IMPRINT: Ambassador
IMPRINT: Ambassador • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 33 viewsWhat’s your name? How many times have you been asked that question? Your response is the same every time, right? You quickly spout off, my name is... without a second thought. But have you ever considered the fact that our names IMPRINT our identity? Our birth name may carry special family significance, or have a descriptive root meaning, and without even realizing it, the meaning behind our name helps shape who we are. The same thing happens when we receive Jesus as the forgiver of our sins and the leader of our lives. We are IMPRINTED with spiritual names, and those names become our new identity. Join us on Thurs or Suns May 25/29 through June 8/11 as we look at three names God gives us as His children that IMPRINT who we are in Him. Discover how to fully embrace your identity in Christ - the IMPRINTS God has given you.
Notes
Transcript
Imprint: Living Out My Identity As An Ambassador
INTRO: (Me)
Who are you? No really, who are you? Who decides your identity?
Name change - a lot of people are not known by what is on their birth certificate.
Ill: Staff Names - Christian / Brett
I was given the name Mark. Mark was a young man who my dad knew of great character that died in a car accident. When I was born there was no debate, Mark!
We: Our spiritual birth certificate reveals that we were born far from God.
19 For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.
We have experienced a “name change” from enemy to soldier, child of God. If we do not recognize this identity change then we are in an identity crisis.
There are specific words in Scripture that gives clarity to who we are and why we are here on earth. When we take a word from God’s Word it lights our path.
These truths are TRANSFORMATIONAL!
Ill: Story of Life Change! I thought the roof was going to cave in.
Friends - guess who accepted Jesus? Jesus gave you his perfection and took all of your shame. You are a Soldier and a Child of God!
I could tell you that story without people that invited. We are declared AMBASSADOR
Definition of Ambassador: “An appointed dignitary who lives in a foreign land to bring about reconciliation with the governing authority they represent.”
20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
They brought about reconciliation! As a follower of Jesus you are an AMBASSADOR
Trans - To live out the identity Christ imprinted on us we need to live our 5 truths of an ambassador.
Truth #1: As Ambassadors We Represent God’s Priorities
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
If not a Christ-follower… if you are here today and ambassador invited you.
Soothing text = old gone new come. Greater context = there needs to be a change in our priorities, agenda, why I exist?
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
App: Student?
App: Student? We don’t look at people from an earthly point of view but from an eternal point of view.
Adult? Cubicle, purpose? Do you go to work to be validated? Is there a new reason that matches the priority of God?
Senior Adult?
John Piper -
At 70, I am energized to dream great things, because this year Hillary turns 69, Bernie turns 75, and Donald turns 70. My rising energy has nothing to do with their policies or character. It has to do with the incredible fact that all of them want to spend their seventies doing the hardest job in the world.
So if Hillary and Bernie and Donald want to bear the weight of the world for the next four to eight years out of man-centered, philanthropic motives, I find my seventy-something zeal for Jesus heating up. They only get to be president of a tiny territory called the U.S.A. I get to be an ambassador of the Sovereign of the universe. They only get to change the way some people live for a few decades. I get to change the way some people live forever — with a lot of good spill-over for this world in the process. - John Piper
He is not looking forward to retirement. His priorities changed!
Truth #2: As Ambassadors We Represent God’s Desire For Reconciliation
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
2 Cor
Reconciliation Was Expressed
God cares more about reconciliation more than anything other thing in the universe! It is His priority and it should be our priority.
He doesn’t want to live at odds with humanity but with peace. God spends His time on reconciliation.
Reconciliation Was Expensive
It cost His son, Jesus!
Reconciliation Was Explained
God is going to use us, AMBASSADORS, to communicate the connection.
Ill: Brevard College Student Ambassadors… students that have experienced BC and could represent the college and communicate to make a connection. Campus, professors, activities.
Sign me up!
A message needs to be communicated. It is one of value. Communicate the highlights of why you choose Jesus above all others? Instead of heart, crowd, teaching of other religions? I bet you followed Jesus because the other options don’t work. Jesus transformed my life! I need forgiveness and leadership and my only hope is Jesus.
Truth #3: As Ambassadors We Represent God’s Son
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
The story is not about us! It is about Jesus!!
We are not ambassadors for the local church. We should talk about His bride in a positive way. My bribe Cheryl.
No ambassadors for BCC. Why does that matter? People love the band, dress code, relevant messages. We love our church. We start talking about our church. People come and “check it out.” Leaders are trying to figure it out. We miss up because we are human. Flatline happens… people stop talking about the church because leadership frustrates them.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Jesus will never frustrate you! Being an AMBASSADOR is not about talking about a man on a platform or a band on a stage. It is about a man on a cross that delivers reconciliation that we need for forgiveness.
Truth #4: As Ambassadors We Represent God’s Voice
Jesus will never frustrate you! Being an AMBASSADOR is not about talking about a man on a platform or a band on a stage. It is about
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
US ambassadors do not get to take a day off. They have to represent the USA and it’s leadership and policies.
Ill: Can’t speak my own opinion. (Tell a story)
We are ambassadors! We have to speak as we are REpresent God’s voice.
Truth #5: As Ambassadors We Represent God’s Character
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
As a Corinthian you need to strengthen you life up. They have been living like the devil. You have to go first!
If people around you see a gap between how you live and what you say you lose influence. People don’t expect us to be perfect but they do expect us to be difference.
Nothing represents the Kingdom worse than a hypocrite.
Question? Is there a pattern of behavior in your life that streches the gap between who God says you are and how you are viewed?
I IMPLORE you! Be reconciled to God!
Conclusion:
Arg: I don’t fill comfortable communicating the message of reconciliation. I don’t want to offend anyone, I love everyone and don’t want people that may believe different than me to be upset.
I want to give you a different perspective from an atheist. Penn Jillette (from Penn & Teller) describes why he respects Christians who want to tell others about Heaven and Hell.
https://youtu.be/owZc3Xq8obk (53 Second Video)
How much do you have to hate someone not to live out the identity of an ambassador?
Next Move Prayer: Will you commit to a NEXT MOVE today. I desire to see you move into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.
First Move Prayer: For some of you your NEXT MOVE into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ will be a FIRST MOVE. If you’ve never asked Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life I want to give you that opportunity today. Sinner’s prayer. Repeat.
Would you lift your hand right now and say, “I asked Jesus to be the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life.”
Let’s celebrate these NEXT MOVES and these FIRST MOVES.
