I AM AN AMBASSADOR

OPENING

SCRIPTURE READING

PRAYER

CONGREGATIONAL WORSHIP

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

To show that as ambassadors for Christ, God has entrusted us with a sacred position of influence, involvement, and integrity so that we faithfully carry His message of reconciliation to a lost world.

INTRODUCTION

I’d like for you to take the Word of God with me, please, and turn to 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10.

ILLUSTRATION

In his book, Thirteen Days: A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis – Robert F. Kennedy talks about the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.in which the world stood on the edge of nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis had pushed tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union to the breaking point. One wrong move could literally ignite a global catastrophe.

In the midst of this crisis was a single ambassador whose work helped change the course of history: Anatoly Dobrynin— (AN-uh-toe-lee duh-BREE-nin) — the Soviet Ambassador to the United States.

When communication between Washington and Moscow was strained, Dobrynin became the critical link. President John F. Kennedy trusted him to convey America’s position honestly. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev trusted him to relay the truth back to Moscow. On October 26, Robert Kennedy met secretly with Dobrynin and made the American position painfully clear: “If these missiles are not removed, there will be war.”

Dobrynin realized he was holding more than messages in his hands — he was holding the fate of nations. He faithfully and accurately carried that urgent message back to Khrushchev without spin, without personal agenda, and without delay.

Historians agree that this single act of diplomatic integrity helped de-escalate the crisis. Within 48 hours, the Soviet Union signaled its retreat. A faithful ambassador helped prevent a global disaster.

TRANSITION

When you think about it, that’s the power of an ambassador. They stand in a place of trust. They speak for someone greater than themselves; their words carry consequences, and their faithfulness can change the course of history.

And that is exactly the picture the apostle Paul uses when he describes our role as believers in our passage of Scripture today.

We are not spectators.

We are not volunteers.

We are ambassadors for Christ, who are entrusted with a message that can change eternity.

Paul shows us in 2 Corinthians 5 and 6 that ambassadors of Christ hold a unique position with a clear purpose. Let me share with you three aspects of this position as an ambassador.

A POSITION OF INFLUENCE | VV. 20-21

First of all in verses 20 and 21 we find it is a position of influence. Look at the verses again.

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 KJV 1900

20 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. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

As ambassadors, we are entrusted with a message that changes eternity.

WE REPRESENT CHRIST TO A LOST WORLD | VS. 20

We have been given this position of influence to represent Christ to a lost world. We stand in the position of our King, the Creator of all, as we speak and live. We represent Christ to a lost world.

Our message is what Paul brings out in verse 20. We are to urge and implore the world to understand their lost position before the God of the universe. We are to help people see that they need to be reconciled or made right with God.

DEFINITION: The word reconcile from the Greek (katallassō) means to be restored to a position of favor.”

Our job is show people that the Creator has sent His only begotten Son and died in their stead.

WE PROCLAIM THE ONLY MESSAGE THAT SAVES | VS. 21

You and I proclaim the only message that saves. Jesus became sin for us so that we could be made righteous. There is no other way. Jesus declared in John 14:6,

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Our job is not to fix the world’s moral problems. Our job is not to create a better place for people to go to hell from. Our job is to help people see their need to be reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

This is truly a position of influence as we seek to restore the world to Christ.

A POSITION OF INVOLVEMENT | VV. 1-2

Paul continues the thought of being an ambassador into chapter 6. In verses 1 and 2 we find a second aspect of our position. We see it is a position of involvement.

2 Corinthians 6:1–2 KJV 1900

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Note this truth: Ambassadors are active participants in God’s work, not spectators. This is a position of involvement. God called us workers. Can I ask you today, “Are you actively working as an ambassador for Jesus?”

We accomplish this on a daily basis as we interact with people, we are to point them to Jesus. We are to move everyone, every day, closer to Jesus.

WE LABOR BETTER WHEN WE LABOR TOGETHER

And notice we are workers together. We labor better when we labor together. Our job is not a lonely task. It is a task that God has connected us together in order to accomplish. This is one of my favorite words in the Bible. It is only found as a verb five times.

DEFINITION: The phrase workers together from the Greek (synergeō) means “to collaborate.”

From this word we get our English word synergy, which means the result is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Usually when you add 2 + 2 you get 4, and yes mathematically speaking that is correct. But the idea of synergy is adding 2 and 2 together, but the result is far greater. It is because what two people could do alone can be multiplied through working together.

Now stop for a moment and think about this. You want to know why Satan fights so hard to keep you out of church and keep you away from connecting with God’s children? It’s because he knows that if you link up and work together, far greater results are produced. Unity is not just a nice concept; it is how God works to prodice amazing synergistic results.

WE SERVE WITH GOD’S PRESENCE AND POWER

And notice, it is not just you and I working together. We are also work together with Christ. We are workers together with Him. We serve with God’s presence and power. Even if God called us to a foreign mission field where there are no other Christians, we are still not alone for we have God with us. And not only do we have God with us, we also have his power in us and on us.

God has promised He would be with us everywhere we go. He has promised we would have the ability to do all things through Christ.

QUOTE: A wise man one said, “What God calls you do, He empowers you to do.”

We come behind in nothing. We have all we need in Jesus.

