Choses by the King or Sitting President. A Senator or Congressman still must pay their own mortgage, buy their own food, pay their own bills, but an Ambassador when they are chosen immediately become the responsibility of the Kingdom or Government that has chosen them. All their needs are met by the Kingdom they represent. Their bills are paid by the government, their food is bought by the government, their medical is paid for by the kingdom, their clothes are bought by the Kingdom they represent.
6. They don’t speak for the people they speak for the King.
7. They don’t give their personal opinions but say what the constitution mandates.
As ambassador of the Kingdom of God
1. Kingdom Citizens are the embodiment of the Kingdom of God who represent the Kingdom foreign territory. John 15:9 says “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world (we are of another Kingdom), but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you”. That’s why we don’t get drunk or carouse around not because we are trying to get to heaven that’s a different Bile Study, but because we are the embodiment of the Kingdom and if we are drunk and carouse around and act unseemingly then the Kingdom appears the same way. represent the Kingdom because if they are drunk or unseeming then the entire government is drunk or unseeming.
2. As Kingdom Ambassadors – we are to be respectful, moral upholding, and thoughtful representatives sent by our Kingdom to represent and transact business for that Kingdom in the world. What business are we to transact for the Kingdom Bishop - Matthew 28:19-20 says “Go 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”.
3. As Kingdom Ambassadors - Sent to a foreign land, our role is to reflect the official position of the sovereign body that gave him authority. That’s why we pray Matthew 6:10 says, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”. Because the official position of the Kingdom of God is His will and nothing else.
4. As Kingdom Ambassadors – We are a messenger and authorized agent of the Kingdom of God. Mark 16:15 says “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” – that’s the commission and the message.
5. As Kingdom Ambassadors – we didn’t elect God, He chose us. John 15:16 says “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”. Remember when an ambassador is chosen immediately, they become the responsibility of the Kingdom that has chosen them. That’s why He told the disciple in Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”.
WATCH THIS: I need to explain this right here verse 32 says “For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:”. If you go back up to the 7th verse of Matthew 6 it says, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen (some versions say Pagans) do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking”. That word Pagan or Heathen does not mean atheist or one that does not believe, it means gentile or idolater who are very religious people. The Hindu people are a very religious people they are polytheistic believing in many gods. Buddhist are very religious people they believe in idols and worship a false god. They are religious people who practice a religion. That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 5:20 “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven”. You are ambassadors you have to surpass the religious rituals and righteous acts. That’s why when you get tired of religion there is a deep longing for more.
6. As Kingdom Ambassadors – we don’t speak for the people we speak for the King. That is why you read in the Bible “Thus saith the Lord” “The word of the Lord”. We must speak the word of God. When Jesus had fasted 40 days and 40 nights and the devil came to tempt him Jesus said it is written – in others word it has been established by the King he has mandated and nothing can be done to change it.
7. As Kingdom Ambassadors – We don’t give our personal opinions but say what the Bible mandates. WATCH THIS: When you give your opinion you open the door to debates. I don’t believe or I believe such and such – now what you have done is given the devil a wedge and he will use that wedge to pry open and disrupt what is really supposed to be established. As ambassadors we preach what the Bible says. If we preach Holiness without no man shall see the Lord, or we preach adultery and fornication is a sin, or homosexualism is an abomination unto the Lord and people get made you must stand on the fact that I am an Ambassador and I only speaking what the Bible mandates if someone as an issue with it is not the problem of the Ambassador it is an issue that you must take up with the King.
Let me throw this in right here - an ambassador has the protection of the entire Kingdom. A representative my have the secret service but an ambassador has the entire military. Several months ago, when the plot to kidnap Governor Whitmer of Michigan happen the men were arrested and still they are going thru proceedings of trials and what they are going to do to them because they committed a criminal act. But try to kidnap an Ambassador and you will have the entire military run Rashad on you.
Jesus said it like this to Pilate in John 18:36 “Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence”. Isaiah 37 talks about how God sent 1 angel into the camp of the Assyrians and that 1 angel in 1 night killed 185,000, do you really want to try to mess with a host of angels.
Our assignment as ambassadors of the Kingdom is a life-changing and life-time commitment. Once we have accepted this commission, we must not and cannot look back. Luke 9:62 says, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God”.
We are God’s ambassadors in that they have been allowed of God to be trusted with the gospel of the Kingdom. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts”. To be put in trust with the gospel means to be a steward of the mysteries and the truths revealed by God. Clarke’s commentary explains it like this:- But as we were allowed of God As we were accounted worthy to be put in trust - as God put confidence in us, and sent us on this most especial message to mankind, even so we speak, keeping the dignity of our high calling continually in view; and, acting as in the sight of God, we speak not to please or flatter men, though our doctrine is the most consolatory that can be conceived, but to please that God who searcheth the heart, and before whom all our motives are constantly without a veil.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 says, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures”.
Hear me – this is the basic Gospel message is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, He was buried, and He rose again, and we know that. However, although the Gospel must be preached, like Paul Harvey used to say and the rest of the story – we must also include the message that Jesus preached and that is the message of the Kingdom. It is our mission as Kingdom Ambassadors to let people know of the existence of the Kingdom of God, they need to be taught how to enter the Kingdom of God, and live a Kingdom life now.
CLOSING: There will come a time, and I believe it is closer now than we may realize, when the Kingdom of God is permanently established, the devil will have been defeated and we will live forever with the Lord. 1 Corinthian 15:19 says “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”. We are living to live again that is the meaning of resurrection it is more than just going to heaven. Revelation 12:10 says, “And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night”. 1 Corinthians 15:24 says, “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power”. Revelation 11:15 says, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever”. Luke 1:33 says “And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end”. Until then we must be Kingdom Ambassadors making sure that we do as 1 Thessalonians 2:12 says “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His Kingdom and glory”.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
