Who I Am Is Greater Than Where I Am

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Eph 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Eph 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul was in a dark cold wet small stinky prison, it was around 64 ad and nero’s persecution of the church had brought the death to many of the saints including Simon Peter who when they went to crucify him he begged to be crucified upside down because of his felt unworthiness to die as Jesus did and soon to be the apostle paul by the chopping off of his head.

It is very interesting that in his last while on earth that he asked the church to pray that he might speak boldly to make know the mystery of the gospel. He goes onto explain that he is an ambassador in chains

Ambassadors represent nations and kings and have immunity to imprisonment and laws of other nations. They can be ejected from a nation, but to chain them hands and feet and throw them into prison is the greatest disrespect to be shown. Ambassadors are generally treated with the greatest respect.

Paul was in acts called a chief speaker and referred to as mercurius. Paul was schooled at the feet of gamileel. He was a jew of jews. He excercised much freedom in his persecution of the church.

Paul had an encounter with God that changed his life. He had fought God he had resisted the hand and voice of God he finally could run no further and listened to what God had to say.

And Paul realized that part of his unhappiness and turmoil was that the calling of God was on his life..

Act 26:16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

Act 26:17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

Act 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Paul accepted his anointing and gave himself to it.

He lived his life radically for the cause of Jesus and he ended up dying like he lived with joy and dedication.

Look at a few of these examples…

Act 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

Act 20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

I may be physically bound but I am still his ambassador…

He describes in 2 cor 11

In labors abundant. in stripes above measure.in prisons oft in deaths often

Beaten 5 times by the jews with 39 stripes

3x’s beaten with rods stoned 3x’s shipwrecked a whole day lost at sea

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

2Co 11:27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

2Co 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

He allowed none of these serious issues to define the person that he was.

Acts 16 paul and silas were beaten stripped and locked in an inner prison and they prayed and sang praises

I am an ambassador no matter if I am poor if I have failed at some very important things in life if I have made mistakes I am still an ambassador

David understood about who he was when he was in a battle with a man bigger than himself

He said I come to you in the name of the lord of hosts. And the giant fell

Ex 19 peculiar treasure chosen by god

1 pet 2:9 a royal priesthood a holy nation