WE ENGAGE IN A DIFFICULT AND URGENT MISSION

And this is because we engage in a difficult and urgent mission. Paul pleads with us that we receive not the grace of god in vain. The gift of God, His presence with us, His power in and through us, is not to be wasted or squandered; it is to be used every day for His glory and kingdom.

The mission we are called upon is a difficult mission, just as Anatoly Dobrynin’s mission was. It could mean the end of our life. It definitely means the end of our life as we know it. The world we minister in is hostile to the Gospel message, even though it is the message that frees them and saves them. Many do not want to hear it, and our very presence is an affront to them.

So then what do we do? Do we hunker down and wait for the return of Jesus? Oh no, my friends, for that would be receiving the grace of God in vain. Instead, we rise up from a position of victory, knowing that greater is He that is in us that He that is in the world and we go forth with the Gospel message proclaiming the greatest news that Jesus, God’s only begotten Son has paid the price for sin and anyone and everyone who repents and believes in Him will be forgiven of their sins and given eternal life. It is an urgent message we have.

A POSITION OF INTEGRITY | VV. 3-10

Let me share with you one more truth from verse 3-10 concerning our position as an ambassador of Jesus Christ who has been given the ministry of reconciliation. It is a position of integrity. Look at verse 3 with me as we understand this.

2 Corinthians 6:3 KJV 1900

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

As ambassadors, we must reflect the character of the King which we represent. As a result, our lives are to be rooted in Christ, living with integrity in our hearts toward the Lord. Integrity is vital in the life of a Christian. Without integrity, no one can trust what you so or do. The failure of integrity is why we do not trust our political officials today.

WE DEMONSTRATE A PROPER TEMPERAMENT | VS. 3

To maintain integrity, we must demonstrate a proper temperament. This is the main though from verse 3. To not give offence in anything, would mean to live in such a way that people cannot truthfully attack us. We are to live in the power and under the control of the Holy Spirit. We are to allow God to work through us and produce in us the fruit of the Spirit. Notice what God says about living this way. We read of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23,

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Make note of that last phrase. You live yielded to the Spirit and there is no law that could be formed against you.

This was the spirit and temperament of Daniel, whom are told had an excellent spirit found in him. Imagine having your enemies doing a complete workup on you only to find absolutely no skeletons in your closet and no way in which to attack you, save for your love for God. That was Daniel and that is what God calls us to be.

WE MAINTAIN A BLAMELESS TESTIMONY | VS. 4-5

We demonstrate this temperament not necessarily when things are going well, but when they are not going well. Look at verses 4 and 5 quickly.

2 Corinthians 6:4–5 KJV 1900

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

We are to maintain a blameless testimony in every difficult situation. Our testimony shines brightest when we keep the faith requires of us in the midst of the battle. It’s always too early to quit. Never throw in the towel.

WE DEPEND ON THE POWER OF GOD | VV. 6-8

Being real, you can’t do this on your own. Go back to verse 1 and don’t lose sight of the Lord and His strength in you. We depend on the power of God. Look at verses 6-8. Paul shifts the preposition use from in these moments to by this.

The “in” describes the pressures we endure.

The “by” describes the power we rely on.

How do we demonstrate a proper temperament and maintain a blameless testimony? Verses 6 through 8 give us the how.

2 Corinthians 6:6–8 KJV 1900

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

I won’t take the time today to break down each word. Suffice it to say the only way this is possible is through the power of the Holy Spirit, or by the Holy Spirit.

WE ENDURE WITH UNWAVERING FAITH | VV. 9-10

And then the preposition changes one final time at the end of verse 8 and into verses 9 and 10. We move from “in” describes the pressures we endure.; and then “to” describes the power we rely on; finally we get to “as” which describes the perceptions we confront. In other words, Paul tells us what we face, how we stand, and what people see — in, by, and as.

These are paradoxes. Look at how Paul describes them,

2 Corinthians 6:9–10 KJV 1900

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

The world may not have a clue who we are, but God does and that is all that matters.

The world may think we are no different than them, dying. Yet we are truly alive.

The world may chasten us, but cannot kill us for we cannot truly die.

The world may see us as sorrowful, weeping over the lost condition of mankind, but we are always rejoicing in Christ.

The world may think we are poor, yet we have all we need and more in our God who owns all things.

CONCLUSION

As we look back over this passage, we are reminded that God has not left us to drift through the world without purpose. He has called us to something far greater. We are His ambassadors.

We stand in a position of influence, carrying the only message that can reconcile sinners to a holy God.

We stand in a position of involvement, laboring together with one another and with Christ Himself in the most urgent mission on earth.

And we stand in a position of integrity, living lives that match the message we proclaim, showing the world who Jesus is by how we endure, how we respond, and how we walk in His strength.

The world may misunderstand us. It may mislabel us. It may see us as weak, insignificant, or even foolish. But the reality is far different.

So let me ask you today:

Are you living as an ambassador?

Are you carrying the message of reconciliation to the people around you?

Are you working together with the body of Christ, or trying to labor alone?

Are you walking with integrity, leaning on the power of the Spirit?

Our King has entrusted His message to us. He has sent us into the world with the authority of Heaven behind us. There is no greater calling. There is no greater privilege.